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Schools Update: NYC Archdioceses Balk At Closing Catholic Schools In ZIP Codes With Virus Outbreaks

By

Jen Chung

Published Oct 5, 2020

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A child and parent, both in masks, at the entrance of a Catholic school with an administrator waving at them

 

Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York / Facebook

By

Jen Chung

Published Oct 5, 2020

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This is our daily update following the reopening of NYC schools for Monday, October 5th, 2020.

Here's the latest:

As Mayor Bill de Blasio moves to shut down all public and private schools in nine ZIP codes with concerning coronavirus outbreaks, the New York State Catholic Conference is voicing its frustration over the proposal.

The city is proposing to shut down all schools as well as non-essential businesses where the COVID-19 positivity rates are above 3% (and as high as 8%) on Wednesday, if the state approves. These neighborhoods are Borough Park (11219), Gravesend (11223), Midwood (11230), Bensonhurst (11204), Flatlands (11210), Gerritsen Beach/Homecrest/Sheepshead Bay (11229) in Brooklyn; and Far Rockaway (11691), Kew Gardens (11415), Kew Gardens Hills (11367) in Queens.

The New York State Catholic Conference released a statement on behalf of the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn, to address news that those neighborhoods, plus Rockland and Orange counties, are experiencing rising rates of positive coronavirus tests. Citing how Catholic schools in the state have worked hard and invested "millions of dollars" to reopen "for full-time, in-person learning weeks before the New York City public schools," the conference pointed out they "have had no significant COVID-19 outbreaks to date."

"Should our schools be ordered closed by the state absent any significant COVID-19 outbreaks because of inferior protocols at non-Catholic schools, it would be a profound injustice to our families who have placed their trust in us to keep their children safe and whose faith has been richly rewarded to date," the conference said. "We have been strongly supportive of the state’s efforts to protect our communities from the coronavirus, and we have been enthusiastic partners. We hope to continue that partnership for the good of all."

"This is to make sure that this virus does not spread more deeply in those communities and threaten lives, and that does not spread to the rest of the city," de Blasio said on CNN on Monday morning, explaining the proposed rollback. "So, it's a measure I think we have to take to contain the situation before it gets any worse."

Update: "Our Catholic schools in these ZIP codes largely serve children of blue collar essential workers. These parents depend on us to safely educate and care for their kids while they are caring for New Yorkers," Dennis Poust, Director of Communications for the NY State Catholic Conference, said. "Governor Cuomo consistently says he is governed by the facts. The fact is we have not had any significant covid issues in our Catholic schools anywhere in the state, including the hot spots. Our Catholic school families should not be caught up in this issue when we have kept our kids safe and have gone above and beyond everything the state has asked of us, and served as a model for safe reopening."

The archdioceses have six schools for nursery through grade 8, and one high school in the area.

Tagged

catholic schools

COVID-19

coronavirus

schools reopening

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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