NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- One of the city's largest high schools on Staten Island is ditching the mayor’s hybrid learning plan for now.
Students will be in-person five days a week at Tottenville High School, but not teachers—they’ll be teaching virtually while limited staff supervises.
That’s according to a letter sent to parents by the school’s principal, Gina Battista, who said a lack of teachers led to the decision.
“To execute the original plan of blended and remote learning, Tottenville High School would need an excess of additional teachers that is just not presently available. Therefore, in order to provide our students with a safe learning environment and a standard-based inclusive curriculum, we have no choice but to implement virtual learning classrooms with in-person supervision,” Battista wrote.
Battista said the school year will begin with “virtual instruction while having in-person supervision and supports as needed.”
City Councilman Joe Borelli tweeted a photo of Battista's letter Saturday.
“Staten Island’s largest school gave up. 100% remote, no in-person,” he wrote, adding that Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza “left the students and faculty high and dry with no options.”
According to WABC, the DOE responded in a statement, saying “the idea that Tottenville has gone fully remote is patently false. They will welcome students in person on October 1st like high schools across the City.”
The de Blasio administration already has the difficult task of hiring thousands of teachers to fulfill its hybrid learning plan.
City Council Education Committee Chair Mark Treyger said there's a problem with de Blasio's plan to fill some teaching vacancies with licensed, central staff.
"I've seen now an email that has gone out from the principals union to members of central staff saying that they are not required to work in schools, they're not required to teach in schools," Treyger said.
The principals union, Council of School Supervisors & Administrators, said it needed 10,000 more teachers for blended learning. The mayor and chancellor promised 4,500. But more are needed for high school because of the specialized subjects, Treyger said.
"You need to have a licensed science teacher to teach chemistry. If your science teachers are out with medical accommodations, you need a licensed sub in those areas to teach the class and they can't find it," Treyger said.
He expects more high schools to go the way of Tottenville before they reopen on Oct. 1.
“You’re going to have people out of license area covering classes. Again, there’s a difference between covering a class and teaching a class. The mayor made a promise that you’re going to have in-person teaching. That’s not going to happen in many schools” Treyger said.
In a statement, the DOE responded to the principals union email: "We’re all hands on deck for a safe and successful reopening, and all central and field staff that have been assigned to work at a school are required to do so. Our expectation is that those with a teaching license fill the need where there is one. As per our agreement with CSA, it is not required for their members to teach, but we are confident they will pitch in in any way they can."