Q&A: What you need to know as students head back to the classroom

How is that possible?

Gyms are closed. Barber shops and hair salons are shut down. Indoor dining at restaurants has ceased. Schools, too, had been forced to close and switch to remote learning Nov. 23 after the state designated most of Erie County an "orange zone" due to the high rate of infection in the community.

But a lot has happened on the school front in the past week. Here’s a Q&A to help wade through it all:

Q: Why are schools allowed to reopen?

Last week, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo greatly relaxed the rules for schools when it comes to testing students, teachers and staff for the virus.

Previously, schools in orange zones were required to test every student and staff member in the building before returning to the classroom. Then, 25% had to be tested again each week. Districts said that would be difficult to pull off.

Now, schools in orange zones need to test only 20% of students and staff each month, while schools in red zones are obligated to test 30% per month. Those less stringent requirements make it easier for schools to reopen and stay open.

Q: But why change the rules for schools?

There has been a shift in thinking about the virus in schools since the beginning of the year.

Given the safety protocols in place – masks, social distancing – school and health officials continue to reiterate that infection rates in schools are lower than they are in the wider community, specifically among the younger students. And while there have been cases of transmission within, schools do not tend to be superspreaders.

There is also acknowledgement that remote instruction is not ideal and parents need students in school so they can go to work.

Q: Which school districts have decided to go back next week?

Those that have announced plans to reopen Monday include Amherst, Clarence, East Aurora, Hamburg, Lancaster, the City of Tonawanda, Orchard Park and Williamsville.

Other districts indicated they would have further information this week, after discussing plans with their school boards.

Reopening among local private schools began last week and continued this week.

Q: Do schools have to reopen?

No. That’s up to individual districts – although the governor has encouraged schools to remain open for as long as it’s possible, at least for those students in grades K through eight.

In fact, some districts, like West Seneca, Iroquois and Cheektowaga, already announced they would continue fully remote until Jan. 4.

Iroquois, while acknowledging the school environment is safe, expressed concern about the sharp rise in Covid cases in the community.

Q: Why would schools reopen next week? That leaves just a week before the holiday break.

Timing has been part of the discussion and whether it makes sense to return in December. But some districts felt any time back in the classroom is worthwhile for the students.

Michael Cornell, president of the Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association, said some districts didn’t want to be away from the classroom from Nov. 23 through Jan. 4.

“Six weeks felt like a really long time for many of us,” Cornell said.

Q: What if I don’t feel comfortable sending my child back to school? Can they remain remote?

That answer may vary by school district.

Districts built their remote-only programs based on the number of kids who chose that option at the start of the school year. It could pose staffing problems for districts if an infusion of parents asked that their children remain fully remote.

Williamsville, for example, is requiring students to resume in the learning model – remote or hybrid – that they were in before the orange-zone designation.

Q: When are schools expected to begin testing?

Some have already started. Others will begin next week.

Q: What happens if I don’t want my child tested?

Districts need consent from parents before testing any students and have been reaching out to households for permission. But superintendents said they don’t plan to exclude students from in-person learning if parents do not provide consent.

Q: When would districts have to switch back to remote?

Schools would be forced to return to fully remote learning “if the random sampling generates nine or more positive cases in any school,” according to the new guidelines from the state Health Department.

In some cases, though, schools may be forced to close temporarily based on the number of students and staff in quarantine. That already has happened this fall in several schools.