DE BLASIO IS THROWING IN THE TOWEL; NYC SCHOOLS CLOSED (Updated)

This is from the NY Post:

New York City’s schools will close Monday and remain shut till at least April 20 — and possibly the rest of the school year, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday.

“To say the least, this is a very troubling moment, a moment where I am just distraught at having to take this action,” said de Blasio, who had been facing a coup from parents and teachers over his refusal to close the schools amid the coronavirus.

“But I became convinced over the course of today that there was no other choice,” de Blasio said — adding that New York City is now up to five dead and 329 confirmed cases of the virus.

“We may have to go out” for the rest of the school year, “we may not have the opportunity to re-open them,” he warned.

The mayor said remote learning for students would begin March 23, with teachers undergoing “battlefield training.” The mayor added that over the next five days, schools would be open for “grab-and-go meals” for needy students, but that would only last this next week.

Further down:
The schools chief [Richard Carranza] said teachers will be asked to come to school Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for training while still  “practicing social distance.”

He said the goal is to make sure every student can continue to get their lessons online.

“Enrichment centers” also will be set up at various sites for the kids of healthcare and emergency-services workers, Carranza said.

And more:
The move came after Gov. Cuomo appeared to reverse course on the issue, too.

“Bureaucracies do not adjust quickly, but sometimes they have to, and this is one of those times that they have to, and I want them to sit down, figure it out,” the governor told reporters earlier in the afternoon.

He later added on 1010 WINS radio that “all schools down state” would close. His office soon issued a press release saying city schools were closed.

The city now “must develop a plan within the next 24 hours to ensure children who rely on school breakfast and lunch programs will continue to receive that support, and parents — especially critical healthcare workers and first responders – will be provided access to child care as needed,” the governor said.

He said schools in Westchester County also would shutter as would those in Nassau and Suffolk counties.
We kind of figured Cuomo was the one to go to. Good job with all those phone calls and petition signings. So many teachers calling in sick for tomorrow, in spite of the union telling members not to, didn't hurt either.

If teachers are filled with anxiety and need to take days on Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday because they feel ill, I want to remind you that Contract Article 16 entitles you to 10 self-treated sick days per year. Use them if you need to. If the UFT won't defend you, I will gladly help.

The UFT did lead here in publicizing the dangerous insanity of keeping the schools open. We applaud Mulgrew and company for that. However, the Union's action toward members prudently calling up to stay out tomorrow was not exactly pro-union. It's not an illegal strike prohibited under the Taylor Law to protect your health. The UFT shut down the schools for a week back in 1993 because of asbestos. The acting Queens Borough President Sharon Lee, the UFT President, 36 eminent scientists, and many others had stated that schools were not safe. Calling in sick in the middle of a global pandemic is not an illegal strike. In addition, an international court has ruled that the Taylor Law prohibition of public sector strikes in NYS is a human rights violation.

In the end just be safe folks.