Queens BP calls on DOE to offer remote option
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Queens Borough President Donovan Richards released a letter to Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter encouraging her to create a remote learning option for the coming school year. Photo by Jeff Reed/City Council
By Rachel Vick
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards released a letter to Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter this week to question the lack of remote options available to public school families as COVID cases rise in the city.
He said that he has seen parents in Queens concerned about their options with the Delta variant becoming more prevalent and as the beginning of a fully in-person school year nears.
“Having a remote option would be prudent due to the current reality we are all unfortunately confronting,” Richards said. “Queens has some of the most overcrowded schools in the five boroughs, and it is concerning how schools can safely reopen for in-person learning.”
“We in Queens are still heavily affected by the virus. We have to be cognizant of the fact that our children are dealing with very unusual circumstances and that this can have a lasting impact on them,” he added. “We should be doing everything possible to make this challenging time less tumultuous, not just for the students but for their parents and caretakers as well.”
As of Aug. 18, there have been 27,428 cumulative positive COVID-19 cases — 14,793 among students and 12,635 staff members — according to numbers Richards received from the DOE.
Richards said having a remote option is “proactive and vital,” particularly as the Delta variant cases rise, and criticized the DOE for a perceived lack of parent engagement.
The DOE told the Eagle they remain confident in the outreach from the five borough outreach tour focused on the reopening plan done earlier in the summer, and are working hand-in-hand with principals to ensure safety requirements are met.
New York City public school students will be fully in-person this fall. Photo via Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
“Our multi-layered approach made schools some of the safest places to be during this pandemic and all of our staff will be vaccinated by the end of September,” a spokesperson said. “We engaged families on a five borough tour focused on fall planning and are fully prepared to welcome all our students and staff back on Sept. 13.”
Once school starts, students, teachers and staff will continue to screen for symptoms at home and masks will be required in all school buildings. Classrooms will also include air ventilation systems.
City officials announced Monday that all DOE staff will be required to receive at least one dose of the vaccine by Sept. 27. More than 63 percent have already received at least one dose, according to the agency.
“Parents can be assured this fall that their school communities and the phenomenal school staff our children interact with every day are protected by safe, effective vaccines,” Porter said. “This is another layer to our multi-layered health and safety strategy and an important step in keeping our school communities safe.”
Earlier this month, Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the plan for teaching students who have to quarantine “is something we're working through right now,” but in-person education is a must.
Not everyone is as convinced as the city officials as to the feasibility of the current plan.
“He wants no remote option. And he wants all the kids back in school. And he wants three feet of distancing,” Mark Cannizzaro, president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, told Gothamist on Aug. 12. “Those three things combined, can not happen in too many schools.”
