Friday, December 31, 2021

NEWARK, NJ GOES FULLY REMOTE

Newark, NJ is another district going fully remote for January.

Eventually, the pressure will start to build on the new mayor of NYC to move to full remote instruction. 

I still can't understand why the UFT is not loudly leading the charge for safety. The UFT is letting down its members as usual while many within the opposition to Michael Mulgrew's Unity Caucus are fighting by planning actions and filing a lawsuit for remote instruction.

From Chalkbeat:

Newark schools will switch to fully remote learning after the holiday recess ends Jan. 3 and keep students home for at least two weeks as COVID cases continue to climb in the city, officials said Thursday evening.

Superintendent Roger León said the district made the decision after consulting with the city health department about the recent surge in infections. Students were told to prepare for the possibility of remote learning before leaving for winter break and are expected to return to classrooms on Jan. 18.

“This is not the news I want to be sharing with students and their families at this time because we need to continue in-person instruction,” León said in a statement, “but the health and safety of students and staff remains the top priority.”

Newark became the largest school district in New Jersey to announce the shift to a fully remote plan for students, a consequential decision likely to affect attendance, learning loss, and student mental health. It joins several other districts that recently decided to revert to at-home learning, including Paterson, East Orange, and Jersey City.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

Today is the last day of Mr. de Blasio's as mayor of NY City.

Mr. de Blasio's lies and political manipulations cost the lives of hundreds of DOE employees
both early during the Covid pandemic and throughout. His delay in closing the schools during the March 2020 outbreak is particularly noteworthy for its deadly outcomes.

To say that the de Blasio has been toxic as mayor is an understatement.
de Blasio , like his archrival Andrew Cuomo, has been spot on DEADLY.

De Blasio, I hope the door hits you very hard on the way out. Your tenure as mayor has been
a disgrace to collective humanity of the citizens of New York City .
You were an egregiously ineffective mayor.

Anonymous said...

Once again, ny leaders are the stupidest, most selfish of the whole country.

Anonymous said...

Is this really the right approach ? I remember when some UFT members were calling for remote back in September. Like when Daniel Alicea had that petition demanding remote until all kids were vaccinated as well as adults. Well, we opened in September and things were not a disaster. And that was with all the unvaxxed teachers so many of you were disgusted by or terrified of. And even if kids were vaccinated, what difference would it make since this thing spreads regardless?

So instead of admitting they were wrong in September, UFC continues to call for remote. I don’t see any real change here. I see a United Front of Chicken Littles.

Anonymous said...

“As we recognize that covid-19 is not a deadly or even severe disease for the vast majority of responsible Americans, we can stop agonizing over “cases” and focus on those who are hospitalized or at risk of dying.“

I can’t believe the Washington Post published this. Hell has frozen over I guess,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/12/28/biden-covid-states-responsible/

Anonymous said...

We should be remote for at least 2 weeks. However, there should also be a fully remote option for parents for the rest of the year if they want it.

Anonymous said...

As the dues collectors dither...
It is really ashame you won't realize how hard we are getting screwed by the union we are paying.

Anonymous said...

Do you think Adams will be any better? He agrees with De Blasio about keeping schools open. Also, do you think having the schools remote or open makes any difference. Those who want to learn will learn remotely or in person. Those who don't want to learn, just won't go to school and will use the pandemic as an excuse. I don't see how 2 weeks of remote learning is really going to have a profound negative impact on a kid's future.

Anonymous said...

Adams says straight out that gov more concerned over economy that the safety of students and staff.

Says schools will be "safer not safe". No testing for youngest students who cannot be tested.

Adams you will have death on your hands. Mulgrew you are responsible as well.

Pete Zucker said...

Mount Vernon NY is fully remote through MLK Day.

https://www.lohud.com/story/news/coronavirus/2021/12/21/covid-mount-vernon-schools-remote-learning/8983700002/

Anonymous said...

Not sure your point. Lydia gave up her vacation because the rest of us are being ripped off by our union. Are we suppsoed to be proud of Lydia or ashamed of ourselves? You act like this is a good thing. It's really a pathetic thing. Add it to the rest.

It ranks right up there with
March 2020
September 2020
The 2014 contract
The 2005 contract
Spring Break pay

The smartest in NYC. Yeah right.

Anonymous said...

It wasn’t spreading like wild fire back then idiot. Totally diff now. We should be remote.

Anonymous said...

What is the plan or is there a plan in place when the Situation Room fails to do their job?

Before the break principals reported info to Situation Room and then nothing..It was up to the Situation Room to share info with families. In many cases they did not.

Are principals responsible to share in class case info with families within 24 hours so that they can test their children?

