BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Public School District has exactly two weeks until teachers must report back for the first day of classes.
Tuesday, the District held a special online meeting for teachers to learn more about the district's reopening plans and ask questions.
The meeting was held on Zoom, and only 100 teachers could attend that platform. The rest watched the meeting live on Facebook. Many could ask questions in the Facebook Live comments section, which had over two thousand comments, questions and concerns.
The district has two weeks to decide on a model for back to school. Initial ideas include a Monday, Tuesday group and a Thursday, Friday group with remote learning the rest of the days and Wednesday an all-remote learning cleaning day.
Some teachers feel the all remote learning model is a better way to go.
"I strongly support the initial virtual model only," one said. "Because we've been quarantining for six months and trying to be safe for our families that to go forth with something before we're totally prepared would be like undoing what we've been doing. I would feel that was it worth it to rush into a hybrid model when we're not totally ready yet," she said.
The BPS says masks will be worn at all times in the building, desks will be socially distanced and the first two weeks of school will be a learning curve on the new normal for students. There will be mask breaks, according to school officials but details on that are being worked out.
Buffalo Teacher's Federation President Phil Rumore sent a statement regarding Tuesday's meeting.
During the meetings the superintendent's chief of staff Dr. Darren Brown-Hall said:
"We will be scheduling another teacher meeting, another district-wide teacher meeting, in the very near future, possibly as early as Friday."
