Category: Archive

January 25, 2022

Dear Fort Plain Central School Families,

As you may have seen or heard through various media outlets this afternoon, the Governor and the State Department of Health filed an appeal from the recent Demetriou decision. This afternoon arguments were heard before the Appellate Division, Second Department, on the issue of the status of the masking regulation. At this time, the Appellate Court has temporarily stayed the Order and Decision set forth in Demetriou through at least January 28, 2022, to permit the parties an opportunity for additional arguments on that date, and should this result in a change in our current plan, we will update you as soon as possible.

In light of this ruling, public school districts in New York State remain subject to the Department of Health masking regulation at least through January 28, 2022. We will continue to monitor these proceedings and inform you of additional developments as they arise.

This has been a rather challenging 24 hours for students, parents/guardians, and our staff alike, and we are grateful for everyone’s patience. While there are certainly disagreements with this mandate and the various restrictions currently in place, we are hopeful that with the declining number of positive cases, across the county, and in New York State in general, we will begin to see the state project when such restrictions can be lifted.

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Jeffery Ziegler
Interim Superintendent of Schools

The Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education has officially launched the search for a new superintendent of schools.

The position is now posted on several education job boards with professional organizations including the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS), the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS), the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) and OLAS, the On-line Application System for Educators. The posting can also be found at: http://www.hfmboces.org/FortPlainSearch.

HFM BOCES District Superintendent Dr. David Ziskin is working with the Fort Plain Board of Education as a consultant during the search process. As part of their statutory duties, BOCES district superintendents may be asked by component school boards to act as consultants during superintendent searches. Dr. Ziskin will work with the board to create recruitment material and assist with the development of selection criteria and a process for interviews.

The deadline to apply for the position is Feb. 21, 2022. The Board of Education’s goal is to have the next superintendent in place by July 2022.

The Fort Plain Board of Education is seeking a new district leader to replace Interim Superintendent of Schools Jeffery Ziegler.

The Fort Plain Board of Education will meet on Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 6-7 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room. Masks are required to attend.

The meeting will also be virtual via Google Meet, if anyone wishes to join remotely:

• Video call link: https://meet.google.com/add-neyc-xyt
• Or dial: ‪(US) +1 484-367-5482‬ PIN: ‪892 342 121‬#

January 4, 2022

Dear Fort Plain Central School Families:

I hope you and your family enjoyed a safe, relaxing and well-deserved holiday break. Looking forward to 2022, we will undoubtedly face new challenges and uncertainties that will require us to remain flexible. At this time, we will continue full in-person learning and continue to follow our local health department’s guidance on school operations and update you of any changes.

Below are a few updates that we want to share:

• New York State has provided at-home COVID-19 test kits as a resource to schools statewide. Fort Plain Central School would like to use these kits to provide one rapid test kit for each child in your family who is a Fort Plain student. Test kits must be picked up and signed out by an adult. Test kits will NOT be sent home with students. If you would like a COVID-19 home test kit, we have set up the following pick-up dates and times at the District Office:
  •  Thursday, Jan. 6, and Friday, Jan. 7: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• The Montgomery County Public Health Department will now accept the results from a home rapid COVID-19 test kit to confirm a positive result. If your child tests positive with a COVID-19 home kit, please go to https://www.co.montgomery.ny.us/systems/publicwebforms/covid-report.asp to register this result with Montgomery County Public Health Department. You should also contact Keri Constable, (COVID Nurse Coordinator), at (518) 993-4000 ext. #3625 or keri.constable@fortplain.org.
• The Montgomery County Public Health Department has also adopted the new CDC isolation and quarantine guidelines. These guidelines have shortened timelines and criteria for those in quarantine or in isolation. You can review the up-to-date guidelines on the Montgomery County Public Health Department website.

As a school district, our top priority remains keeping our schools open for in person instruction while ensuing the health and safety of all our students and staff. In addition, if your child is experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms please do not send them to school; and contact the appropriate nurse’s office.

Thank you for continuing to help us protect all members of our school community.

Sincerely yours,
Jeffery Ziegler
Interim Superintendent of Schools

School superintendents in the Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES region are supportive of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s recent statements regarding the importance of in-person learning for students.

The governor said she was committed to keeping schools open as part of the state’s plan to deal with a winter surge of COVID-19 and the Omicron variant.

“Schools in the HFM BOCES region remain committed to providing in-person learning to the greatest extent possible to meet the academic, social and emotional needs of our students,” HFM BOCES District Superintendent David Ziskin said. “With the safety protocols we have in place, we continue to believe that schools are among the safest places in our community.”

Rumors have been circulating on social media that school superintendents in the region have met to discuss a mass school closure due to COVID-19. No such meeting has taken place or is planned, Ziskin said.

“As the governor said, we’re in a different environment and a different circumstance. All across the state, school districts have temporarily shifted to remote instruction due to staff shortages, transportation issues and other circumstances, and our schools are prepared to pivot temporarily to remote instruction if circumstances merit. However, we do not believe a long-term shift to remote learning is warranted,” Ziskin said.

The governor also announced that the state has ordered 2 million at-home COVID test kits for schools and families. Local school districts will provide families with more information about these test kits once it is available.

School superintendents say the availability of these kits will be another resource for schools to help stop the spread of the virus.

The Fort Plain Central School District Board of Education is seeking public input through an online survey to help inform the upcoming search for a new superintendent of schools.

The brief, anonymous survey seeks feedback regarding the characteristics and personal attributes desired of the next superintendent and what opportunities and challenges they will face. The survey, which will be open until Jan. 12, can be accessed by visiting this link.

Stakeholder focus groups are also being planned for the future to gather additional input.

The Fort Plain Board of Education has selected HFM BOCES District Superintendent Dr. David Ziskin to serve as a consultant during the search process.

As part of their statutory duties, BOCES district superintendents may be asked by component school boards to act as consultants during superintendent searches. Dr. Ziskin will work with the board to create recruitment material, assist with the development of selection criteria and a process for interviews. He will serve as the search consultant at no charge.

Following the community survey, BOCES will begin advertising the position in in mid-January with interviews expected to begin in March. The Board of Education’s goal is to have the next superintendent start work by the start of the 2022-23 school year.

The Fort Plain Board of Education is seeking a new district leader to replace Interim Superintendent Jeffery Ziegler

Information is also posted on this website’s Superintendent Search page.