Beginning on Wednesday, March 2nd, the Syracuse City School District adopted new masking guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), and the Onondaga County Health Department (OCHD) for Pre-K-12 schools.
Effective Wednesday, March 2nd, universal masking will no longer be required for students, staff members, or visitors to SCSD schools. This includes on First Student buses. There will be, however, several instances in which an individual would be required to – or strongly recommended to – mask. Please see below for complete guidelines, which apply to all individuals, vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Masking is still required when:
Riding on public transportation, including Centro buses.
Returning to work or school for days 6-10 post COVID-19 infection. This includes sports and extracurricular activities.
If a COVID-19 infected person is unable to mask, they must be excluded from school or work for 10 days.
Masking is still strongly recommended:
For 10 days after a known exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual. This includes during school, work, sports, and extracurricular activities.
Testing is strongly encouraged at least 5 days after the last date of exposure or potential exposure, regardless of vaccination status.
For those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. If you are uncertain if you fall into this category, please discuss with your healthcare provider.
To ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, and community, we will continue to implement mitigation strategies to help decrease the spread of COVID-19, including improved air filtration, physical distancing, frequent hand-washing, contact tracing, and weekly COVID-19 pool testing for those who have registered. Free at-home COVID test kits will continue to be provided upon request – please contact your school’s main office for details. We will also continue to offer COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
As always, if your child is sick or demonstrating COVID-19 symptoms, they should be kept home from school and be tested for COVID-19. For more information, and for the latest guidance on testing and tracing, please check back to this website: www.syracusecityschools.com/COVID.
Regardless of your personal stance on masking, please remember that many people still have valid reasons to mask. The SCSD has zero tolerance for bullying, and we ask you to remind your children that it is each person’s personal choice to wear a mask and to stress the importance of being respectful of others’ choice.
Thank you for your support and cooperation as we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. We are moving in the right direction, and we are hopeful to be able to continue easing COVID-19 restrictions!
Click here to learn more about community COVID-19 Testing. Use one of the links below to find a COVID-19 test site near you. Appointments may be required. Your physician and many pharmacies may also be able to provide testing.
At home COVID-19 test kits will be provided free of charge to SCSD students and staff as needed and as determined by administration.
In an effort to keep our students and staff safe, we are giving every student a take home COVID test kit. If you have questions about administering the test, you can read the instructions included with the test kit or watch one of the below videos depending on which kit your child received.
How to use the iHealth COVID-19 Antigen
Rapid Test
Access Bio Carestart Antigen Home Test Kit - Instructional Video
Vaccine Clinics
CDC recommends everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. We encourage our families with children ages 5 and up to be vaccinated.You may be asked for insurance information when signing up for an appointment, but the vaccine is free and there will never be a charge to you. You do not need to have insurance to get the vaccine.
Where and how will students in the SCSD learn during the 2021-22 school year?
A
Our goal is to provide in-person instruction five days a week to all students in the Syracuse City School District. We know that some students have compromised immune systems or mental health issues, which would warrant remote instruction. Parents or guardians who would like to request remote instruction for their child must provide medical evidence to support that request. Translated versions of the medical exemption form are available under 'Downloads' on the Health Services Department webpage.
Q
Will the SCSD offer extracurricular activities for the 2021-22 school year?
A
Yes. We will resume fall sports, drama productions, music concerts and club activities. We will communicate with students, staff and families any changes recommended by the CDC or Onondaga County Health Department.
Q
Will students and staff be required to wear masks in the SCSD?
A
No. Effective Wednesday, March 2nd, universal masking will no longer be required for students, staff members, or visitors to SCSD schools. This includes on First Student buses. There will be, however, several instances in which an individual would be required to – or strongly recommended to – mask. Please see below for complete guidelines, which apply to all individuals, vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Masking is still required when:
Riding on public transportation, including Centro buses.
Returning to work or school for days 6-10 post COVID-19 infection. This includes sports and extracurricular activities.
If a COVID-19 infected person is unable to mask, they must be excluded from school or work for 10 days.
Masking is still strongly recommended:
For 10 days after a known exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual. This includes during school, work, sports, and extracurricular activities.
For those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. If you are uncertain if you fall into this category, please discuss with your healthcare provider.
What will the physical distancing requirements be for students and staff?
A
We will follow the guidance from the CDC of maintaining three (3) feet of social distancing. Because children under the age of 12 are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, we will continue to use the polycarbonate dividers that were used during the 2020-21 school year at all schools.
For any activity that causes heavy breathing such as running during physical education class or projecting the voice during singing or playing a wind instrument, students must maintain (6) six feet of social distancing.
Pursuant to the CDC’s Order, physical distancing is not required on school buses.
Q
Will there be school-based COVID-19 testing for students and staff?
A
Yes. We will be working with the Onondaga County Health Department to do randomized, voluntary pool testing of schools. All students under the age of 18 will need consent. Please complete the Screening Consent Form and return to your child's school.
Q
What is the SCSD doing with regard to improving ventilation and filtration systems?
A
Air quality will continue to be a priority. We will continue to use the air purifiers in classrooms, and we will be adding bigger air purifier units in libraries and cafeterias.
Q
Will there be daily screening for students and staff?
A
Yes. We will continue the existing COVID-19 mitigation measures. We will continue to do temperature screening daily at building entrances for all students, staff, and visitors; and we will reinforce the use of masks, hand washing, and physical distancing.
What are the cleaning and sanitizing procedures in the SCSD?
A
We will continue with the daily cleaning and disinfecting protocols that were in place last year.
Q
What will happen when positive COVID-19 cases arise in the SCSD?
A
We will work with the Onondaga County Health Department to follow their contact tracing procedures. Any student or staff member who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home and be tested. Any student or staff member who tests positive should notify the school principal, nurse, or immediate supervisor immediately.
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