De Blasio Announces Plan for Fall Learning, Cuomo is Still Unsure
Mayor Bill De Blasio announced on Wednesday morning, during a press conference, that schools will be starting in the fall with ‘blended learning’.
The 2020-2021 school year will consist of a combination of
in person and remote learning in order to avoid overcrowding and move forward
with social distancing.
De Blasio says kids returning to school is of upmost
importance after the city’s safety and educators are spending the next few
weeks on maximizing a plan to accommodate both concerns.
Schools do not have enough room for every child to be in the
building at once and still maintain a 6 feet distance. They will attend
in-school learning two or three days a week, depending on the week, and the rest
will be done online.
In a survey done, 75 percent of NYC parents want their kids
returning to school in the fall, for people that will choose to have their kids
work remotely all week, will have that option.
On Wednesday morning during the rundown, the Schools
Chancellor Richard Carranza said he knows “that we cannot maintain proper
physical distancing and have 100 percent of our students in school buildings
five days a week. Health and safety requires us to have fewer students in the
building at the same time. So for the 2020-2021 school year, it will look
different.”
He also reiterated the precautions schools will be required
to take including social distancing, requiring face masks and supplying hand
sanitizers.
Schools are also being required to upgrade HVAC systems in
buildings to ensure better ventilation and to have nightly deep cleanings using
electrostatic disinfectant sprayers.
Carranza walked through two models, during the briefing,
that all schools will be working with to map out the days each student will
attend in-class learning.
While de Blasio has announced a plan for reopening schools,
Cuomo says the facts change every day and he is still currently consulting with
stakeholders on guidance.
“We will open the schools if it is safe to open the
schools,” Cuomo said. "Nobody wants to open schools more than I do.”
The state is expected to finalize guidance on July 13, and
the districts have until July 31 to submit plans.
