Summer Resources and Reopening Updates

Reopening Updates

The district’s Reopening Committee, a 40-person panel made up of administrators, teachers, parents, students, board members, support staff and healthcare professionals, developed a comprehensive and flexible plan for the upcoming school year. The reopening plan was submitted to the NYS Education Department on July 31.

“The health and safety of our students, staff and families is our top priority as we establish protocols for reopening our buildings and returning to in-person instruction,” Superintendent Jennifer Spring said.

According to Spring, decisions about reopening will continue to be guided by the latest recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), directives from state and local governments, as well as in consultation with healthcare professionals.

Cohoes Food Pantry Locations/Hours

Church of Holy Trinity
122 Vliet Blvd.
Food pantry is on Simmons Ave. in the small building behind the church.
Ph: 257-2501
T/Th, 10am – Noon

United Church of Cohoes
123 Mohawk St.
Ph: 237-0278
M/W/F, 10am – Noon

Good Ground Family Church
49 Johnston Ave.
Ph: 463-6678
M/Th, 10am – 2pm
(last week of the month hours for pantry are 10-11:30am)

Social Emotional Learning and Support Resources

While we are not with you in person, Cohoes City School District social workers, school psychologists, school counselors and parent engagement specialists are available to support students and families with individual concerns. Visit our Social Emotional Learning and Support Resources page for contact information as well as related information, articles and activities.

Child Care

No cost child care for essential workers

New York State is using a portion of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funds to provide child care to income eligible essential workers at no cost. Essential workers who must work outside of the home and who are using a regulated child care provider will receive a scholarship for the cost of care as long as the funds to support it are available. All licensed and regulated providers who are caring for essential workers are able to participate in this new program.

In order to qualify for the scholarship, families must have an adjusted gross income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four that equals an annual income of $78,600.

Parents are asked to complete the following application for the CARES Child Care Scholarship via the link below. It informs parents that the application will be considered complete once the online application is finished AND the required supplemental documentation is submitted to Brightside Up, the Childcare Resource and Referral Agency (CCRA) for Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady counties. For parents that currently receive a subsidy from their local DSS to pay for child care, this scholarship can cover the parent co-pay. Parents should apply for the CARES Act Scholarship, and then contact their local Department of Social Services to get a letter stating their current co-pay. Please address any questions to Tricia Howland at thowland@brightsideup.org.

Apply for the COVID-19 CARES Child Care Scholarship

Help from the Office of Children and Family Services

If you are a parent or caregiver who needs child care, please complete this parent need for child care survey. Based on the information you provide about your job, employer, number of children, and financial need, OCFS may be able to help you find the child program you need. It may be a challenge to find child care due to COVID-19 related program closures, however the staff at OCFS are trying their best to support families to find the high quality child care that they need. In addition, the OCFS website has several resources available: https://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/

Coronavirus Resources

In addition, New York has established a Novel Coronavirus Hotline, which can provide additional information. Call 1-888-364-3065 with questions or concerns about travel and symptoms.