1,600 NYC School Buildings Poised For Final Stage Of Reopening

NEW YORK CITY — Two delays and countless controversies threatened to derail New York City’s ambitious school reopening plan. But on Thursday, barring a major issue, the bulk of public school students citywide can return to classrooms for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic struck.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday said 870 schools were open after K-5 and K-8 schools started welcoming students the day before. He said New York City is now at a level where no other school system in the country stands.

“But tomorrow we go much farther — middle schools and high schools open, at which point tomorrow morning there'll be 1,600 schools open,” he said, before repeating, “1,600 public school buildings open and serving children and families in New York City.”

The wider reopening on Thursday will occur as coronavirus cases continue a worrisome rise in at least six city ZIP codes in largely Orthodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and Queens.

Officials with the United Federation of Teachers — the union representing the city’s teachers — on Tuesday called for potential localized closures of about 80 schools in those areas.

De Blasio said city health and school officials are keeping on eye on those areas. The infections don’t seem to be spreading into schools, he said.

“I will say it again, we have a very unusual situation here where we have an uptick in a discrete set of ZIP codes and we are not seeing an interconnection to our public school system,” he said. “So, we will watch it very carefully, daily, hourly. And if at any point we determine we need to close an individual school or any number of schools in that area, we will. But, today, based on the facts, it is not warranted.”

About 500,000 students are expected to return to classrooms.

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