BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – Buffalo students in grades 3,4,9 and all high-needs students are expected to return to their classroom for hybrid learning by the middle of March, Superintendent Kriner Cash told WBEN on Friday afternoon.
Cash said he'd like students in these levels to return to the classroom on March 8, though he said it will likely be March 15 when more students return.
"It's a day to give time and at least two weeks for our transportation department to map out all the routes for the children in Pre-K through Grade 8 schools," Cash said. "There are 40 schools and they need time to plan out those bus routes. Even though we're pretty settled with the principals and the phone calls home about the grade frames and the population of students we're inviting back, it still takes some time."
Cash said all the grades are important but they can't "bite off more than we can chew" regarding the logistics to bring kids back.
"The second phase is key because it represents about half of our student population when we take phase one and add it to phase 2," Cash said. "If we know we can get that done and done safely and if we still have room left in our transportation routes, we can continue to move forward after that."
He suggested additional phases will begin every two to three weeks. Fifth and sixth grade students will be in phase three. Seventh and eighth grade students would be in phase four. The remainder of high schoolers would be in the final phase.
“Dr. Cash has indicated that our first phase has gone well,” Buffalo School Board Member Larry Scott said. “There’s been a successful transition of those early grades and our neediest students. We’ve seeing very limited cases of COVID-19 among students as well as staff. I think given that success and also the fact that our COVID rates throughout the state and locally are trending downward, I think now is the time to start bringing back more students in our Buffalo Public Schools.”
Scott said he looks forward to hearing a more specific timeline when the board holds its work session next Wednesday.
Currently, students in grades K-2 are high school seniors are able to return to the classroom for hybrid learning. Those students returned to the classroom on February 1.