By David Tyler
About 85% of Fayetteville-Manlius families intend to send their children to school this fall using the hybrid in-person model.
Superintendent Dr. Craig Tice reported the results of a district survey at the board of education meeting Monday night. Tice said he was surprised that so many families chose the in-person option because at the beginning of August, and initial survey indicated that 35% of families would not be sending their students to school for in-person learning.
The district hosted three community information forums last week, and Tice said he has received nearly 600 inquiries from district stakeholders. He apologized that he has not yet responded to all of these inquiries, but he is trying to respond to all of them personally and still has about 255 that he intends to respond to.
“I do want them to know that we take their feedback very seriously,” Tice said.
Tice also reported that the district is working on outfitting every classroom in the district with a HEPA filters before the school year begins.
Shortly after the meeting began, the board went into a lengthy executive session to discuss collective bargaining items. Later in the meeting, Tice referenced being in receipt of a letter from the Fayetteville-Manlius Teachers Association “regarding their collective concerns” about reopening schools. Among the concerns highlighted in the letter are health and safety, childcare and a preference for remote learning, Tice said.
Tice said he intended to meet with representatives from the FMTA on Tuesday.
