Youngsters Return To NYC Schools As Mayor Promises More Reopening

NEW YORK CITY — Deja vu struck New Yorkers as they were greeted by the sight of a masked Mayor Bill de Blasio welcoming young students back to school amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Roughly 850 public school buildings citywide reopened for 3-K, pre-K and elementary school students on Monday following a weeks-long shutdown.

And de Blasio was there to usher in the return to class, as he was in the fall for three such “first days.” He recounted his visit to a Bronx elementary, where students going back to classroom soon will do so five days a week.

“That’s what happening at schools all over the city in the coming weeks,” he said.

Chancellor Richard Carranza said students in about 150 schools as of Monday and Tuesday will have five days of classes. Updated numbers will be available later in the week, he said.

Have a friend who'd like to get the latest New York City news? Invite them to sign up for Patch.

De Blasio also announced that schools in a state-mandated “orange zone” covering Staten Island will be able to reopen Saturday. The borough recently has seen a drastic spike in coronavirus cases, which led to controversial shutdowns of schools and indoor dining.

But de Blasio said Staten Island schools will be able to follow state procedures to “test out” of restrictions and reopen for 3-K, pre-K and elementary students.

Schools have proven to be safe, despite the coronavirus resurgence, he said.

“We’re going to keep moving forward and keep everyone safe,” he said.

De Blasio said later in his daily briefing that middle school students likely will return to class in January, with high school students to follow.

Further reopenings, however, depend on whether the city’s “troubling” coronavirus levels — which stood at 4.98 percent positivity on Monday — level off, de Blasio said.

The state could still impose an “orange zone” or more restrictions, he said.

“If these numbers don’t level off soon, then all options need to be on the table,” he said.

District 75 students are slated to return to classrooms starting Thursday.

The return plan also requires 20 percent of every school's in-person population to be randomly tested for COVID-19 each week.

Parents must fill out a consent form for their children or else they can't return to classes. They can do so by their New York City Schools Account (NYCSA) at mystudent.nyc or they can print and sign the form and bring it to school on their first day back to buildings.