Inside: Tague, other Republicans in state Assembly urge reopening of schools this fall
Republicans in the state Assembly, including four who represent parts of the Mid-Hudson Valley, are calling on Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo allow in-person instruction in schools this fall.
The July 7 letter, addressed to Cuomo and state health and education leaders, was signed by 38 of the Assembly’s 42 Republicans, including Chris Tague, Clifford Crouch, Brian Miller and Kieran Michael Lalor, all of whom have Mid-Hudson communities in their districts.
Tague, R-Schoharie, said in a prepared statement that in-school classes should resume under guidelines endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“A complete education necessitates in-person instruction,” Tague said. “... The governor must do all he can to put students in physical classrooms with in-person instruction.”
Schools across the state closed in mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and instruction for the rest of the 2019-20 academic year was given online.
“An education that’s solely academic is not a complete education,” Tague said. “Our education system is meant to turn our young people into well-rounded American citizens, and the social skills students gain as they interact with their peers and teachers are a critical part of a young person’s development.”
Cuomo said Wednesday that the state will issue reopening guidance to school districts by July 13 and that districts will have until July 31 to submit reopening plans. A decision about reopenings will be announced between Aug. 1 and 7, the governor said.
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston, agreed with Tague that socializa
tion is important, but he said there are other factors to consider.
“Socialization provided by the school environment is important ... [but] we know that congregate settings are breeding grounds for a virus that continues to plague the nation and world, that the health and safety of students and school personnel is paramount, and that the logistics of fully reopening institutions of learning may not yet be viable.”
Cahill said “reason dictates that we abide the advice of those who are responsible for both public health and education. In the case of New York state, that is the state Health Department and the Board of Regents. We cannot throw away all of the sacrifice so many have made because of soundbites.”
Sen. James Skoufis, DCornwall, said the reopening schools is essential but must be done safely.
“There is no comparable alternative to in-person learning and every effort ought to be made, in coordination with health experts, to safely get students and teachers back into classrooms,” Skoufis said in a prepared statement. “To that end, the state Education Department needs to immediately provide guidelines for multiple scenarios, including one which reflects a status quo, low level of virus infection, as well as one which reflects a potential second wave in New York. Only then will we be prepared to respond accordingly in the months ahead.”
Skoufis was diagnosed with COVID-19 in the spring but has recovered. Miller also had COVID and recovered.