Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Two suburban school districts within the COVID 'yellow' zone in Erie County have made the decision to pivot to full remote learning for at least two weeks to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The Cheektowaga School Board Tuesday voted to make the calendar change that was announced on the district Facebook page indicating the shift to full remote learning beginning Monday and extending at least through the Thanksgiving break. In building learning could resume as soon as November 30.
Cheektowaga officials alerted families on Facebook, saying, "Currently and consistently this week approximately 15% of our staff have been absent, not all COVID related. Consistently over the past three-four weeks slightly over 10% of our student body have been absent."
Frontier Central has made a similar decision and has alerted district parents in a letter sent to parents that it will shift to remote learning beginning Thursday and continue through at least the Thanksgiving break.
In the letter to parents, Superintendent Richard Hughes says the decision to shift to remote learning is a result of increased cases in its transportation department and among the school population and among staff.
"We will continue to assess the COVID infection rate and those personnel affected to determine whether, remote learning will continue after the holiday," stated Hughes.
Multiple school districts within the newly declared 'yellow' zone in Erie County are working to implement COVID testing protocols necessary to allow for in-person learning.
