Dear Colleagues,
This has been an eventful and challenging year on so many levels. With your efforts and contributions, our school buildings have been safe places for teaching and learning for hundreds of thousands of students over the past several weeks. To date, we have seen a COVID-19 positivity rate of only 0.19 percent out of more than 120,000 students and staff tested. This has been a reassuring sign that our schools are safe, and we are grateful for the tireless work you do to ensure this is possible.
As you are aware, the City as a whole is experiencing elevated rates of COVID-19 transmission. As you may recall, last summer we established a threshold as a school system for closing school buildings and temporarily transitioning to fully remote learning: a 3% COVID-19 test positivity rate in New York City using a 7-day rolling average.
As of this morning, the City has now reached this threshold of test positivity citywide and, as a result, the DOE will temporarily close down all public school buildings, effective Thursday, November 19. This action, along with other city-wide measures, is a key component to address the concerning rise in COVID-19 transmission rates. This closure of buildings is temporary; we will work diligently alongside other City agencies and every New Yorker to bring this transmission rate back down and get back to in-person learning as quickly and as safely as possible.
Despite this temporary closure, our important work continues: learning must go on five days per week, fully remotely for all students for a brief period of time. Our students and families are counting on all of us - whether we work at schools or in central and field-based offices - to support them as they transition to fully remote learning. To guide us, we have sent a communication to principals with information on school-based operations as we temporarily transition to fully remote learning, and school-based staff should reach out to their principals with any questions specific to their school. Our community-based early childhood programs, family child care programs, and Learning Bridges sites will remain open to continue serving children and families in-person.
While school buildings will be closed temporarily for in-person instruction, staff will be able to access their buildings. Certain staff, such as School Safety Agent(s) (SSA), Custodians, Skilled Tradespeople, and School Food employees, and others will be required to be on-site at DOE buildings. Other school-based staff members will have access to their school building to ensure that certain functions are performed during the temporary system-wide remote period, such as delivery and pick-up and distribution of devices and other learning materials. Please discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding your work location with your principal or supervisor. Further information, including guidance for specific employee groups such as substitutes and re-deployed staff, can be found on the Coronavirus Staff Update InfoHub page.
Our DOE community has been our greatest asset at this time of crisis, and we will continue to support every one of you as public health conditions continue to evolve. We know that for many of you, our staff, and our students and families, a transition to fully remote instruction – even for a brief period of time – is challenging to hear. But we’ve faced these challenges before and are prepared for any situation that comes our way.
New Yorkers have proven they are ready and willing to do the collective work to fight back this virus, our school system being an important part of that effort. We are relying on every New Yorker to do all they can in bringing our transmission rates down. This means maintaining the “Core Four” every day: wash your hands, wear a face covering, keep six feet of distance from others, and stay home if you’re feeling sick. We will closely monitor our citywide health indicators every day and keep you informed on next steps when we are able to return to in-person instruction.
Thank you for continuing to ensure our children have the best educational experience. Again, we are so grateful for your tireless efforts.
In unity,
Richard
Joe here,
ReplyDeleteThey waited till 2:30 PM to annopucne that there would be no babysitter the next morning. Too bad. Typical DOE.
At least we have experts in charge.
Good News, teachers. We can talk stocks and tv shows all together for the rest of the week.
They hired how many new teachers who now aren't needed..What a waste of time and money.
ReplyDeleteTHANK GOODNESS FINALLY ��
ReplyDeleteImportant: de Blasio indicates that when school buildings reopen, students will have to have parental permission on file so they can be tested. In other words, students only allowed back if they can be tested.
ReplyDeleteThis will be enforced like the grading policy.
Sorry for the side question but does anyone know when this TREP Course piece is due, to be submitted? I can't get a straight answwr. Is this manditory by the way?
ReplyDeleteThey love wasting our money, but they cant find it for our retro.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the procedure for teachers to pick up work from schools?
ReplyDeleteDoes this mean that my daughter can still go to her pre k program tomorrow while her dad and I teach remotely from home?
ReplyDeleteStupid lying bald Mildew said nothing. He should have demanded full remote over the summer. What a total shitshow. I guess this was the inevitable result of the deal he struck with the big dummy. From the “robust” bullshit testing regime and the non existent contact tracing to the “safe” school reopening, this was an abortion. Unity went along for the increased dues revenue and the non compensation for the stolen Easter break. This was far worse than the March debacle when the pricks in the United to fuck teachers knew that they were sending members in to die. Worse because they came up with utter bullshit. The union insisted on sending us to babysit and told us we would have a safe reopening. Magical thinking or merely treacherous cretins? We don’t have a union we have a dues harvesting operation. The terms of the contract are only enforced by the doe. We are the sheep that are fleeced before being sent in to be slaughtered. Lies about the arbitration when the retro was bargained away long before ,we were treated to mildew and his terrible acting on you tube.
