NYC defends partial school reopening plans in fall from criticisms. The chancellor of New York City’s public schools said "there are no perfect choices here."
“The perfect choice would be we have a vaccine and we’re back to business, but we know that’s not the case,” Richard Carranza said on “Closing Bell.” “What we’re trying to do is pick the least onerous of a portfolio of onerous choices.”
Carranza and Mayor Bill de Blasio of NYC made an announcement about the city's school reopening. They said the district would allow most of its 1.1 million students to attend in-person classes only two or three days per week. Students will attend remote instruction for the rest of the week.
Albany. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has yet to approve the plan. He said that the state expects to make a decision on school reopening in the fall in early August. The reason for this is the swift change of dynamics in the nation’s coronavirus outbreak.
NYC received criticisms for intending to partially send students back to school because it could reportedly damage educational development for children. Critics are concerned about the burden it places on parents and guardians who would take on more challenges with child care and helping their children learn while doing full-time jobs
Carranza mentioned the outbreaks in child care facilities in Texas as it faces the epidemic to justify NYC's plan to partially reopen schools in the fall. The Texas Tribune reported that children account for about one-third of the nearly 1,700 cases associated with child care centers in the state.
Data showed that children are at a lower risk of illness and death from coronavirus. However, Carranza noted that they must consider the health of teachers and staff. “We have adults ... in schools with children, some of whom may have preexisting conditions or be taking care of someone with preexisting conditions,” he said.
Moreover, Carranza pointed out that NYC's initial plan will make social distancing possible inside classrooms because it only requires smaller class sizes. The nation’s biggest district will implement a strict policy on face coverings for students and staff alike.
“We keep learning every day, every week about how this transmits, how it presents itself in our population,” Carranza said. “For us, as educators who love children, we are not going to put children or their adults that serve those children in a condition where they may get infected or be able to spread that virus to those that they love and care for.”
