Cuomo On NYC School Reopening: We’ll Monitor Coronavirus Cases

NEW YORK CITY — A dramatic “no-confidence” vote in New York City’s school leadership prompted Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reassure educators and parents that the state will monitor coronavirus cases as pupils return to classrooms.

The state will track COVID-19 numbers daily and act “prudently” on schools if necessary, Cuomo said Monday.

“We’re going to be getting daily testing numbers, so we’ll be able to tell on a day-to-day basis what is actually happening with the tests in New York City schools, both for the teachers and the pupils,” he said.

Cuomo’s reassurance followed the city’s principals union’s symbolic vote Sunday rebuking Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza and asking the state to take over schools.

Missteps and lack of communication on policy changes ahead of the planned wide school reopening Tuesday and Thursday prompted the vote, Mark Cannizzaro, president of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators, previously said.

Principals also cast doubt on whether schools will have enough staff.

K-5 and K-8 students are scheduled to return to classrooms on Tuesday, followed by all other students on Thursday.

Cuomo stopped far short of the principals union’s demand of state control. He simply said he understood the concern.

“We will be watching the numbers very closely,” he said. “And, again, I think the concern of the principals union will also be shared by the teachers union, it will also be shared by the parents of the students in New York City schools.”

School officials on Monday released data that appears to reflect parental concern. Roughly 52 percent of students in the city’s schools are now under “blended” learning plans, according to Department of Education data.

That means 48 percent of students or their parents opted for fully-remote learning as the school year begins. The number started at 30 percent in August and has only ticked up as the city’s rocky road to reopening wound along.

De Blasio on Monday eschewed his traditional daily briefing, largely leaving the city without his statements on the principals union vote and Cuomo’s announcement that COVID-19 positivity rates reached as high as 17 percent in some neighborhood hotspots.

As of Monday afternoon, he only tweeted out a relatively-upbeat statement on the city’s coronavirus numbers.

We've made great progress on COVID-19, but we're not done until we hit zero. Here’s a look at the numbers:

•332 new reported cases
•61 patients admitted to hospitals
•Citywide positive tests are at 1.93%

Practice social distancing, wear face coverings and avoid large crowds.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) September 28, 2020

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