ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Orchard Park Central School District announced all students will transition to fully remote instruction beginning November 23.
The district says this decision is based on how quickly COVID-19 is spreading in the community as well as the extensive student, teacher and staff absences which are in many cases tied to quarantine or isolation orders by the Erie County Department of Health.
"A continued increase in COVID-19 cases is impairing our ability to provide face-to-face instruction. Although we believe that our school buildings have not been the source of community spread, the sheer number of staff and student absences are increasing each day making the continuation of face to face instruction very challenging," the district said in a statement.
The district says if the state designates its community as an Orange or Red Zone micro-cluster before November 23, it will transition to fully remote instruction at that time.
"We are continuing to plan for on-site testing as per the state guidance and we will communicate that plan to you when we have more information. The District will not begin any testing program without informing parents and staff of the process, and we will not test any student without parental consent," the district said in a statement.
