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Flooding Updates
September HS Site Work Update
High School damage and repairs Q&A
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A: Due to a major storm on June 22, 2025, Oneida High School suffered extensive electrical and mechanical damage. After careful assessment, it was determined that the building cannot safely reopen for the 2025-2026 school year.
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A: The district received final confirmation on the extent of the damage late Friday, July 18th, and made the difficult decision on Monday, the 21st, to close Oneida High School for the upcoming school year.
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A: We are in the process of replacing specific electrical and mechanical components that require ordering and manufacturing, and will take time. Our team is collaborating with contractors, engineers, electricians, and architects to ensure the restoration of the high school facility.
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A: Yes, we contacted vendors for quotes; however, the cost and logistical considerations did not meet our needs.
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A: North Broad is presently leased by MOBOCES and is inadequate in size to accommodate all high school students and staff.
Special Education Q&A for Parents of Students in Grades 6–12
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A recent flood caused the closure of our high school building. As a result, middle and high school students are now sharing one building. This has led to a reduction in instructional time for all students. To ensure IEPs accurately reflect the services students are receiving, we are updating them. In some cases, we are adding services or minutes to better support students during this transition.
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Teams of teachers, counselors, administrators, and school psychologists have met multiple times to carefully review each student’s needs. These collaborative teams developed individualized plans to ensure each student receives appropriate support. Parents will see the exact changes being recommended before being asked to sign anything.
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No. Related services (such as speech, OT, PT, counseling) will remain the same in terms of minutes. In fact, in some cases, additional related services are being recommended to meet students’ evolving needs. We are also adding indirect consult services to many IEPs to ensure students are supported in new and flexible ways during this time.
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Building-level teams will be closely monitoring student progress throughout the year. If a student is not making expected gains—such as not meeting IEP goals or struggling in classes where success is anticipated—we will take action. This may include:
- A meeting with the Student Assistance Team (SAT) to explore additional supports.
- A Committee on Special Education (CSE) meeting to revise the IEP and add services.
- Consideration of compensatory services if appropriate.
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Compensatory services are special education services provided to make up for services that a student was entitled to but did not receive due to circumstances beyond their control—such as school closures or scheduling changes. These are not automatically provided and are not a minute-for-minute replacement. Instead, they are determined on a case-by-case basis, considering:
- Whether the school was unable to provide the service (not due to student absence or lack of participation).
- The extent to which the missed services impacted the student’s ability to meet their IEP goals.
The goal is to help students get closer to meeting their goals, not to simply replace missed time.
Education Q&A
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No. The district will be providing instruction to all of our students with all of our staff.
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A: No. Graduation requirements and academic planning will continue as normal. The district is working closely with guidance staff to ensure students stay on track.
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A: We’re working on what our homecoming celebration will look like.
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A: We want to reassure our community that all BOCES students will continue attending their programs as scheduled for the 2025–2026 academic year. While we understand there may be questions or concerns, please know we are actively finalizing the details to ensure a smooth experience for all involved.
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A: All staff will remain employed.
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A: Yes, all middle school students will have a locker.
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A: High school students will not be assigned lockers and will instead carry their backpacks to and from classes.
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A: All students will be provided with a meal and snacks.
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A: Substitute teachers are still needed and appreciated! They will continue to be managed through Frontline.
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A: Sep 2, 2025 Grade 6: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm - Grades 7 & 8: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm
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A: Visitation days are scheduled for August 25-27 from 9 AM to 1 PM.
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A: Middle School students will keep their phones in their lockers, while high school students' phones are to remain off and in their backpacks for the school day.
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The OSMS building will open at 6:45 AM.
Community Q&A
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A: We’ve seen incredible support from staff, families, and local organizations. The Oneida community has stepped up in amazing ways! We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the outpouring of support we have received. While we appreciate many offers of assistance, we have had to decline for safety reasons. We would like to recognize Artani’s Pizza for their generous contribution of 50% of their profits from a busy Saturday to support the district's cleanup costs. Additionally, Pepi’s Pizza generously provided pizzas for our hardworking team members. We are also thankful to various staff and community members who have brought special treats to our IT, Maintenance, Public Relations, and Administration teams. We are truly grateful to be part of this amazing Oneida community! #OneidaStrong
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A: The added costs of the storm should not have any impact on taxes. It is early in the process, and the full cost of recovery is yet to be determined. We have flood coverage as well as some additional building coverages that will help offset some of the costs. We are submitting an Emergency Building project to NYSED for approval. When this is approved, we can expect all expenses in that project back in the 2027-2028 fiscal year based on our NYS building aid ratio. We will also be exploring options for grants and support from NYS and Federal funds.
Technology Q&A
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A: Phone service was unavailable due to an outage at the High School, which previously served as the central hub for the district’s network infrastructure. As a result, all buildings experienced disruptions in phone connectivity. The IT department worked to reroute the system.
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A: The district needed Spectrum to complete the rerouting of the primary internet connection from the High School to BOCES. Once this transition was finalized, internet access was restored to Seneca Street Elementary, Willard Prior Elementary, and Durhamville Elementary. Northland Communications restored service to Otto Shortell Middle School and the District Office.
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A: On August 21, 2025, the district announced that full network connectivity was successfully restored across all buildings following the June 22nd outage caused by flood damage at the high school.
The disruption originated at the high school, which houses the district’s primary internet demarcation point. Flood waters compromised critical infrastructure at that location, resulting in a temporary loss of network access throughout the district.
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of our IT department, Northland Communications, Spectrum, and the Mohawk Regional Information Center (MORIC), services were restored.
Contact and Support Q&A
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A: The best way to contact the district is via email.
