Many of New York City’s 1.1 million school children who were sent home in March 2020 when then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a statewide “PAUSE” order, amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, returned to their classrooms on Monday, Sept. 13, as the City reopened public schools for in-person learning once again.

 

After joining NYC Schools Chancellor, Meisha Porter, at P.S. 25 Bilingual School on East 149th Street in the Woodstock section of the South Bronx on Monday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio later held a press briefing at City Hall. “This is the day New York City’s comeback is in full force,” the mayor said. “This morning, I saw it with my own eyes at P.S. 25 in the Bronx.”

 

When asked by a reporter about parents who still have concerns about the spread of the Delta variant in City schools and who are delaying sending their children back for in-person learning, de Blasio, highlighting that he was also a parent, said, “For folks who are concerned, I understand the fear that we all feel for our kids.” He added, “If the fear is about adults in the household, then we have an easy solution: get everyone vaccinated.”

 

Norwood News previously reported on a rally attended by members of the Bronx Parent Leaders Advocacy Group (BPLAG), held outside the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) offices in Manhattan on Monday, July 26, 2021, during which the group called for the continuation of a remote learning option to in-person schooling.

 

 

The mayor defended the decision to return to full, in-person learning by citing the advice received from “the entire healthcare leadership in the City, even the education leadership, the head of the American Association of Pediatrics,” who, he said, advised, ‘Get your kids back to school. That’s the best way to help your children.” De Blasio added, “We have the most advanced safety measures in the entire country. We proved it all last year.”

 

When asked by WCBS-TV’s Marcia Kramer if children got sick, would he consider a remote learning option, the mayor replied, “When there’s any kind of exposure in a school, if someone’s vaccinated, even if they are in a room with someone who ends up having COVID, if you’re vaccinated and not symptomatic, whether adult or a student, you’re staying in school.”

 

De Blasio added, “We do not expect anywhere near the kinds of closures or classroom disruptions that we saw last year, but if a child has to go home, alternative learning opportunities will be provided for them for those very few days that they’re not in school.”

 

Meanwhile, as children were being discharged after the first day of school, one educator outside of P.S. 280 in the Norwood section of the Bronx, who declined to be identified, said of the return, “It was great, man. I’m just happy to be back with the kids.”

 

The educator continued, “It’s just awful. The remote teaching is just not the same as having kids here. We love the kids and the kids are happy to be back.”

 

Meanwhile, after picking up her two kids from P.S. 280 at the end of the first day back at school, Norwood resident, Beatrice Cortez, said the first day back was disorganized, citing miscommunication from school officials on where children should enter and exit the school.

 

 

“All the parents…..there was no social distancing, that was the first main thing,” she said. “The kids liked it because it’s a new beginning again. They like the new teacher and new classroom and new friends…..back again to see their teachers because some of them came back and some of them are new.”

 

Norwood News has reached out to the City’s Department of Education for comment on Cortez’s remarks.

 

A video of the mayor’s full press conference is attached. De Blasio said precise numbers on those who returned to school for in-class learning would be released as soon as the data was available. Norwood News has reached out to the city to obtain the numbers and will update this story upon receipt of any feedback we receive.

 

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Sept. 14, Bronx Councilman Eric Dinowitz (C.D. 11) called on parents of kids with disabilities to become certified parent members of a new IEP (Individualized Education Program) special education process which aims to support children with disabilities with their education, a joint initiative with Include NYC, and NYC Department of Education.

It’s unbelievable to be back where my journey started- MS 181! Had the opportunity to wish the students a happy first day of school alongside @DOEChancellor and @Vanessalgibson! Thank you to Principal Warnock for being so welcoming. pic.twitter.com/uzYg4nAXm1

— Jamaal T. Bailey (@jamaaltbailey) September 13, 2021

 

Include NYC is a leading provider of training and information for young people with any disability (age 0 to 26) in New York City, their families, and the professionals who support them.

Become a Parent Member and be part of the special education process to give our children with disabilities the support they need. All NYC families are welcome to attend the virtual workshops offered by @NYCSchools @NYSEDNews @INCLUDEnyc pic.twitter.com/vNhPGek8xQ

— Council Member Eric Dinowitz (@EricDinowitzNYC) September 14, 2021

 

Online information sessions about the process have been scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 15, and Wednesday, Sept. 29.

 

 

“Become a Parent Member and be part of the special education process to give our children with disabilities the support they need,” the councilman tweeted on Tuesday, Sept. 14. 

 

 

“All NYC families are welcome to attend the virtual workshops offered by @NYCSchools, @NYSEDNews, @INCLUDEnyc,” he added. 

 

Below are links to some other additional Include NYC organized events.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.