ReplyDeleteAt least Randi would attempt to act, although her acting sucks. Yep we have been had once again.
Be thankful. With Mulgrew, deBlasio, Cuomo we could all be dead.
ReplyDelete2:53: Does that surprise you? They have had the ATR pool for years and hire new teachers on top of having teachers in excess. The doe seriously needs a course in Economics.
ReplyDeleteThe DOE doesn’t want to place atrs that’s why they hire around them. The goal of the atr pool is to get people fed up enough to retire or resign. Only few get positions out of the pool once in. The UFT needs to bring back seniority transfer.
ReplyDelete"Staff will be able to access their buildings" but only for a few hours and maybe only tomorrow. Looks like the City wants to pinch some pennies. All the per hour people like SSAs will get the shaft. They don't have to pay for testing during the hiatus. Plus many are leaving Friday for their Thanksgiving plans so why spend the money on 3 days of historically low attendance.
ReplyDelete6:17: Regardless of the reason it's there, it's still a big waste of money. Period.
ReplyDeleteWho cares about them hiring atrs. I have been in the system 19 years and a atr for nine years. Do you really want to be placed with all the shit going on. It was stressful before but now its more stressful for the classroon teachers. I have six more years and if you want me to cover classes and do bullshit things then im in.
ReplyDelete7:59 - Agreed it is a giant waste of money. Was just stating why the DOE has the atr pool.
ReplyDeleteWe’ve been over this for years. The doe likes an ATR pool. Principals like it. They have a way to tell staff members,”do what you’re told or you will be an ATR!” This threat works. Principals excess those they don’t like or who don’t fit in.
ReplyDeleteThe doe has so much money to burn(yes, even in a pandemic they like to waste money) and principals get a veteran teacher to cover classes for free. Central picks up the tab.
As an ATR, I don’t want to go back to being a real teacher. Why would I? The stress is ridiculous and as an ATR, as long as I show up and present myself dressed in a neat way and as a yes man, principals don’t bother me. One principal hates me and she requested never to have me back. The rest like me. Not a bad gig !
And guess what? The doe will still hire a ton of new teachers every year
I agree with all your reasoning, but still do you still really feel like a teacher just covering classes and not having your own classes and roaming from school to school each year and teachers looking down on you. The only saving grace I have is that I make more money or equal money than all the teachers there.
ReplyDelete906,
ReplyDeleteWhat does it matter? I could care less if a bunch of 25 year olds think I’m not a ‘real educator.’ They will be out of the profession by the time they are thirty.
This is the doe. It should be called the DOBS. Department of BS. It’s a racket, a hypocrisy and we are all a part of it whether we like it or not.
Our job is to stay out of harm’s way aka 3020.
I’m in my mid 40’s. I have a mortgage and bills. I need the income and my job is to get to 55 and retire.
In conclusion, I’ll repeat and reiterate that if a few real teachers want to not wish me happy holidays, that’s ok
These terrible leaders who further smear this so called democratic party did us a favor by giving us a nice extended break for thanksgiving. However, schools should not be closed. 3% is an arbitrary number with no real science or data to back that claim.
ReplyDeleteCDC says 5% is recommended for school closures which makes more sense. This is a major disservice to our students.
But also they said students were going to be required to be tested, and if they didn't return the consent form, they would be required to do remote learning, but now they know if they follow that guideline, there would be no students left in the buildings. I don't trust the numbers at all. Also, do you trust the city and the schools in reporting and doing contact tracing. I've heard of many schools where classrooms are locked with a do not enter sign and teachers not being told of positive tests. There was that school in Brooklyn where the teachers weren't contacted until 10 days after a kid tested positive, so don't trust that 3 percent.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I've always treated ATRs assigned to my school as true colleagues, I don't expect them to care what I think of them. Good for you ATRs who lay low and get yourselves to that pension. You shouldn't care what anyone thinks of you let alone people who treat you with disrespect. The UFT sold you out. You owe no one a thing.
ReplyDeleteMost of the teachers that I come across treat me with respect. They realize it wasnt my fault I became an atr. I play the game the best way I know how. I say yes to alot of things and stay under the radar. I dont give a shit what anyone thinks of me because I know who Iam. I have six years left and I know Im still a good teacher. When I am asked to help students I give it my 100percent because they are all that matters to me. I give them my respect and my knowledge and if its only for a brief moment it brings happiness to me. I may never have a classroom again or be in a school long enough to know teachers.I wont have a retirement party or gifts that show appreciation. But one thing is for sure. One thing those bloodsuckers at the doe cant take from me is my pride. I gave it my all to the end.
ReplyDelete@713 pm...
ReplyDeletePrecisely.
Walk with your head high. No one can define you. Stay safe!!!