BUFFALO (WBEN) - State Assemblyman David DiPietro and Congressman Chris Jacobs held a press conference Friday morning, calling on school to be reopened to in-person learning.
"We need to get out kids back in the classroom," said DiPietro, as he read a letter that was sent to him from a school social worker that outlined numerous issues she's seen with children due to the lack of in-person education.
DiPietro introduced legislation that he believes would allow many, if not all schools across the state to reopen to 100% capacity.
"This bill does one thing," DiPietro began. "There's nothing in this bill that goes beyond taking kids in the classroom...from six feet to three feet."
DiPietro added that this measure is supported by Dr. Stephen Turkovich, who serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Oishei Children's Hospital. Turkovich was supposed to be present for the press conference but never showed.
Local superintendents, including Mark Laurrie of Niagara Falls, have previously stated that the biggest current obstacle preventing kids from getting back into the classroom is the six-foot social distancing requirement.
"The problem of moving more students back into schools will not change until there's clear definition on six feet or three feet, and with or without masks," said Laurrie. "If students are allowed to come back lesser feet apart, more students will be in school. Until you change that requirement, you won't see more students coming back to school...if vaccination numbers will lead to that decision, then it's a good thing, obviously."
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"I am telling you right now that any Democrat in the majority who wants to take this (bill), locally - our two senators Sean Ryan or Tim Kennedy - they can have it," DiPietro continued. "Anyone on the Assembly side can have this bill - it's written generically and there's no number on it yet. I want to be clear: this is a bipartisan issue."