Virtual Education Panel 2020
Panelists:
Doctor Composto, Superintendent District 30
Michael Mirisola - VP, School Construction Authority, External Affairs
Deb Alexander, President of CEC30
Meghan Cirrito - Past Chair, Gantry Parent Association
Cathy Nolan - Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan
Matt Wallace - Chief of Staff, Councilman Van Bramer
Brent O'Leary - President, Hunters Point Civic Association
Additional Notes/Resources
Live recording of the event can be rewatched here
Password: 7xPfQZFe
DOE PowerPoint Presentation can be found here
Question 1: Can you share the existing building conditions and what measures are being taken to improve safety such as upgrading HVAC, replacing filters, etc.
(DOE)
Doctor Composto kicked off the session explaining the reopening requirements and procedures:
Schools contingent on staying open on a 7 day rolling basis, keeping than city-wide average infection rate under 3%. It’s not based on the specific district or neighborhood which may experience lower or higher infection rates.
Students will rotate in groups, 9-12 children per classroom in D30
Signage for social distancing, floor markers, it's vital families assist in explaining to young children the importance of face masks
PPE for teachers – DOE will provide: masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, bleach, soap, wipes, thermometers, wellness barriers, handwashing stations, barriers by lobby
DOE's goal is to send letters to all families by the end of August on the program for their child:
Learning platform – ilearning, google classroom
Shared and inclusive curriculum – digitally accessible resources align with in school curriculum
Instructional models
Other safety measures DOE is taking regarding the physical school facilities include:
Old schools with air blower will sucks air in from outside
Brand new buildings without operable windows
All vents have been cleaned, all filters
DOE has been fixing all inoperable windows
If a classroom is not ready, they will not use it
Lisa (CB2): What about during the winter?
DOE/CEC30: Plan is to keep windows open as much as feasibly possible, most schools have pretty old heating systems that are always on, so even during normal years, some teachers would keep windows open to let in air.
Deb (CEC30) wants to start a list of all the District 30 School Conditions so families are aware and knows the status of the facilities.
Question 2: Can you share more details about what happens when someone tests positive? We understand a classroom is closed for 14 days, but what about siblings?
Composto (DOE):
Will be asking children to move minimally and teachers to move across classrooms instead
Contact tracing if there is a positive case
Positive case will shut down that classroom for 14 days
If different classrooms have cases, the entire building will be shut down for 24 hours for contact tracing including other schools if they share the same building.
Sibling of the sick child in another class will also need to quarantine but not the sibling’s class
Common/shared areas will no longer be used for multiple classes (gym, auditorium, cafeteria)
Free testing locations being shared, testing highly encouraged but not mandatory
Will have an app for monitoring temperatures plus surveys and random checks
No rec centers/childcare spots in D30
Question 3: What are some of your key concerns and what progress has been made since Covid19 emerged with regards to Schools?
Deb (CEC30): As a parent, I had a decent remote learning experience with my child, however from the Spring to now, there has been a strong recognition by the DOE that the remote learning needs to be better - for all kids. The experience varied wildly between schools.
Talking to DOE, we asked if certain schools could do ABC, but if all schools cannot do that, then that is a tricky slope. I believe all the right thoughts are being thought however and progress is being made.
My main concern today however is how the math will work in terms of the number of teachers, offering live instructions onsite as well as remote. Where will the staff come from to teach onsite, but also separate remote cohorts? Among a million concerns, my chief concern is the staffing. I know DOE is working on it, and they have prioritized this to come up with a great online learning platform. The reality is all kids will primarily be learning remotely, 75% of them, and we need to offer everyone a good experience.
Meghan (GPA): To Deb’s point, and I am not saying this lightly or blithely, but I think we will have to re-imagine schools during this time. I don’t want to say we are lowering standards but we need to be realistic about how much kids can learn remotely. It’s better at least for me, to make peace with that. I would like to know from DOE, how curriculum and metrics for success could change or adjust over time, so the kids who are going into 1st grade, and perhaps not hitting every benchmark, are not handicapped. This is more meta but I want to encourage parents on accepting how truly different things will be and be okay with that.
DOE: So listen, we agree. To Deb’s point, I know we are working on this. It involves the unions, we’re negotiating with the teacher’s union, the principal’s union, DC37, all of these pieces have to come and fit for this to work. Everyday we are getting closer to these numbers.
On the training, we have come up with a multi-tier support program, all of our teachers and principal in District 30 have bought into this program. They will be trained to diagnose a screening assessment, it’s not about the global assessment, but the small skills within that standard. Our teachers will be trained, and we’re hoping by the second week in October, they can start the assessment and the program to close the gap. So far it has been very wonderful and our teachers are excited for this professional learning. It’s going to be a monumental drive, but we are excited to do lift.
