'We're Ready': NYC Schools Prep For Full Reopening Next Week

NEW YORK, NY — With less than a week to go, officials say they are ready to safely welcome back New York City's 1 million public school students for the first time since the start of the coronavirus crisis.

The nation's largest public school system is poised to start its first fully in-person school year since the pandemic struck on Monday, Sept. 13 thanks to an intricate plan centering around mask and vaccine mandates, new quarantine protocols and extensive cleaning policies.

"No expense is being spared — whatever it takes," Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday. "We're ready for opening day of school on Monday."

Complete with an elaborate show-and-tell of the supplies that will stock each school, the mayor and education officials spent Wednesday outlining protocols they say will make public school buildings the "gold standard" of health and safety in the 2021-22 school year.

De Blasio has for months pushed past skepticism from parents or school staff to argue that a fully in-person school year is the right move for students, some of whom will be returning to a classroom for the first time since the pandemic.

Increased ventilation, 3-feet social distancing rules, a mask mandate, a 30-day supply of protective equipment, a requirement that all school staff be vaccinated and strict testing and tracing will make it so kids are less likely to catch COVID-19 in schools than anywhere else in New York City, according to the mayor.

"I say to all parents, the best place for your kids to be is in school," de Blasio said Wednesday.

Wednesday's promise comes after city officials rushed to fix damage brought on by Hurricane Ida remnants in more than 200 school buildings. As of Tuesday night, only six of the 238 damaged buildings were fully up and running. The remaining six will be resolved by Monday, according to Chancellor Meisha Porter.

The city is also rushing to ensure all of its staff are vaccinated before a Sept. 27 deadline.

As of Wednesday, 72 percent of teachers had gotten the shot, according to Porter.

In terms of students, just over 65 percent of those over the age of 12 were vaccinated as of Wednesday, a number officials are hoping to boost by putting vaccine sites 700 schools with children eligible for the shot.

De Blasio said the "missing piece" in the city's #VaxToSchool push is vaccine approval for children ages 5 to 11. He renewed a call Wednesday for the federal government to prioritize expanding the age.

"I’m calling upon the FDA — set a timeline, set a goal," de Blasio said. "Parents need to hear this."

Read More:

• All NYC Schools With Students 12+ Will Host COVID Vaccine Sites
• NYC School Reopening: COVID Quarantine, Testing Rules Unveiled
• Union Leaders Buck NYC School COVID Vaccine Mandate
• NYC Teachers Must Be Vaccinated Against COVID, De Blasio Says