McKay: No School Monday; Greeley Open for Showers, Warming

(Editor's Note: Below is a Saturday evening update from Chappaqua schools Superintendent Lyn McKay on the district's post-Hurricane Sandy status). 

Dear Chappaqua Faculty and Staff,

I hope you are finding places to be warm and are doing OK.

School will be open on Monday, Nov. 5 for all teachers, administrators, clerical, and custodial staff.  It will be a Superintendent's Conference Day during which we will continue our assessment and scoring work (originally scheduled for October 30). You may also have time to work on getting lesson plans ready for when school opens.  Monday will count toward Chappaqua's 180 day required yearly total. We are not able to bring students back to school on Monday because we are still uncertain about power in the schools and because bus transportation is not yet possible for students.  Parent conferences scheduled for Monday will be postponed.

We presently have power at Grafflin, Greeley, Seven Bridges, and the Ed Center.   Con Ed tells us we will likely have power in most if not all of our schools by Monday or Tuesday.  Schools and polling sites are their priority. We are asking that staff report on Monday as follows:
•       All elementary teachers report to Grafflin.
•       All middle school teachers report to Seven Bridges
•       All Greeley teachers report to Greeley
•       All clerical staff report initially to the building to which your school's teachers are assigned.  You will work your usual hours.  If power has been returned to your home building, we may be able to redirect you there on Monday.
•       All custodians report to their buildings.  You will work your usual hours.
•       All Ed Center personnel report to the Ed Center.

The teacher day will be 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and will begin with a faculty meeting in each of the three buildings.  Teachers may choose to stop at their home buildings to pick up necessary materials before reporting to their assigned school. All buildings will be open even if they have no power.  If all buildings have power, teachers may be able to return to their home schools when finished with the assessment work.

We are asking all staff to bring their lunches on Monday.  Thank you.

I have been following the storm situation in Chappaqua hourly.  The town informs me that all state and county roads are open, and they are beginning to work on the town roads.  At this time if you are coming from the north on the Saw Mill, you cannot turn left at Readers Digest/Roaring Brook road exit. Consider getting off at Mt Kisco and taking 117.  Or you might choose to take 684 instead. For anyone who comes to school via 120, the section of Roaring Brook Road closest to the Saw Mill Parkway is still closed.  That is, you cannot turn left as you pass Roaring Brook School and travel down the hill to the Saw Mill.  You can go down into Chappaqua and come across on 117, which is open.

We understand that returning to school may be difficult for a few staff members, depending on individual circumstances.  Please contact your building principal or supervisor if you are not able to get to Chappaqua.

IN ADDITION, we will open the gym at Greeley beginning on Sunday from 9:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m for the community to take showers, charge electric devices, or simply to be warm.  You are most welcome to use the gym as well.

At this time we are working hard to open school for all students on Tuesday, Nov. 6.  Our buildings are in great shape.  We now need power, and we need a workable and safe plan for bussing.  We are working with Seth and Joan Corwin as they create a main-road pick-up plan.  We are optimistic.

I appreciate your patience as we work to get our schools open.  I will provide another update tomorrow.  Take care, and thank you.   Lyn