General Inquiries: news@oneidacsd.org
Student Registration: nmarji@oneidacsd.org
District Office: abishop@oneidacsd.org
Transportation: cmanderville@oneidacsd.org
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A: Updates have been and will continue to be posted regularly on our website, and through ParentSquare. Families are encouraged to check these often for the latest news.
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A: The district is committed to supporting all students socially, emotionally, and academically during this transition. Counseling, transportation updates, and communication will be provided to help families adjust.
Athletics Q&A
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A: Oneida Varsity, JV, and Modified sports programs will continue.
The JV and Varsity season is set to commence on August 18, 2025. The Fall Modified program will begin on August 25, 2025.
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A: The Athletic Department is currently making any necessary adjustments to the fall schedule. We are working to ensure that athletic schedules remain as close to normal as possible.
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A: Practice times may need minor adjustments, but will remain consistent in the afternoons to align with BOCES and students playing up.
Transportation Q&A
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A: Juniors and seniors will be allowed to drive. They MUST register their vehicle with the school/Sophomores with special permission from the school may drive.
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A: All district routes will be mailed no later than Monday (8/25).
Bishop Grimes Q&A
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A: The district is finalizing relocation plans and is actively pursuing a lease with Bishop Grimes, with input from administrators, guidance staff, and local partners. More information will be provided as soon as details are confirmed.
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A: We are currently coordinating transportation and scheduling to keep the school day as close to normal as possible for all students.
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A: We are considering all options to prevent any impact on other students in the district.
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A: Our Transportation Department is developing a plan to facilitate the safe return of students to Oneida in the event of illness when parents are unable to pick them up.
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A: All Oneida City School District students will be provided transportation to and from their destination.
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A: The district is currently exploring various potential spaces within the Oneida Community, neighboring districts, as well as the Bishop Grimes facilities.
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A: Our guidance department is currently working on scheduling. Although it's early in the process, we expect there to be very few differences in course offerings by switching locations to Bishop Grimes.
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A: We are not offering a remote option at this time.
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A: We’re exploring this opportunity.
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A: The high school administration will send information regarding conferences, and the Special Education Department will collaborate with parents to facilitate attendance at these meetings.
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A: We are exploring space in the Oneida community and with neighboring districts to house any performances we are planning for.
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A: The district is exploring alternative funding sources, including insurance coverage and grants. Additionally, the Board of Education has authorized the use of emergency funding to address this crisis. They will need to vote to accept the Bishop Grimes lease.
Do you have any questions? Submit yours to news@oneidacsd.org, and we will add it to our Q&A!
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Construction Progress Update: Drainage and Erosion Control
9/11/25
Tree removal is underway, and stumps are being removed. Work is currently underway to dig out the drainage ditch. Detention basins are being installed to help collect and manage large volumes of water, reducing the risk of overflow. Rock is being placed and grouted for the head walls to prevent erosion, along with stabilization measures to ensure materials are protected from being carried downstream. The next phase of the project will involve rerouting the drainage system.
Community Presentation
Update on MS and HS Student Schedules
Full Network Connectivity Successfully Restored
Additional Parking at OSMS
August 13, 2025
Positive Progress at Oneida High School
More Positive Progress at Oneida High School
August 13, 2025
We’re making great strides in restoring our high school and preparing it for a strong future! Our dedicated team has been hard at work addressing repairs, improving safety, and taking steps to protect our building for years to come.
Here’s what’s been happening:
- Improving Safety & Security: A new site survey has been completed. Oneida Electric successfully installed backup generator power for our outdoor lighting, thereby enhancing security around the facility.
- Better Drainage: Preparations are underway to dredge the drainage ditch, improving water flow and helping prevent future flooding.
- Mechanical & Electrical Repairs: Crews are repairing and replacing valves, restoring essential mechanical systems, and arranging temporary power for key spaces like the auditorium, gyms, library (to protect sensitive finishes), as well as boilers, and security systems.
- National Grid’s Meter & Test department visited the high school to conduct inspections. Although the transformers did not pass this time, National Grid’s Design department is actively exploring alternative solutions to ensure successful outcomes.
- Clean-Up & Restoration: We’ve added new dehumidifiers in critical areas and are planning to replace flooring in affected classrooms.
- Elevator & Fire Safety: Work is underway to repair the elevator and ensure the fire alarm system is fully functional.
- Food Service Upgrades: Damaged freezer and cooler compressors are being replaced and relocated to safer locations.
- Funding Secured: We are working closely with our insurance provider and state agencies to maximize funding so we can move forward efficiently without straining local resources.
Every step brings us closer to a fully restored high school. We’re proud of the teamwork, expertise, and community spirit driving this progress, and we’ll continue to keep you updated as milestones are reached.
High School Recovery Update: Positive Progress!
High School Recovery Update: Positive Progress!
August 13, 2025
We are pleased to share that steady progress is being made in the recovery efforts at the high school. Exterior site work will commence soon to enhance the property’s drainage and flood prevention systems.
The project will include dredging the existing creek, trimming overgrown plant life, reinforcing the creek bed with rip rap and stone, and redirecting drainage flow away from the building. In addition, we are inspecting and cleaning the drainage systems to ensure they are free of sediment or blockages.
These improvements will help protect the school from future flooding and ensure that, even in severe weather, water is safely directed away from the building. We appreciate the community’s continued support as we work to restore and strengthen our school facilities for years to come.
Mr. Carpenter's Interview on Flooding
Oneida High School to Remain Closed: A Message From the Superintendent
Community Update: Oneida High School Flood Recovery
Community Resilience: Overcoming the Challenges of Severe Flooding at Oneida High School
