#CSA president urges de Blasio, Carranza to delay school reopenings

The city’s principals union called for a delay in the reopening of New York’s public schools to allow more time to address coronavirus concerns, the group said in a letter released Wednesday.

“I write on behalf of New York City’s 6,400 school leaders urging you to heed their dire warnings concerning the city’s September 10 reopening plan,” CSA president Mark Cannizzaro said in the letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza that was obtained by The Post.

“Given the lack of information and guidance available at this time, CSA [the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators] believes that NYCDOE’s decision to open for in-person learning on September 10th is in disregard of the well-being of our school communities,” the letter said.

The letter included a list of lingering questions, including concerns on the hiring of school nurses, the lack of a specific plan for special-needs students, and the requisition of PPE, hand sanitizer and other supplies.

“The slow rollout of guidance has forced us to once again address an unfortunate truth: schools will not be ready to open for in-person instruction on September 10th. A more realistic, phased-in approach would instead welcome students for in-person learning toward the end of September, following a fully remote start to the year,” Cannizzaro said in the letter.

Hizzoner and Carranza last month unveiled a plan to restart school in September with a mixed schedule of in-person and remote learning, the latter of which was implemented during the last school year as the coronavirus raged.

The strategy included other measures for dealing with the deadly virus, including requirements for students and teachers to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

A more complete plan was released Friday evening.

But the CSA said too many unknowns remain with the start of the school year drawing closer.

“New York City school leaders are among the most talented and creative in the world,” the letter closed. “They stand ready and willing to take on the immense responsibilities of reopening their school buildings this fall, but I implore you to not ignore their voices at this critical time in the lives of New Yorkers — commence in-person learning only when our school leaders are confident they can reopen school buildings safely and successfully.”

The letter came one day after a group of Brooklyn principals made a similar ask of top city officials.

The de Blasio-Carranza plan has also drawn fierce criticism from city teachers.

Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said that the CSA’s reservations underscore the work the city has to do before schools can reopen safely.

“We need both safety and sanity in this crisis,” said Mulgrew in a statement. “Will any parents be willing to put their children in a school whose principal believes the building is not ready to open because it is not safe?”

City Hall and the DOE didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

Additional reporting by Nolan Hicks