Contact: Brandon Wood

Public Relations Specialist

Center for Instruction, Technology & Innovation
179 County Route 64
Mexico, NY 13114
Bwood2@citiboces.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dec. 10, 2020

Mexico schools extend fully remote learning until Jan. 4

The Mexico Academy and Central School District is extending its fully remote model for all
students until after holiday break with a planned return to in-person instruction on Monday,
Jan. 4.

Interim Superintendent Michael Schiedo announced the change on Thursday in a letter and
robocall to district families, saying the decision is based on data collected in the past two weeks
with a total of 16 positive cases impacting the district.

“While we understand that this may create an inconvenience for students and families, please
understand that the district will continue to monitor the data for determining when it will be
prudent to open the buildings again for in-person learning,” Schiedo said.

The district will remain fully remote for all students through Wednesday, Dec. 23 when MACS
goes on holiday break. Schiedo said he hopes to return for in-person instruction on Monday,
Jan. 4, but the district would continue to monitor the COVID-19 community infection rate during
holiday break.

In the letter, Schiedo noted the district had 16 total active cases in the 11-week period prior to
Thanksgiving, and that MACS had 16 more positive cases in the two weeks since.

“We have a strong concern that if we return to in-person instruction on Dec. 11 and this trend in
positive cases continued, we would not be able to adequately staff our buildings,” Schiedo
wrote in the letter. “Additionally, there is concern that many students and staff members could
potentially be placed in quarantine through the holiday break if we were to continue in-person
learning and the trend of positive cases persists.”

Per the district’s remote plan, staff members not under quarantine orders will continue to
report to buildings for their daily duties.
The district continues to urge everyone to take preventative measures like ensuring proper
hygiene and handwashing, practicing social distancing, wearing masks when social distancing is
not possible, and avoiding coughing or sneezing into the air or your hands.

Anyone with questions or concerns about COVID-19 exposure may contact the Oswego County
Health Department COVID-19 Hotline at (315) 349-3330.

A full letter from Schiedo to the MACS staff and families regarding the announcement may be
viewed via the district website, MexicoCSD.org.

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