Enrollment at Minnewaska Area Schools (MAS) has increased by 22 students from the start of last school year, according to Chip Rankin, superintendent of Minnewaska Area Schools.  “We have a very large kindergarten class of 92 students, and a very full pre-school with 84 students, which is a great sign for our community,” he said last week as the district prepared for the first day of the school year today (Monday).

In addition, there are no significant concerns with staffing at MAS, adding the district is nearly fully staffed. There are 34 new Laker “teammates” working in several different capacities, from the principal, teacher, paraprofessional, cooks, and custodians, Rankin stated.   

“The start of school year at MAS will look a lot like pre-COVID as we implement the latest CDC guidelines. Key components are:  “Stay home if you don’t feel well;  if you test positive for COVID, you are required to stay home for 5-days,and you can return on days 6-10 as long as you wear a mask,” Rankin explained. 

One big change from last year is that all students meals will no longer be funded by the state and federal governments programs, so students and parents are urged to fill out the “Free and Reduced Lunch” applications found online and in each school’s office.