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Dear John
Nothing is more important to the city’s recovery than re-opening our schools, safely and supportively, for all our students.
We got some good news on that front this week. After months of organizing, we won a big fight as the DOE announced they would restore $130M to 877 schools who experienced Covid-19 related enrollment declines. After hearing from principals about the cuts back in November, my office organized Council letters in December, January and February, and we kept up the pressure until Monday’s announcement.
Meanwhile the CDC announced that schools can be safe with 3’ of distance between students rather than 6’. As a result, the DOE opened up a new opportunity to opt-in for in-person learning to students in 3-K, Pre-K, elementary school grades K-5, and all students in District 75. And many high-school students, including my daughter Rosa, returned to their classrooms this week for the first time since November.
The positivity rates in our schools remain extremely low, well below 1% (even as it remains stubbornly high in the city as a whole, demanding continued vigilance from all of us). And the city’s vaccine distribution numbers continue to be encouraging.
But our schools aren’t open when they’re closed. This week, more than 250 of the city’s roughly 1250 public school buildings are closed because of the “two case shutdown rule.” And it’s been like that for months, as so many of you know all too well. According to the public health guidelines of both the CDC and the NYC Department of Health, operating schools safely means extensive testing and contact tracing, quarantining classrooms and contacts where a case occurs -- but not shutting down whole schools where there is no evidence of in-school spread.
At Tuesday’s Council hearing on the DOE budget, I pushed the new Schools Chancellor Meisha Ross Porter on this issue. On the bright side, she seemed to agree, and promised change. But it’s been six long weeks since Mayor de Blasio promised to review and revise the rule, and all she would tell me yesterday is that it will be revised “soon.” I promise to keep pushing. Here’s what else I’ll be focused on in the coming weeks as we push for a safe and supportive re-opening:
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Replacing the two-case school closure threshold with an expanded and closely-monitored test and trace approach consistent with public health guidance. New funding from the American Rescue Plan can support expanded testing and tracing.
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Implementing the CDC’s 3-foot recommendation to expand classroom capacity. We should prioritize new capacity for all-remote students who want to return to blended learning, and then mapping out which schools can offer 5-day a week classes.
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Prioritizing in-person teaching for middle and high school students -- not just offering them an in-school place to attend remote classes (which is most of what Rosa and other students have right now). The Pfizer vaccine is available to kids 16 and up. We should prioritize older students for vaccination right now and make a safe return for senior year possible.
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After leading the way for outdoor learning for in-person students last fall, the DOE should now provide guidance to allow teachers to schedule (optional) in-person, outdoor meet-ups with their all-remote classes which could provide enriching experiences for the 70% of NYC students learning remotely.
At the same time, with widespread vaccination expected by the summer, and the American Rescue Plan delivering billions of dollars that are schools need, we must be focusing on bringing our students back to school full-time, safely and thoughtfully in the fall, attentive to nurturing their resilience as we emerge from the trauma of the pandemic. That includes:
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A commitment to 5-day a week, in-person school for all students for the new school year.
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This summer, we must offer a mix of summer jobs (through the Summer Youth Employment Program), summer school, publicly-funded camp programs, and early childhood education to all who want it.
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Investing the resources to ensure a safe and supportive return to classrooms, including additional school counselors, nurses, and support services. The American Rescue Plan provides funding to meet our students’ academic, social, and emotional learning needs.
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Canceling the proposed hire of 475 additional school safety officers and instead investing those resources in mental health support for students.
Our principals and teachers have been working tirelessly during the pandemic, through turbulent and uncharted territory in continuing to provide a safe, enriching experience to students, whether they are in-person or remote. Beyond all the things they normally manage, principals have had to deal with constantly changing staffing needs, implementing weekly Covid testing, purchasing PPE and overseeing new safety protocols, opening and closing multiple times and all the programming changes, communications with parents and the Situation Room that comes with these constantly changing dynamics.
So I’m glad we were able to win the fight to win some budget relief for them this week. I know they’ll put every penny into safe and supportive education for our kids. Let’s do all we can to support them in this work.
As always, please reach out to my office with any other community issues or questions by emailing [email protected] or leave a message at 718.499.1090 (and someone will call you back).
Keep wearing your mask, washing your hands, and get vaccinated when you can!
With love for public education, and the people who make it possible,
Brad
Covid-19 Updates and Resources
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Latest Virus Data: In NYC, 2,112 new COVID cases were reported March 22nd, for a total of 796,373 cases since the start of the pandemic. We have lost 30,564 people in NYC from the virus, however 0 deaths were reported on March 22nd. The number of new cases and the positivity rate have been declining slightly for the past week, but the citywide 7-day rolling average of positive test rates is 7.8%. City data here.
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Vaccine Data: As of today, 4,082,555 vaccine doses have been delivered to New York City, and 3,411,492 have been administered (2,615,145 first doses, 796,347 second doses). 2,361,620 people have received at least the first dose and 1,222,839 New Yorkers are fully vaccinated! For more information on vaccine eligibility, locations, and data, visit the NYC Vaccine Command Center’s Website. (And you can review our office’s Vaccine FAQ here).
