School district superintendents across New York are faced with another challenge this school year, as hundreds of migrant children who recently arrived in the U.S. enroll in public school systems.

The Mohonasen Central School District in Schenectady County is one district in New York working to meet the needs of an influx of students from migrant families sent to upstate communities from New York City, many of whom don't speak English and reside in local hotels.

School administrators and teachers are coming up with a plan to educate the new students at a time when resources are stretched thin.

Liesha Sherman teaches science at Pinewood Elementary in Rotterdam. She knows this year will be like no other. She and other teachers are planning to do whatever they can to help.

"I'm excited to meet these students," Sherman said. "There's a whole lot of layers to what these students will need from us, but our teachers are empathetic and compassionate people who really look forward to the challenge of helping these families and these children."

Roughly 70 migrant children are enrolled in Mohonasen schools this fall. Federal law states local schools are obligated to provide all children, regardless of immigration status, with equal access to public education.

The Mohonasen school community is eager to help those living in the Rotterdam Super 8 motel, knowing many of the families have suffered trauma and escaped their homelands with nothing.

“We are just starting to learn the different stories and, frankly, some are heartbreaking for anybody who has a family and children and what they have gone through," Superintendent Shannon Shine said.

Shine said most of the children are from South American countries and speak a variety of languages. The district worked quickly to have at least five English language teachers on hand this fall. To start, the new students will learn together in separate classrooms in the schools.

"We don’t really want students to not integrate. We want them to integrate, but we also want what’s best for them clinically in terms of learning English and coming up to speed as fast as they can,” Shine said.

“If you’re that fifth-grade parent or that fifth-grade student, nothing is going to change for you. In fact, if you get to associate with or play with or learn with students from another country or culture, I’m going to say that your experience is going to be enriched.”

After meeting with many migrant families, the school community realized it had to do more. The school food pantry has been stocked and new clothing fills the school's free closet. There are laundry machines and other necessities so everyone feels supported.

"Our mission has been to embrace, welcome, care for, and now educate these students and help support these families," Shine said. "We are not ignorant that there are politics surrounding this whether it’s at the state level or city or federal level, but that’s not our purview. That’s outside of what we do.”

Sherman knows all about the politics. Aside from working as a teacher, she serves as president of the school's teachers union, which is now working closely with state union leaders to push for much needed reimbursements.

"NYSUT has reached out to me and we are working on advocacy for more funding, because all of this is costing money and we don't want to be a burden to our local taxpayer when New York City has received so much money to address this," Sherman said.

Sherman and Shine both feel that, in the end, the entire Mohonasen school community will come out of the unprecedented experience in a better place.

"These are our kids and we will also support the families, because they are in our community," Shine said. "So while I want things to be addressed at the city, state and federal levels, I really want people to show caring, compassion and empathy, and get these people back on their feet. And we can do that.”