Students returned to school in Dunkirk in February following a two-week remote fully program. OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward

Welcome back.

On Monday, the Dunkirk City School District saw the return of students to buildings after nearly a month of being in the remote model. “I’ve heard nothing but good things today,” Superintendent Mike Mansfield said. “There are no problems that I’m aware of.”

Mansfield noted that there were a couple of tweaks to the high school schedule and that high risk sports are back as well, so tryouts and practice were going on as well Monday. “We’re forging ahead and have no future plans to shut down again,” Mansfield said. “We’re watching the community and our staffing, we’re constantly monitoring for any changes.”

Mansfield also said the district is much more experienced now with contact tracing and that things are running very smoothly as far as he can see.

“Everything went well today,” School 3 Principal Angie Penhollow said. “We did have a few new students today who are returning to their first hybrid setup as they were strictly remote before. We have added two new classes, a kindergarten and first grade, so that’s over 20 new students to our setup.”

Penhollow shared that the same procedures and policies have been followed from before including temperature checks and the use of all three entrances to the building.

“All the teachers are back as well and we’re happy to have everyone back and to see all their smiling faces,” Penhollow added.

Dunkirk has been fully remote for the entirety of the January following rises in COVID-19 cases throughout the north county and the city.