Politicians Join Parents Demanding Hudson Valley Schools Reopen

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include a statement from the New York State Teachers Union.

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — More and more parents and politicians are calling for schools to reopen full-time for in-person teaching and learning as district officials struggle with state requirements and limitations.

A big sticking point is the New York State Education Department's rules requiring schools to either keep 6 feet between students or erect barriers between desks — which school administrators say is an impossible mandate.

Westchester and Rockland Assemblymembers Tom Abinanti, Amy Paulin, Sandy Galef, Chris Burdick, Steve Otis, Gary Pretlow and Ken Zebrowski said last week they had advocated for more flexibility but been told state officials had no plans to change the rule.

Wednesday, Assemblyman Colin J. Schmitt of Orange County said he sent a letter to the state's Commissioners of Health and Education demanding it be modified.

"This mandate is unnecessary, and it is delaying our children’s return," he said.

Opposing the change, NYSUT President Andy Pallotta issued a statement Thursday on behalf of the teachers union:

As educators, we want our students to return to schools as soon as it is safe. Contrary to recent reports, the safety standards surrounding a return to in-person instruction in schools have not changed, nor has the science behind those standards. The New York State Department of Health and the CDC all agree: the safety of our students demands mandatory mask wearing and six feet of social distancing or the use of effective physical barriers. Decisions must also still be made collaboratively with parents and educators. These standards have not and must not change.

Parents in different districts are getting different answers about the barrier issue, Jamie Callanan of Open Schools Putnam County told Patch.

She told Patch that members of her group in the Carmel district heard from their school board that barriers would have to go floor-to-ceiling, while parents in the Brewster district were told school officials were surprised to learn that there was a barrier alternative to 6-foot social distancing.

As local parents have become increasingly vocal, questioning policies and pointing out inconsistencies and disparities, antagonisms have been rising.

In an opinion piece on The 74, education advocate Erika Sanzi said the school reopening showdown has become increasingly "ugly" and has pushed parent-shaming to new heights nationwide. Locally, the most public display so far came from Pearl River, where three administrators had to apologize for mocking parents who had talked about reopening at a board meeting. The snark came after the meeting was over but the broadcast was still live.

At the Pearl River Board of Education meeting Tuesday, parents continued peppering officials with questions about when kids would return full-time to classrooms. "I don't have an answer to that, I don't have a prediction," Superintendent Marco Pochintesta said. "There are favorable signs and there are supportive factors within our experience and our own organization that we can look at."

MORE READING:

• Districts Deliberate As Pressure To Reopen Schools Rises
• Parents Group Calls For Reopening Schools In Putnam County
• Under Pressure, Putnam Seeks Guidance On School Reopening From NY