Newburgh Delays Start Of 2021-22 School Year

NEWBURGH, NY — The Newburgh Enlarged City School District will be delaying the start of the 2021-22 school year.

At a meeting of the Board of Education Monday, trustees voted to change the beginning of the school year to Thursday, Sept. 9.

It had been slated to start Wednesday.

Wednesday and Thursday, according to a letter to the community posted on the district's website from acting Superintendent Ed Forgit, will now be Superintendent's Conference Days. Friday will be an emergency day, and the district will be closed, with the exception of some essential personnel.

The decision to delay the opening was based on guidance issued late Friday by the state Department of Health and long-term mitigation planning, he said.

"The additional time will allow the district to receive supplies to add more indoor and outdoor seating to maintain additional physical distancing during meal times," Forgit said.

"The time will also allow our grounds crew and custodial staff an opportunity to best prepare all of our facilities during those days for this adjustment, which will continue through Friday, September 3, 2021," he said.

Forgit said he understands how the change may impact the remainder of the 2021-22 school year calendar.

He said the district will be working with its collective bargaining units in the upcoming weeks.

"I also recognize the inconvenience this may have caused with regards to childcare and assure you that timely communication will be a priority for our team if/when any new guidance is received that changes our current model," Forgit said.

The online district calendar has been updated to reflect the changes made Monday.

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