OBSERVER file photo

A petition requesting the reopening of the Fredonia Central School has started to circulate online as a number of community members are losing patience regarding a return to classes for students. Listed on ipetitions.com the document states that parents and taxpayers in the district are upset with the district’s handling of its back to school plan.

“As a Fredonia Central School District parent and/or taxpayer, we the undersigned are dissatisfied with the district’s lack of leadership, careless spending of our tax dollars, and the delayed and poorly planned pandemic reopening for the 20-21 school year,” the petition reads. “We the undersigned demand practical and decisive leadership from school officials, prudent and conservative expenditures of our tax dollars and a fair and equitable reopening plan that culminates in fulltime in person instruction for all students.”

Classes for grades six to 12 were to restart on a hybrid learning model Nov. 12, but will instead return Nov. 23. In a recent letter to parents, Interim Superintendent Dr. Colleen Taggerty stated that “through much discussion with our Return to School Committee, we determined that there are a number of challenges which must be resolved. The additional time will allow us to hire needed staff to make our hybrid schedule possible, as we solve a number of other logistical challenges relating to cleaning and transportation.”

Parents, however, claim they are being left out.

“There is zero communication, leadership and planning,” said Julie Mikula, parent of a Fredonia student and organizer of the petition. “Any time we have a question we are always receiving a blanket response. There are so many issues we’ve been fighting since mid August.”

Mikula said she has struggled to get five days of instruction for her fifth-grade daughter. Before the hybrid plan started she was receiving only four hours of instruction a week. “I made several calls. I wanted a five day a week in person schedule, but I would love to get the best remote schedule possible,” Mikula said. “There’s just been no leadership even with a huge pushback from the union.”

Mikula said that similar to Dunkirk, Fredonia had a parent survey. Unlike Dunkirk, she said, which weighed in at 55-45 for in-person learning, Fredonia’s numbers were 80-20.

So far 81 people have signed the petition, which went live on Tuesday with many parents sharing many of Mikula’s sentiments.

“Our children need to be in school! The hours they have to spend on a computer is insane and being separated from fellow classmates is horrible!! They need normalcy,” James Miller commented online.

“Pushing back reopening repeatedly is ridiculous! Equitable access for all is needed now! Schools have been closed since March, the plan … shouldn’t be wait and see. Disservice to all children. My daughter is in eighth grade able to participate in after-school sports but unable to be in person at school … Unbelievable!!” Lisa Anello wrote.

“The delay in opening for MS/HS is ridiculous!! I work in a school that offers in person, hybrid, and/or fully virtual. Everyone else can figure it out, why not Fredonia?” Jennifer Miller stated online.

Another reader sent a letter to the OBSERVER. “The Fredonia Central School District has been unable to clearly articulate their plan to return all students to school,” wrote Kara Trippi of Fredonia. “The only published plan was dated Aug. 11 and is still posted on the district’s website. The district has made frequent and often last-minute changes to the original plan with little explanation.”

Those wanting to voice their concerns or view the petition can visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/fredonia-central-school-district.