In Hyde Park, students will have access to two weeks worth of work online, and hard copies will be available to pick up.

At Spackenkill, teachers and staff were working Friday to complete a plan for remote education.

In Highland, students will be treated to 10 days free of learning, between time unused from snow days and a week spring break.

While districts in Dutchess, Ulster and Orange counties are preparing for the next two weeks in different ways, they all have one thing in common:

School's out until March 30.

County executives for the three regions determined together to close down schools for two weeks as COVID-19, the novel strain of coronavirus, continues to spread throughout the Hudson Valley.

As of Friday afternoon, there were three confirmed cases in Dutchess, three in Orange and five in Ulster. Already, the cases forced isolated school closures in districts like Kingston and Wallkill.

Districts were informed of the regional decision in the late morning and early afternoon Friday prior to the announcement, and many were left scrambling to finalize plans for how to handle the next two weeks.

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Districts were left with the authority to determine how to execute the closures to best serve their students. However, the lack of a uniform plan for such things as remote learning and providing meals to students enrolled in assistance programs left a plethora of questions to answer before Monday. And, none could be given as to what parents should do with the 10 work days the decision impacts.

Some districts were open about their lack of a definitive plan Friday afternoon.

A post on the New Paltz district site announcing the move told parents and guardians to "be alert for further communications about remote learning resources, the availability and distribution of bag lunches, as well as other details of district operations during this time frame."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Friday afternoon that the state will waive its requirement that schools must be in session for at least 180 days a year in order to qualify for state aid.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said he’s been in contact with superintendents in planning school closures and the specific language surrounding the restrictions.

“In a way, this provides our districts relief in that they don’t have to field individual queries, it’s countywide,” he said. “School districts can plan how to implement remote learning and prepare for the next steps following this two-week period.”

Molinaro clarified that schools would not be prohibited from accommodating small populations in school buildings. He said this consideration was made with students who rely on school meals in mind.

“We spoke about the possibility of meal distribution and student needs,” he said. “This included providing access to meals through a point man or a distribution system of some sort.”

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan in a release stated school staff may still be needed to report to work, but all extracurricular and public events will be cancelled.

Ulster BOCES District Superintendent and CEO Chuck Khoury said all Ulster superintendents supported the decision.

"We all have the same goal," he said, "which is to protect the health and safety of the over 22,000 students and the thousands of teachers, administrators and support staff who work in our schools everyday."

Ulster health commissioner Dr. Carol Smith said in a statement, "This decision was not made lightly and we know that it will have real world impacts to many, but it is the decision that needs to be made to stop the continued spread of COVID-19. ... I want to again stress that residents should continue to exercise caution, but that this is not a cause for panic."

How districts are handling closures

Area districts are varying in how they plan to spend the next two weeks. The Journal attempted to reach leadership for each district; some did not respond to messages before deadline Friday.

Arlington: A message posted to the district website notifies the community about the closures, but did not yet include specific details of the district's plans as of Friday evening.

"This is a rapidly changing situation and we will continue to update you with any new information. In the meantime, please know that we are working to provide materials and resources for continued learning. Further information is forthcoming and we appreciate your patience," the message read.

Beacon: According to a message on the district website, teachers on Friday created "supplemental learning activities for students," and school principals plan to use school messenger by Monday with instructions on accessing the materials online or picking up a physical copy at a school.

Free breakfast/lunch will be available for all Beacon students beginning on Monday at Beacon High School's parking lot from 10-10:30 a.m., and at the South Avenue Elementary school's parking lot from 10:30-11 a.m., the message reads.

Also, elementary school principals "will be contacting families later next week about times to pick up a Chromebook for elementary students."

Dover: Superintendent Mike Tierney said administrators will spend Monday planning and teachers on Wednesday will " prepare assignments, reinforcement activities and enrichment for our students above and beyond what they have already distributed."

Students will be provided free breakfast and lunch "just as we do over the summer," beginning Monday. Parents are asked to contact the district at 845-877-5700 ext. 1260, or through the district website, to register for the meals program.

Highland: Superintendent Thomas Bongiovi said the district is arranging for school breakfasts and lunches for interested families beginning Tuesday. And, they'll be delivered with district buses.

"This is going to be 10 days of school. That's a very long time," Bongiovi said. "We want to continue mental health and education needs."

He said the district posted mental health resources for parents on its website. Instructional content, meanwhile, will be evaluated in a week or two, but for the first two weeks students will not have work to complete.

"We weren't expecting this," he said. "The original plan was that Monday would have a half day and teachers would make a learning packet. But that didn’t happen.

"As always in Highland we always come together in time of crisis," he said. "Although this in an unpredicted time period we are facing will get through together as a family."

