• November 23 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                                          Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer High School student who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We were notified of this earlier today and have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the students and staff that will need to quarantine.   As a result, 5 staff members and 22 Homer High School students will need to quarantine.  Mr. VanEtten has begun communicating with both the students and staff members affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details.     This latest case will not alter our student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week.  Grades 9-12 students will continue to learn from home today and tomorrow and Pre-K – Grade 8 students will continue with their regular schedule.   At this point, we plan to return to our regular school schedule after the Thanksgiving holiday break.  I will update you if anything occurs to cause a change in that plan.    I hope that you and your family have a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving.  Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Monday, Nov 23 2020

  • November 20 Change in Student Attendance Schedule

                                                                                                                                 Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know of a change in the grades 9-12 student attendance schedule for next week.  We were notified earlier this afternoon that we have two related High School students who have tested positive for Covid-19.  We have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to determine what additional students and staff will need to quarantine. As a result, 19 High School staff, 94 High School and 4 Junior High School students will need to quarantine.  High School Principal, Doug Van Etten, has begun communicating with both the students and staff affected.  NYS contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details.     We will not be able to adequately staff High School building assignments this coming week.  Therefore, grades 9-12 will learn at home on Monday and Tuesday, November 23-24 .  Pre-K through Grade 8 will move forward next week with their regular schedule. We appreciate your understanding as we move through this unprecedented time.   Thank you and have a great weekend. S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Friday, Nov 20 2020

  • November 17 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer High School staff member who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We were notified by the staff member earlier this evening and have identified the scope of the students and staff that will need to quarantine.   As a result, 1 staff member and 16 Homer High School students will need to quarantine.  Mr. VanEtten has begun communicating with both the students and staff member affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details.     As we always do, the building has been throughly cleaned and disinfected and will be ready for staff to report tomorrow.  This latest case will not alter our student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week.  Pre-K – Grade 12 students will continue with their regular schedule.    We continue our efforts to be transparent and to take precautionary measures to ensure the health, safety and education of all involved.  Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Wednesday, Nov 18 2020

  • November 16 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer Intermediate School student who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We were notified by the Cortland County Health Department this morning and have helped them to determine the scope of the students and staff that will need to quarantine.   As a result, 5 staff members, 24 Homer Intermediate, and 13 Homer Elementary School students will need to quarantine.  The district has begun communicating with both the students and staff members affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details.     This latest case will not alter our student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week.  Pre-K – Grade 12 students will continue with their regular schedule.    Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Monday, Nov 16 2020

  • November 15 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a non-instructional staff member at Homer Junior High who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We were notified by the Cortland County Health Department and have helped them to determine the scope of the students and staff that will need to quarantine.   As a result, 2 additional staff members and 2 Junior High students will need to quarantine.  The district has already contacted both the students and staff members affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details.     This latest case will not alter our student attendance schedule.  Pre-K – Grade 12 students will continue with their regular schedule this week.    Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Sunday, Nov 15 2020

  • November 11 Covid-19 Update

                                                                                                                                Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer Elementary School student who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We were notified by the Cortland County Health Department earlier this afternoon and have helped them to determine the scope of the students and staff that will need to quarantine.   As a result, 1 staff member and 16 Homer Elementary students will need to quarantine.  The district has begun communicating with both the students and staff member affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details.     This latest case will not alter our student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week.  Pre-K – Grade 12 students will continue with their regular schedule.    Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Wednesday, Nov 11 2020

  • November 6 District Update

                                                                                                                                                                          Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to update you on some items affecting your child as we move through the month of November.     Please see the information below… Grades 7-12 Student Attendance on Wednesdays As you know, grade 7-12 in-person learners are operating in a hybrid learning model.  This has students learning in-person two days per week and at home for the remaining three days, with Wednesdays being a totally virtual day for all students.  This allowed us to thoroughly clean and disinfect both the Junior and Senior High buildings.   As we have moved through the fall, we have found that we are able to complete this cleaning at night, and are excited to announce that we will begin having students in the buildings on Wednesdays.   Beginning Wednesday, December 2, we will have one cohort of students learning in-person.  We will alternate which cohort will attend every other week.  As we get closer to the start of Wednesday in-person learning for grade 7-12 students, your child’s building principal will share the schedule of cohort attendance.     At Home Learner Commitment Please remember that we require families make a minimum ten-week commitment when choosing at home learning.  We have seen an increase in the number of students requesting that they learn from home, only to have them change their mind and expect to return to in-person learning immediately.  We are not able to accommodate the frequent changing of learning model due to the planning necessary given social distancing and transportation restraints.   Homer Covid-19 Pre-Screening Process I want to again encourage families to pre-screen your child for Covid-19 using our district developed app before coming to school each day.  The I.D. Badge/Pre-Screened Fast Lane process has allowed us to greatly shorten the amount of time it takes children to enter the building upon arriving to school.   The building staff have let me know that we have begun to see a decrease in the number of people that are conducting the Covid-19 prescreening at home prior to children coming to school and I am hopeful that this reminder can improve things.      I hope that you have an opportunity to get outside this weekend and to enjoy time with friends and family.  Take care and thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.    S incerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Friday, Nov 06 2020

  • Meal Distribution Site Changes

                                                                                                                                                                          Dear Homer Schools Community, I am writing to let you know that we are adjusting our meal distribution sites beginning this Monday, November 2nd. We have heard from a number of our families that the distance from their home to one of our two Homer village meal distribution sites has presented problems for them.  In response, we will now have three distribution sites spread out across the district. Our new distribution schedule/locations/times are as follows: Days of Week…..Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays  Time…………….5:00 – 6:30 p.m.   Meal Distribution Sites…….Homer High School, Scott Church (6816 NY-41, Homer) and Truxton Town Hall (6290 Railroad St., Truxton).    Each child will receive a two-day allotment of food.   I also want to remind folks that the meals are free as the United States Department of Agriculture recently extended the opportunity for all students in our school district to receive meals at no cost .   We are hopeful that the additional meal distribution sites increase the number of students who receive a nutritious meal each day.   Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools

    Friday, Oct 30 2020