As NYC, Teachers Union Discuss Remote Option, Mayor Adams Reiterates ‘Our Schools Are Going To Remain Open’ – CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — New York Metropolis college students returned to high school Tuesday, as the town and lecturers union proceed to debate a potential remote learning choice.

Mayor Eric Adams harassed in-person studying will proceed it doesn’t matter what.

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As CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge reported, there was confusion Tuesday about steering despatched out final week. Some dad and mom thought it meant extra versatile distant studying choices had been coming, however the mayor continues to say faculties are the most secure place to be.

Town mentioned out of 25,000 current assessments just one% had been constructive.

“I don’t need anybody to get this blended up. Our faculties are going to stay open. We’re not going to do something that’s going to cease our kids from coming into faculties,” Adams mentioned Tuesday morning.

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The clarification got here as a aid for some.

“Keep at school,” one father mentioned. “That’s the most suitable choice, as a result of I’ve to go to work day by day.”

“It simply doesn’t really feel proper to be distant,” a fifth grader added. “Going surfing and stuff like that’s actually exhausting.”

Others have been pushing for distant choices.

“I consider extra distant, as a result of if it’s a pandemic and this virus is critical, then we should always at the least be taking all precautions,” one father or mother mentioned.

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“If I wish to ship my child to high school, I’ve that choice. If somebody doesn’t wish to, they’ve that choice,” one other added.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

New York Metropolis public faculty attendance has been lagging. Friday’s common was 75%, which suggests 200,000 children should not going to high school.

That prompted the town and lecturers union to speak about what optionally available distant studying might appear to be.

“Now we have not introduced a distant studying choice, if you’ll,” Schools Chancellor David Banks mentioned Tuesday. “We’re exploring the chances of the enlargement of a distant studying choice.”

“We proceed to fulfill with the DOE to debate a possible distant studying program for sure teams of scholars,” the United Federation of Teachers mentioned in an announcement.

COVID VACCINE

The Department of Education despatched an e-mail to high school principals Friday, updating its coverage and permitting lecturers to supply distant workplace hours or assignments to children at dwelling for causes aside from a constructive COVID take a look at.

“There’s been a longstanding coverage, which precedes this administration, that enables for college kids who’ve examined constructive and who’re quarantining to obtain a stage of asynchronous sort of assignments. Primarily what which means is lecturers would submit assignments on-line, provide up a sure variety of workplace hours — we’re paying the lecturers for that extra stage of labor,” mentioned Banks. “We provided up a little bit bit extra clarification and an choice for some extra college students to reap the benefits of that coverage, if the lecturers in these particular person faculties are so inclined.”

“Our exploration of something distant is to focus on the kids who’re contaminated, and we wish to isolate them. That’s our dialog with the UFT and others to take a look at exploring. These are our goal teams,” Adams added. “However it isn’t simply to ship a sign out, ‘In case you don’t wish to come to high school, don’t come to high school.’ No, our faculties are open.”

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Banks mentioned attendance is steadily rising and has gone up 10% within the new yr.