Archdiocese of New York Commits to Safely Keeping Schools Open, Irrespective of NYC Public School Closures
THIS JUST RELEASED! (Haga clic aquí para la versión en español de este anuncio)
Since early September, the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York have been open for in-person learning. This ambitious course of action was made possible by the development of clear health and safety protocols under the Catholic Schools Reopening Plan and by strict adherence from school administrators, staff, and the students themselves. New York City’s Catholic schools remain one of the safest places for students.
“Catholic schools operate independently of New York City public schools,” said Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Michael J. Deegan. “In the event of a closure of public schools by the mayor’s office, our Catholic schools will remain open until our Health and Safety Task Force, working with officials from the New York State Department of Health and the governor’s office determines otherwise.”
Catholic schools faithfully follow rigorous state health guidelines, and decisions regarding closures can be made on an as-needed, school-by-school-basis. This approach is in line with the recommendations of Archdiocese health advisers who make these most pressing determinations regarding student and faculty safety.
With a rising positivity rate citywide, it’s likely that additional neighborhoods will find themselves under a Yellow Cluster Zone designation. The Archdiocese stands ready to comply with the all the requirements necessary to remain open safely for in-person learning and is committed to working with government health authorities to keep our schools and the greater community around them safe.
About the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York:
Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York serve nearly 62,000 students from Pre-K through 12th grade across 172 schools across 9 counties and boroughs throughout New York.
Catholic schools offer a unique combination of academic and spiritual development that empowers children of all backgrounds to gain the confidence to realize their fullest potential.
Archdiocese of NY demands city pay for COVID-19 testing in hot-spot Catholic schools
The Archdiocese of New York is demanding the city pay for and administer COVID-19 testing for students in Catholic schools in the coronavirus yellow zones in order to meet the mandatory 20 percent testing threshold, which will allow schools to remain open for in-person learning. Lawyers for the archdiocese continue to assert that Catholic school children are entitled to this testing, under law, saying “Section 912 of the Education Law clearly requires that school boards must provide children attending nonpublic schools within their districts with ‘all of the health and welfare services’ they provide to their public school students, including ‘the administration of health screening tests.”
Catholic Schools in Manhattan and The Bronx to Remain Open — Operating Independently of NYC Public Schools
In a message sent on Saturday to parents with children attending Catholic Schools in Manhattan and The Bronx, Superintendent Michael J. Deegan wrote (haga clic aquí para la versión en español de este anuncio):
As you are aware, there have been recent spikes in cases of COVID-19 throughout New York City. Since September 9th, our Catholic schools have provided safe in-person learning. We will continue to remain faithful to all the health and safety protocols and procedures as laid out by federal, state and city health officials and the Catholic Schools Reopening Plan. We intend to keep our buildings open regardless of decisions made by Mayor de Blasio regarding NYC public schools.
Our Catholic schools operate independently of New York City public schools. In the event of a closure of public schools by the mayor’s office, we will remain open until the Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent, working with officials from the New York State Department of Health and the governor’s office determines otherwise.
Thank you for your partnership in maintaining a safe and healthy environment for in-person learning. We intend to keep our buildings open for as long as safety allows.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York
Staten Island Catholic Schools to Re-Open Their Buildings This Monday November 16
In a message to Staten Island Catholic Schools Families, the Superintendent of Schools wrote:
I want to write with an update on the status of the yellow zone designation of our schools. All Catholic schools on Staten Island will reopen our buildings this Monday, November 16.
In order to keep our buildings open, we have informed New York City officials that we expect the testing services they are legally mandated to provide to be in place by or before Friday, November 20.
This expectation will allow us to meet the threshold of testing 20 percent of students and staff in each building. So many of you have told your elected officials you want our schools to remain open. We are grateful to nearly all of the Staten Island elected officials who have voiced strong support of our position that our Catholic schools receive every health and safety service ? including COVID-19 testing ? to which we are entitled under the law.
The city and New York State can say they are providing a free test kit, but they are not providing staff, paying for a lab to complete the processing, nor creating the reports which schools must submit to the state. This is not parity under the law. In the event the New York City does not provide the services, in addition to potential litigation, the archdiocese is working with community partners for testing alternatives to meet those requirements to ensure we can remain open.
You also may hear New York City public schools are going remote any day. Catholic Schools will remain open until we are legally required to close or the Health and Safety Task Force of the Superintendent of Schools determines it is unsafe for our students and staff.
We have all worked tirelessly to ensure of Catholic schools remain open for in-school learning. We are grateful for your partnership all these months in creating a safe and healthy environment for our beloved children and our dedicated staff. We look forward to seeing everyone back in school Monday morning!
