Williamsville, NY (WBEN) Despite a plea from teachers, Williamsville's schools superintendent says classes will start Tuesday, on schedule.
In a letter to parents, Scott Martzloff says while he appreciates "the open, ongoing dialogues we have with our faculty as our partners in the education of Williamsville students; however, we want to reassure you that we are fully prepared with our health and safety plans and processes to open our doors on September 8th."
He adds in the letter, 'leadership, faculty and staff have worked mightily to satisfactorily address the numerous safety and logistical concerns necessary to open school on September 8th and communicate them to our faculty, parents and staff. Our principals have taken the lead on a building-by-building basis to meet our district’s goals for a safe opening."
He says the situation is constantly fluid, "as coping with COVID-19 at this point in its trajectory remains a day-to-day effort. Changes continue to be made and communicated and will for the foreseeable future, because that is what will keep us safe and effective."
Here is the full letter from Martzloff:
Dear Williamsville Families, Faculty and Staff,
I hope this message finds you safe and eager to start a new school year! We are committed to making this admittedly difficult time the best it can be for everyone, and you will continue to receive these messages from us as we necessarily react to local developments and broader news about the virus.
Yesterday, a message was shared to the school community and regional media that identified the Williamsville Teachers’ Association union concerns with District preparedness for the start of school on September 8th. As always, we greatly appreciate the open, ongoing dialogues we have with our faculty as our partners in the education of Williamsville students; however, we want to reassure you that we are fully prepared with our health and safety plans and processes to open our doors on September 8th.
Nothing is more frustrating than the feelings of disruption, uncertainty and helplessness that we have all undoubtedly felt over these past few months. It has created anxiety in all of us. It makes us question whether we truly have done everything that we could to maintain a safe and effective classroom, workplace and home environment.
In fact, our leadership, faculty and staff have worked mightily to satisfactorily address the numerous safety and logistical concerns necessary to open school on September 8th and communicate them to our faculty, parents and staff. Our principals have taken the lead on a building-by-building basis to meet our district’s goals for a safe opening. These efforts have been augmented by numerous online forums with parents. Our assessment, which will again be discussed in a meeting with faculty representatives today, is that the concerns identified in their message have largely been met.
The challenge, undoubtedly, is that this is not a static situation, as coping with COVID-19 at this point in its trajectory remains a day-to-day effort. Changes continue to be made and communicated and will for the foreseeable future, because that is what will keep us safe and effective.
While we all want certainty and the comfort that comes from ‘every box being checked,’ the fact is that the virus does not care. It is imperative that we continue to work together and communicate regularly to maintain awareness and confidence for our families and employees, and I assure you that we will continue to do so for the health and safety of the Williamsville school community.