Syracuse Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli is one of 27 co-sponsors of a bill that would postpone the impact of the state’s tough new tests on New York’s students and teachers for two years.
The bill, sponsored by Assembly Education Chair Catherine Nolan, would prohibit the use of the Common Core-aligned three- through eighth-grade state exams from being included on students’ permanent records or transcripts.
The bill would also prohibit the state from providing student data to in Bloom and other data management companies until July 1, 2015. And it would give parents the option of refusing to allow their children’s personally identifiable data to be provided to in Bloom or other vendors.
If the bill passes the Assembly, it would still have to be taken up and approved by the state Senate and be signed by Cuomo
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SUNY Oswego updates students on new guidelines due to COVID-19
[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text]BY: TOMAS RODRIGUEZ
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SUNY Oswego will be transitioning all summer courses to distance learning, with some facing possible cancellations. A full updated schedule was made available to students May 1.
As a New York state institution and a member of the SUNY system, Oswego’s campus will have to comply with any mandates issued by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“While there are still many unknowns at this time, the leadership team and I are hard at work and vetting several possible plans for SUNY Oswego for the Fall 2020 semester, including face-to-face should government and health guidelines allow,” SUNY Oswego president Deborah Stanley said. “We will also institute all necessary health and safety measures.”
Due to the constant changing nature of the virus, Mary Walker Health Center will maintain its current appointment-only policy until the COVID-19 pandemic comes to a close, allowing for proper screening of students and added safety for both students and personnel.
Telehealth will also remain available until the current threat is no longer existent.
Students will still be required to complete COVID-19 questionnaires and will be screened by a nurse prior to their appointment.
“There will be a separation of sick and healthy students in the waiting area for those students that are seen face-to-face,” Director of Student Health Services Angie Brown said.
Additional precautions will include requiring students to wear a mask or covering while present at Health Services.
Currently, Oswego Health has made a mobile testing site available, although Health Services may have the ability to test under some circumstances should test kits become more readily available.
Penfield Library has been impacted by the epidemic as well, providing about 95 percent of its services online.
“As we plan for the fall, we will continue to provide all appropriate services to our students, faculty and staff, and adapt library operations and use of the facilities in concert with the guidelines from the Governor on social distancing and limiting human density in our academic buildings,” Provost Scott Furlong said. “As an example, we may need to limit the number of students sitting at individual tables or in small group study rooms.”
Orientation for both first-year and transfer students, which were scheduled to stretch between the months of June and August, will become available online, still requiring incoming students to activate their email and complete their academic and health history information.
Summer orientation has been broken into two different steps. A portion of the information made available during the orientation programs will be moved to the online world, while the remaining information will be delivered face-to-face during the Fall Opening.
“In addition to online summer modules we are building, we are in the process of developing ways to engage new students with Laker Leaders through videoconferencing, social media and other platforms,” college Vice President Jerri Howland said.
While aiming to build a quality first-year class this fall, the safety and health of the campus community remains the top priority, college officials say.
“Residence Life and Housing will adapt based on how many students are allowed back on campus following future guidelines received from the Governor on social distancing and limiting human density in our residential buildings,” Howland said.
In terms of sanitizing, SUNY Oswego has custodial coverage seven days a week that routinely disinfects residence halls, all rooms, offices and any spaces utilized.
Daily cleaning protocols also include door handles, light switches, faucets and door knobs, among others.
Dining halls will remain take-out or delivery only, pursuant to Gov. Cuomo’s Executive Orders.
Concerning study abroad programs, SUNY has canceled student study abroad for the summer session.
“SUNY Oswego and SUNY leadership are closely monitoring the evolving situation and have not yet made a determination about the Fall,” Furlong said.
When it comes to the Fall semester, SUNY Oswego plans on welcoming new and returning international students.
“We are proceeding as we normally would to recruit, enroll and retain our international student population and will continue to work within any new guidelines received from the state and SUNY,” Associate Provost for International Education and Programs Josh McKeown said. “It’s an uncertain time but staff in the Office of International Education and Programs is prepared, like the rest of the Oswego campus, to be flexible and adjust as the situation demands.”
In the event that SUNY Oswego returns to normalcy in the Fall, the college will have to adhere to CDC guidelines and in some cases those applying to the state of New York to ensure students’ safety.
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Oswego Planetarium
by Owen Marchand, WTOP10-TV
Each month, the SUNY Oswego Planetarium holds a different theme during its weekly shows. At Sundays at 7pm the Planetarium holds exciting shows hosted by Dr. John Zielinski of the Oswego physics department. The theme for the month of November is “Astronomical subjects in the works of Shakespeare, Tolstoy, and Mark Twain.”
During these shows Dr. Zielinski will discuss the astronomical topics in Shakespeare’s works such as Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Tolstoy’s War and Peace, as well as Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. He states that he will be giving a background on each of these pieces in order to connect them to the show in a way that is both interesting and educational. During this portion of the show, Dr. Zielinski will talk about important characters, and situations of each of the pieces of literature.
Throughout the show, Dr. Zielinski will also show many clips from films based on these novels and plays and incorporate them within the show. He says that a main part of the show is assimilating as many of these events as possible on the planetarium dome. Along with these clips, some other astronomical facts will be noted such as how all the stars seem to rotate the North Star and that all stars return to the same position in the sky every 23 hours and 56 minutes.
In order to witness this month’s show, one must sign up in advanced as the planetarium only has 35 seats but will allow and over-flow of people to sit on the floor. It is important to get there a little early in order to secure a seat! If the weather is good after each show, there will be a telescopic observation held after the presentation.
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Green Beer Sunday
Reported by: Conor Halton