Becky (CSCA): Was that training in assessment within the intervention center? Or in best practices for remote learning? How are teachers going to balance in person and remote learning ? Since it’s quite different for remote learning . Will there be training for teachers on how to best meet students needs in a remote environment?
DOE: We’ve been offering training within the borough center that is very good including assessment training. In July, during summer schools, many teachers were talking about blended learning and the things they learned. One principal stood up and said she attended the training and it was outstanding. So we are doing it again in August, and talking about doing blended learning again for teachers. The hope is to get people to go to the training, we are on the right path as far as professional learning is concerned.
It is optional, but it’s about the process and strategies for teachers to come together and share best practices. Teachers have 30 min at beginning and 30 min at end of the day for professional learning.
There are a lot of pieces here, in Jackson Heights for example, there were many deaths and we’ve been working with families and parents throughout this process, which has not been easy for many of our families.
Question 4: Can you talk about busing in District 30 today if it will be allowed and what measures are being considered?
Composto (DOE): Busing protocol are still being vetted
Individuals must wear mask
Every other seat unless you are siblings assigned
Reduce capacity to 25% of normal
Families will be notified prior what the bus assignment is
All buses cleaned and disinfected each day
Question 5: Can SCA talk about the status of locating an Elementary School in Court Square, as well as the current status of PS384 new building in LIC?
Michael (SCA): We are very sorry to say, but the majority of all SCA work has been put on “pause” and we are waiting for direction from OMB (Office of Management / Budget) including building a new Elementary School in Court Square area, but also resuming construction of PS384’s new building. Right now construction is being delayed
Becky (CSCA): To clarify, are you saying that all work is on ‘pause’ indefinitely?
Michael (SCA): You could say that, work will start eventually, but unfortunately today I cannot say when.
Lisa (CB2): Can you discuss the OMB process? Are you telling us it’s difficult to fund these schools at this time that had capital allocated to them?
Michael (SCA): I cannot speak for OMB, but I would not want to be in their shoes right now. They are trying to feel their way through and figure out what funds are available.
At this time, they are saying our capital plans are intact which is good news. We did get the okay to start on some 2020 school openings and work on air conditioners for classrooms, however we are really treading water right now.
Meghan (GPA) - How is this possible if funds were fully allocated for this school? Can you go back and talk about PS384 construction timelines in more detail?
Michael (SCA): Unfortunately as stated, we don’t have any news or a timeline when the building can start again or be completed. We don’t have a schedule but as soon as we have a green light, we will sit down with the contractor and talk about making up time.
Deb (CEC30): This is very critical, because we are going to run out of space, and the kids will have to go somewhere. In your experience, or can you anticipate if time can be made up? Is there a possibility of making the deadline or are we looking for a year later?
Michael (SCA): The problem is if we miss a month, generally miss a year. We could try to make it up, however it’s a very large problem we’d have to sit down with the contractor to see what we can do, however...if funding is scarce, how do we get funding to expedite the job?
We will certainly push and ask the contractor once we get the green-light, however it’s a very large question mark I cannot answer at this time unfortunately.
Deb (CEC30): The next question then, and most important question then is to secure space for the kids, whom we thought would be leaving and starting their 4th and 5th grade year. The Jackson Ave building only has space for kids up to 3rd grade, so we need to immediately start looking for space to put the children if they are not going to get the new building in time. It will have a cascading effect as this year PreK seats on Jackson Ave actually went down to make space for the growing PS384 students.
MIchael (SCA): The problem with this, is SCA is not allowed to look for a short-term lease because we have no capital funds allocated for this. SCA’s hands are tied in many ways. If there is something someone could assist with expense money, that might be a possibility, but again if we had the right location we wouldn’t be building a school. Locating and finding space for a school in LIC has been very difficult
Deb (CEC30): We understand, but the kids have ot go somewhere…
Becky (CSCA): We just want to say in the chat window, both Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan and Councilman Van Bramer’s office have stated this is an outrage and plan to contact the Mayor’s office on this to find a space for students in 384 in 2021. The NYC Mayor’s office controls OMB (Office of Management/Budget)
We also want to say we understand this is out of Mike’s hands right now but this is highly disturbing news and something that will cascade down that DOE needs to be made aware of.
Question 6: Can you discuss PS384 Zoning and the process.
DOE / CEC30 - Zoning for 384 is being postponed one year
Superintendent works with district planning and then presents to the CEC30
Public hearings and neighborhood feedback will be welcome
Based on everything going on, we did not want to rush things and asked to wait for any zoning decisions on PS384 a year from now.
