Updates

Good Afternoon-
 
I hope this finds you keeping cool and allergy free. Thanks to all of you who have returned your school budget ballots, and as a reminder, they can be returned by mail, in person during breakfast, lunch and dinner pickups, or at the district office between the hours of 8AM and 2PM M-F. They can also be placed in the drop box that is outside the district office.  Ballots must be in by 5PM on June 9th to be considered.  If you need a ballot, please contact Sharene Benedict at 585-554-4848 x1805.  

The big question continues to be whether we will be allowed to have an outdoor, socially distanced graduation, and there is still no word on that, except “no”.  We will keep pushing, and I have a Zoom call with Bob Duffy, the person heading up the re-opening of NY for our region, on Monday.  Outdoor graduation will be the very first question I will ask about.
 
We also did receive some clarification about summer school.  We will NOT be allowed to have any students on campus this summer for any type of summer school, Extended School Year, or summer reading program; even if the number of students is less than 10.  I specifically asked that of the regional people yesterday and was told that bringing students onto campus for educational purposes would be a violation of the Executive Order of the Governor.  All of this can change, obviously, but these are the rules as of now.
 
We will have Extended School Year and Summer School but they will be virtual. At this point, we will not have summer reading, but if that changes, I will let you know.  As details become available about these programs, we will let you know as well.
 
Mickey Frieda once again helped us to get more Blessings in a Backpack, so we will have more food to hand out with our usual breakfasts/lunches. That is great news, and thanks to Constellation Brands for their generosity in paying for the shipment.

Thank you for your continued support, hang in there, and enjoy the weekend.

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

If you are wondering why you got an extra ballot or two for the June 9th school vote, here is the reason and what we are doing about it...

“I hope that you are finding shade or air conditioning somewhere today! You will never hear me seriously say “is it hot enough for you?” but I certainly feel like saying it!

I wanted to reach out to solve the great mystery of why some of our community members received more than one ballot, what we are doing about it, and what it means on June 9th.

First, we consulted with our school attorney to generate a master list of qualified voters. That list included people who are registered voters and live within the school district boundaries, as well as people who voted in last year’s school budget vote. We also captured students who turned 18 in time to register to vote on June 9th.

That list contained duplicates, which our Board Clerk began the process of removing. At the same time, we worked with a company to print the ballots. That company indicated that their computer system would remove the duplicates, and for us to just send them the master list, which we did.

Once ballots were mailed, we began to receive calls and emails from people who received duplicate ballots. We reached out to the company as soon as they opened this morning and they indicated that the system removed several of the duplicates, but not all of them. We are working with the company now to recoup the costs of the duplicate ballots that were sent in error.

Every voter is entitled to cast their vote one time, and we will be using the master voter list on June 9th to make sure that we do not receive duplicate votes. If you received extra ballots, please recycle them. If you did not receive a ballot yet, and think that you should, please contact Sharene Benedict at 585-554-4848 x1805.

In speaking to our school attorney this morning, this scenario is not unique to us, and is a sign of working through the growing pains of this “new normal”. Once we go through the complete voting process, we will make corrections and adjustments, so it is much more efficient should we need to do this again next year.

Thanks for reading, please help spread the word, and have a great rest of the week!-Dr.B”

Good Afternoon-

I hope this finds you well.  I wanted to bring you up to speed on several items. First, we submitted our plans for a potential in-person but socially distanced graduation to the Department of Health and NYS.  If and when we receive feedback or a decision, I will be sure to let you know.  If in-person graduations are not allowed, we will have a virtual ceremony, but a socially distanced in-person graduation is our top choice.

By now you should have received a budget postcard, and today, the electronic newsletter about the budget, called the Annual Report, will be made available.  Tomorrow, absentee ballots will be mailed to all eligible voters in the school district.  If you have not received your ballot by Thursday of next week, please call our office at 585-554-4848 x1805 and we can help you to get a ballot.  Also, please complete and return the ballot as soon as you can because we have to have them at the district office no later than 5PM on Tuesday, June 9th.  If you do not want to return your ballot by mail, you can drop it off to the district office between the hours of 8AM-2PM M-F, or use the drop box that will be located outside of the district office.  Thank you!

