From the Superintendent's Desk

October 2021

Dear C-R Families --

On any given day, it’s easy to feel as though our patience reserves have finally run empty. From the near-empty grocery store shelves to our always-foggy eyeglasses, the daily inconveniences of the pandemic are enough to make you wonder: Will this ever end?  

Still, despite my foggy lenses, I certainly can see that we have a lot to be proud of, a lot to be thankful for, and a look to look forward to as we make our way back to “normal.”

- More than 99 percent of students are in school for full-time, in-person learning. Our students are back on a regular school schedule, too. In our elementary schools, students are once again having art in the art room and library in the library. At the middle and high schools, they’re changing classes every period and eating lunch in our cafeterias, too.

- Athletics, music and other extracurricular programs are up and running, and many of our students are taking full advantage. It’s a great source of joy to drive past the high school and see our athletic fields full of soccer and football players, or to walk past a music room and hear our ensembles practicing.

- Programs that had been put on hold during the earlier stages of the pandemic are returning. For instance, earlier this month, we were so happy to welcome back CREST for their annual book fair, and to have the Cobleskill Fire Department at Ryder Elementary to provide fire-safety instruction.

- District-wide initiatives unrelated to the pandemic are moving forward, too. Earlier this month, work began on the first phase of our voter-approved capital project. This early work on the roofs at Ryder and Golding is only the beginning of a multi-phase plan to modernize our campuses. We’ll have more updates on this important work in the weeks ahead.

In that context, we’ve come quite a long way since March of 2020!

Of course, this is not to say the threat of pandemic has yet been eradicated. In fact, the day-to-day inconveniences of the pandemic seem trivial when we recall that this illness has taken more than 700,000 American lives. The CDC still considers Schoharie County an area of “High Transmission,” and the first six weeks of school saw 19 of our students test positive for COVID. 

But here’s the good news: None of the cases here in our buildings has resulted in a widespread outbreak at school. As challenging as it may be to continue to be diligent in following the many health-and-safety protocols we have in place, they are the tools allowing us to keep our doors open and our students engaged.  

In fact, walking through our halls and talking with students has been, for me, the best antidote to COVID fatigue. Their ambition, creativity and optimism continue to be an inspiration to all of us at C-R, even at the most challenging of times.

I also would be remiss if I didn’t extend a thank you to our families for your endless patience as well. We know that we’re routinely asking for your cooperation as we work to comply with ever-changing state mandates and guidelines. Trust me: Your support is always appreciated and never taken for granted. If there is anything we can do to support you or your child, please email us at [email protected], or call the district office at 518-234-4032, ext. 2000. 

In closing, here at C-R, we’re looking forward to Fall and holiday seasons full of special events, learning opportunities and, of course, great fun. We thank you for your continued trust as we strive every day to educate, inspire, and empower our students. 

Sincerely,

Carl J. Mummenthey
Superintendent of Schools