Anonymous said...

12/30/21 - The NYCDOE Division of Human Resources via email sent the following "Your health and safety is our utmost priority. To ensure we can return to schools and buildings safely, we are encouraging all staff to get tested for COVID-19 before Monday."

Anonymous said...

In a Thursday appearance on MSNBC, America's top Covid official, Dr. Anthony Fauci, admitted to a distinction between the number of children hospitalized with Covid as opposed to "because of Covid."

"And what we mean by that: If a child goes into the hospital, they automatically get tested for COVID and they get counted as a COVID-hospitalized individual, when, in fact, they may go in for a broken leg or appendicitis or something like that. So it’s over counting the number of children who are, quote, hospitalized with COVID as opposed to because of COVID," said Fauci.

I can’t keep up with all the backtracking. You guys still following the science?

Anonymous said...

We should offer a remote option. Not for the Omicron cold, but for students who don’t benefit from our 19th century based, industrial mode of compulsory education. It can free up a lot of their stolen time.

Anonymous said...

Simple solution. Old and/or unhealthy people stay home for a bit. Being vaccinated Is not the only solution. You still have to actually be healthy and take care of your own health.

“Before the delta surge began this summer, Vermonters were already some of the most vaccinated people in the world. How much of a factor did breakthrough cases play in hospitalizations and deaths this fall?

For hospitalizations, numbers from the Vermont Department of Health for August show 28% were breakthroughs, 37% in September, and 48% for the first three weeks of October.

Half of the deaths in August were breakthrough cases. Almost three-quarters of them in September were. And it was 40% for the first three weeks of October.

Of the 91 Vermonters who were fully vaccinated and died, at least one-third were 70-years old or older. But covid targets the elderly -- vaccinated or not -- the data shows that of all deaths during the entire pandemic, almost 77% were our oldest seniors.”

https://www.wcax.com/2021/10/29/vermonts-october-infections-break-pandemic-record/

Anonymous said...

This variant is spreading quickly—with mild flu like cases for most, so far. Maybe this variant plays itself out in weeks—rather than months—especially with reports from South Africa where cases have dropped 30% since early November.
It would be wise for Adams to offer remote for at least a few weeks—and then reevaluate by MLK day—like several other local urban school districts. Mulgrew—now is the time to speak up for your members.

Anonymous said...

NY state Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Basset clarifies concerns about child hospitalizations.


https://twitter.com/KeepSchoolOpen/status/1475893919422496775

Anonymous said...

James postong something more ridiculous everyday, as nothing changes. What a joke this profession has become. But a union is better than no union, right? So this is what we got.

Anonymous said...

We should've gone remote the Monday after Thanksgiving and remained as such until, at the very soonest, January 17, 2022. This would've:

1. kept HUNDREDS of teachers (and those for whom they are responsible) from getting sick
2. kept the city from whining that they "couldn't find enough" subs
3. preserved January Regents exams (I know I know testing isn't popular but, let's face it
it still exists)
4. allowed for schools to be THOROUGHLY cleaned, top to bottom (I know for a FACT that my classroom is only swept and the garbage cans are only emptied every day. NOT ONE surface has been wiped down by anyone, except myself, since the first week of September and the chalk dust in my blackboard well was at least two inches deep when we left for break)

People say "the city loses money if the schools go remote." What about lives? Doesn't it COST money to keep them open (lights, electric to run the AC and 3 filters in every classroom, etc)? Again...what about the lives of the teachers? I can't ask that enough.

I'm so damned happy that I have just a couple of years left (waiting for the "magic" 55 despite the fact that I already have more than 30 years in.

Thank GOD it's an election year. However, I do wonder if the sheep will rubberstamp MM in once again...

Anonymous said...

12:39 - if they really cared about children they would offer a remote option because some kids who do not do well in this circus environment certainly do better than when they are in person. When it goes back to in person, they just stop coming again For students who want remote because they just don't want to get out of bed, they should make it an incentive based on their ability tp keep up with the online environment. But who would teach it? Let's face it, it's a failed experiment all around.

Anonymous said...

"I can’t keep up with all the backtracking. You guys still following the science?"

You can't keep up with honesty? Better he should just double-down on the confusion, right?

Anonymous said...

@9:57, responsible being the key word. I'm sure the unvaccinated are not included in their definition of responsible.

Anonymous said...

New York and New Jersey have the 2 highest current avg covid case rates in America as % of population.

NY: 0.24%
NJ: 0.22%

Only two states above 0.2%.

Two left wing states.
UFT silent about safety.
Typical.

Anonymous said...

So, with a union, the one james keeps boasting about, because it's better than nothing, we have absolutely zero recourse, other than to simply stay home on our own and pretend we have covid symptoms.

