Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The Buffalo School Board could learn during a work session about a hybrid education plan from Superintendent Kriner Cash.
"I don't know exactly what to expect," says Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore. "The only thing I know of you never what to expect ahead of time when you're working with the district."
Rumore says whatever plan is introduced must be agreeable to all stakeholders. "Parents, teachers, administrators must feel it's a good plan and provide for safety for kids and adults, and everything has to come together," says Rumore. "What we expect to see is absolute safe and healthful conditions for students and adults. That means it meets all the requirements of testing prior to admission and on a continuing basis, the schools are sanitized and everything is in order."
Rumore says the hybrid plan should start with special education students, pre-k, kindergarten and first grade students as well as English language learners. "I think the most important thing is the schools are safe and everyone agrees this is a good plan and it's constantly re-evaluated," adds Rumore.
Buffalo School Board member Larry Scott says he also wants the district to focus on younger learners first. "I expect to see a sound plan on how we can begin in person and hybrid learning for those with disabilities, our English language learners, and our youngest students," says Scott. "We need to focus on our most vulnerable students first."
Scott says aside from safety requirements, he see logistical challenges in staffing for a hybrid model, and having staff provide both in-person and remote learning.
Scott is worried about a change in teachers as a result. "One of the things I heard is we would have to have a different teacher provide fully remote learning than a teacher that has begun the school year, and as a parent that concerns me that after the start of the school year, my child may have to start with a new teacher because we are shifting to a hybrid model," says Scott. "We devoted a few weeks having our staff connect with students, provide social-emotional learning opportunities, and we potentially could be interrupting that relationship that's been established."
Scott says from what he's seen from checking out buildings, each individual building has some things to work out to be sure it's safe for students and parents.
