ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With a little over a month left before the first day of school, local districts are still wondering exactly what that will look like. The rise again in COVID-19 cases is throwing a wrench into it. Local districts vow to stick to their plan of a full return to in-person learning.

For school kids, every nice remaining day during summer vacation is worth taking advantage of. But for many parents, come fall, it’s best that their kids have a return to normal.

What You Need To Know

  • With a little over a month left before the first day of school, local districts are still wondering exactly what that will look like

  • Even as the number of COVID-19 cases rises due to the delta variant, school superintendents are planning for that

  • For many parents, whatever happens in the fall — as long as the kids are back in school — it’s a win

“It was a real struggle, the last year,” said Ashlee Cecere, of her son's and daughter’s school experience. “It's very important that they're in school learning for five days.”

Cecere says having the kids learn virtually for much of last year was a struggle, especially for her son. Cecere says she and her husband would rather their kids not need to wear masks when they go back to school in the fall, but she understands.

“I think that's OK, as long as while they're moving about they have them on, and when they're sitting down, that they can take some mask breaks,” she said. “For us, it's important for them to go back.”

Even as the number of COVID-19 cases rises due to the delta variant, school superintendents are planning for that.

“Our intention is to fully reopen,” said Bo Wright, Rush-Henrietta superintendent of schools. “We think we have a moral obligation to do that.”

Wright is also president of the Monroe County Council of School Superintendents. He expects most local districts will have a mask requirement. Beyond that — with a little more than a month until the first day of school — there has been little guidance from the state, he says, as to what exactly school will look like.

“I think, in an ideal situation, we would receive guidance in a timely manner,” said Wright. “And there would be a uniform requirement that required districts to go in one direction or the other.”

Each suggestion from the state regarding schools in the fall has been just that. Wright says between 80% and 90% of teachers in Monroe County school districts are vaccinated. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said recently that schools should require all teachers be vaccinated.  

Wright isn’t sure districts would even have the authority to enforce that.

“I thought that was a really interesting position for him to take,” he said. “Because school districts have always operated under the assumption that if a mandate like that came forward, it would come from the state and will be mandated in law.”

Wright says the biggest unknown for local schools heading into the fall is whether there will be social distancing requirements.  

For many parents, whatever happens in the fall — as long as the kids are back in school — it’s a win.

“I want everyone to be safe,” said Cecere. “And if that's how they can go back safe, then we're OK with that because we just we need them to be learning in school.”