A Column of News & Comment by Senator James L. Seward
We are still several weeks away from the start of a new school year, a year that will certainly look much different than any other we have known. As the summer weeks wane and we get closer to the traditional back to school rush there are a great number of questions on the minds of students, parents, teachers, school administrators, and other staff members. The first day of school is always exciting and new, but this year it will be uncharted territory.
While the governor has declared that schools are permitted to open, there are a number of steps that must be followed before the bell rings to start the first school day. All school districts must submit their opening plans to the state for consideration. There was some confusion when the governor’s office released a list of schools that had allegedly not filed plans. That misunderstanding has since been cleared up and all school districts do have official reopening plans on file.
School districts were required to follow a number of health and safety protocols while developing their individualized plans. The guidance from the state is available for review at the Department of Health website at https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/Pre-K_to_Grade_12_Schools_MasterGuidence.pdf.
Along with filing reopening plans with the state, every New York State school district is also required to have their individualized blueprint available to the public. School officials across the state have gone to a great deal of work to construct their reopening plans and they are readily accessible on district websites. I would encourage anyone with an interest to read and review the plans. While every school district is required to follow the master guidance from the state, there are a number of options available and every district plan may look a bit different.
Additionally, the reopening plans still require public scrutiny. According to the guidelines from the governor’s office, schools must have three to five public meetings prior to August 21 with parents – who will be allowed to participate remotely – as well as one meeting with teachers to go through their reopening plan.
It is extremely important that local districts work closely with all stakeholders to ensure there is a comfort level with the reopening plans. I continue to hear from parents, teachers, and administrators who have a number of concerns. There are some individuals who feel districts should rely solely on remote learning, and there are those who believe in-person classes need to resume with health guidelines in place. It is vital that all sides work together and remain somewhat flexible. We are living in unprecedented times and I know our local school administrators are working around the clock to provide the very best education to our young people while also assuring the safety of students and staff.
Parents are focused on the safety and well-being of their children however, they have many other concerns that must be taken into account. Many working parents are facing new and more complex childcare issues further complicated if they have multiple children on different school schedules. Remote learning also presents a number of obstacles.
Throughout this pandemic, the lack of broadband in many parts of the state has come under the microscope. It is an issue that I have worked to improve for years and now more people in Albany are finally realizing just how deficient many of our rural areas are when it comes to connectivity. Remote learning can be problematic for several reasons, but for students who are unable to access the internet, it is virtually impossible. Broadband access is critical for our students, our small businesses, and our future. Moving forward, the state needs to make a larger commitment to this critical need.
As we look to the start of school, it is vital that all involved work together to formulate and enact plans that keep students, teachers, and staff safe while also ensuring our young people are able to receive a quality education.