“Do whatever you want to do: Remote, hybrid – whatever your parents agree to, you can do,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio at his press conference on November 22, 2020.
In response, De Blasio promised to listen to parents and get “maximum agreement,” before unveiling his reopening plan the week of November 30.
But that was the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. The Sunday after, with no warning, the Mayor held a press conference announcing that he’d changed his mind yet again. The new plan was that middle and high schools would remain closed and continue with remote learning, while lower grades would return to school buildings on December 7. Those with disabilities would go back to school on December 10.
In addition, the 3% trigger for closing schools would be abandoned, and an attempt would be made to return elementary school students to 5 days a week learning. But not all elementary school students. Only those that had already signed up for hybrid learning during the previous opt in period. Those who did not sign up for hybrid learning might have to continue learning at home through June.
The situation is still developing as of this writing. But, if Cuomo and De Blasio are, in fact, still listening, here is what parents want them to hear:
I would like Mayor Blasio to consider firstly what is best for the children, followed by what’s best for the parents. People who are using public transportation but not using masks, people gathering in bars and all sorts of (sic) adult gatherings! They are responsible for spreading the virus. Why not follow the rest of the western world’s example and shut high risk activities but keep schools open?
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Shame on (UFT President) Michael Mulgrew, (School Chancellor) Carranza and Blasio! While every other western country has chosen to protect their children’s education, these elected leaders have chosen to ignore facts and put NYC’s children’s education at risk. If only they would follow in Canada’s footsteps! Alas, I guess keeping bars and restaurants open are more important.
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Mayor DeBlasio should coordinate with corporates/companies and employers to ensure that employers have the right to work from home, if needed. Mandatory paid leave for families with childcare needs is what I am advocating for.
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Look at the number of kids within each cohort to try and increase the number of days kids are in school. If there are 2 kids in a cohort class, then try to consolidate kids into 2 blended cohorts instead of 3.
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If I send my kid to school – she MAY – get Covid. It MAY – be serious and MIGHT – spread home. But at a .17% positivity rate, I’m willing to risk that. If I don’t send her to school, she WILL be stymied and will NOT learn much from this quality virtual education you allude to. 10 minutes of attendance at a 30 minute meeting is not educational. Don’t make the cure worse than the disease.
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We recently heard that the UFT suggested, in the discussions that occurred late summer, that school closures be evaluated zone by zone — so that only areas of the city at or above the 3% rolling average would go remote, while the rest could stay hybrid. But the mayor wanted to make the 3% the citywide trigger. We implore the mayor to reconsider this proposal: close zones that are at or above 3% and allow those where transmission is well under control to re-open for live schooling (with all the proper precautions).
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Nothing can compare to in person learning. Our kids need the structures and routines of a brick and mortar school, direct interactions with the teachers and peers, especially those with special needs. Our kids have regressed so much and it makes me feel so painful and keeps me up at night to see them lose another academic year. If private schools and Catholic schools and schools in Long Island can open safely, why can’t NYC public schools do it?
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Blended learners are getting FAR more attention and instruction time at our school. There has to be some accountability for this. Since we are all doing remote learning right now, why can’t the remote kids be allowed to join the blended teacher zoom sessions? The benefits outweigh the minimal administrative work of publishing the zoom access codes to remote learners so they can somewhat be “included” as part of their class.
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For virtual learning, can each grade in a district be taught by a group of virtual-only teachers based on levels like not meeting expectations, meeting expectations, exceeding expectations, and have kids across a district learn at the same time every day?
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The Mayor should not have opened schools to begin with. Staff shouldn’t have to choose between their health (and that of their family) or the career. Even if cases are low, one student or staff member picking up the virus at school is too many. As a parent whose child was exposed at school and lost family members to the virus you can always work on education, socializing, and everything else people seem to be in an uproar about missing out on. You can never work on getting the images of losing a family struggle or getting them back once they are lost. Work together and think of others who have been hard hit by this pandemic.
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My 3rd grader burst into hysterical tears when I told her schools were closing again. And please explain the hypocrisy of Learning Bridges remaining open while schools are closed. My kids finally got a spot for their remote days at our local Learning Bridges the day they closed schools last week. It’s hilarious to me that they are going to Learning Bridges, but schools can’t be open.
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We need as much in person instruction as possible, and we need more transparency regarding the influence of teachers unions on the DOE’s reopening plans!
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Oh how I love to give this mayor a piece of my mind! When it comes to the mayor, all I have is rage. He continues to disregard and disrespect the majority of parents of whom pay taxes and his salary if he has forgotten. He has turned the city into a hell hole as is. We demand that he do his job! Either shape up or ship out! NYC has had it with him!
