Education

SUNY New Paltz outbreak response: Students get extended spring break while college gears up for distance learning
Education

SUNY New Paltz outbreak response: Students get extended spring break while college gears up for distance learning

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With cancellations and postponements of large public gatherings being announced by the hour, there has been considerable speculation that all of New York State’s colleges would close their doors in the near future in response to the COVID-19 crisis. For now, the State University of New York at New Paltz is aiming for the middle ground: extending spring break by a week, encouraging students to go home if they can and teaching all courses remotely after the break, but not shutting down campus entirely.

Onteora prepares for coronavirus
Education, Health

Onteora prepares for coronavirus

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The Onteora school district is closely monitoring what’s happening with the novel coronavirus. In a second coronavirus-information letter sent home to parents on February 28, school-district superintendent Victoria McLaren said the county health department would notify the school district if any cases of Covid 19 were diagnosed and would “provide us with specific direction, which we will follow.”

New Paltz School Board members hear pitch for “restorative justice”
Education

New Paltz School Board members hear pitch for “restorative justice”

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The concept of restorative justice is that, by empowering people to work through challenges together, problems can be resolved in a less punitive manner that results in fewer issues overall. In theory, successfully implementing restorative justice in the schools would mean fewer suspensions (in school or out), fewer referrals to administrators, fewer fights and conflicts and less time spent in detention. The primary practices involve securing consent and agreement from all participants (adult and child alike) in processes that involve “circles” in which all voices are heard.