Anonymous said...

AOC is a PHONY! New Yorkers: She is "using" YOU!!
AOC pictured dining maskless in Miami Beach as Omicron cases soar https://nypost.com/2021/12/31/aoc-pictured-maskless-in-miami-beach-as-omicron-cases-soar/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons via
@nypost

NO MASK and NOT IN NY...But Governor DEATHSANTIS...

Anonymous said...

Is anyone else experiencing feelings of intense anger that the city is adding all these testing measures to get us back to work, but did nothing to protect us from getting sick in advance of our week off?
I know so many DOE staff whose breaks were completely ruined due to illness and isolation. We really needed this time. I know my mental health is in a worse state returning than it was before break. The DOE let things fall apart before the holidays…

$65 per check, going up every year, forever...

Anonymous said...

I don't want to run around to get tested on my time. I tried yesterday and the testing site had an unannounced closure and CITYMD stopped taking patients for testing at like 2pm because they were full. I already wasted that time. If the DOE wants me to be tested, we can do it on my work time.


Who shall I blame?
De Blasio?
Porter?
Mulgrew?
Biden?

This is the stronmgest union in the country?
Lydia, a person who has zero union power, has to file a lawsuit on behalf of the $330,000 per year UFT President? For the $200K UFT members? SAD! No comment, I assume, from Sill or Amy or Janella.

Anonymous said...

People in NY elected this person?

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
@AOC
"If Republicans are mad they can’t date me they can just say that instead of projecting their sexual frustrations onto my boyfriend’s feet."

Of all the place to go oon vacation, she chooses the Desantis state...As NY is overwhelmed with and by covid. Her answer is that Republicans want to date her.


If Leftists like AOC actually thought mandates and masking worked, they wouldn’t be frolicking in free FL.

Anonymous said...

Breaking: New Rochelle -- NY's first Ground Zero of Covid -- is expected to announce that all schools will close and classes will be held remotely due to the rapid spread of Omicron at least through Jan. 12.

So, who represnts this group? Not the UFT>

Anonymous said...

Is james really mad like in march of 2020?
Are things going to change now?
But keep funding this crap and pray for a different election outcome in April.
That has really worked. I think insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.

Anonymous said...

405 PM is right. LOL.

This is masterful, if it works - and it might.

AOC switched the topic from her abandonment of her constituents to a hellscape of Covid doom in favor of the mask-free liberty of Florida and steered the discussion to how hot she is.

Nicely done.

Anonymous said...

Dem MA Rep Ayanna Pressley: "After experiencing COVID-like symptoms, this morning I received a positive, breakthrough COVID-19 test result. Thankfully, my symptoms are relatively mild, and I am grateful to be fully vaccinated and boosted. I am currently isolating."

But I'll be safe on the bus and train and with 3,000 students next week.

But Biden is better than Trump in terms of covid.

Anonymous said...

Meanwhile i went to a site on the email this morning and was told when i got there
" NO PRIORITY FOR DOE"

Anonymous said...

An updated health screener that includes legal attestation
The city has updated its daily health screener to provide a way for students and staff to upload at-home rapid test results. The screener will now serve as a legal attestation, meaning any staff member, parent or student who falsifies information on this screener can now be subject to legal action.

Is this guy on crack?

Anonymous said...

meanwhile i went to a site on the email this morning and was told
" NO PRIORITY FOR DOE"

Anonymous said...

Well, well, well!
Looks like all those jabby jabs, maniacal testing and triple masking is not getting it done. The lovely NY governor is running around like a chicken without a head mandating more of the same: masks, boosters, etc.
I say, why not take a page from Desantis' approach? Provide Monoclonal antibody and other therapeutics to EVERYBODY that needs it in the early stage of infection. I believe the city got a LOT of money from the Covid19 sweepstakes this past year!

Anonymous said...

The answer is because they suppress cheap treatments.also if it is easily treated, people wouldn't take the jab. And also people wouldn't be so frightened.they want us scared into all compliance. Their new pills are not so wonderful either.interesting that the pill came out after the jab and not before.pwrhaps the shot wouldn't be necessary...but they wanted the jab, the control, the HUGE money.so greedy.i just hope to see their day of reckoning. the gov is a fake.

Anonymous said...

They don't care what we think.parental pressure counts.remember when parents pushed to go back.if parents had sense, they would keep kids home.but not everyone has child care.they can open those centers.those who want to work can earn extra pay monitoring kids on computers. But I heard at the learning g bridges, mask compliance was spotty at times.

Anonymous said...

But it's too late for this week.they need planning time for logistics and staffing, etc.