COVID Response:
Beginning next week, we will be using a targeted response to keep our high school students in a distance learning situation for Monday, October 26 and Tuesday the 27. High school students will be back to in person learning on Wednesday, October 28. All other schools next week will be back to regular, in person learning on Monday, October 26.
In early October while working with the Cortland County Health Department, it was concluded that there were several cases of COVID-19 in the Cortland Schools. After contact tracing was completed, we concluded that what we considered a significant amount of staff and students would need to be quarantined; it was at that point that the decision was made to go to two weeks of distance learning for the district while more contact tracing was initiated. ...
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HS Student Joins the Board of Education:
The Cortland Enlarged City School District has a new non-voting board member who hasn't even graduated from high school yet. Alex Shaffer was sworn in this past August and has attended five board meetings so far. The district decided to bring on a high school student to serve on the board to give the board an insight as to how the students are thinking regarding educational topics that affect them. Alex doesn’t get to vote but weighs in on decisions and gives the students’ point of view before votes are made. Alex does not attend executive sessions or hear about personnel matters.
Alex likes being on the board and being the voice of the student body from kindergarten to high school seniors. With plans on becoming a Bio Chemistry Engineering major in college, Alex feels ...
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Tiger Techs:
Thanks to the changing state of education and the COVID-19 virus, technology has become more important than ever. We’ve been teaching each student in the district, from kindergarteners to high school seniors, to treat technology like an important tool in their lives. As students use technology more and more, the chances of that technology needing repairs becomes more and more certain and more important. Each and every student in the Cortland Enlarged City School District has been provided technology to use in class and at home.
When your home computer has problems, there are a variety of places you can go to get repairs. At the CJSHS, when students are having trouble they can go to Cortland’s version of the “Genius Bar” and get help from a Tiger Tech. The ...
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All Remote Learning:
We have shifted to remote learning for all students through Friday, October 23rd. This is because the health department's data suggest that we need to take a pause from in-person learning in order to let a number of quarantine situations run their course. As we know, the positive rate in our county has been the highest in our region; switching to remote learning for all will help reverse that trend. For those students who have been learning in person, we will return to school on Monday, October 26th.
Breakfast and lunch will continue to be provided for all students. These can be picked up between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., Monday - Friday, at Barry Primary, Smith Intermediate, Randall Middle, Penguin Park, Parker Elementary, Virgil Elementary, and Rickard Street. Reach out to Food@cortlandschools.org ...
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Reopening Planning Information:
Resources related to the reopening of school in September, 2020, are available at the Reopening Planning Webpage . You can find the plan, webinar recordings, FAQs, and more. The page is located under “Quick Links.”
#WeAreCortland
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128th Commencement Ceremony:
On June 26, 2020 the 128th Commencement Ceremony for Cortland High School was a wonderful celebration for our Class of 2020. Although it looked drastically different compared to years past, there was an atmosphere of excitement and Cortland Purple Tiger pride. Instead of the traditional gathering with all graduates filing into SUNY Cortland with their families, graduates and families were assigned to one of four time frames at Cortland High School. For each time frame, graduates and families were asked to stay in their vehicle until the graduate’s turn to receive their diploma. While vehicles were circling the line of Cortland Enlarged City School District buses displaying “Congratulations Class of 2020!” messages on the windows, Mr. Keith Palm played ...
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2020-2021 Budget Results:
On June 16, the residents of the Cortland Enlarged City School District approved the proposed 2020-21 School District budget of $50,170,001.
“Thank you to everyone who sent in their absentee ballot and voted,” Superintendent of Schools Michael H. Hoose said. “Your support of the Cortland Enlarged City School District and its mission to educate the children of this community is very much appreciated.”
Voters:
Approved a $50,170,001 budget for the 2020-21 school year that increases spending 1.2%, and carries a 1.09% tax levy increase: 2,042 yes, 733 no.
Approved the purchase of student transport vehicles, including all necessary furnishing, fixtures and equipment, and the expenditure of a total sum not to exceed $529,000: 1,980 yes, ...
