Students return to renovated schools

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Wednesday, the remainder of western New York school kids will head back to class.

Students at two Buffalo Schools will get to check out their newly renovated buildings for the very first time.

The renovated schools are Riverside and City Honors. City Honors is where Superintendent Dr. James Williams spoke with News 4, Wednesday morning.

Right now, the economy is weighing on people's minds. How has that impacted the Buffalo Schools this year?

Williams said, "Back in July we thought we had everything solved, our school board passed the budget, but then there's still some issues in Albany. I'm being told they'll solve those issues after the primaries, dealing with charter school capital and payments as well as the pension structure. Then we have the PLAs where we have $11 million tied up in that. But after that I'm thinking we're going to be alright this year."

"School supplies never are effected, we make sure we have our books and supplies in our schools and we're in pretty good shape right now," Williams said.

The Buffalo Schools this year had a $1.4 billion joint school renovation project.

"This is the end of phase three, we're standing here at City Honors and this is a $40-50 million project that will open up today, and we have two more phases to go and I'm just so pleased for this community and the students of the Buffalo Public School System, to be able to be educated in the best buildings, highest technology and some great teachers and support staff in these buildings."

Williams message to students, "Get here on time and be careful because a lot of cars on the street this morning, a lot of buses are out this morning. So, we want them to be careful and make sure they're here on time, it's going to be an exciting school year this year."