School’s ‘out’ but in
Blasio jolts principals with open-air plan
The de Blasio administration dropped another bombshell Monday on city principals already struggling to figure out how to safely reopen their schools by announcing streets and parks could be turned into outdoor classrooms — less than three weeks before the return of students.
“We want to give schools the option to do as much outdoors as they can,’’ Mayor de Blasio said at a press conference with city schools chief Richard Carranza — while setting Friday as the deadline for principals to submit their reopening plans to the city.
“That’s going to open up a lot of wonderful opportunities for kids and for our educators,’’ de Blasio said.
But the union representing the principals blasted the outdoor-learning announcement as too little, too late.
“Once again, the city and [Department of Education] have made decisions, rolled out guidance and announced a deadline far too late and haphazardly for school leaders to develop and implement a thoughtful and wellconstructed plan,” said Mark Cannizzaro, president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, in a statement.
While Cannizzaro said he backs the concept of outdoor learning, he argued that the city’s proposal didn’t provide principals, already heavily burdened by coronavirus health restrictions, enough time to formulate viable plans.
“The shortsighted guidance on outdoor learning also lacks detail, raising serious concerns about safety and security,” Cannizzaro said.
“Though the idea of outdoor learning has real merit, the City’s plan will not be implemented nearly as well as it could have been if the mayor had simply given principals the time and support they need,” the union chief said.
Queens Councilman Costa Constantinides seethed in a statement, “For weeks, we have begged the city to consider outdoor learning as a crucial tool for keeping students who must learn in-person safe — only to be rebuffed.
“While I’m glad we have finally seen some movement for open classrooms, it comes less than three weeks before in-person learning will begin,’’ the Democratic pol noted.
The school year is slated to begin Sept. 10, with kids alternating between home and building instruction unless they opt for online-only learning.
The DOE said Monday that it has already been receiving proposals from principals for outdoor classes.
“The Department of Education will work to accommodate schools’ requests to the greatest extent possible, unless the arrangement will not be feasible or safe,” the department said in a statement.
De Blasio told reporters that city agencies such as the departments of Transportation and Parks and Recreation would make any proposed road closures and park classrooms a priority in terms of paving the way for outdoor classrooms to happen.
“In some cases, they may say, ‘You know what? We’re good with just what we have in the school. We have a schoolyard. We have a courtyard,’ ” the mayor said. “It’s up to each principal.’’ Carranza said the administration will approve the plans within a week after Friday’s submission deadline.
The shortsighted guidance on outdoor learning lacks detail, raising serious concerns about safety and security.
— Principals union on the mayor and DOE head Richard Carranza’s (left) last-minute reopening reveal