Orchard Park, NY (WBEN) The Orchard Park School District informs parents there will be a return to remote learning on Monday.
In an email to parents, the district says it "is very concerned with how quickly the COVID-19 virus is spreading in our community. While we have done everything we can to sustain in-person instruction with students, there are several factors that are leading us to transition to remote learning, beginning on Monday." In particular, the district notes extensive student, teacher and staff absences, in many cases the result of quarantine or isolation orders by the Erie County Health Department.
The district adds the increase in COVID19 cases is affecting the ability to provide face to face instruction.
The district says it is currently in the yellow zone. "If Governor Cuomo designates our community as an Orange or Red Zone sooner than November 23, 2020 we would transition to remote-only instruction at that time," adds the district.
East Aurora Schools will be doing the same. "Our current plan is to resume hybrid instruction on Monday, December 7, 2020. However, guidance from NYS and the
Department of Health changes frequently which may influence our return-to-school date," says the district to parents in a letter.
Superintendent Brian Russ says he's concerned about the rapid rise in COVID19 cases. "We understand that the colder weather and upcoming holidays are prime for viral spread. While we have no evidence at this time of contact-traced virus transmission within our schools and our District's COVID rates remain low, we want to be proactive in keeping our community and our students safe," adds Russ.
