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Schools
Fire Forces School In Area To Switch To Remote Learning Fire Forces School In Area To Switch To Remote Learning
Fire Forces School In Area To Switch To Remote Learning A Hudson Valley school was forced to go remote after a fire caused damage and left the building without electricity, officials announced. In Rockland County, the Lime Kiln Elementary School in Suffern transitioned to its distance learning model on Monday, Jan. 31 following a weekend fire that sparked in a boiler room from several electrical panels. School officials said that they are working with Orange & Rockland Utilities to address the issue and return electricity to the building while developing a timeline for repairs. “Students are to log on to Schoology for instructions from thei…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Concerning Note Causes Closure Of Two Schools In Area Concerning Note Causes Closure Of Two Schools In Area
Concerning Note Causes Closure Of Two Schools In Area A “concerning note” led to the closure of two schools in the Hudson Valley after it was found on a school bus. In Dutchess County, Wappingers Central School District Superintendent Dwight Bonk issued an alert advising that Fishkill Plains Elementary School and John Jay High School would be closed on Friday, Jan. 28 due to the disconcerting note. According to Bonk, the note threatened harm to other students, and it was found on a bus that provides transportation to both schools, prompting the preemptive closure as a precaution. “In order to ensure a complete and thorough investigation both …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Mask Mandate Back In Effect In NY After Appeals Court Judge's Ruling COVID-19: Mask Mandate Back In Effect In NY After Appeals Court Judge's Ruling
Covid-19: Mask Mandate Back In Effect In NY After Appeals Court Judge's Ruling A New York Appellate Judge granted a stay in the state’s lawsuit over its COVID-19 indoor mask mandate late Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 25, putting it back in place, including schools, much to the chagrin of some parents. A day earlier, in Nassau County Justice Thomas Rademaker ruled that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office had overstepped its authority with its December mask mandate that was issued through then-acting Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett. However, the state quickly appealed the decision, and on Tuesday, the mandate was put back in place. Earlier story - COVID-19: Uncertainty …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Here's When SAT Will Go Completely Online, College Board Says Here's When SAT Will Go Completely Online, College Board Says
Here's When SAT Will Go Completely Online, College Board Says The SAT, a standardized test used for college admissions, is set to move to a completely digital format. Students outside of the United States will start taking the SAT digitally in 2023, and in the US, the digital test will start being administered in 2024, the College Board announced on Tuesday, Jan. 25. According to the announcement, a variety of other changes will be made to the exam.  The digital test will be shortened to about two hours instead of three, with shorter reading passages and topics that "will reflect a wider range of topics that represent the works students read in …

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
NY Dad's Post Of Son's School Photos Sparks Concern NY Dad's Post Of Son's School Photos Sparks Concern
NY Dad's Post Of Son's School Photos Sparks Concern Some parents in New York have expressed concerns after photos a father posted of his son’s paltry school lunches went viral on social media. The parent, Chris Vangellow, took it upon himself to share photos of the lunches that were provided by the Parishville-Hopkin Central School District in upstate New York, about 10 miles east of Potsdam, claiming that it “was failing students with such unappetizing food.” One of the meals in question that made the rounds on social media included four dry, shriveled chicken strips, dried-out carrots, white rice, and a small carton of fat-free chocolate…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
These Hudson Valley Students Advance To Finals Of Regeneron Competition These Hudson Valley Students Advance To Finals Of Regeneron Competition
These Hudson Valley Students Advance To Finals Of Regeneron Competition A pair of Hudson Valley high school students were among 40 nationally that were chosen as finalists in the prestigious 2022 Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS). This year, approximately 1,800 students entered the Regeneron STS, where they “submit original research in critically important scientific fields of study.” The organization said that the search is “unique among high school competitions in the U.S. and globally, Regeneron STS focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation's most promising young scientists.” Judges narrowed the field to just 300 semifinalists, bas…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
NY Launches Plan To Address School Bus Driver Shortage NY Launches Plan To Address School Bus Driver Shortage
NY Launches Plan To Address School Bus Driver Shortage New York has a plan to address the growing shortage of school bus and truck drivers that has plagued the state of late. Under the plan presented by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, the state would expand the availability of road tests for Commercial Driver License (CDL) applicants while permitting qualified third parties to offer the road tests, which would reduce the time it takes to get CDL drivers on the road. Much of the shortage concerns have been attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As we continue to fight this pandemic, we remain committed to expanding opportunities for New Yorkers, sup…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: New State Guidance Issued For After-School Activities COVID-19: New State Guidance Issued For After-School Activities
Covid-19: New State Guidance Issued For After-School Activities Some students, teachers, and staff members will be restricted from participating in after-school activities in New York after the Department of Health revised its COVID-19 guidance. The Department of Health said that any students 12 and older who are eligible for the COVID-19 booster shot, but have not received it, will be barred from participating in sports, extracurriculars, and other after-school activities if they are exposed to the virus. Fully vaccinated students, teachers, and school staffers who are exposed will still be permitted to continue attending classes, regardless of the sta…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Redistricting Results In Closure Of School In Area Redistricting Results In Closure Of School In Area
Redistricting Results In Closure Of School In Area Facing a budget deficit, a Hudson Valley school district will be redistricting, including the closing of one of its elementary schools. In Ulster County, the Saugerties School District announced that the Board of Education has approved a plan to redistrict, including shuttering the doors at Mt. Marion Elementary School. “Last spring, the Board of Education tasked me with creating a committee of stakeholders to help the District face the upcoming budget deficit as well as maintain and improve programming for all students,” Superintendent Kirk Reinhardt announced. “I firmly believe that our…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Juvenile Charged For Making Threat To Hudson Valley Elementary School Juvenile Charged For Making Threat To Hudson Valley Elementary School
Juvenile Charged For Making Threat To Hudson Valley Elementary School A minor has been charged after calling in a purported threat to a Westchester elementary school that led to a lockout. Officials in Port Chester announced that a juvenile has been charged and taken into custody in relation to a threat made at Park Avenue Elementary School on Wednesday, Jan. 12. Original story - Westchester School District Placed In Lockout Due To Anonymous Threat Police said that no further information will be released regarding the juvenile. "As stated prior we take these incidents very (seriously.) Our Detective's conducted an extensive investigation to locate the call…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Report: Trump Forces Hudson Valley School District To Subsidize Golf Course Report: Trump Forces Hudson Valley School District To Subsidize Golf Course
Report: Trump Forces Hudson Valley School District To Subsidize Golf Course Former President Donald Trump’s wheeling and dealings have reportedly left a New York school district in a lurch. For years, the Trump National Golf Club Westchester in Briarcliff was the subject of a battle with the local government over its property tax bill, where the property’s value was inflated by the Trump Organization as part of a scheme that is being investigated by the Westchester District Attorney and New York Attorney General. Earlier story - NY Attorney General Subpoenas Donald Trump In Civil Fraud Inquiry Into His Business Practices Following a victory in court in the summer …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: SUNY Purchase Delays Return To Campus Amid Surge Of New Cases COVID-19: SUNY Purchase Delays Return To Campus Amid Surge Of New Cases
Covid-19: SUNY Purchase Delays Return To Campus Amid Surge Of New Cases With the Omicron variant running wild across Westchester, school officials announced that they will be delaying the return of students to campus at SUNY Purchase. Citing a better chance of restarting classes smoothly, officials announced that students will be delayed in their return to school by nearly two weeks as the number of new COVID-19 cases mount. The move comes on the heels of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stating that all students accessing SUNY campuses for the spring semester must be vaccinated and receive their booster shots once they are eligible. There will also be mandatory pr…

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by Zak Failla