Williamsville, NY (WBEN) Students return to high schools in the Williamsville Central School district Monday, and they say they can't wait. The return to the building marks the start of hybrid learning.
"I'm very excited to be able to be back in school, back in a learning environment where I can be productive and get a lot of work done," says Jacob Mentkowski, senior class president at Williiamsville North. "It's been hard on everyone the past few weeks, and it's good to see everything is working out for us and we'll be back in the building soon."
Mentkowski says he's not worried about contracting COVID inside school. "The school's following all the guidelines. They have masks, we're separated by six feet, so we're doing everything possible to stay safe. There will only be half the people in the building at a time," explains Mentkowski. He says students will go from room to room, but there will be certain directions in the hallways and stairs to follow.
Mentkowski says he's glad sports have been going on, giving him something to look forward to while he studied from home.
"All the students are really excited about going back," says Lucas Romanowski, Williamsville East senior class president, "They're super excited about having that opportunity to have that personal relationship with teachers and see teachers they haven't seen in a while, and see their friends again."
Romanowski credits teachers for doing their part during the remote learning period. "It was more challenging at the end of last year, and the teachers did a great job, but it still wasn't the same as in person learning," notes Romanowski.
He says his only fear is how will teachers handling two different groups. "Over the past month, we've seen teachers undergo training, so I think the district staff will be able to handle it," believes Romanowski.
For parent Jonathan Rich, he'll be happy his son can return to Williamsville North. "He's had a rough couple of weeks, like all the other kids in the district have. The stress amounts to what's been house arrest is going to go away," says Rich. He says teachers are dealing with the same frustration with the technology students have. "Assignments have to be scanned and submitted. There are more headaches students have to deal with than they normally would," adds Rich.
Rich says he's anger is more directed toward the behind the scenes. "If there were valid reasons for the school year to have been delayed, I don't think the frustrations would not be to the level that it is right now. We're slowly seeing the paint come off, and the picture we're seeing is one I refer to is a personal vendetta," says Rich.
Rich says Williamsville Teachers Association President Michelle Licht started in 2016 to work toward removing Dr. Scott Martzloff as superintendent. "She requested an investigation into Dr. Martzloff, and the board agreed to an investigation into all parties involved. That wasn't what she had mind, and the investigation was dropped," says Rich. "She announced she would pack the board of education, and the next three elections her endorsed candidates won, and we sit in a state where all nine members are endorsed by our teachers union. Speaking with union leadership, they're really endorsed by Michelle Licht and there really isn't as much consensus."
