DOE HOMECOMING 2021 HEALTH AND SAFETY GUIDE; WHERE IS MULGREW?

The NYC Department of Education put this health and safety guide out and sent it to parents. My nonscientific opinion is it is way too weak and is an invitation for COVID.

For example: 

During lunchtime, masks may be removed so students can eat comfortably at a safe distance from one another. Masks may also be removed during designated “mask breaks”, during which students will maintain physical distance from each other.

What are the distancing requirements?

Physical distancing is another important part of our multi-layered strategy to keep our school communities safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “recommends schools maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms to reduce transmission risk. When it is not possible to maintain a physical distance of at least 3 feet, such as when schools cannot fully re-open while maintaining these distances, it is especially important to layer multiple other prevention strategies, such as screening testing.” Additionally, wherever possible, elementary schools will keep groups of students consistently together or have teachers move between classes in order to minimize movement of students. It is important to note that the CDC emphasizes that schools should not exclude students from in-person learning to keep a minimum distance requirement. 

Dr. Michael Osterholm, a respected epidemiologist, said that thinking three-foot social distancing in schools would stop the virus is beyond pixie-dust wishful thinking.

Where the heck is the UFT and Michael Mulgrew? One would think this guide had to have passed through the UFT. Except for the electronic town hall and a couple of emails, it would appear that President Mulgrew has been put into the witness protection program. 

South Bronx School has the same question and wonders why the UFT, unlike the Chicago Teachers Union, is not making demands for safety and sharing them with members.