BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Public Schools is considering a plan this fall to continue offering remote learning for students who want it.
"There is conversations about having a full-remote option, a virtual academy, that students can access full-time or something that is supplemental to the in-person learning that students are getting," Buffalo School Board representative Larry Scott said. "Perhaps it's being used for students that are suspended or having a mental health crisis and are unable to attend school."
The plan has not been finalized and likely will not until June when the board meets again for work sessions.
Scott said there needs to be an aggressive communication plan for what the plan is for the full. His personal belief is that kids need to be physically in school five days per week.
"The issue with full, remote learning, I think that's coming from the expectation that there will be some parents who would like to keep their kids full-remote either for the pandemic or other reasons," he said. "Moving forward, we need to eliminate the practice of concurrent teaching where you have a teacher who is responsible for both students in-person and at-home, remotely. It interferes with their ability to teach effectively the way we know pre-pandemic. It also interferes with those students who are in-person and getting the full opportunity of that authentic, in-person learning that we know pre-pandemic. It is my strong opinion that if we are going to pursue a full-remote mode, it would be a standalone model, separately staffed."
Scott said he is not sure about the district's ability to afford hiring more teachers to those students. However, he said there may be some funding to hire thanks to the American Rescue Plan.
District Spokesperson Elena Cala released the following the statement:
All Buffalo Public Schools students are expected to be back to in-person classes five days a week for the 2021-2022 school year. Students will also be given the option of starting the school year fully remote. The schools will work with an anticipated smaller percentage of students to help them transition back to attending school in person five days a week by the end of the first quarter, six weeks into the school year.
Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash will have a full day meeting with executive staff on June 4 to work through the logistics and post-pandemic operational details for next year. Letters will be sent to families the week of June 7 to communicate the district's plans for 2021-22.
June 21 is the final day of school for students at Buffalo Schools the 2020-2021 school year.
