The Williamsville Central School District superintendent says classes will be delayed for students in grades 5 through 12 in the fully remote online learning model. 

That's because of a teacher vacancy.

The district says 90 staff members have taken a leave of absence because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

And more than 100 have resigned.

Meanwhile, more than 1,300 middle and high school students elected to be in the fully remote online learning model.

That has left about 80 virtual teacher vacancies.

"I appreciate your patience during this transition and understanding as we look to adjust and provide everything we can for those students who chose the fully online model for middle school and high school," said Dr. Scott G. Martzloff, Williamsville Central School District Superintendent.

Dr. Martzloff announced that there have been 111 resignations in the district, suggesting the inability to start remote learning for Williamsville students is a result of those resignations, according to the Williamsville Teachers Association.

The association said 50 of those resignations are retirements, 22 of which are teaching staff.

Of those 22, the association said 18 gave notice prior to March 1. The association says 55 are resignations, six of which are teaching staff.

The district is working to fill those positions, and will let parents know as soon as they're able to start the school year.

“So are we expected to believe that four teachers retiring and six teachers resigning in the past five months caused the district to be unable to provide remote learning,” according to a statement from the association. “Even if 15 or 20 teachers took medical leave or child care leave, this doesn’t sound like a problem caused by the teachers.”

As of right now-- there is no estimated start date for these students, but the district will notify parents when a decision is made.

Students in kindergarten through 4th grade in the hybrid instructional model and fully remote model will still begin classes this Tuesday.

A letter posted to the Williamsville CSD website read in part:

"All students in our hybrid instructional model will begin class on September 8, 2020.  Students in grades K-4 who are participating in the fully remote online learning model will also begin classes on time on September 8, 2020.  However, due to the number of middle school and high school students who are in the fully remote online learning model, students in grades 5-12 will have a delayed start to the year.  Delaying the start of our fully remote online learning model is currently the best path forward.

During the planning process, we had 2,361 students elect to participate in the fully remote online learning model.  Of those students, 1,375 are at the middle and high school levels, which created more than 80 virtual teacher vacancies in the District.  We are working diligently to fill those positions to begin instruction in the fully remote online learning model for students in grades 5-12.  Simultaneously, the District has had 90 staff members take a leave of absence due to COVID-19 and 111 staff members resign.

In addition, at this time, students in the hybrid or fully remote online learning model will not be allowed to transfer instructional models until October 1, 2020. After October 1, 2020, the District will only allow students to transfer one time to a different instructional model."