The Newburgh Enlarged City School District voted to push off its first day of school from Sept. 1 to Sept. 9.

At a meeting Monday morning, school officials said they needed more time to prepare after the state Health Department sent out what they call confusing, mixed messages over the weekend.

Districts had been preparing to keep students 3 feet apart per CDC guidance.

Newburgh officials say on Friday night, the Health Department suddenly sent out a letter saying students must be 6 feet apart when they are unmasked for lunch, chorus or band. The following day, they went back to the 3-foot requirement.

Newburgh school officials now want more time to create a plan that achieves the greatest social distancing possible.

"We have to be prepared for 6 feet. Even though they relaxed it to 3, we need to be prepared for that. The worst thing we can do is bring students back to a situation where we need to pivot back and forth," says acting Superintendent of Newburgh Schools Ed Forgit.

School officials say they'll try to achieve 6 feet of social distancing by utilizing gyms, libraries and outside areas for breakfast and lunch, and if 3-feet physical distancing prevents all students from being in school, they will implement other strategies.

News 12 is waiting to hear back from the Health Department for comment.