Jamestown, NY - Students returned to class in Chautauqua County Wednesday, September 3rd as the 2025–2026 school year got underway. Parents and children gathered outside Lincoln Elementary in Jamestown, where district leaders and police emphasized safety as a top priority.
 
Jamestown Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker urged drivers to stay alert now that schools are back in session.
"We are asking for people to be very careful if they're driving around. With school now open, there are kids crossing the road, cars stopping, buses out, and a lot of kids who are very young and not entirely sure of traffic laws. So please, keep an eye out, keep your head on a swivel, and go slowly,” Whitaker said.
 
Local police are also increasing patrols around schools.

“We are stepping up our patrols and have school resource officers out all over the place," stated Scott Forester, Deputy Chief, Jamestown Police Department. "We will have our patrol doing extra checks at the school zones during dismissal and arrival, as well as throughout the day, making sure everyone is safe."
 
Inside the classroom, Whitaker said the district is focusing on the ABCs—academics, behavior, and core classes—with an emphasis on improving literacy rates.
“One of the things we’re really focusing on this year is our literacy rates, making sure that our kids have the support that they need. We are working with outside tutors as well, doing everything we can to help our keeps with reading both in and out of school," Whitaker said.
 
District officials say their goal is to give students and teachers a safe and successful start to the school year.