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York
FURTHER UPDATE: Staten Island Catholic Schools
Today, the Superintendent of Schools issued this further update regarding Catholic Schools on Staten Island (Haga clic aquí para la versión en español de este anuncio):
Dear Staten Island Catholic Schools Community,
I know the past 24 hours has been filled with frustration, angst and uncertainty for your family and most especially your children. While we had wanted to share additional information with you yesterday, given the rapidly evolving situation and the ever changing city and state requirements, we wanted to provide you as much notice as possible given the requirement that we close as a result of the designation of the greater part of Staten Island as a COVID-19 yellow zone.
Please know our singular focus remains our ability to restore 5 days of full in person learning for as many students as our buildings will safely hold. I am grateful to the principals, teachers, and you the parents who allowed us to open our schools on day one and keep them open until today.
In order for our school buildings to remain open in a yellow zone, 20 percent of staff and students must be tested weekly for COVID-19, according to the New York State health department. New York City is legally required to provide these health services for Catholic schools but have thus far failed to do so, despite repeated requests for parity. We were forced to temporarily pause in-person instruction as we continue to advocate to receive the testing services to which we are entitled under the law. The same services provided to public schools!
While these days of remote home-based learning may have been imposed on us, the archdiocese, in collaboration with local elected officials, are pursuing all remedies to ensure our schools receive what they are legally entitled. We stand ready, if needed, to defend the rights of our students legally. We are also actively engaging the Governor’s Office, community health partners and stakeholders to ensure families, teachers and administrators can follow the testing protocols once they have been established, allowing a safe return to in-person instruction. We will continue to keep you updated as things progress.
While this forced transition to full remote instruction is not our preference, our dedicated principals and teachers have planned for and are prepared for this brief pause. It was a prudent step to take, made necessary by the spike in cases and city officials’ lack of action on our behalf, to protect the health and safety of the Staten Island Catholic school communities, the community of Staten Island as a whole, and the viability of Catholic education in New York.
As we just celebrated Veterans Day, I ask that you join me in prayer to Blessed Fr. Vincent Capodanno, who will be Staten Island’s first Saint. I am reminded of his words to us “Belief in Christ brings with it a deeply rooted sense in the primacy and urgency of now. Not last year or next year, but now”.
“Now” is the time that we will remain united for our children!
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York
CC: Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York
URGENT NOTICE: Staten Island Schools Transition to All-Remote Learning Starting Thursday Nov. 12
November 11, 2020
Dear Catholic School Families,
Over the past seven days, the average positivity rates in many areas of Staten Island areas have risen to as high as 5.2 percent and new daily hospital admissions have increased. For these reasons, Governor Cuomo announced today that the greater part of Staten Island is now a yellow zone.
As such, all Catholic elementary schools in the Staten Island region will transition to remote learning as of tomorrow, Thursday, November 12, for the foreseeable future. Principals and teachers are prepared for this transition and have crafted plans for remote instruction guided by the Continuity of Learning Plan prepared by the Office of the Superintendent. Each principal will contact their school community this evening with the details to allow this smooth transition to remote learning. The process begins tomorrow with school buildings opened for limited access to allow staff and K-8 students to retrieve personal items and all materials necessary for remote learning.
Principals will be sharing additional information with families in UPK/3K and tuition-based prekindergarten programs. Children in these programs should not report to school tomorrow.
The Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent is working closely with New York City Department of Health officials to establish, operationalize and implement the necessary protocols to safely reopen our school buildings as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York
NYC Catholic schools seeing new interest, applications from public school families
New York Post reports that City Catholic schools are seeing a surge of interest from disaffected public school families, according to parochial officials. Frustrated by the lack of full-time classes and general public school turmoil during the coronavirus, parents have been turning to Catholic Schools as an alternative.
Halloween should be spooky, not scary!
Governor Cuomo asks for your help to make sure everyone has a healthy and safe Halloween.
Halloween celebrations and activities, including trick-or-treating, can be filled with fun, but must be done in a safe way to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Superintendent Deegan on CFN Live
Monsignor Jim Vlaun, president of Catholic Faith Network, interviewed Superintendent of Schools Michael J. Deegan on his show, CFN live on Oct. 22 to speak about how the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York are thriving thanks to a successful reopening. They also speak about how parents, even from public schools, are seeing the value of Catholic education now more than ever and how the schools in the Archdiocese of New York have become a national model for success.
State of Our Schools: Michael Deegan
Michael Deegan, Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York, talks more about the major concerns voiced by parents for in-person learning and the spike in COVID-19 cases within school buildings.
Staten Island Catholic, private schools see uptick in inquiries, enrollment
Reported by Annalise Knudsen, SI Live on October 6, 2020.
As the 2020-2021 academic year gets underway amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in New York City, Catholic and private schools on Staten Island say they are seeing an uptick in inquiries and enrollment.
Parents who are making the switch out of the city’s public school system cite various concerns, including the delay in opening campuses, random coronavirus testing, and no guarantee of live instruction for blended learners on remote days.