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Vaccine eligibility expanded to ages 50+: New Yorkers who are fifty-years-old and up are now eligible to receive the vaccine. As always, our office is available to help anyone who needs assistance making an appointment!
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Beware of COVID Vaccine Scams: Please ignore any individual or organization claiming to be able to provide a vaccine in exchange for payment. No vaccine distributors will ask you for Social Security, credit card, or bank account information. The vaccine is completely free, regardless of whether you have health insurance. If you suspect any fraudulent activity relating to COVID-19, please call the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Action Center Hotline at 718-250-2340.
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Get Tested: Even with these new vaccines in circulation it is still so important to keep up our social distancing, wear masks, and get tested. For information about testing sites around the city, visit New York City’s Covid-19 testing website.
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Homebound Vaccine Program: If you are a homebound individual, the City will begin rolling out its homebound vaccine program at the end of April to administer the one-shot J&J vaccine. You can sign up for the interest list for homebound vaccines here and a representative will get back to you in the coming weeks.
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Self Senior Sign up: If you are a senior or know a senior who would benefit from free friendly calls from the Neighbor Network during this isolating time, you can now sign up here by filling out this form or calling 914.572.5526.
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Vaccine Coordinator: The Neighbor Network is looking to hire a full time Vaccine Program Coordinator to support a growing volunteer-based initiative to improve seniors’ access to COVID-19 vaccines. Please see job requirements, information, and apply here
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Weekly senior vaccine calls: Seniors are experiencing unprecedented isolation during this Crisis and are now struggling to access the vaccines that are critical to saving lives. By making calls to older adults in Brooklyn, you can help fight isolation and share information about COVID vaccination resources. And each event will begin with a training session. To volunteer to make calls vist the Neighbor Network here or email [email protected]
Anti-AAPI Hate and Solidarity Resources
Education Updates and Resources
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Second DOE opt-in period deadline is April 7: Beginning today Wednesday, March 24, you can visit the Learning Preference Survey (or call 311) to select blended learning for your child if your child is currently fully remote..
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Students in district 3-K, Pre-K, and grades K-5, including students in District 75, who opt into blended learning during this opt-in window will return to buildings in April.
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Students in grades 6-12 who opt into blended learning during this opt-in window will return at a later date TBD.
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If you select blended learning for your child, you must submit the consent form for random COVID-19 testing by the first day your child begins in-person learning. Use your New York City Schools Account under “Manage Account”, or complete and sign the consent form available at COVID-19 Testing and bring it to your child’s school on the first day they are back in the school building.
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Pre-K application deadline is April 7: You can apply online or by phone. Sign up for the pre-K admissions email list for updates, tips, and reminders. Throughout the admissions process, you'll use MySchools.nyc to learn about pre-K programs, apply, get your offer, and learn about waitlists. For more information visit the DOE pre-K website.
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Universal 3K expansion: The Mayor and the new DOE chancellor announced this week that there is going to be a large 3K expansion including in D15. 16,500 new spots will be available this fall City wide.
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The Singing Winds is Back in Albemarle Playground with Free Activities for all Ages! The Singing Winds in Albemarle Playground is a D39 Participatory Budgeting project, made possible with support from the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development and open to everyone in the community free of charge. We hope to see you there!
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10:00 am - 1:00 pm every Saturday, March 20 - June 26
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Park Clean-up 10:00 am
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Tai Chi & Qi Gong 10:30 am
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Friends of Albemarle Playground meeting 11:30 am
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Gardening 12 noon
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Arts & Crafts starting in May
Other Updates and Resources
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Legal Services Hotline: NYC Financial Justice Hotline is a free legal hotline for low-income NYC residents. The hotline staffed in English and Spanish, provides free legal information, advice, and referrals on a wide range of financial justice issues--from discriminatory banking practices to predatory debt collection. You can find more information here.
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COJO Flatbush Tax Collection: They are offering free tax services for tax season. If you need assistance filing your taxes you can find more information and contact them here.
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Access Benefits Helpline through Legal Aid: Anyone having trouble with an application to apply for or recertify for HRA cash assistance, SNAP, or Medicaid benefits, can all the Legal Aid Society’s Access to Benefits Helpline at 888-663-6880 M-F 10am-3pm.
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We are redirecting our Fresh Direct Bag Program: After collecting and redistributing more than 50,000 bags, we are transitioning our Fresh Direct bag donation effort now that Fresh Direct has established its own program to connect bag donors with nearby food pantries. A couple of our partners, Masbia and People in Need, are now signed up for direct bag drop off through Fresh Direct’s program. Locations and times and the complete list of partners here. Thank you to the many constituents who have continued to collect and donate their extra bags over the course of the pandemic. This has provided a much needed supply of durable bags to food providers, and helped reduce the number of these bags entering our waste stream. We hope you will continue to donate directly through this new program.
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