Schools still in limbo

The state's approach to schools during COVID-19 is getting mixed reviews the further it drags on.

7 EYEWITNESS NEWSIS KEEPING AN EYE ONEDUCATION DURINGTHIS PANDEMIC.SCHOOLS HAVE BEECLOSED FOR WEEKS...AND THERE STILL NOTIME-FRAME FORREOPENING.ANCHOR REPORTERJEFF RUSSO ASKEDERIE COUNTYEXECUTIVE MARKPOLONCARZ TODAYWILL STUDENTSRETURN TO CLASS?WILL SCHOOLS IN YOURTHOUGHT -- WILL THEYREOPEN BEFORE THEEND OF THE SCHOOLYEAR... WE AREALREADY LOOKING ATMAY 15... WHAT'S YOURTHOUGHTS ON THAT?I'D LIKE TO GIVE ADEFINITIVE ANSWERBUT I CANT... WE HAVETO LOOK AT THE DATA.THE PLAN THAT WASRELEASED BY THE CDCHAD A THREE PHASEAPPROACH..

SCHOOLSOPENED IN PHASETWO.

WE ARE NOTEVEN IN PHASE ONEYET.

SO I THINK IT;'SIMPORTANT THAT WEUNDERSTAND SCHOOLSMAY NOT REOPEN THISYEAR.

I DO NOT HAVETHE ANSWER TO THATQUESTION.THE STATE KEEPEXTENDING SCHOOLCLOSURES... BUT THATPOLICY IS GETTINGMIXED REVIEWS....TAKE A LOOK -- JUSTONE HOUR AFTERPOSTING THIS STORYTO OUR WKBWFACEBOOK PAGE --HUNDREDS OFPEOPLE HAVEALREADYCOMMENTED...SHARING THEIRTHOUGHTS ON THEISSUE.SOME WANT THESTATE TO MAKE AFINAL DECISION.OTHERS ARGUE THESTATE'S EXTENSIONSARE WORKING.HERE'S 7 EYEWITNESSNEWS REPORTER ALITOUHEY.SOT :02BUNDY: IT'S AFRUSTRATING ANDSTRESSFUL TIME.LIKE MANY PARENTSTHESEDAYSKATHRYNBUNDY IS WEARINGSEVERAL HATS WHILEWORKING FROMHOME.THIS MOM TO 8 YEAROLD GARETH IS ALSOAN ELEMENTARYSCHOOL PRINCIPAL ATHE BUFFALO SCIENCECHARTER SCHOOL.AS A PARENTSHE'STIRED OF THE TWO-WEEK SCHOOLCLOSURE EXTENSIONSISSUED BY GOVERNORANDREW CUOMO.SOT :07I DO WISH THE STATEWOULD JUST BITE THEBULLET AND SAY YESSCHOOLS AREN'TCOMING BACK.SOT 18I CAN NOT ONLY PLANACADEMICALLY WITHHIM.

BUT, I CAN ALSOSOCIAL-EMOTIONALLYGET HIM PREPAREDFOR THAT.

THAT NOYOU'RE NOT GOINGBACK, YOU'RE NOTGOING TO SEE YOURFRIENDS INSTEAD OFSAYING I DON'T KNOW.MAYBE YOU'LL BE BACKIN A FEW WEEKS.SHE SAYS IT'S ALSODIFFICULT AS APRINCIPAL ONLYPLANNING FOR THESHORT TERM WHICH ISWHY HER TEACHERSARE OPERATINGUNDER THEASSUMPTION SCHOOLWILL BE CLOSED FORTHE REMAINDER OFTHE YEAR.THAT'S IN STARKCONTRAST TO CHUCKLEICHNER'S OPINION.HE'S THESUPERINTENDENT OFTHE CASSADAGAVALLEY CENTRALSCHOOL DISTRICT INCHAUTAUQUA COUNTYWHERE NOTABLY ITHAS AMONG THEFEWEST COVID-19CASES IN ALL OFWESTERN NEW YORK.HE SAYS THE TWOWEEK EXTENSIONSWORK FOR HISDISTRICT.SOT :14LEICHNER: IT BREAKSIT UP IN NICE LITTCHUNKS.

AND, THEN ITKEEPS FOLKENGAGED.

IF WE WERETO BE TOLD NOWSCHOOL IS DONE, I'MNOT SURE WHATENGAGEMENT WOULDLIKE FOR THE NEXTMONTH OR SO.ALI OUTSUMMER SCHOOLPROGRAMS ALSOREMAIN IN LIMBO.

OMORE REASONEDUCATORS LIKEKATHRYN BUNDYWOULD LIKE TO SEE ALONG TERM PLAN ANDMORE LOCAL CONTROL.IN THE TOWN OFTONAWANDA, ALITOUHEY, 7EWN.