Dear Pine Bush parents and staff,

The Board of Regents today issued an extensive set of guidance documents about how they are trying to accommodate the unprecedented extended school closure brought by the coronavirus. They provided more explanations about what the cancellation of the June Regents exams will mean for fulfilling a variety of graduation requirements. While Mrs. Geidel and I work on digesting the 40+ pages of detail, I have posted a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, that the State Education Department provided today.  The FAQ document answers 40 questions about the impact of cancelling the exams.

The Regents also announced their intention to suspend the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) for all teachers and principals this year. They will ask the governor to provide an exemption to the 3012-d law by executive order and seek relief from the federal Department of Education, to avoid any impact under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) on school accountability requirements.

We have figured out a system to process working papers for high school students who want/need them. If you have one of those students in your home, have her or him send an email to: working_papers@pinebushschools.org.

Folks at the high school will respond and indicate the steps to each student who applies. Please be sure to use your Pine Bush student email address when making your request.

Here is a link to the working papers application.

Thanks to all of you who continue to labor in less than ideal circumstances. We are a brave bunch in Pine Bush, and I am proud to serve you all.

Tim O. Mains, Pine Bush Superintendent