Dear John,
At this time of year, I’m usually running around the district, trying to make it to as many public school graduations as I possibly can. I’ve said it many times: to me, that there’s no better celebration of the potential of American democracy than a 5th grade graduation -- especially in a community school district that’s taking real steps to integrate our middle-schools. Before they closed in April, I had visited most of the middle-schools in District 15, and was thrilled to see the energy and creativity and learning taking place in so many integrated 6th grade classrooms. So, like many of you, I was really looking forward to the graduations this year.
Alas, this year is unlike any other, and our 5th, 8th, and 12th graders are missing class trips, parties, awards nights, and celebrating their graduations. I really feel for them. And I’m really proud of them too -- something I’ll try to convey as best I can in zoom graduation remarks.
The summer feels like a bummer, too. We just learned this weekend that New York sleepaway camps are officially not opening. The cancellation of her summer camp was a big disappointment for my daughter Rosa, who was set to be a counselor-in-training. Many parents are struggling to imagine how they will begin to return to work this summer as we move through the reopening phases without day camps or child care.
So I’ve been advocating with my colleague Councilmember Debi Rose for the City to issue guidance [[link removed]] to child care centers and summer day camps so that they can make plans, and many of you joined me in calling on the Governor to release the federal funding ear-marked to help keep childcare centers afloat through the financial uncertainty. There is simply no way that we can really restart our economy without a plan for childcare … or our schools.
And that brings us to one of the biggest questions: How can our schools re-open safely in the fall? The Department of Education is beginning to consider proposals for bringing students back to school buildings in the fall safely, including adjusted schedules, a mix of in-person and online learning, with additional resources for addressing the trauma of the pandemic and associated disruptions and losses, and more.
Balancing the need to keep students and teachers safe, reducing disruptions to their learning, and addressing the inequities that the COVID crisis has intensified is a huge challenge. Even once students are back in school, we will have to be flexible to adjust to potential spikes in the virus, navigate the challenges of bridging the gaps in learning, supporting students through the emotional challenges that the disruption, loss, and stress has brought to them and their families.
(So I’m glad that the DOE is getting a great pair of hands: my friend Alison Hirsh will be stepping into the role of helping the DOE address these issues, which helps me to be a bit more hopeful that we can rise to this challenge.)
This week, the DOE is soliciting feedback from families and students to help make these plans. Parents can fill out the survey here [[link removed]] , and students can fill out the survey here [[link removed]] by 6/22.
One more thing that will need to change in our schools next year: middle- and high-school admissions. Schools that have based admissions on grades, test scores, and attendance data are going to have to shift, since we can’t use data from this pandemic semester in any meaningful way.
On this front, I’m hopeful that the pandemic disruption and urgency around racial justice will push long-overdue conversations [[link removed]] about integration and equity in our schools. I’ve joined [[link removed]] integration advocates in calling for screened admissions for middle schools to be dropped next year, following the lead of our efforts in District 15, and for a community engagement process [[link removed]] to begin rethinking admissions at the high school level to make them more equitable too.
Someday, I hope, today’s 5th, 8th, and 12th graders -- and all our kids -- will look back on this time as one where their families and neighbors came together to support each other, save lives, and grow stronger together. When they learned that Black Lives Matter, that everyone has a right to health care, that all work has dignity, that our schools can show up for every one of our students in the hardest times. Let’s do all we can to make those the lessons they learn.
Brad
In this email:
City and State Updates
Upcoming Events
City and State Updates
Latest Impacts: The city has lost over 17,433 people who tested positive for the virus, and an additional 4,691 people who are presumed to have died from the virus. More than 53,571 people have been hospitalized, and over 207,049 cases have been identified.
Reopening Progress: Now that we have begun Phase 1 of our reopening in NYC, the state is now monitoring seven criteria, and the city is monitoring three criteria, to decide whether it is safe to proceed to the next three stages of reopening. Gothamist has a helpful overview of the metrics that health officials are tracking and why they matter here.
Voting: Tomorrow is the last day to request your absentee ballot. Do so online at nycabsentee.com. Early voting started on Saturday and is happening all week. I voted over the weekend and found the polling place to be relatively calm, the lines short, the hand sanitizer plentiful, and easy safe experience overall. Find your polling site here.
Reminder to fill out the Census: Brooklyn continues to be one of the most undercounted areas in the country, threatening future resources and representation for our communities. If you haven’t yet, please take 10 minutes to fill out your census here.
Public Hearing on Protest Policing: The Attorney General is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, June 17 as part of an investigation into tactics used against protesters over the last few weeks. The deadline to sign up for oral testimony was today, but you can learn more and submit written testimony here.
Repurposing Reusable Bags: We are continuing to collect your Fresh Direct and other reusable bags for use by emergency food providers. South Brooklyn Mutual Aid, Muslims Giving Back and other food providers have used the hundreds of bags you have already donated to help get groceries to families in need. Keep the bags coming to the following locations and times.
Park Slope: 256 13th St, M-F, 9 AM to 6 PM
Carroll Gardens: 71 3rd Pl, M-F, 8 AM to 6 PM
Cobble Hill: 359 Henry St, Mon-Wed, 9 AM to 6 PM
Kensington: 3 Avenue C, Saturdays at 4 PM
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, June 17 at 6 PM: Community Board 6 Check In. Register here.
Join Community Board 6 for a check in with elected officials about the response to the coronavirus and issues facing our community.
Friday, June 19: Juneteenth
Actions are being organized around the city and around the country both online and in person to value Black lives on the Juneteeth holiday, which commemorates the day the last slaves learned they were free in 1865. Find out more and sign up for updates on the Movement for Black Lives site here.
456 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11215
718-499-1090
[email protected]
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
unsubscribe: [link removed]
Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here. [[link removed]]
