‘PRINCIPAL’ CONCERNS
The city’s principals union sounded the alarm Wednesday about the start of the school year — and called for the reopening of classes to be delayed for weeks to address serious concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
“I write on behalf of New York City’s 6,400 school leaders urging you to heed their dire warnings concerning the city’s September 10 reopening plan,” Council of School Supervisors and Administrators President Mark Cannizzaro wrote in a letter to Mayor de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza.
“Given the lack of information and guidance available at this time, CSA believes that NYCDOE’s decision to open for in-person learning on September 10th is in disregard of the well-being of our school communities.”
The letter, a copy which was obtained by The Post, included a list of questions, including concerns on the hiring of school nurses, the lack of a plan for special-needs students, and the requisition of personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer and other supplies.
“The slow rollout of guidance has forced us to once again address an unfortunate truth: schools will not be ready to open for in-person instruction on September 10th. A more realistic, phased-in approach would instead welcome students for in-person learning toward the end of September, following a fully remote start to the year,” Cannizzaro said in the letter.
De Blasio and Carranza last month unveiled a plan to restart school in September with a mixed schedule of in-person and remote learning.
The strategy includes other measures for dealing with the virus, including requirements for students and teachers to wear masks and maintain social distancing.
A more complete plan was released last Friday evening.
But the CSA said too many unknowns remain with the start of the school year drawing closer.
The CSA letter came just as a group of principals in Brooklyn’s District 15 sent out their own letter calling for a delay in the start of in-person classes.
The group — comprising leaders from some of the city’s top schools, including MS 51 in Park Slope — also issued a list of eight demands to the DOE, including getting info on ventilation and training for custodians.
Addressing reporters after a review of reopening preparations at Queens’ Villa Academy, de Blasio said the CSA’s remarks were not necessarily reflective of all principals.
“What the union says and what each individual principal feels can be very different things,” he said. “In the end, principals work for the people. They work for the parents and the kids.”
Hizzoner acknowledged that Cannizzaro raised “real concerns,” but said that he had full confidence schools would be ready to reopen.
DOE spokeswoman Danielle Filson echoed de Blasio’s sentiment, saying, “The CSA and UFT know we’ll only open our doors if we meet the strictest standards set by any school district in the nation — and that protecting health and safety has always driven our work together.”