New York State is looking for feedback from community members and parents about the reopening of school and they are using Thought Exchange, the same tool that we used to get feedback from you a few weeks ago.  The link to the survey is... https://my.thoughtexchange.com/333518046 and we are in the Wayne Fingerlakes BOCES when you get to that question.

Speaking of our survey, I would like to test out some new broadcasting software we have tomorrow night at 6:30PM.  We now have our own YouTube channel so you can watch "town hall" and other meetings that we will have.  Our YouTube channel will also give you the ability to send questions to us via the chat feature.  You can find this link at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF57RFmgBLyxbxSNsWCCwUA.  The test meeting tomorrow, which you are all invited to attend, will have the survey results, plans for graduation, and other end of the school year items on the agenda.  If you cannot make it to the live event, it will be available at the same link to watch after the fact.  Thank you in advance for helping us to test out some of our new communication software.

Thank you for reading and have a great rest of the week!

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Good Afternoon-

I had a really busy day wading into the weeds of COVID life.  One of the meetings was about academics, one was about the budget, one was about the operations of keeping buildings and classrooms clean when students are allowed to come back, and one was getting teachers back into the buildings to collect their personal belongings.  Today, I am going to write about academics.  Next week, I will give an update about everything else.

Academically, Valley and Gorham will be delivering instruction as they have been since schools originally closed.  Report cards will contain narratives only, for the third trimester.  We are coming up with a plan for the last day of new instruction and how we will get Chromebooks back.  Mrs. Cazer and Mr. Pasho will be working with Valley and Gorham staff, parents, and students next week to go through all of the details.

For the middle school and high school, instruction will continue to be delivered as is has been since the original closing of school. The numerical grade that will be used on the report card will be the first three marking periods for the middle school, and the first three marking periods and the mid-term for the high school.  

The fourth quarter will be graded using a rubric (attached).  Students will need to receive a score of “7” or higher in order to pass the fourth quarter.  The report card for the fourth quarter will have a drop down box for the various degrees of passing or failure, plus any comments.

The importance of the fourth quarter for middle school students is that the results will carry into the next grade level for each student, and students may be able to improve their overall grade by how they perform on the rubric.  For high school students, not receiving a score of “7” or higher may mean not being given course credit, or receiving a grade of exempt from a Regents exam (because the course will not be “complete”). High school students can also improve their numerical grade by how they perform in the fourth quarter.  Dr. Cole and Ms. Taft will be providing much more information to middle school and high school staff, students, and parents next week. We will also have a Chromebook return plan developed for the middle school and high school.

Thank you for reading and Happy Mother’s Day to all of the super hero moms out there!

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools Marcus Whitman CSD - 4th Quarter Grading Rubric.pdf 

Good Afternoon-

You will be receiving several email messages from me over the next couple of days. This email is about the 2020-2021 school budget vote. As you may have heard, the school budget vote this year will be held by absentee ballot only, and the official budget vote date is June 9th, 2020 at 5PM.

We will be trying to reach every eligible voter in our community by using the Ontario and Yates county voter registration lists, our list of voters from previous school budget votes, as well as our list of 18 year olds who will be eligible to vote by June 9th.

By law, we will be required to send you several mailings including budget postcards, news letters, a financial "report card", and absentee ballots (that will have postage paid return envelopes included).

You will be able to return your ballot via the pre-paid envelope, come to the district office between the hours of 8AM-2PM to drop it off in person, or use a drop box that will also be located at the district office. More detailed instructions will be found in the different mailings that you will receive, but I am always available for help if you need it.

Tomorrow, I will be sending an email that will include the last day of school for students, how they will be graded for the end of the school year, and what to expect from each building from now until the last day of school.

Thank you and have a good evening.

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Good afternoon- 

Governor Cuomo announced that schools will remain closed through the end of the school year.  Decisions about any type of summer school will be made by mid-may.

I am saddened and disappointed for everyone, but COVID is larger than Marcus Whitman, and largely out of our control.

Our breakfast, lunch and dinner programs will continue, and I will release more information about graduation, grading for the rest of the year, and when the official last day of school will be after I receive information from the state education department next week.

Thank you, and we will make it through this by continuing to work together.

Take care.

