As CBS2’s Vanessa Murdock reports, September will be a big month for Lily, 5, and her mom Jennifer Rescalvo. Lily starts kindergarten and says she can’t wait for the playground.
Jennifer says she’s ready for full time in-person learning.
“She needs that interaction with other kids,” she said.
“The plan is to get them back in action. I don’t want to go through what I go through already last year,” said parent Rafet Olian.
Olian needs a break, and 6-year-old Sami is excited to go back.
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“I can see all my friends and read,” Sami said.
“Our health care leadership has been very, very clear; our kids suffer when they are not in school,” Mayor Bill de Blasio saidTuesday.
De Blasio said in-person learning will get students back on track with their education, offer support to heal post-pandemic, and provide the food so many New York City School students rely on. The mayor says there’s enough room for all students to safely return to in-person learning.
“That three-foot rule is there now; we will make it work,” he said. “We proved that our gold standard of health and safety measures works.”
De Blasio added safety standards won’t change, but circumstances have.
“A huge number of people have now been vaccinated. A much, much better environment than what we had to deal with last year,” he said.
Despite the positive outlook projected by the mayor, the City Council education committee wants the DOE to “offer a fall remote option.”
Council member and public school dad Ben Kallos says parents are asking for it.