NYC Gazette

Academy of American Studies issued the following on Sep. 18

Dear Members of the Academy Family.

I would like to update you on the the information we received yesterday about the change in schedule for opening school.

All classes will be taught completely remotely each day by regular Academy teachers until October 1.

On October 1, our new ABCD schedule will begin for students who have opted for blended learning.  On the day that students are in school (which is now every fifth day to allow for proper social distancing), they will be taught by regular Academy teachers.  On the days that they are remote, they will be taught by non-Academy teachers provided by the DOE, if they can provide them, in classes of up to 68 students per class.  We have asked for (and our Superintendent approved) 18 teachers in a range of subjects which the DOE would pay for.  To date, none have been assigned.  Were we to pay for them, they would cost just under $1,800,000 which, of course, we do not have, as it is an added expense beyond the regular budget. The DOE has allocated us about $20,000 to help cover the cost.  We are still working at planning what the remote portion of blended learning will look like given the dire budget and staffing circumstances.  This is the case across the city. We believe that the DOE is still working on preparing a plan for addressing the remote days of the blended model, but nothing new has been released yet.

Students working remotely will have regular classes each day, five days a week, with synchronous instruction, beginning with a portion of each class, taught by regular Academy teachers.  Currently, 818 students of our expected total of 1120 or so have opted for Remote Learning.  If you decide that you would like to join them, please do so ASAP at this link: https://www.nycenet.edu/surveys/learningpreference.Opens in a new browser tab  If you would like to remain in the blended model, there is nothing further that you need to do.

I have been committed to transparency about what is occurring, even though that some people are upset over what they hear.  I understand, share, and feel the same frustration that everyone is feeling.  My hopes and prayers are that we will soon have a working vaccine and that we can all come back together to school as one family.

As always, please feel free to email me with any questions at wbassel@schools.nyc.govOpens in a new browser tab

All good wishes for safety and healthy!

Best,

Bill Bassell 

Original source can be found here.