Successstudentshavebeen signinginfor
fulldaysofliveremoteinstructiononschool-
providedlaptopsandtabletssincethe
beginningoftheschoolyear,anexhausting
undertakingthatMoskowitzplanstoendfor
thecurrentschoolyearonMay28.The2021-22
schoolyearwillthenbeginAug.2,possiblyina
hybridformat.
I honestlydon’tknowwhatthechancesare”
ofcontinuingremotelearningintothenext
schoolyear,shesaid.
“Logicwouldtellmethatweshouldn’thave
to,butmyknowledgeofgovernmentmakes
mea littlemorehesitant,”shesaid,noting
thesometimesconflictingguidancefromthe
cityandstateandtheslowstarttotherollout
ofvaccines.
NewYorkCityMayorBilldeBlasiohas
vowedthatschoolsinthenation’slargest
schooldistrictare“goingtobebackfull-
strengthinSeptember.”
“Everyonewantstobeback,”he’ssaid.
Buttheheadofthepowerfulteachers’
union,MichaelMulgrew,saysit’stoosoonto
commit.Schoolscurrentlyareproviding some
in-personclassestoelementaryandpre-K
studentswhowantthem.A planannounced
thisweekbyDeBlasiowillreopenmiddle
schoolbuildingsFeb. 25 butthereis noplan
yetforhighschools.
“It’sa goalofmine,butI can’tsaythey’regoing
toopen”theUnitedFederationofTeachers
presidentsaidinaninterview.Hisviewofthe
mayor’spledge:“Thisis notaboutwhatyou
want.Thisis aboutwhatyoucandosafely.”
Image: Ted S. Warren