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Postponement of Annual School Budget Vote and Board of Education Election by Absentee Ballot to June 16, 2020:
Governor Cuomo announced that the deadline for school election ballots sent via U.S. mail has been extended to Tuesday, June 16th. This extension does not apply to ballots delivered in person. These ballots still must be received by 5 p.m. on June 9th.
The date of the annual meeting and general election has been chang ed to June 16, 2020. By Executive Order dated June 8, 2020, the Governor has ordered that:
School districts receive absentee ballots via personal delivery through 5:00 p.m. on June 9, 2020, only. After this deadline, any receptacle used for personal delivery of absentee ballots must be removed, and the school district may no longer accept absentee ballots in person.
School districts must continue to receive absentee ...
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Statement from Superintendent Hoose Regarding Recent Events:
Dear Cortland Community,
Recent, tragic events in our country have reminded us of the work we have to do as a nation to overcome pervasive and persistent injustice and racism. We all grieve with the family of George Floyd as well as for the other named and unnamed victims of racism and oppression. We must commit to actively and collaboratively address and challenge systems of injustice and intolerance.
The success of our students is dependent on how we, as a district and a community, support all children and families affected by racism and prejudice. We must engage in the courageous conversations and reflect on the past while encouraging constructive conflict to arrive at solutions. We owe it to our children and society as a whole.
We must begin the process with education ...
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Cortland Board of Education Appoints New Superintendent:
The Board of Education of the Cortland Enlarged City School District is pleased to announce that it has selected Robert Edwards as its next Superintendent of Schools. His formal appointment as Superintendent of Schools took place at a special board meeting on May 28, 2020 with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2020
Mr. Edwards currently serves as Executive Director of Instruction and Personnel at the Phoenix Central School District, a position he has held since 2016. His prior administrative experience includes four years as a Building Administrator for the Baldwinsville Central School District. As many in our community are aware, Mr. Edwards taught social studies in the Cortland Jr/Sr High School for many years prior to his career in school administration. The Board is excited to ...
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2020-2021 Budget Update:
The Cortland Board of Education began the process of creating the 2020-21 school budget six months ago, prior to dealing with
Co vid-19 and all of the changes associated with dealing with the virus. As you are aware, it has taken a toll in lives lost and created huge financial challenges across the nation, especially in New York State.
The proposed budget reflects a 1.2% budget increase and a 1.09% tax levy increase. It is the first budget increase for the District in five years and it is the first budget in nearly a decade that does not use our dwindling reserves to balance the budget. It was a challenge to develop a budget with such a small increase due to the increasing costs in health care, contractual obligation, and legacy costs. The Board had to make difficult ...
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Athletic Stadium Will Light Up to Honor Seniors May 15, 2020:
On May 15, 2020 Cortland High School’s athletic stadium lights will turn on at 8:20 p.m. and shine bright for 20 minutes to honor the class of 2020.
Community members can show the #WeAreCortland spirit and join the celebration by turning on their home’s exterior lights during this time. If you have the chance to get a purple lightbulb, lighting your porch or exterior of your house purple would be a plus!
Those wishing to view the illuminated stadium on May 15th must do so from a distance and remain inside their motor vehicles. The District’s outdoor facilities, including the athletic stadium, will remain closed to the public as such social gatherings are prohibited. Please use the same loop for student pick up/drop off that has been taking ...
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Science Honor Society Makes Videos for Barry Primary Students:
Distance learning has provided a unique opportunity for students in the Science Honor Society. Advisor Charles Canestaro s aid, “the students in Science Honor Society approached me looking for ideas to help out other teachers with teaching science. After some brainstorming we decided to try and help elementary school teach science. One group of kids are helping coordinate the kindergarten unit on weather. They will be making videos and such that will be posted on the portal for K students to watch. Another group is working with Tom Dovi and Julie Lundeen to make phun videos that involve simple experiments and demos for 1st and 2nd graders. I’m super excited and super proud of the group, they genuinely love science and really want to encourage others to appreciate the wonder the ...
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Senior Athlete Spotlight:
If you have been following our social media accounts, you cannot help but notice the senior spotlight graphics that have been coming out each day on the @CECSD_Athletics account.
