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Despite the closure of Oneida High School for the 2025-2026 academic year due to flood damage, athletic activities will proceed as planned. The school's athletic director, Bert Conklin, confirmed on Wednesday (July 23) that all practices and games for the upcoming season will continue without cancellation. The school building sustained significant damage in June when several inches of rain fell, destroying the electrical and heating systems. These systems will need to be replaced, likely keeping the building closed for the entire academic year.
Superintendent Matthew Carpenter announced the closure on the Oneida City School District’s Facebook page, expressing the difficulty of the decision. "This is not the news we hoped to deliver," Carpenter wrote. "Please know that this decision was made only after thoroughly assessing the damage and determining that the building cannot safely support teaching and learning in the year ahead."
The district is exploring alternative learning spaces with the help of neighboring districts, BOCES, and other partners to ensure the continuity of education. Carpenter emphasized the community's resilience, stating, "While we didn’t choose this path, we will walk it together — with compassion, flexibility, and resilience."
For more information, the Oneida City School District encourages families to visit their website.