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NYC To Furlough School Managers In The Middle Of Reopening Schools
By
Sophia Chang
Published Sep 24, 2020
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By
Sophia Chang
Published Sep 24, 2020
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Despite the enormous challenge of reopening New York City’s schools for in-person and remote learning this fall, even public school officials are not immune to the effects of the city’s $9 billion budget crisis.
As part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s order to furlough all 9,000 managerial and non-union city workers, the Department of Education announced furloughs for superintendents and other non-union management.
“The fact is that we just have to find savings everywhere we can, and the furlough is one week of pay that will be spread out over time to lessen the blow. But again the goal here is to find savings,” de Blasio said at his Thursday press briefing of the furloughs.
In an email sent by Chancellor Richard Carranza to DOE employees Wednesday evening, he said that the furloughs would be five unpaid days to be taken between October 1st and March 1st, spread out over five weeks, with further guidance forthcoming.
“We know that this news is unwelcome—all the more so right now when we are just beginning an unprecedented school year, and when there are already so many changes in the way we do business. Amid all of your heroic efforts to safely reopen schools, I know that this announcement is especially untimely and painful. But unfortunately , it is a step that could no longer be put off,” Carranza’s email said.
“You have all sacrificed so much already throughout the crisis in service to our students and families. This is another difficult blow we will have to absorb, especially as you continue to do something no other major city in the nation is attempting—serving our students on-site in school buildings, providing hundreds of thousands of children with in-person instruction and interaction they need and deserve. It is truly humbling to work alongside all of you in this,” he added.
One teacher who asked to stay anonymous because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media said he was shocked that de Blasio would order furloughs of school leaders when schools are already facing a shortage of staff.
"I don’t know how this can be accomplished when our schools are already severely understaffed if we are actually to have kids return next week," the teacher wrote in an email.
There was also some confusion from DOE employees, with some wondering if teachers were also going to be furloughed, prompting the United Federation of Teachers to send a late night Tweet:
It is unclear how widely distributed Carranza's email was; the DOE did not respond to requests for comment.
Carranza and other senior DOE staff will also be subject to furloughs, just like de Blasio, according to the New York Post.
Tagged
COVID-19
coronavirus
schools reopening
Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang is a former WNYC and Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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