Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Remote learning is in its second week in some districts. It's working in some districts, not so much in others.
"For the situation we're in, it's going as well as it could," says Joe Cantafio, West Seneca Teachers Association President. "This is the spare tire until we can get students back in school, but I'm pleased with how well our technology department has done, the creativity of our students, and we're focused on our goal of daily contact with students." Cantafio says the district is working on ensuring technology equity, including Chromebooks and dealing with wi-fi issues as they pop up.
Cantafio says he's impressed with teachers and their creativity. "Old teachers like me are learning how to do new things and we're figuring out as we go," says Cantafio, who notes attendance is high.
Cantafio says he's assessing building by building how to get students back into buildings for in-person training. He's hoping the process of bringing students back will start in the coming days.
It's a different story in Buffalo, according to Buffalo Teachers Federation president Phil Rumore. "We're still getting many concerns about the conditions of the schools," says Rumore, whose teachers must be in the buildings at least two days a week. "They haven't been sanitized, the engineers don't have enough staff, they don't have the equipment they need. There isn't warm or hot water in all of the bathrooms," adds Rumore. Rumore says the BTF sent a survey out on conditions but says the district has ordered principals to not answer those questions. "I find that absolutely outrageous. We have a copy of the letter from the district to the principals telling them not to answer any questions because the BTF is presently in court seeking to secure safe and healthful conditions for them and students. That's despicable," says Rumore.
Rumore notes the BTF will be in court on Thursday for a hearing. "We're hopeful Judge Frank Sedita will take into consideration the schools we have in our assessment where teachers have said schools are not safe, and put things on hold until an independent arbitrator hears the facts" in stopping the mandate teachers report to buildings two days a week. "I would hope the judge would say with all the documentation and affidavits he will issue an injunction against the requirement until the arbitrator hears the matter," says Rumore.