NYC Chancellor Richard Carranza Cancels Spring Break, Infuriating Teachers and Parents

NYC Chancellor Richard Carranza

Below is the e-letter sent out by Chancellor Carranza and the Office of Personnel Investigations (OPI) on April 4, 2020. 

What parents and teachers want to know is:

How are homeless kids getting instruction, if they do not have computers and/or they don't have wireless access to the internet at their shelter?

How is the Department of Education measuring actual learning, achievement and student outcomes?

My experience has shown that the NYC Department of Education is not proactive. The Mayor and Chancellor are reactive, meaning they lack the strategic planning to handle the future, whatever that brings.

And we may never know the exact facts of the success or failure of the remote learning set up and currently mandated by the Mayor and Chancellor. The Mayor and Chancellor buy into the theory that hiding unfavorable information is a good thing. In fact, for almost 10 years I saw charges on the Specifications in 3020-a disciplinary hearings where an educator was charged with making "the NYC Department of Education look bad". If an arbitrator found the person so charged guilty, then he/she could be terminated.

More on this in a future post. 

Stay safe everyone, stay home and wash your hands, protect your loved ones and everyone else in your community. We are in this together. If anyone wants to contact me, I am available here:
betsy.combier@gmail.com.


Betsy Combier, betsy.combier@gmail.com
Editor, ADVOCATZ.com
Editor, NYC Rubber Room Reporter
Editor, Parentadvocates.org
Editor, New York Court Corruption
Editor, National Public Voice
Editor, NYC Public Voice
Editor, Inside 3020-a Teacher Trials 

Message from the NYC Department of Education: 

From: Chancellor Richard Carranza <NYCChancellor@schools.nyc.gov>

To: Chancellor Richard Carranza <NYCChancellor@schools.nyc.gov>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Sat, 4 Apr 2020 00:56:32 +0000
Subject: Spring Recess

Dear Colleagues: 

These are unprecedented times. And throughout, all of you—and especially our dedicated school-based staff—have demonstrated incredible determination and resilience in the face of our ongoing work to transform our school system.   

  

Throughout this process, we have approached all decisions on the status of our schools with utmost care. That means leading with the health, safety, and continuous learning of our students and staff at the forefront of our minds, while also operating with flexibility and patience.   

As you know, our system has already transitioned to remote learning. As the coronavirus pandemic persists in New York City, and social distancing remains an imperative for all New Yorkers, we must take a new approach to Spring Recess, originally scheduled for Thursday, April 9 through Friday, April 17, 2020. 

  

For the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers, the City and the State are in agreement that schools must continue to offer remote learning, including during days that were previously scheduled as breaks. As a result, our schools will continue with remote learning through the time originally scheduled for Spring Recess. 

We know that dynamic educators across the City and throughout the school year already bring creativity and flexibility to their instructional programs. Next week, we will release resources to schools that will focus on maintaining education, engagement, and enrichment opportunities for students throughout the time originally scheduled as Spring Recess. 

As with all weeks of remote learning, we will continue to act throughout this time with a clear commitment to community support, educational development, and learning wherever it happens—which right now is in hundreds of thousands of homes all over the City. As we know, staying home also helps keep all of us safe as the presence of coronavirus persists. 

  

Our objective is to maintain the exciting and enriching aspects that Spring Recess provides at a time where we as a City are staying home and our children will continue to remotely learn.  

  

DOE will issue additional guidance in the week to come for Spring Recess, including “theme” days (e.g., wellness, world language, computer science, college and career readiness, etc.) and virtual educational resources (e.g., museums, libraries, and cultural institutions).   

We know that many New Yorkers will observe religious holidays (e.g., Passover, Good Friday) in the weeks ahead. Any students and school staff who individually wish to observe those holidays may do so. Staff may request time off for religious observance and use accrued leave for any time taken. If staff request to take days, these requests should be granted in accordance with Chancellor's Regulation C-606 and applicable collective bargaining agreements/contracts. Please note that April 9-10 will not be considered “days off” for the school system. 

  

We recognize this may feel like a disappointment to many students and schools as we have all been working tirelessly in our transition to remote learning and very reasonably want a break. Many of our educators are parents themselves, and this has been an especially challenging time for them.  

  

We hear you and recognize that need. That is why we are looking for ways to offer students and school staff with more opportunities to reset and recharge in the weeks ahead. We have finalized arrangements with our union partners at this time to provide four additional leave days to school-based staff who otherwise would have had Spring Recess. We will have additional details to share about these arrangements in the week ahead. 

While it will be difficult for us now, I know we all can do our part by continuing to provide meaningful opportunities for learning, growth, and engagement with our students throughout the previously scheduled Spring Recess. 

  

Our educators and students have shown valiance throughout these unprecedented times. We are asking for even more now. We thank all of our educators for the sacrifices they’re making in advancing the health, safety, and wellbeing of our city.

Please also see this letter from myself and Dr. Oxiris Barbot, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, with important updates, health guidance, and information. 

We are confident that continuing remote learning will help ensure that families adhere to social distancing in the coming weeks, which is imperative to slowing the spread of the virus and keeping ourselves and our neighbors safe. We will have more updates to share soon on the schedule for the rest of School Year 2019-20 as well. We will keep you posted every step of the way. 

In unity,

Richard

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