NYC School Buildings Closed Until End Of School Year, Mayor Says
Apr 11, 2020, 9:52 AM | Updated: Jul 26, 2022, 11:09 pm
People walk in Brooklyn while lower Manhattan looms in the background on March 28, 2020 in New York City, NY. Across the country schools, businesses and places of work have either been shut down or are restricting hours of operation as health officials try to slow the spread of COVID-19. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
(CNN) — New York City public school buildings will remain closed through the end of the school year because of coronavirus concerns, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Saturday at a press conference.
Students will continue to receive remote instruction, according to the city Department of Education.
Students who have requested digital devices, but have yet to receive them, will get them by the end of the month, city officials said.
De Blasio encouraged people to consider September as the new era. Children are under trauma at this time, he said, and it’s best to not bring them back to school before then.
He said he made the decision Friday night after speaking with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease official.
De Blasio laid out a five-point plan to help students in the nation’s largest school system.
- Complete deliveries of internet-enabled digital devices by the end of April. That will mean getting 240,000 more devices to children over the next few weeks.
- Expand the parental help line’s hours and technical support staffing.
- Launch new, free online activities and programs.
- Graduate students in their senior years, about 75,000 of them. De Blasio said a full plan will be out next week.
- Get ready to reopen in September, with provisions to combat learning loss and support mental health.
De Blasio said the new year will have to be the greatest in the city’s history.
