Syracuse Academy of Science & Citizenship Academy Suspend Classes

Sunday, March 15, 2020—Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has announced that all schools in the County, including the Syracuse Academy of Science Charter School will be closed at the conclusion of school on Friday, March 20, 2020.  Should a positive test for COVID-19 come back before Friday all schools will close on Wednesday, March 18th.

More information will be forthcoming regarding online academic offerings and food service.

Utica Academy of Science Suspends Classes

Saturday, March 14, 2020—Effective immediately, Oneida County Executive, Anthony J. Picente, Jr. declared a state of emergency for the county due to ongoing concerns related to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). In response, all component school districts in the Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES, including the Utica Academy of Science Charter School, will be closed beginning Monday, March 16, 2020, through Monday, April 13, 2020. The school will reopen on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. All 12-month employees, building deans, school counselors, student affairs officers, and behavior specialists will continue to work during this closure, barring any further direction.

Stay safe, UAS Atoms.

Spectrum Offers Free High-Speed Internet

Friday, March 13, 2020—Spectrum announced Friday it will offer free high-speed internet service and Wi-Fi for 60 days to households with students as many schools and colleges temporarily close or switch to online classes because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Starting Monday, March 16, the Charter Communications-owned company will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with children in grades K-12 or in college who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription at any service level up to 100 Mbps, the company said.

Families can call (844) 488-8395 to enroll. Installation fees will be waived for new student households, the company said.

False Claim COVID-19

Thursday, March 12, 2020—It has come to our attention that a story is circulating on Social Media that there was a case of Coronavirus in one of our schools. This claim is based on false information. SANY school district, which includes Syracuse, Citizenship, and Utica Academies of Science, have no cases of Coronavirus.

We have been in direct communication with the State and the County Health Department and have contingency plans in place if a member of our school community comes in contact with the Coronavirus. If there is a confirmed case in one of our districts, as well as the Syracuse City and Utica City School Districts, we will close the school, inform the community and take necessary measures to protect our Scholars and Families.

Citizenship Academy and Syracuse Academy of Science were closed yesterday, 3/11/20, due to a scheduled faculty in-service day. All of our staff participated in mandatory staff training, as stated on our school calendar.

All scheduled District activities (including but not limited to field trips, school-wide events, and athletics) are being held as planned, as per the County Health Department. As this situation continues to evolve, circumstances may change and warrant postponements or cancellations. Updates to this guidance will be distributed via email, posted on the district website, and/or communicated via our mass notification system.

Superintendent of Science Academies of New York
Dr. Tolga Hayali

District Developing Contingency Plans

Thursday, March 12, 2020—Syracuse Academy of Science administrators are continuing to closely monitor guidance from local, state and federal officials on school district operations as it relates to COVID-19.

With Governor Andrew Cuomo’s March 12 announcement that New York state is banning all gatherings of more than 500 people, not including regular school instruction, school administrators are meeting to review upcoming events and to develop contingency plans in the event that the district is forced to cancel more events or activities or close a school.

At this time, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the school district, Onondaga County, or Oneida County. If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the district, all members of the school community will be notified.

On March 9, the New York State Department of Health and New York State Department of Education released guidance that states if a student or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, the state Department of Health requires an initial 24-hour closure of the school to assess the situation and develop a plan to as to any further required closure or other necessary precautions.

In the event that health officials direct the district to close, administrators are developing plans to continue instruction and other critical administrative and student services.

The district will continue to update the community via the district website with any new information.

Any time-sensitive, critical information will be shared via the district’s SchoolMessenger notification system, which sends email, text message and phone call notifications, depending upon how parents subscribed to the system.

District monitoring COVID-19 at local, state and national levels

While Science Academies of New York does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in our schools, district officials are aware of concerns in the community about the spread of this relatively new virus.

The district is closely monitoring this situation and following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), the Onondaga County Department of Health and the New York State Education Department.

Based on recent reports, COVID-19 is not actively circulating in Onondaga County or Oneida County at this time.

If the district becomes aware that an SAS, CA, or UAS student or staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19, it will immediately notify staff and parents/guardians. If a student or staff member shows respiratory symptoms, the district will follow its current practices for handling respiratory illnesses, subject to any additional guidance forthcoming.

The district has infectious disease protocols in place and has been taking steps, such as cleaning and disinfecting throughout its schools, to minimize the spread of viruses and a variety of other illnesses.

There are a number of steps that students, staff and community members can take to minimize the spread of all respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, according to the state Department of Health:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Heavily soiled hands should be washed.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

If you or a family member begin showing symptoms of a respiratory disease and suspect it may be COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider. Before going to your healthcare provider’s office, inform them that a case of COVID-19 is suspected, and follow their advice.

The district will continue to share information as it becomes available on the district website. Any time-sensitive, critical information will be shared via the district’s SchoolMessenger notification system, which sends email, text message and phone call notifications, depending upon how parents subscribed to the system.

Health officials urge public to take precautions against the spread of viruses

Health officials, elected leaders and school officials are urging the public to take precautions against the spread of seasonal influenza, or flu, and a new virus that has recently been detected in humans—2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov).

Confirmed influenza cases were first reported to the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) in October and have been steadily on the rise since. Health officials also are monitoring the spread of 2019-nCov, which originated in China and has spread to a number of countries, including the United States.

“While we do not have a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in the state, we are continuing to take every necessary precaution to protect New Yorkers from this dangerous virus,” New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Feb. 7. “I also want to remind New Yorkers they are more likely to be exposed to the influenza virus than the coronavirus and urge everyone to take common-sense precautions to protect against both, such as regular hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who are sick.”

The coronavirus, which can lead to fever, cough and trouble breathing or shortness of breath, has not been found in humans before, according to a joint release from the NYSDOH and the state Education Department (SED). Health officials believe the coronavirus probably spreads from animals to humans and from person-to-person, but it’s not yet clear how easily it spreads from person-to-person.

The coronavirus is not actively circulating among New Yorkers at this time, according to the NYSDOH and SED release. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the coronavirus to be a serious public health concern and is studying it to better understand how it spreads and causes illness. There currently is not a vaccine for the virus.

Precautionary measures

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) recommends the following ways to minimize the spread of all respiratory viruses, including 2019-nCoV:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash.
  • Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

SANY

Science Academies of New York | SANY will provide support, challenges and opportunities for its students, and it will instill the necessary skills and knowledge in math, science, and technology to empower students, through high intellectual standards, preparing them for college, career, and citizenship.

SANY

1409 W Genesee St. Syracuse, NY 13204
Phone: 315-671-5470
info@sany.org
Fax: 315-671-5475

SANY Schools