Latest on coronavirus: Governor bans gatherings of 500+

March 13, 2020 -- Marcellus Central School District officials continue to closely monitor guidance from local, state and federal officials about how schools can safely operate amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 12, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a New York state ban on all gatherings of 500 or more people. While schools are exempt from this restriction, district officials are in the process of reviewing upcoming events and developing contingency plans in case the district is forced to cancel more activities or close. Part of that preparation includes assessing the level of internet connectivity in our families’ homes.

“We are all watching governors from other states close down entire education systems,” Marcellus Superintendent of Schools Michelle L. Brantner said. “Certainly, this is a real possibility in New York at some point. We are preparing as fast as we can in the event this occurs here.”

At this time, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the school district or Onondaga County. If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the district, all members of the school community will be notified.

The district will continue to update the community on the website (look for the big red banner on the home page), and any time-sensitive, critical information will be shared via the district’s SchoolMessenger notification system.

“I know there continue to be concerns and questions about COVID-19 in our community,” Mrs. Brantner said. “Please know we are doing our best to share accurate, up-to-date information as it becomes available. We appreciate the flexibility and resilience demonstrated by our incredible staff, as well as the patience and support of our families, as we all navigate this extraordinarily fluid situation.”