Dear UFT Member,
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza today unveiled the city’s most detailed plan yet for a partial reopening of school buildings in September.
The plan builds on the discussions that the UFT has been having with the Department of Education since May. We believe a blended learning model, with students in class on some days and remote on others, balances our safety concerns with the need to bring students back. The de Blasio administration, however, must offer a concrete plan for childcare for our members and for working parents for days when their children cannot be physically present at school.
Under U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines for social distancing, no more than nine to 12 people — children and adults — can safely fit into the average New York City classroom at one time. To meet those guidelines, the DOE released three scheduling models for schools in which the majority of students are in school buildings two or three times a week. The DOE provided two additional models for District 75 schools, which have smaller class sizes and unique student needs. Overcrowded schools may need an additional cohort.
All the scheduling models include a cohort of fully remote students. Families will be able to opt for a fully remote schedule for their children if they have safety concerns.
Most principals and UFT chapter leaders conducted walkthroughs in June to determine how many people each school building could safely accommodate. Then, given the school’s projected enrollment and staff, they calculated how many cohorts would likely need to be formed.
Building on that work, your principal and your chapter leader will now discuss which schedule works best for your school community. If you have a preference, please relay it to your chapter leader. Principals have been instructed to submit their initial choice of schedule to their superintendent by July 23.
Reopening our schools will be a complex and difficult process so we must continue to plan and prepare, but we are not going to be careless with our students, their families and our members.
Strong safety protocols must be in place in all schools. Today, the city released more details about its safety plans:
●Schools will require physical distancing and face coverings for all staff and students and will increase access to hand washing and sanitizer.
●Every classroom will have hand sanitizer and disinfectant.
●Physical spaces will be configured to ensure appropriate distances.
●Lunch will be held in classrooms or require assigned seating.
●Each school or campus will have an identified isolation room in the event someone becomes ill.
●Each building will be deep cleaned on a nightly basis with electrostatic sprayers that dispense disinfectant so that it adheres to surfaces without the need to physically touch them.
●School HVACs for ventilation are being improved.
The DOE is still working on testing and screening guidance, a contact-tracing protocol and building entry and exit protocols — all crucial features of a comprehensive safety plan.
All of the scheduling choices are complicated to implement and present logistical challenges for working parents, but we believe a blended learning model is the best option under the circumstances. The DOE still needs to work out a lot of details, and the final decision to proceed with a partial building reopening cannot be made until late August since we don’t know what the future holds.
A partial reopening with dramatically reduced class size in schools and groups of remote students will be expensive at a moment when city finances are cratering. We do not believe that New York City can pull it off if Congress does not pass the U.S. HEROES Act this summer.
We will continue to advocate on your behalf throughout the planning process. Our primary concerns at this point are addressing the need for childcare and protecting the health of our members, our students and the families they go home to.
Stay safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Michael Mulgrew
UFT President
12 comments:
Mulgrew fully on board and what does he do when they can't figure out a childcare plan?
You have to see the cover of today NYPost. They may not have much integrity but at least they tell it like it is.
Anonymous 9:52, Mulgrew completely sidestepped that question on NY1 this morning.
DO NOT expect the UFT to have our backs.
Vegas has a real union unlike the UFT. That union out there called bullshit. Ours, as usual, just goes right along.
Full remote until there's an antidote!!
James, they said in the press conference yesterday the mayor and the chancellor said they are re configuring the HVAC systems in the buildings. Maybe you should reach out to NY Post to call their bluff. How is this happening in 1800 schools? They don't even have the manpower to do this. How many classes will be held without windows? Where is the money for all this when Mayor crying poverty?
The letter to parent coordinators makes no mention of the quality of the HVAC system mandate for schools. This is a big concern as well. - "Our buildings will be deep-cleaned on a nightly basis with electrostatic disinfectant sprayers, and HVAC systems are being upgraded to ensure better ventilation."
According to WKBW NBC Buffalo: "New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday malls in Phase Four regions can reopen Friday July 10 with enhanced HVAC filtration systems and measures in place.
Cuomo said for the malls to reopen it must have a MERV-13 filter on its HVAC system, or the highest the system is compatible with, but it can be no less than MERV-11.
It makes no mention of the quality of the HVAC systems."
The majority of the schools do not have HVAC systems. Clarification on all types of ventilation scenarios need to be disclosed and transparent.
Schools—not restaurants or gyms—turned out to be Israel's worst mega-infectors
Is there still a hiring freeze?
Yeah, just like safety was paramount in March when the UFT did nothing to keep Carranza and the DOE from dragging teachers in for March PD when we KNOW there was spread going on.
Sorry, but government can’t discriminate against speech based on the content of that speech. Can’t have different sets of rules based on how much the incompetent Mayor likes a certain cause.
.@NYCMayor Bill de Blasio tells Wolf Blitzer that he is banning all large gatherings in New York City except for Black Lives Matter protests.
Wolf Blitzer follows up by asking about the U.S. Open.
There are many schools without modern HVAC equipment - they still use radiators so HVAC doesn't enter the equation. I taught in two large high schools that had many classrooms. How can the custodial staff clean each room every day - not possible without a lot more custodial staff.
The plan calls for a nurse in every school - isn't there a nursing shortage?
I thank Betsy Devos for her testimony. It was one of the few good laughs I've had this summer.
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