SCHOOLS CLOSED FOR REST OF YEAR

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that all schools in New York State will be closed for the rest of this school year.

"We're going to have the schools remain closed for the rest of the (school) year," Cuomo said during his daily coronavirus briefing in Albany. "We want schools now to develop a plan to reopen (in the fall).”

The decision affects all K-12 schools - public or private - as well as colleges and universities, many of which have already committed to distance learning for the rest of the current semester.

“Today’s announcement comes with a flood of mixed emotions. While it may not be ideal, we take great comfort in knowing our schools pride themselves on the health and safety of our students first and foremost,” said Giovanni Virgiglio, superintendent of schools. “We are committed to continuing to provide our families with a rigorous and engaging distance learning program as we work to reimagine reopening. Now more than ever, let us lean on our faith to guide us to better days.”

Cuomo added a decision on summer school will be made at the end of May and as for classes restarting in the fall, Cuomo said “no decision” had been made because “it’s a long time away.”

On Thursday, the New York State Education Department released a statement from Chancellor Betty A. Rosa and Interim Commissioner Shannon Tahoe about how the schools would look into reopening.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a tremendous amount of stress and uncertainty on New Yorkers in every corner of the state. Despite the challenges we are all facing every day, it is time we begin to look at how we can successfully and appropriately reopen our schools,” the statement read.

“In the coming weeks we will form a statewide task force made up of educational leaders, including superintendents, principals, teachers, parents, school board members and other stakeholders, to guide the reopening of our schools.  By working together with these partners, we can ensure that our children’s educational, developmental and overall well-being is considered during this important discussion.”

Virgiglio added, “Here in the Diocese of Albany, we have charged each of our principals to virtually reconvene their local emergency preparedness committees to begin initial discussions of how and what reopening may look like whenever we are permitted to safely do so while we await more concrete guidance. Those committees will work on the school level and then a representative of each school’s committee will meet on a regional (and), Vicariate level to share and coordinate.” 

As for when he might adjust or extend the New York State on PAUSE executive order set to end on May 15, Cuomo said he would have an announcement before that date.