Full NYC School Reopening Pushed Back To Sept. 21

NEW YORK CITY — New York City schools’ return to in-person classes has been pushed back until Sept. 21.

The 10-day delay is part of a deal with educator unions announced Tuesday by Mayor Bill de Blasio. The deal appears to avert a potential teacher strike that loomed before the previously planned Sept. 10 full reopening.

“What would have happened on Sept. 10 now happens on Sept. 21,” de Blasio said.

De Blasio said the deal gives teachers set additional days — Sept. 10, 11, 14 and 15 — to prepare for returning to classes amid the coronavirus pandemic.

There will then be a three-day “transitional period” starting Sept. 16 in which all instruction will be remote, de Blasio said.

In-person classroom instruction will begin Sept. 21 under the much-discussed “blended learning” model, de Blasio said.

“So it’s blended learning, some kids in school one day, other kids in school another day,” he said. “The buildings will be open and operational and taking kids in for that crucial in-person learning.”

UPDATED PLAN for @NYCSchools:
• Teachers will start blended learning training on September 8
• Students will start an all-remote transition opening on September 16
• Students will report in-person at schools on September 21 https://t.co/l5F454Fcrc
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) September 1, 2020

The deal sets up a monthly medical monitoring program that includes random COVID-19 virus tests for students and staff, de Blasio said.

“Yes, that will be done on a mandatory basis,” he said.

Jay Varma, the city’s senior adviser on public health, said the monitoring program is focused on people physically present in schools and will look for a 10-20 percent sample size in its tests.

Any child who is sick or shows signs of coronavirus infection should stay out of schools and get tested, Varma said.

The city will set up testing vans and sites at schools for added coverage to its 200 COVID-19 testing locations, de Blasio said.

The deal was struck with two unions — the United Federation of Teachers and Council of School Supervisors & Administrators — that raised vocal concerns over de Blasio’s push to bring students back to classrooms Sept. 10.

The UFT even threatened to strike over safety concerns — an action barred by state law.

UFT President Michael Mulgrew struck a more conciliatory tone Tuesday as he sat beside de Blasio for the announcement about the deal. He called it an example of how to get things done.

“We will have a stronger instructional program because of all we’re about to do over the next two weeks,” Mulgrew said.

De Blasio called the deal a “revision” that gives teachers and educators more time to prepare but also ensures students get back to school soon.