Chris

Good Afternoon-

As was mentioned in my phone call, we are using a survey company called Thought Exchange to help us create the best balance between school work and home life.  The link for the survey is... https://my.thoughtexchange.com/549348430.  It is a one question survey.  Once you provide an answer to the question, you will be asked to "star" other comment answers that others have already entered.  Over time, the answers that have the most "stars" will rise to the top as the most important points, and we will be able to make decisions around the answers that are most important to our school community.  Thank you in advance for participating.

Take care.

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Good Afternoon-

First, congratulations to our Board of Education, employees, students, parents and community members for Marcus Whitman being recognized as a New York State Recognition School for 2020, and a US News and World Reports Best High School for 2020. We work and live in a very special place, and I am honored to be at the helm.

Second, we still do not know when or if we are returning to school this year.  The most up to date information is that we will be returning on May 18th, but the Governor is expected to make an announcement about schools next week.  As soon as I hear more, I will relay the information to you.

Be on the lookout next week for a survey regarding instruction.  We are continuing to work together to provide the best balance between school and home and we need your feedback.

Thank you, hang in there, and enjoy the weekend.

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Good Afternoon-

I wanted to provide you with an update as we near the end of the week, and head into Easter weekend.  First, ALL of our buildings will be closed tomorrow.  Second, new instruction will begin for middle school and high school students on April 14^th, and April 15^th for Valley and Gorham.  Completed work will be evaluated and counted.  Once we know the status of the remainder of the school year (hopefully in the next two weeks), we will formalize what type of grading we will be using for report cards at each level. Building principals will be sending building specific instruction and grading information home in the coming days.

Third, breakfast/lunch service will be Monday through Friday next week from 11:30AM-1PM.  Dinner service will be on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:30PM-6PM.  

Our website (mwcsd.org) has a link dedicated to all things COVID.  If you missed an email, want to find mental health information, or see anything else that we have sent during this time, you can use the new COVID link.

Thank you for your support, hang in there, and enjoy the weekend.

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

A message from the Superintendent:

Good Afternoon-

I hope this finds you full of fresh air on this awesome weather day! The Board of Regents met today and decided to cancel June Regents Examinations. August Examinations are TBD at this point.

At the same time, Governor Cuomo extended school closures until April 29th, at the earliest. We are supposed to be receiving details on both items by tomorrow, and I will update you when I can.

Breakfast and lunch is available this week from 11:30AM-1PM at the HS (Tuesday through Thursday; we will provide enough food for Friday on Thursday's pickup).

Thanks and “see” you soon.

Chris

Good Morning-

I want to thank all of you for your patience as we continue to adjust to this new life we are living.  School is just one of things on our minds these days, but I wanted to provide you with some important updates.

First, we simply do not know when or if students will be returning to school.  The information we are working with right now is that we are out of school until April 15th, unless we are given further direction. We are planning for any eventuality,

Next week is the traditional spring break week, but the New York State Education Department as well as the Governors' office has directed that each school must provide for "continuity of instruction", food availability, and childcare options.

In response to that directive, as well as also finishing the third quarter in an equitable way, we have created a plan.  The grade that students had on March 13th, will be their third quarter grade, unless they complete material that improves their grade before the end of the third quarter, which is April 17th.  Next week, teachers will NOT provide new content, review, or material.  It will be a time for students to make up work if they choose, and catch a breather. 

I will send another message about how the fourth quarter will progress once we have a better idea of how much longer we will be out of school.  New material will be delivered during this time.

Our meal program will continue this week as normal.  Next week, we will provide breakfast and lunch from Monday through Thursday.  There will be no dinner service next week.

As we are all adjusting to our new lives, it is important to create a balance for your children and yourselves, but we need to also move their education forward.  The strength of our continued partnership will pull us all through this.

Thank you for your support, and as always, if you have any questions, please let me know.

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of School

Good Afternoon-

This is your Friday afternoon Covid-19 update.  First, we had a very successful week in food service.  We provided over 3,000 breakfasts and lunches, and roughly 1,600 dinner meals.  Thank you to our food service workers and volunteers for providing such a needed service.

Governor Cuomo announced today that schools will remain out of session until April 15th, at which time, he will re-evaluate. 

School construction is now considered non-essential.  We will let you know what impact this will have on our Capital Project timeline, once we know when construction can begin again.

