District 32 parents rally over COVID-19 safety concerns for schools with in-person learning

The number of students physically going into the school building has dropped since the start of the school year.

News 12 Staff

Oct 14, 2020, 5:14 PM

Updated 1,518 days ago

Share:

Parents in District 32 stood alongside elected officials Wednesday calling on the city to do better when it comes to protecting the health of students inside the classroom.
"This is a calling out to stand up and get things working,” said parent Joanna Fuentes.
The state website shows there were four positive cases at P.S. 116 in the last 14 days, with the most recent positive case reported Tuesday.
"The school is set to reopen today just less than five days since the last COVID case was confirmed. The city and state protocols are failing our school community and endangering our kids,” says Fuentes.
They also worry about the safety measures already in place, such as the daily required health survey that parents have to fill out.
"If I’m asymptomatic, which means I don't have any symptoms, but I’m positive, I can still enter the building. They need to change this health questionnaire. It's not helping the community,” says Fuentes.
The parents say that testing shouldn't be random, but rather required of everyone.
Assemblymember Maritza Davila says thousands of children across the city still haven't been equipped with the tools they need for remote learning.
"If we had to shut down tomorrow these children’s have no means of learning because they still do not have their learning pads,” says Davila.
Davila stresses that parents need to be kept informed.
"I know we are in the midst of a pandemic that no one can control. We understand that but there is no excuse for not being transparent,” says Davila.