BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – The superintendent at Buffalo Public Schools defended the district's decision to postpone a return to in-classroom learning.
Citing rising numbers with the pandemic and a comfort with remote learning, Dr. Kriner Cash said the school's medical experts expect February 1 to be the earliest the region's largest school district can safely bring students back.
"We want schools to be open and that's what happens during normal times," Cash said. "But this isn't normal times. This is far, far, far from normal times. And if we haven't woken up now, we'll never be woke. Because right now with this pandemic raging throughout the country…we're the worst in the world right now in handling this awful disease. It's out of control here in Erie County and here in Buffalo and it's only going to get worse."
The district in August announced their plans to begin the year in a fully remote model with leadership to monitor the coronavirus trends to decide when to bring students back. February 1 was decided as the earliest date because it is the first day in the school's second semester.
Cash said the presentation by epidemiologist Oscar Gomez and pediatric specialist Dr. Dennis Kuo recommended the February 1 date.
The superintendent said 97% of students have a laptop while remote learning isn't perfect, he wants to help families who still struggle with remote learning. Still, he said the remote model is better than the hybrid model.
"Our students have their teacher every day," Cash said. "All of our teachers are doing a great job working with their students every day not only in the core subjects, but in art and music, PE, AP, IB, all of it, our students are getting their teacher"
He said 85% of students are attending class under the remote model. 92% of pre-K students are in the virtual classroom, 85% of K-8 students, and 78% of high school students are all attending class.
Despite Governor Andrew Cuomo saying schools are safe, Cash said the governor's relaxing of the testing requirements at the school under the orange zone guidelines made it unsafe.
"It is too low of a safety bar," Cash said. "They still don't tell you anything about the spread. Nine people? We'll meet that quickly as soon as a large complex district opens up and we'll be closed again. That's the point about that."
Cash said it's not fair to compare Buffalo Schools to other districts in the region because it is significantly larger. Buffalo Schools is the second largest district in all of New York State and by far the largest in Erie County.
"42% of the largest urban school districts in the country are closed and only remote and have been since the beginning of the year," he said.
The superintendent said Thursday's press conference would be the only one he will do until "this thing calms down" because he put himself at risk.
