GUILDERLAND — Benjamin Goes says the best thing he’s ever done is volunteer with Guilderland High School’s E = mc2 program, helping students with individual projects. “It inspired me to be more involved with the schools and to find more ways to support students so I decided to run for school board,” he said.

GUILDERLAND — “I love working with kids,” says Judy Slack who has served on the Guilderland School board for 12 years and is now seeking a fifth term.

GUILDERLAND — Rebecca Butterfiled is a child-health advocate who believes her expertise is especially valuable to the Guilderland School Board now as it faces educating children in the midst of a pandemic.

GUILDERLAND — Sixth- and seventh-graders at Farnsworth Middle school won’t be pinning boutonnieres to their lapels or wearing their new dresses to the Spring Fling.

“Every bit of every part of the work we do is rethought and needs to constantly be rethought again,” says Marie Wiles, superintendent of the Guilderland schools.

The State Education Department recently identified 582 schools, just 13 percent of schools statewide, as “high achieving” and “high progress” — two local schools made the cut.

Impatient for change, Lynnwood Elementary parent Michelle Charles has moved her family to Boston, which she says is much more progressive. 

Local schools, though closed, are continuing to provide sustenance to students — food and social services for those who need it as well as remote teaching.

Either a student or staff member with a confirmed case of COVID-19 would trigger a school closing.

Describing the mood at school today, Superintendent Marie Wiles said, “People are worried and you can feel the anxiety build as this moves closer and closer to our community.”

Wiles said it was “horrible” to have to tell the students who had rehearsed for the "Chicago" musical for months that, on what was scheduled to be opening night, the show would not go on.

“They were heartbroken and upset,” she said, “which is understandable.”

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