Briarcliff Schools: Tuesday

Here's the latest from district officials:

Dear Briarcliff Parents and School Community Members,

I would like to update you regarding the status of the School District. Significant portions of the school community still remain without power and a number roads and neighborhoods have yet to be relieved of downed trees and power lines. This letter is intended to update you about our plans for the next 24 hours.

BRIARCLIFF SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED ON TUESDAY, MARCH 6TH

Currently, the Middle and High school campus remains without full power. After extensive conversations with our transportation company, the Village Manager and Con Edison It was also determined that between thirty and forty percent of our school bus runs would be negatively impacted by downed trees, wires, and electrical polls. Although the Village has been working diligently with Con Ed to address these and other lingering issues, I have been informed that, due to the extensive issues that still exist across the region, the situation in Briarcliff will not substantially change by morning. Therefore, the Briarcliff schools will be closed tomorrow, March 6th.

This is not good news for anyone - faculty have curriculum to cover and important work to do with students, working parents must deal with an additional day of rearranging child care, and the administration would like nothing more than to get the operation back on track. However, the circumstances are such that both safe travel and safe operation of our program remain in question at this time. Briarcliff is not alone. A number of other Westchester school district are facing similar circumstances. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. An update regarding Wednesday will be sent out by midday tomorrow.

All out of district transportation will be cancelled tomorrow.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9TH WILL NOW BE A REGULAR DAY OF SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Friday’s Professional Development day for teachers will be postponed and March 9th will be a regular day of schools for students. Please know that although we strongly encourage all students to be in attendance on Friday, no student will be punished – academically or otherwise – if parents had made plans for their being elsewhere that day. Regarding Friday, May 25th, the District was to be closed, but that day will now be a work or professional development day for all district faculty and staff.

IMPACT ON SPRING RECESS

Tomorrow’s closing will not impact the Spring recess. However, each additional school closing after tomorrow will result in the loss of a day during this recess. Loss of spring recess days will be as follows: Friday March 30th, Friday, April 6th, Thursday, April 5th and Wednesday, April 4th, Tuesday April 3rd sequentially.

SPRING ATHLETIC SEASON WILL BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7TH

Weather permitting, practices/tryouts will begin on Wednesday, March 7th. Further information regarding athletics will be forthcoming.

WARMING/CHARGING/INTERNET STATIONS AROUND TOWN

To help our residents, we will open Todd School’s Multipurpose Room and Gym as warming, charging and internet stations today (from 8 AM through 8 PM). If you need to warm up, charge your phone, use the internet, use a bathroom or just hang out somewhere other than your house while the power is out, this is the place to be.

Please help us by staying in designated areas only.

Club Fit in Briarcliff has opened their showers and cafe to the community, they just ask that you bring your own towel.

The Briarcliff Public Library will be open from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM on Tuesday.

We will continue to update you via Twitter, our B-Button, our website at www.briarcliffschoolschools.org, as well as by phone and email, as we learn more.

Thank you for your continued patience and support as we work together to get through these hardships.

Very Sincerely,

Dr. James Kaishian, Superintendent