Shenendehowa welcomes students for first day of school

CLIFTON PARK – Wednesday is the first day of classes for the Shenendehowa Central School District.

It’s a day that Superintendent Dr. Oliver Robinson has been waiting months for.

"I know what it took to get here, a lot of hard work to plan the logistics to be here," Dr. Robinson said. "More importantly, to know that our students have an opportunity to be back in school. It’s pretty exciting."

At 7:15 a.m., hundreds of highschoolers started heading through the doors. For some, it’s their first time back in school, in person, in more than a year.

"I think that first week for some schools is going to be the deer in the headlights look, but that’s also part of the excitement," he said.

The focus for the district is full in-person learning, with the exception of a virtual option for immunocompromised students or families. From social distancing to masks and transportation, Shen, like other districts, had to work out a plan for it all. Districts received guidance from the state, just weeks before back to school.

"I know what school means for our students, for our parents, for our community as a whole. For us to be able to provide those options and opportunities for our students, I’ll take it any day, the hard work the challenges that go with that," Dr. Robinson explained.

With an ever-changing landscape for schools, he’s asking parents to be patient.

"We know there are some ideological differences when it comes to masking. I know that. I understand it, and to a large degree I respect it. I think that we have to be patient because in the middle of all that sits our children," he said.

Dr. Robinson says he’s hoping the district won’t have to switch to any kind of hybrid schedule during the year, but says they’ll make the best out of any situation that comes their way.