Legislator Lorigo urges Erie County administration to offer greater support to school districts dealing with COVID-19 testing guidelines

Modified: November 20, 2020 3:51pm

11/20/2020

Erie County Legislator Joe Lorigo has sent a letter to the County Executive and Commissioner of Health urging them to offer greater assistance to local school districts shouldering the burden of COVID-19 rules and restrictions imposed by New York State.

The letter was sent on the heels of a Buffalo News article that highlights the work other counties in New York State are doing to support schools that are trying to keep up with state guidelines (Buffalo News: Monroe, Onondaga counties helping schools with COVID-19 testing; Erie County won’t). Under the current restrictions, schools are not able to remain open unless they administer enough tests and receive the required number of negative cases. Just a week before most of Erie County moved to a Yellow Zone, school districts were told they would not receive Health Department personnel to administer testing. In a few instances, school districts in Erie County have been forced to turn to neighboring counties for help.

Legislator Lorigo said, “As both a father and a legislator, I am deeply concerned about the lack of assistance Erie County is offering to our local schools right now. Districts can’t keep up with testing requirements without help from their local government. Without it, many are forced to close their doors and return to a fully remote model which puts our students behind. Parents, students, and school administrators deserve better. I hope the administration will rethink their position and begin offering schools the assistance they so desperately need. These are challenging times, but keeping our kids safe and in school should be a top priority.”

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Buffalo, New York 14202

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