Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Buffalo Public Schools are planning to resume in-person class five days a week after the winter break January 3, according to Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash.
"We should be goot to go," said Cash during a city hall news conference Wednesday, answering questions and characterizing the district's current COVID status after alerting teachers and students to have their remote technology ready should they need to shift to any form of remote learning.
Cash emphasized the schools need to remain open and he cautions they'll revisit the status of COVID Tuesday before making a final determination of a return to class Jan. 3.
Superintendent Cash would like to have all students and staff tested prior to return after the break but admits that process would need to start quickly and require some coordination with Erie County and New York State officials to make sure testing is readily available.
Cash also expressed hesitancy about test to stay programs to allow students who have had a close contact with someone who tested positive to COVID to stay in school.
Cash says he will evaluate test to stay, but he is hesitant about the results from the pilot program in Grand Island. "The pilot does not tell me anything. I'm not convinced, I'm not persuaded, the data doesn't even look right," says Cash.
Cash says he's wondering how many tests the district will receive. "How many will families receive when we're talking thousands? We can get to a million alone for Buffalo Public Schools very quickly. How many tests will we get as try to mitigate and keep students in school. I'm interested in it, but how will it work operationally?" ponders Cash.
"We must stay open if we can, no question about it. No one wants to go back to remote learning," said Cash as he worked to reassure families that everything that can be done to continue in-person learning is being done.
On vaccinations, Cash notes that not enough of the student population is vaccinated to date. "Not nearly enough 5 to 12 year-olds are vaccinated."
"January' going to be a tough month," stated Cash.
