NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Principals from dozens of schools in a Manhattan district have called on Mayor Bill de Blasio to delay the start of in-person education.
In a letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chancellor Richard Carranza on Tuesday, the principals from Manhattan's District 6 cited ongoing concerns over the coronavirus as they called for the delay, according to WNBC.
The letter from 41 principals comes as de Blasio faces mounting pressure from teachers and principals to delay the start of in-person instruction. The city is planning "hybrid" learning in the fall, with students in school some days and working remotely others.
The city Department of Education responded to the principals in a statement: "Educators and school leaders are doing tremendous work to make the most important school year in history safe and healthy for children, and we know they need information and resources to make reopening possible."
The department said the city is "the safest major city in the country" with a citywide infection rate of 1 percent and that "we're sharing guidance on instruction and safety on a frequent basis to continue planning for a September reopening."
Last week, more than 30 Brooklyn principals sent a letter to de Blasio asking for a delay in-person learning due in part to "completely inadequate" COVID-19 funding.
On Wednesday morning, the powerful United Federation of Teachers union is scheduled to hold a briefing about the start of in-person learning. The union had previously called for a delay amid questions about COVID testing requirements and PPE for educators.
Some 40,000 families have requested all-remote learning over the past week alone ahead of Sept. 10, when school is scheduled to begin.
