On Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo gave New York State schools permission to reopen this fall. Following his announcement, Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed that nearly 3/4 of NYC public school students—roughly 700,000 children—will return to school. The remaining 26 percent will participate in a completely remote curriculum.
Even though there will be fewer students in each building, the NYC DOE still must focus on ways to keep everyone at a distance. In order to do so, its looking to utilize other spaces and even tents for additional room, according to its facilities plan. The statement reads,
"NYCDOE will ensure that any new facilities being considered for leasing will be reviewed with DOB/OFP for a preliminary evaluation. No firm decision on leased sites has been made to date. Should tents be erected for temporary or permanent use, NYCDOE will ensure that they adhere to the BCNYS standards. No firm decision on tents has been made to date."
As a result, the School Construction Authority is taking requests for areas that might be of use. Even lawmakers are looking for alternatives. Council Member Brand Lander, who serves the 39th Council District in Brooklyn, is one of the city officials pushing for outdoor learning.
"This crisis demands that we all work together to use our resources in new ways to meet emerging needs," he said. "New York's streets and parks offer a chance to address deep concerns from parents and school staff, and an opportunity to make schools safer, expand in-person learning for some students and improve the quality of learning for many."
Be sure to check back frequently; we'll keep you posted as we hear more. To learn about the new school year, be sure to visit the NYC DOE's website and sign up for a virtual return-to-school information session. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the new health and safety procedures as well.
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