Hyde Park: The administrative team and essential staff will work Monday to organize plans for how to distribute meals to students and for cleaning the facilities, Superintendent Greer Rychik said. Teachers worked Friday to prepare two weeks of work available online to students or available in hard copy that can be picked up 10 a.m. Monday at district offices.

"Most people were anticipating it would come," Rychik said. "Many of our plans were underway. ... We have plans for the next two weeks. Anything beyond that will develop over the next two weeks."

The online lessons were prepared in Google Classroom, and were approached as a "hybrid method" of distance learning. Students in grades 6-12 have Chromebooks, and the district is working to supply them for students in grades 4-5 in the coming days.

"First and foremost, we wish that families remain safe and healthy," Rychik said.

Marlboro: According to a district letter on its website, the district is populating "our website with links to help students and families find instructional materials and activities. In addition, you can visit your child’s teacher website to see any updates and communications they post."

For students enrolled in a free and reduced lunch program, food will be distributed at the district's "Snack Shack" next to the high school's cafeteria from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday; those receiving food are encouraged to bring reusable bags.

Millbrook: By the end of the weekend the district plans to provide parents with an idea of "what to expect in the upcoming days," but did not have details on Friday.

Our Lady of Lourdes: The private high school plans to transition to online learning but that is not expected to begin until Wednesday, according to a message on its site.

Students each day will be expected to check their email, "carefully reading teacher updates, completing assignments, reviewing all online expectations, policies and procedures. Students will be given instruction by each of their teachers on how to continue a meaningful learning experience using an online format," according to the message.

The school will be open Monday from 9 a.m. to noon, and 4-7 p.m. for any student who needs to pick up anything they left.

Pawling: The district plans to provide students and families with details about learning plans on Tuesday, according to a message on the district site.

"Our instructional leaders and teachers have made plans that will continue to support our students' learning," the message read. A link to local resources for those dealing with food insecurity was also included.

Pine Plains: Superintendent Martin Handler said district leadership plans to meet with teachers Monday to discuss what materials can be made available to students, at which time the plan will be shared with parents. But, he noted, the district will not attempt distance learning.

Handler noted he did not learn about the closure until 1 p.m. Friday.

"We have not experienced anything like this in the past and we are doing the best we can for the students, staff and families involved," he said. "Our emphasis is on the health and safety for the kids. Whatever we can do for the academic aspect we will do, but that is not the emphasis."

Poughkeepsie: The district planned a half day for Friday in advance of the announcement and teachers used that time to put together two weeks of instructional material, Superintendent Eric Rosser said. The material is available digitally, and will be uploaded to the district's website, but also hard copies were being printed for those who needed them.

District and union leadership plan to meet Monday to "bring clarity and direction for what the operation of the district will look like" during the two-week period, Rosser said.

The district also is making Monday a professional courtesy day for staff members who need to prepare their own personal plans in place for the next two weeks.

Rosser and Mayor Rob Rolison have discussed utilizing the newly formed Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet "to to talk about ways support could be provided" to families "if schools had to close."

That includes a discussion of how to provide meals to students in need. All district students are eligible for a free lunch program, and the district serves around 5,000 breakfast and lunches combined per day, according to the district numbers. The district also provides 165 students with meals over each weekend through a backpack program.

Red Hook: Superintendent Paul Finch said the district is taking a phased approach. He said the first phase will include "basic assignments," while the second phase will include digital communication to enhance assignments.

"We are careful to keep an eye on the digital divide and make compensatory moves to make sure equal access rules the day," Finch said.

Rhinebeck: Superintendent Joseph Phelan said administrators will meet Monday to finalize a remote work plan for students. Factors to be discussed include online and computer-free work options, options for students without reliable computer or internet access and amenities for students who rely on school lunches.

“We’ll be hammering out these plans on Monday, and we will have our teaching staff meet later next week to implement these plans,” he said.

While classes will not be held, buildings will be accessible for students and parents to pick up work and books.

Spackenkill: Teachers and staff are meeting Monday to complete a plan for remote education," Superintendent Mark Villanti said.

"We’ll be providing materials that are both enforcing academics and enriching for students," he said.

Wappingers: A message posted on the district website notified parents of the closures, and noted Monday remains a Superintendents Conference Day for staff.

"We will be working through the weekend, and again on Monday to provide you with additional information and guidance on how we plan to navigate these next two weeks," the message read. The district also linked a survey form at which parents can ask questions.

Webutuck: The district has previously told the Journal each of their students are equipped for distance learning. In a letter to parents, Superintendent Raymond Castellani said the district will be providing parents and families with "further direction and instructions about the closure and distance learning."

Katelyn Cordero: kcordero@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4870; Twitter: @KatelynCordero. Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4882; Twitter: @GeoffWilson_.