MULGREW ON WNYC BRIAN LEHRER SHOW

Thanks to a reader for pointing out that President Michael Mulgrew would be on WNYC this morning. While I didn't listen live, I did hear the segment so here are my notes.

The first question Brian Lehrer asked was what Mulgrew thought of the blended learning plan.

Mulgrew answered that there should have been planning in April or May. Mulgrew said we aren't ready to open buildings as things stand now. He said even if we get to phase 4 and follow the model from the governor, we still have many questions to be answered. We have to prepare for blended learning and fully remote.

Lehrer: Politically teachers and parents have some interests in common and some differences in terms of teachers wanting mainly to error on the side of safety, how much do your interests align with the parents on reopening?

Mulgrew: Our interests are aligned with the parents. We had to fight alongside the parents to get schools closed in March. Parents want to know that the city will follow the rules because that is not what happened in March. Mayor didn't follow the rules last time. Our interest is we want a safe, supportive system. We need a childcare system for the city of New York whether we go back or not. We set up rec centers in March. 3,000 teachers volunteered to work in them. We followed the guidelines. It worked out; we didn't have a positive COVID-19 case but that was on a small scale. We had over 70 school-based members who died of Covid-19 complications in the spring. Members feel it was because of what the mayor did in March. Survey the mayor cites is misleading.

Lehrer: Why is the survey where 75% of parents wanted schools reopened misleading?

Mulgrew: 20-25% said they want fully remote school until there is a vaccine. 20-25% stated they want schools fully reopened but 50% wanted their kids back in school only if it is safe. They want it guaranteed that kids won't bring the virus back home with them. Working with the DOE but it is an enormous task. This is a major undertaking; we are preparing for both models. 

First caller is George from Brooklyn: We are not the world's largest babysitting force. Politicians want to use storefronts for schools. Universal childcare is needed. We can't put kids and teachers in danger because the infection numbers look good now and we want to reopen the economy. We would have to march back into poorly ventilated classrooms with an airborne virus. George says he hates remote learning and would rather be in the classroom but he is counting on Mulgrew to keep us safe.

Mulgrew: This is what I'm hearing from teachers. First, in March the mayor insulted us by calling us babysitters, and then the mayor didn't follow the rules on the safety guidelines. Not a teacher responsibility to do childcare. We have to make sure there is learning. Nationally, you can't move the economy until the virus is under control.

Lehrer to George: Would you like 100% remote learning this fall?

George: I am not a fan of remote learning but buildings have half of the windows that don't open

and poorly ventilated classrooms and hallways. Acknowledges the teacher and other school employees who passed on.

Mulgrew to George: Do you trust mayor to follow guidelines?

George: I think the mayor will choose the economy over safety and then there will be a spike in covid-19 cases.

Lehrer: Poorly ventilated classrooms and other spaces, should they be used?

Mulgrew: If there isn't proper air exchange, we shouldn't use the areas. Masks, hand washing, and airflow are the keys to slowing the virus. We will cause the virus to grow if we use space that doesn't have proper airflow. We follow the science.

Tyson from Queens: Randi Weingarten is not a good actor.  Tyson hoping Michael will take into account teachers like him have respiratory conditions and don't want to go into subways. Mayor taking our spring break was unconscionable. Mayor is not a public school supporter.

Mulgrew: We put on line the accommodation process with link to DOE form for people like Tyson. File for accommodation. Under ADA, people with conditions recognized by CDC should not be in a school, We streamlined process. Staff and children should get those accommodations. 65 is an automatic risk. Between 50 and 65, age is taken into account when looking at underlying conditions.

Lehrer: What about teachers who are taking care of others?

Mulgrew: Trying to figure out how to identify and do something for people in that position. States that he and his wife each have parents they are taking care of but the two of them wouldn't qualify for accommodations.

LT from Brooklyn: A teacher and a parent, problem if her five-year-old goes to school and there is an alternating schedule. Can't get a hybrid schedule that aligns with the child. Who will oversee custodians? They got to things when they could before coronavirus. How will they do all that is asked of them now?

Mulgrew: We have been telling the mayor since April that we need a childcare program whether we open schools or not. They just moved on it last week. We have not agreed on anything when it comes to scheduling. The Principal's answer is premature. We are not sure how to do scheduling and make it safe. Custodial piece: We go back to March. Mayor said schools would close if there were positive cases and they would have cleaning supplies. That was a lie. Every teacher knew. The School Construction Authority and School Facilities have the responsibility now. We have told them that if in September there is any opening of schools, we will do onsite inspections. This will cost a lot of money and we don't know how the city can do this without the funding.

Lehrer:  Given teacher concerns, there are many including an earlier caller who do not feel the union is being tough enough. Are you concerned about a strike or a sickout taking place if schools open with the hybrid model?

Mulgrew: We're not going to open if we don't feel it's safe. That is why we are doing as much planning for fully remote learning. Members are concerned after what we went through. We had to get into a streetfight with the mayor to get schools closed. We're preparing for social distancing and complete remote. We learned a lot. We did it on our own. We want to make it better. There will be a lot of remote teaching no matter what happens.

Lehrer: Should I take it as a strike threat if the city doesn't prepare sufficiently?

Mulgrew: No, we still have a month to go. I would say a 60% chance we will be fully remote. We don't have the funding. Big fight over the Heroes Act. The virus is raging out of control nationally. Governor was smart by putting in clear unambiguous plans. Need to meet numbers and have a safety plan. If they don't have the safety plan, we will do everything in our power to make sure that a school doesn't open and put children and teachers at risk.

Kerri from Jackson Heights: 18-year teacher who works in District 75 in a colocated school. Her school is on the top floor.  Misses kids. Teaching summer school. We are not a barrier-free site. No bathroom on the fifth floor. No social distancing. We do a lot of close proximity work. We lost a lot of D75 staff to Covid-19 including one of our paras. Chancellor Carranza says D75 kids won't have to wear masks. What message does that send? Kids and staff are putting each other in danger. We're scared.

Lehrer: What do you want as the best model?

Kerri: There need to be better learning platforms for our kids. There needs to be much more adaptive learning.  Better learning platforms for special needs and ENL students. There has to be more teachers working on this.

Lehrer: Kids with the greatest learning disabilities are most disadvantaged by remote learning?

Kerri: It is an insurmountable task.

Mulgrew: Started in D75. One of the most challenging and rewarding environments to work in. Odds against us getting open on time. Federal package and safety concerns. It's frustrating. We are the support system for our communities. We figured it out in March and April. We had 85% remote attendance but there is complete distrust in the mayor and much to do. We will prepare for fully remote and for social distancing. I don't know if all of the questions will be answered.

Social worker Jessica: Believes in the blended model. Our safety is at risk but we can't do the services we have to do remotely. It saves lives to do mental health services with students. UFT and mayor's office need to address this.

Lehrer: Can we set up the massive childcare that will be needed for blended learning?

Mulgrew: We would be in better shape had we started in April and May as we asked them to. We have 90 members training on traumatic care. DOE didn't do it so we did it on our own. We know so many children have suffered greatly. If we're safe and supportive to get through this. This is our school system in the City of New York. It doesn't belong to any elected official.