Thank you for listening to and reading all of the information we continue to send out, it is much appreciated. Enjoy the weekend and goodnight.

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Good Afternoon-

Our breakfast and lunch pickup was heavily used today, and that is great news.  Due to the volume of meals that people are picking up, as well as the number of deliveries we are making, we are going to use the High School, District Office side as our only point of pickup moving forward.  The pickup time for breakfast and lunch is 11:30AM-1PM.  If you need meals delivered, please call Carla Woolston at 585-554-4848 x 1802.

Dinner service will begin tomorrow from 4:30PM-6:00PM, again at the High School, District Office side.  Tomorrow only, we will will also have non-perishables available for families from the 4:30PM-6PM time.  You will be directed where to go when you enter the parking lot to get both the non-perishables and the meals.  At this time, we are only able to service families who have students currently attending Marcus Whitman.  If we find that we have food remaining, we will send out an alert.  We currently do not have delivery available for dinner, but people can take meals for other families when they pick up their own.  All meals are cooked, refrigerated, and packaged.  Directions will be included on how to reheat the meals.

We met today as a faculty group to discuss how the education process is going.  We are using this week to finish working on how we communicate with families and students, and getting homes and teachers used to the balance of home life and school work life.  We appreciate your patience and help.

I could not be more proud of what everyone is doing at school and in the community to help us work through these challenging times.  We need to stay positive, and understand that there will be bumps in the road during all of this. Keeping the lines of communication open will be more important than ever.

Thank you and have a good evening.

Good Afternoon-

I wanted to provide you with a Friday, March 20th, COVID update.  We handed out or delivered 650 breakfast and lunch packs today to students and families in our community.  I would like to give a huge thank you to all of our employees and volunteers who assisted.  Our food service distribution process will be deemed "essential", so grab and go breakfast/lunch Monday through Friday next week, from 11:30AM-1PM will continue, and we will have grab and go dinners from 4:30PM-6PM Tuesday and Thursday.  Also on Tuesday, we will have boxes and bags of non-perishable foods for Whitman families.  That pickup will coincide with the dinner pick up time of 4:30-6PM.  More details will follow next week.

Parents and Students should continue to check their Schoology accounts for information from their teachers. We have ordered 20 Verizon MIFI units for students who do not have the Internet at home.  They are currently back ordered but will be made available when they arrive. If you do not have Internet access, you will still receive information and communication from teachers as you have been.

Grade 3-8 assessments have been canceled for this year.  We do not have information as of yet regarding Regents Exams, Gemini, or AP exams.

Thank you for being a resilient community.  That being said, this is a time of anxiety for all of us.  We all need to catch our breath over the weekend, figure out what our family, work, and personal needs are moving forward, and hit the ground running (or in our homes), On Monday.  Please remember that I am here for you 24/7 at cbrown@mwcsd.org or 585-554-4848 x1800 or x1805.

Thank you and I will update you with more information as it becomes available.

Have a good weekend.

Good Evening-

I want to personally thank all of you who were able to make it tonight to gather work, clean out lockers, and pick up last minute items.  While I was very proud of the efforts of our staff to have everything so organized, I was sad to say goodbye to students, not knowing when I will see them again.

As a reminder, there is no school tomorrow, but the buildings will be open from eight until noon if you did not get a chance to pick up items tonight.  We will arrange delivery at a later date for any items that remain.

We still plan to begin our grab and go breakfast and lunch process on Friday.  Pick up times will be 11:30-1PM at each of our buildings.  Food will be available for all family members.  A dinner grab and go will begin on Monday, March 23rd, if we are permitted.  More information about dinner service will be sent out at the end of the week, including times of operation.

I met families tonight who have already lost employment due to COVID-19, and others who are unable to get to the grab and go sites.  We will have free and reduced lunch forms at our sites to be taken and filled out if you think you will need it when the students return.  Please call Carla Woolston at 1-585-554-4848 x1802 if you need the grab and go breakfast and lunch delivered. We will do our best to make that happen.

Many of you are under a great deal of stress.  We are here to help you in any way that we can.  Thank you, and I will send another message toward the end of the week, or sooner if necessary.

Chris

Christopher R. Brown, Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools