De Blasio and Cuomo bicker, yet again, over Covid school plan
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Mayor Bill de Blasio (right) said New York City public schools are on pace to reopen in September. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (left) said that’s his call, not the mayor’s. Edwin J. Torres/Mayoral Photography Office.
By David Brand
Three months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo continue to contradict one another when it comes to New York City schools.
Shortly after de Blasio announced Thursday that schools are on pace to open for the fall semester, Cuomo’s office chimed in. The mayor doesn’t have the power to decide school closings and openings, the governor’s spokesperson said — that’s Cuomo’s call.
Sound familiar? The same spat played out in March when de Blasio suggested stay-at-home orders may be necessary to stop the spread of COVID-19 and again in April, when de Blasio said he planned to close schools for the rest of year. Not so fast, Cuomo fired back.
On March 16, schools closed for in-person learning. The rest of the spring semester took place online for more than 1 million New York City students.
During a press briefing Thursday, de Blasio cited a survey of 400,000 parents conducted by the Department of Education, which found that about 75 percent of families want their kids going back to classes in the fall.
“So, we're full steam ahead for September,” de Blasio said. “The goal, of course, to have the maximum number of kids in our schools as we begin schools.”
De Blasio said the city is working with the labor unions that represent school staff, including the United Federation of Teachers — an early advocate for closing schools in March — the Council of School Supervisors & Administrators and District Council 37, which represents aides and lunchroom staff.
De Blasio said a school reopening plan will depend on daily deep cleanings, “constant use of face coverings” and social distancing. The city has not yet determined how many students to allow back to each school at a time, he said.
“Each school will have a [different] number as the maximum number of kids that can be in that school with social distancing,” he said, adding that staff will use “every conceivable space in that school.”
“We're going to convert everything that can be converted to a classroom, to a classroom, to accommodate social distancing,” he said.
A few hours later, Cuomo’s spokesperson Dani Lever pumped the brakes on the reopening talk.
“The state law governing schools and business closings or openings has been in effect since the pandemic first started and all such decisions are made by state government and not local government,” Lever said in a statement. “When it comes to opening schools in New York City we will consult with parents, teachers, health officials and local elected officials, but the Governor has said any determination is premature at this point and we will need to see how the virus develops.”
"We value the opinion of local politicians and the state's 700 local school districts as to what should be done, but the public should not be confused on this important decision that has practical consequences for many,” she added.
