Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday the release of new COVID-19 guidelines for school districts all-across the state.
With many schools set to return to the classroom over the next couple of weeks, Hochul wanted to ensure that schools and parents of students in their districts were made aware of the state's stance with regards to COVID-19 concerns before school returns to session.
Hochul is grateful that this year is a much different scenario and different landscape than it was just one year ago, saying it is expected to be a much easier year for parents and schools. That's largely due in part to the state wanting to be fully aligned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new guidelines for COVID-19 when it comes schools in New York State.
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"It seems, to me, that the Governor is acknowledging that we are in the post-emergency phase of COVID-19, which is wonderful for those of us to hear," said President of the Erie-Niagara School Superintendent Association, Michael Cornell on Monday. "School children have had their lives turned upside-down by COVID for two-and-a-half years, and that's not going to happen this year, according to what I've read in the guidance and what I heard from the Governor. So that was great for us to hear. We're full speed ahead on getting schools open. We'll digest the guidance, there are a couple of items for local decision-making around isolation of students who are COVID-positive and the like. But in large measure, you're going to see an opening of school in 2022 that looks a lot like [when] school opened in 2019."
"Largely, we're seeing that after reading them, there's kind of a push to go back to pre-COVID times, and we're happy," said Sweet Home Central School District Superintendent Mike Ginestre in line with Cornell's comments on Monday. "We're kind of getting back on that road to go to what 2019 more looked like. So it's getting schools back to mainly a normal function, in terms of COVID or health guidelines. We're happy to see that, we still have some work in there to interpret, but that's where we see it going."
It was a shared thought among many superintendents in schools across Western New York, even dating back to last school year, to stop the mandates, requirements and directives at the local and state level, and let school districts use common sense to react to situations relating to COVID-19 going forward.
For Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent, Mark Laurrie, he was hoping the latest guidance from the CDC was going to be the way it went for school in the state going forward.
"I think this is a workable way to do things," said Laurrie in reaction to Monday's guidelines. "We have been dealing with the detrimental effects of the close downs, the shutdowns, the hybrid, that we really can't return to now. In retrospect, it's easy to say that, I understand, but it's going to be a while before we overcome some of those hurdles that were caused by it. Having said that, it is a relief to know that it's in writing and we can proceed this way."
"It's nice to see that the state is recognizing that the most important thing is that our students are back in our classrooms," Ginestre added. "Now, of course, health and safety is our No. 1 priority, and we are encouraging our students, faculty and staff to stay home if they are sick or not feeling well. But at the same time, there is a definite recognition that schools are safe, safe places for students to be, and that the most important thing is to continue their education in-person."
While the risk of COVID-19 and the potential for another outbreak is still a realistic possibility, many schools feel it is already second nature for them to be able to confidently handle whatever comes their way after two-and-a-half years of constantly adjusting and adapting to the virus.
"We have a lot of tools in the toolbox and a lot of really good sense about how to use them. If something happens over the course of the school year, we have no shortage of ways to deal with it," Cornell said.
"We've had enough meetings, we've had enough dialogue, we've had enough guidance. There's enough smart people and medical professionals in our schools, smart board members, superintendents and staff that know how to handle this," Laurrie added. "It is where we need to be at this time, and I'm pretty comfortable in saying that I think this is welcomed relief, and it's the right place to be in the right set of rules to follow. It gives you just enough to keep your mind focused on what you should do in case there's a situation, but it's not didactic or restricting or mandating. We should be, and we are now far removed from that type of directive."
As for aspects of the statewide guideline that superintendents are in favor of, that list starts with the ability for local control.
"We wanted to exercise discretion on matters like this on our own behalf, rather than have it exercised for us at the state level. What this guidance document does, to my eye, is it gives us the ability to use that discretion, exercise it on our own behalf, based on the needs of our own community," Cornell said. "Every school community is unique, the needs of children and families in every community are unique. School districts have proven ourselves to be responsive, and able to adapt quickly to the unique needs of our communities throughout the COVID experience. So the fact the guidance gives us, as local leaders, the ability to exercise discretion based on the needs of our community is welcomed and a long time coming."
Cornell also makes mention of the supply of COVID-19 at-home rapid tests being at very good levels. While the state will continue to issue at-home rapid tests to students and staff entering the upcoming school year, Cornell says schools already have more than enough tests, which is a good problem to have.
While some districts will take some time to digest the new guidelines for the upcoming school year, both Ginestre and Laurrie are happy to see some of the major requirements that were in effect to start last school year gone in September of 2022.
"Obviously masking is still optional, which is good. Last year it was required. Social distancing when we can is nice to see, as well, because that allows us to use utilize our space a little more. Those are two big things that stick out for us," Ginestre said. "Of course, we are very appreciative that testing kits will be still coming to school, and we can pass out test kits to families to make sure that our students are COVID free when they come to school. That's a big win for us moving forward, but a lot of the requirements or the things that we're seeing in the new document are recommended guidelines instead of requirements. I think that gives us flexibility to operate schools in a more normal fashion."
"Just right off the top of my head, masking on buses, contact tracing, those were huge, huge considerations that took up a lot of staff time. I think that we've grown and learned from that, but it's time to move beyond that," Laurrie added. "Those two things struck me as being good signs. I think having this information now is putting us in a good place to communicate with our communities."
When asked about any negatives regarding the new guidelines established by New York State, it was more of just a matter of making sure that school districts do not read too much into the guidelines, and trust their resources to make the right decisions for the safety of their students and faculty.
"Hopefully we're on a path to not really have to worry about COVID too much longer in schools, as far as what the requirements or the guidelines are," Ginestre said. "But, of course, we'll be ready to shift and change our focus and our practices if we need to. That's one thing that while this is good news today, we have to be ready if changes occur, or cases start to rise in a dramatic fashion."
As for the focus of many school districts now, it's turning towards the mental health of students among the school-age population.
"The COVID experience exacerbated that crisis, and we need to focus our attention on that - making sure that kids experience joy, value and connection through the school experience. And COVID receding into the background will only help us do that," Cornell said.
Hear more of our conversation with Cornell in the player below: