#Principals union blasts NYC’s ‘too little too late’ outdoor learning plan

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Mayor Bill de Blasio and NYC schools Chancellor Richard Carranza
Paul Martinka

The union representing city school principals blasted the Department of Education’s plans for outdoor learning announced Monday by Mayor Bill de Blasio as too little too late.

“Once again, the city and DOE have made decisions, rolled out guidance and announced a deadline far too late and haphazardly for school leaders to develop and implement a thoughtful and well-constructed plan,” Council of School Supervisors and Administrators president Mark Cannizzaro said in a statement Monday.

At an earlier press conference, de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza issued a call for principals to submit outdoor learning plans by Friday if they want to use the great outdoors to help them ease their coronavirus space restrictions.

But while Cannizzaro backed the concept, he argued that the city’s proposal didn’t provide heavily burdened principals enough time to formulate viable outdoor plans.

“The shortsighted guidance on outdoor learning also lacks detail, raising serious concerns about safety and security,” he said.

The union chief said City Hall should have provided school leaders with more timely and specific guidance.

“Though the idea of outdoor learning has real merit, the City’s plan will not be implemented nearly as well as it could have been if the Mayor had simply given principals the time and support they need,” he said.

Queens Councilman Costa Constantinides also assailed City Hall for failing to address calls for outdoor instruction earlier.

“For weeks we have begged the City to consider outdoor learning as a crucial tool for keeping students who must learn in-person safe, only to be rebuffed,” he wrote. “While I’m glad we have finally seen some movement for open classrooms, it comes less than three weeks before in-person learning will begin.”

The school year is slated to begin next month with kids alternating between home and building instruction unless they opt for a distance learning only.

The DOE said Monday it has already been receiving proposals from principals for outdoor classes and that it will work to facilitate them.

“The Department of Education will work to accommodate schools’ requests to the greatest extent possible, unless the arrangement will not be feasible or safe,” officials said in a statement.