Celebrating our senior student-athletes is something that the Athletic Department felt was important to do this spring. Athletic Director Tim Wagoner said, “We wanted to do something to honor our student’s senior season. Many of these athletes play 2-to-3 sports for the Cortland Tigers Athletics program. I decided to contact each senior and ask them for photos, and a favorite highlight or achievement from their high school athletic career. This was a great way for me to reach out to them and discuss their future plans and reminisce.”
The images below are the Senior ...
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CHS Student Continues to Run Purple Pantry:
11th grade student Alex Shaffer has long been aware of the issues that many Cortland families face regarding food insecurity. “My mom is the executive chef at Guthrie hospital and she always told me that a quarter of families in Cortland County struggle with food insecurity. Knowing that number was so high, I came up with a plan two years ago to expand the Cortland High School Purple Pantry.”
The Purple Pantry is normally run out of the English Department book room and it is meant to target students at Cortland High School. Alex explained, “I saw a need because we have a backpack program for students at the K-6 level. So if high school students had a younger sibling they would get a backpack of food on the weekends. But if the high school student did not have ...
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Smith Intermediate School Supports Local Community:
When the COVID-19 closure happened, Principal Angela Wanish and her staff knew they had to find a way to support
the Cortland community.
Principal Wanish said, “I kept thinking about all of our families who, due to COVID-19, are currently unemployed and not getting paid. So m any of our families depend on the school to feed their children breakfast and lunch. Now, they will also need the support of our community resources, which means our local food pantries will be relied upon more heavily than usual. We quickly put together a food drive to help fill this need.”
During the last week of March through April 3rd, teachers dropped off food items in a donation bin outside of Smith Intermediate School. Staff in other buildings were also encouraged to donate items ...
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Retired Cortland CECSD Employee Makes Masks for Essential Employees:
Laura Simon retired five years ago from the Cortland Enlarged City School District after twenty eight years of service as the District
Tre asurer. Although she has been officially retired, Laura has continued to help the district with special projects and training new business office employees. During her time with the District, Laura has helped out in many different ways -- when there has been a crisis or a need with which she thought she could assist.
When COVID-19 forced us to shift to distance learning, Laura saw another opportunity to help. She observed that there were essential workers who still came to work assisting with food distribution, including food service employees, bus drivers, and some teacher aides. Laura realized that she could use her sewing and quilting skills ...
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Cortland Family 3D Prints Shields:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother said to me, “Look for helpers. You will always find
people who a re helping.” -Fred Rodgers
This is the quote that inspires the Senno family to look for ways to help no matter what our country is facing. During this time of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have all been facing the reality that our country is facing.
The Senno family is composed of mom Paula, father Norman “Andi”, daughter and Smith Intermediate student Lauren, Randall Middle School student Caden, and Cortland High School student, Brett all came together to figure out a way they can help.
Lauren said, “my family has been working on making face shields for people that need them. My dad figured a ...
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District Update March 25, 2020:
All of our lives have changed in the past weeks. This situation is unprecedented and we are trying to adapt the best we can. Rest assured that everyone in the Cortland Enlarged City School District, like everyone in our community, is completely committed to the well-being of all.
We know that Cortland County declared a state of emergency on March 15, 2020. The District has shifted to distance learning at least until April Break. We are scheduled to return to school after April break (at least for now).
During the time our students are distance learning, we have continued to provide instruction. A portal is on the district webpage where all assignments are communicated -- it will be updated each week by the end of the day each Thursday. Information such as how to contact ...
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2020 Winter Sports Wrap Up:
Click on the link below to jump to the recap for the specific sport.
Girls Varsity Volleyball , Girls Varsity Basketball , Boys Varsity Basketball , Varsity Girls Indoor Track , Varsity Boys Indoor Track
Varsity Cheerleading , Varsity Boys Wrestling , Varsity Boys Ice Hockey , Girls Varsity Bowling , Boys Varsity Bowling
This winter, close to 400 students participated in our modified, JV and Varsity programs! A highlight from the winter season was th at the Girls Volleyball team won the Section III Class A Championship on 2/15/2020! Below is a recap of how all of our sports teams did.
Girls Varsity Volleyball - Cheri Olson, Head Coach
Girls Volleyball finished a successful season by clinching the Section ...
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