Dear MACS Families,

I hope you have had a peaceful and enjoyable summer, spending time with those you love and taking advantage of the many wonderful activities that make living in Central New York so special.

As we prepare to welcome students and staff back for another exciting school year, I want to share my gratitude for your continued support and partnership. Throughout the summer, our faculty, staff, and operations teams have been busy preparing our buildings and programs to ensure a successful start to the 2026-2027 school year.

As many of you know, our 2023 Capital Project has been in full swing and is now beginning to wind down. I sincerely appreciate your patience, flexibility, and understanding during the construction process. We recognize that the work has at times created inconveniences and disruptions, but the improvements made throughout our district will benefit our students, staff, and community for many years to come. The temporary headaches will certainly be worth it when the project is complete.

A major focus of this capital project has been school safety and security. We have installed new emergency lockdown and lockout notification buttons in every building, along with upgraded communication and notification systems. One visible change you will notice is the installation of small blue lights outside each school building. When activated, these lights will flash blue, indicating that a safety event is occurring and that individuals should not enter the building. This additional layer of notification helps ensure that anyone approaching a building is immediately aware that they should avoid entering until the situation has been resolved.

To help families better understand our emergency procedures, I have attached a document titled "Understanding SHELL Emergency Responses." This resource explains the five standardized emergency response protocols used throughout New York State:

• Shelter-in-Place
• Hold-in-Place
• Evacuate
• Secure Lockout
• Lockdown

Using consistent language across schools and districts helps ensure clear communication and understanding during emergency situations. I encourage you to review the document and discuss it with your children. If you have any questions, please contact your child's principal.

I would also like to share a few important reminders as we prepare for the opening of school:

• The first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 8.
• The district will once again provide school supplies for all students in UPK through Grade 8.
• Additional school supplies are available at the High School for families in need. Please contact Principal Soluri for more information.
• Students should bring their own backpack and reusable water bottle.
• We are pleased to continue offering free breakfast and lunch to every student.

Thank you for entrusting us with your children's education. We value the partnership we share with families and recognize that student success is achieved when schools and families work together. We look forward to welcoming everyone back and beginning another year of learning, growth, and achievement.

Best wishes for a wonderful start to the school year.

Sincerely,

Donna Runner, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools