• June 8th Updated District Mask Wearing Policy

    Dear Homer Community, I am writing to share the  new official updated guidance from the New York State Department of Health on mask wearing.  Please see the information below... Masks Face masks are required at all times in indoor school facilities, except for meals.  Masks will still be required on buses as well.  Mandatory mask breaks will continue to occur in classrooms. Effective June 8, 2021, face masks are not required to be worn outdoors on school grounds, including during outdoor school sports and recess.  Appropriate social distancing must be maintained.  No student, teacher, staff member, or visitor may be prevented from wearing an acceptable face mask voluntarily on school grounds.  The Homer Central School District has reviewed the updated state guidance and will relax our mask wearing/face covering requirements for outdoor activities and events immediately. While the decision to wear a mask outdoors is now left up to the individual, it is expected that all parties maintain 6 feet of physical distance when not wearing a mask/face covering.  Additionally, anyone experiencing Covid-19 symptoms is still not permitted to attend school or any school events.  Thank you and have a great afternoon. Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools Blue Pride!   New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Tuesday, Jun 08 2021

  • Mask Guidelines

    Dear Homer Community, I am writing to update you on the mask policy as it relates to public schools.  As of 7 a.m., there has been no change in the New York State Department of Health's guidance on maskwearing in schools. Our policy remains that all students, staff, and visitors are expected to wear masks while on school grounds or in school buildings.  I am expecting some additional information to come out later today and will communicate with you if modifications to the policy occur. I appreciate your understanding as we navigate through this time of conflicting guidance and information.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (607) 749-7241.  Take care and thank you for entrusting your child's education to us. Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools Blue Pride!   New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Monday, Jun 07 2021

  • Second Dose Vaccine Clinics

    Dear Homer Community, I am communicating to remind  you that the second dose Covid-19 vaccine clinics will be held this week and next in the school district.  The clinics will, once again, be located at the Homer Training and Education Center at Homer High School.  The 16+ second dose clinic will be tomorrow, June 1st from 12 - 3 p.m.  Students who received their first dose on May 11th should plan to arrive at the same time that they did at the first clinic.    The 12+ second dose clinic will be held from 2 - 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 9th.  Students who received their first dose on May 19th should plan to arrive at the same time they did at the first clinic.  A parent or guardian must attend this clinic with their child. There is no need to register for the second dose clinics, but a consent form that must be printed out, signed, and brought to the clinic.  Please access the consent form by clicking on this link:: https://www.homercentral.org/cms/lib/NY50000631/Centricity/Domain/9/Parent_consent-form_2021.pdf We thank Kinney Drugs for offering this clinic to our students! Take care and have a great Memorial Day! Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools Blue Pride!   New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Monday, May 31 2021

  • May 26 District Update

    Dear Homer Community, I am writing to give you updates on items of interest as we head into the final month of the 2020-21 school year.    No School on Friday, May 28th A reminder that F riday, May 28th will be a "No School" day.  No students or staff on that day. Family Engagement Survey In our ongoing efforts to improve our service to the community, I am asking that you take time to complete our Family Engagement Survey.   This will provide us valuable information that will be used to assess our effectiveness in meeting your family’s needs.  The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 4th at noon.  Please find the link for the survey  here .  The password is Homer2021 . Mask Requirements and Guiding Principles for Fully Vaccinated People    Please remember that the guidelines for mask wearing in schools and on school property have not changed.  New York State guidance requires both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals to wear masks when in or on school property.  We appreciate your willingness to follow these guidelines.  I also want to remind folks that fully vaccinated people who experience Covid-19 symptoms are still required to be tested prior to returning to school.  While it is rare, there have been cases where fully vaccinated individuals have contracted Covid-19.   End of Year Activities Please be on the lookout for information coming from each school building about the exciting end of year activities being planned.  I look forward to the many creative celebrations as we make our way to the end of June.   As always, thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  Take care and have a great evening.  Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools Blue Pride!   New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Wednesday, May 26 2021

  • May 25 Covid-19 Update

    Dear Homer Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer Elementary School student who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the people that will need to quarantine due to this positive case.   As a result, 4 Elementary School students will need to quarantine.  District staff have communicated with the students affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine.     This will not alter our student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week.  Pre-K through Grade 12 will run their regular schedule.   Take care and have a great evening. Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools Blue Pride!   New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Tuesday, May 25 2021

  • Mask wearing

    Dear Homer Community, I want to update you on the mask mandate as it relates to schools.  While the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has changed their guidelines for mask wearing, New York State has not done so for schools.  Mask wearing, both indoors and outdoors, is still mandatory for all students, staff, and visitors to Homer Schools.  If this guideline changes, we will communicate this as soon as possible.   If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at my office.  Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools Blue Pride!   New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Monday, May 17 2021

  • May 13 District Update

    Dear Homer Community, I am writing to give you updates on items of interest as we continue our march toward the end of the 2020-21 school year.    End of Year Calendar Change At the May 11th Board of Education meeting, the board approved the following changes to the 2020-21 District Calendar.   The two changes are: Friday, May 28th will be a "No School" day.  No students or staff on that day. Wednesday, June 23rd.....Last day of school for students Pre-K through 8.    In grades 9 – 12, on days when a Regents exam is administered, only students taking the exam will be in attendance.  The last day of full 9 - 12 attendance will be Friday, June 18th.   If you have any questions on student attendance days, please contact your child’s building principal.    Meal Distribution Meal pickup is still available for any Homer family interested in this service.  Meals may be picked up on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 – 6 p.m. at the pillars in front of Homer High School. 12+ Vaccination Clinic Homer Schools is partnering with Kinney Drugs to offer a 12+ Pfizer Vaccination Clinic on Wednesday, May 19th from 2-6 p.m.   We will be sending out registration information and additional details to eligible families when they become available tomorrow.  If you have any questions after receiving the information, please feel free to reach out to me for any clarification. CNY Tech Survey Like it or not, access to high-quality broadband internet is now a vital part of our everyday lives; virtual learning, working from home, online shopping, telemedicine, and simply staying connected with those we care about. Yet many in our community lag behind in terms of access and service quality.  The Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board (CNY RPDB) has partnered with Cortland County to identify where our neighbors lack reliable access to broadband internet.   To help our community, all you must do is complete a quick and confidential survey about internet access and affordability at: www.cnyinternet.com   You can take the survey from any computer or mobile device with internet access.  If you would like a paper copy of the survey, please contact the main office of your child’s school. As always, thank you for entrusting your child’s education to us.  Take care and have a great evening.  Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools Blue Pride!   New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Thursday, May 13 2021

  • May 4 Covid-19 Update

    Dear Homer Community, I am writing to let you know that we have a Homer Junior High School student who has tested positive for Covid-19.  We have worked with the Cortland County Health Department to identify the people that will need to quarantine due to this positive case.   As a result, 11 Junior High School students will need to quarantine.  Mrs. Schneider has communicated with all of the students affected.  New York State contact tracers will also be calling to provide additional details about the length of quarantine.     This will not alter our student attendance schedule for the remainder of the week.  Pre-K through Grade 12 will run their regular schedule.   Take care and have a great evening. Sincerely, Thomas M. Turck Thomas M. Turck Superintendent of Schools Blue Pride!   New to ParentSquare or need help?   Click Here

    Tuesday, May 04 2021