The Board of Education voted 8-0 to be fully remote until Oct. 5.

"I am asking our students to please be patient and to understand that it is their health, their well-being, that of their parents, and that of our staff that must be at the center of our decision,” says Superintendent Dr. Edwin Quezada.

The plan has the school year starting remotely for grades K-12 on Sept. 8, and remote learning starting for pre-school on Sept. 10.

It will continually reevaluate the plan, but as of now, on Oct. 5. students will transition to the pre-set hybrid model that was submitted to Gov. Andrew Cuomo as part of the state’s mandate.

Ultimately, the board decided that the children needed to study from home while they work out issues such as supplies, PPE and social distancing practices that will keep students and teachers safe.

Dr. Quezada apologized for the back and forth nature of their plans but says they are just trying to get things right in these times of uncertainty.

“This is a difficult period in our history. We need to come together as a collaborative learning community to provide what's best for our children.”

About 7,000 students have already chosen remote learning over hybrid learning in the district, according to Dr. Quezada.

The latest information and research was presented to the school Board of Trustees on Wednesday night as they prepared to make a final decision regarding the start of school on Thursday.

"We took scientific data to evaluate this decision we made today as a Board of Education so we'll continue to evaluate the data,” says Dr. Quezada.

In order to provide the best possible remote learning environment, teachers are still required to come to school and conduct class from their empty rooms.

News 12 is told the district is also working on recruiting bus monitors to ensure children are social distancing.