Question 6: How will the loss of Amazon impact the construction of new schools in Anable Basin?
Lisa (CB2): Amazon would have brought schools to LIC. At this point however there is the YourLIC ULURP development proposal which is seeking to rezone that area which will also bring additional schools...however, it will also bring additional population, so ‘makes hand motion of one hand going up, other going up.’. Matt do you have anything to add?
Matt (Councilman Van Bramer): At this time, Councilman Van Bramer has expressed opposition to the current YourLIC proposal based on what we’ve seen, we are waiting to see what the zoning comes back with on their proposal. We demand more seats and more schools if rezoning is going to happen, regardless. JVB has always advocated for more school seats in this area, and we need them.
Meghan: (GPA) I think they’re related, I’d like to circle back on the PS384 construction. And it’s something important to think through as we fund and build new schools….can you help us understand why if capital funds were budgeted from start to finish, why school construction is not happening? How can this be happening?
Michael (SCA): The funds were allocated, however all funds were put on pause until the City figures how to bankroll things. The City is trying to figure out where they stand with dollars and cents, we’re not saying they will stop it, and our entire capital plan is funded. However right now the entire capital plan is put on pause. I wish I had a better explanation but that’s where things stand.
Lisa (CB2): I remember seeing the $60M email about the new Court Square School from LIC Investment….which SCA hasn’t built yet, but I suspect this has to do with the current work SCA is focused on which is finding space for 100K seats during Covid to assist with reopening schools. I assume the funds are being diverted to meet existing Covid needs at this time.
Deb (CEC30): I agree with Lisa, I view the capital plan as one big pot like a bank. They can ‘borrow’ part of the money to pay for something else, but eventually they need to pay it back. All that said, it is critical SCA finish completing the PS384 school and situate the new Court Square school. Can time be made up? Will SCA just leave the building half finished?
Michael (SCA): We are just as frustrated, it’s a question for OMB (Office of Management/Budget) and decisions have to be made with regards to the budget.
Meghan (GPA): It is critical that SCA is talking to DOE. If it’s the case the new building will not open in 2021, this will have a cascading effect. Does DOE and LIC know we will lose an entire PreK on Jackson Ave to make space? Everyone needs to be made aware…
Deb (CEC30): We are asking District Planning to come so we can plan out the student numbers.
Michael (SCA): We are in constant contact with the DOE, and District Planning. We are also in constant contact with OMB and the Mayor’s office. There is no simple issue, there is a pandemic going on. This isn’t the only school that’s in this crisis. We have a list of our most important projects and at the top of list are all the 2020 openings….there are many schools in this similar situation.
Unfortunately I am not part of OMB, we can’t say or know how they are setting their financial priorities, they ask us for ours and we let them know. There is plenty of talk going on, but I am not handling City’s finances.
Brent (HPCC): To go back to the original question regarding Anable Basin/Amazon. There is private land and public land. Right now there is a DOE building that offers 500K sqft, where we have been advocating for two schools to be built.
For Court Sq, we have 188 acres behind Sunnyside Yards where schools can be built, we’ve been pointing out public land but now it seems a question of budget.
Audience Question 1: Will diversity/inclusion task force be created with regards to PS384 Zoning?
DOE/CEC30: Absolutely community participation will be key
Audience Question 2: With the higher rates of Covid19 now nationwide rising including rates found among kids, has they changed anything with Schools?
DOE: Not at this time. We are continuing to monitor everything however and have worked to create a framework that can be as safe as possible for everyone. If we approach 3% infection rate, schools will shut down
CEC30: To clarify, this is 3% city wide, there may be variety depending on the neighborhood or specific school, but we are looked at as one big district for that 3% rate.
Audience Question 3: What is protocol for flu season? When kids get sick.
DOE: We need parents to work with this, we’ve all been in this boat including me, where we ask the child to go to school with the sniffles. Now it’s different, we are in a pandemic, the key piece is to work closely with families to educate and ask how to handle the situation so children do not come in.
CEC30 -- Parents should know, if your kid comes to school sick, they will be sent home. If they show any type of symptoms of anything, they will get sent home, so keep your kids home. They’re likely to be home anyways but keep them home
DOE: If a sick child comes to school, we are setting up an entire room and facility where we will isolate our children and have a nurse there, and take their temperature. We will call the parents and ask them to pick them up
Becky (CSCA) Thank you Doctor Composto for that final message of unity and having families work together with DOE. We’d like to thank all our well-informed panelists for their time, advocacy, and support. Thank you everyone