The Erie-Niagara School Superintendents Association sent a letter to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul asking for a timeline on ending masking in schools ahead of its expiration date on February 21.
The Erie County Department of Health says 17 Erie County school districts and 11 private schools will participate in the county's test-to-stay program.
The program will allow students, who would otherwise be subject to quarantine, at qualifying P-12 schools to attend classes following an in-school COVID-19 exposure, as long as they remain symptom free.
Violence in the community is affecting the Buffalo Public School district as the school year carries on. The district said they restructured their code of conduct to create the safest place for children while helping resolve the issues that may lead to violence.