Superintendents in Archdiocese of NY, Diocese of Brooklyn & Queens Issue Call to Action to Keep Catholic Schools Open
October 6, 2020
Click here to view and download this letter | Haga clic aquí para la versión en español de este anuncio
Dear Catholic Schools Families,
Over the past month, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn have been open and successfully conducting in-person Catholic education for our students. Our meticulously planned protocols, designed to keep students and teachers safe, and developed in conformity with city, state, and federal health guidelines, are working. Having heard from so many of you, we know you are grateful for all the hard work, time, and, yes, money – some $18 million dollars — that went into making sure our Catholic schools could open and operate safely, as they have been doing.
As you are likely aware, a number of areas in New York City and the surrounding counties are seeing an uptick in positive test results for COVID-19. Health experts have told us all along to anticipate such statistical trends as we entered autumn. In reaction to these expected numbers, Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio are instituting drastic measures by shutting down all public and private schools within certain ZIP codes. Rather than judging each school on their individual merits and their fidelity to the protocols set forth by their own administrations, the governor and mayor are painting all institutions with a draconian broad brush.
The safety of our Catholic school communities is paramount. It was that very guiding principle that saw us close our Catholic schools well before the public schools felt it necessary to do so in the Spring of 2020. Should there be a situation that required a Catholic school to close, we would not need to wait for elected officials to tell us to do so.
Our Catholic schools are faithfully adhering to the guidelines we have established. Isolated cases of COVID-19 in our Catholic schools have triggered these protocols, and in person learning has safely continued. The New York City Department of Health has been inspecting our Catholic schools. All have passed.
If other schools cannot meet the standards needed to operate safely, they should indeed be closed until they demonstrate their ability to do so. In the meantime, it is absolutely unfair to be associated with the non-compliant schools merely because we share a ZIP code.
Our principals, teachers and staff have worked too hard, and you, our families have provided too much support, that we cannot allow government officials to derail the education of your children. If you agree, please let your elected officials know how you feel, by taking a moment to call and email Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, your city councilmember, state assembly member, and state senator and tell them to support schools that are working and not to institute these draconian measures.
This message is being delivered to all corners of both our diocese as we are brothers and sisters; part of the greater New York Catholic school community who may very well see these issues arise in your region. As such, we ask you utilize the links provided to reach as many elected officials as possible.
Please call Governor Cuomo directly (518) 474-8390 and Mayor de Blasio at (212) 788-3000.
In order to contact your state and local representatives, please utilize the following links:
All our families should visit Find My Senator as well as Find My NY Assembly Member while those who live within the five boroughs of New York City should also utilize Find My City Council Member
Regards,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.DR.C.
Diocese of Brooklyn
Superintendent – Catholic Schools Support Services
New York State Catholic Council Issues Statement on School Closings in NYC “Hot Zones”
For Immediate Release: October 5, 2020
Statement on threat of Covid-19-related school closures in ‘hot zones’
Click here to view and download this statement in English.
Haga clic aquí para la versión en español de este anuncio.
Following is a statement of the New York State Catholic Conference on behalf of the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn:
Public officials have indicated that they may pursue the closure of all public and private schools in several COVID-19 “hot zones” in New York City and the Hudson Valley. We strongly urge that any action taken addresses actual problem schools where there is a sustained high rate of infection, rather than a broad-brush approach that penalizes all schools, children, and families needlessly.
The Catholic schools throughout our state and, particular in the densely populated New York City Metropolitan Area, have rightly been held up as a model for safety in these uncertain times. Our Catholic schools opened for full-time, in-person learning weeks before the New York City public schools and have had no significant COVID-19 outbreaks to date.
The Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn have invested millions of dollars and countless personnel hours to prepare for the return of students, and the results have been a remarkable success. Media reports have praised our schools for our innovative social distancing practices, strict adherence to masking and frequent hand washing, and our continuous disinfecting of all public areas. We have shown the city, state and nation that with proper precautions, schools can safely reopen, whether in urban, suburban or rural areas, and can offer first-rate learning experiences even in the midst of a pandemic.
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.
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.
CONTACT:
Dennis Poust, Director of Communications
NYS Catholic Conference
518.225.4882 (cell)
Archdiocese Appoints Covid-19 Response Coordinator to Keep Students and Faculty in Catholic Schools Safe
September 25, 2020. To ensure the safety of students and faculty, Bridgette R. Mastaglio, MPH, has been appointed by the superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York as Covid-19 response coordinator.
Ms. Mastaglio will be the primary person responsible for ensuring preparedness and safety of school operations in response to Covid-19, and for managing and implementing responses to Covid-19 infections in Catholic schools.
Ms. Mastaglio will operate under the direction of Michael J. Deegan, the superintendent of schools in the archdiocese. The coordinator will develop and implement all preparedness measures in the schools.
Cardinal Dolan Thanks Catholic School Teachers, Principals, Priests, Parents & Students
In his “Conversation with Cardinal Dolan” Sirius XM radio broadcast on September 22, Archbishop Timothy Cardinal Dolan discussed how grateful he is to the teachers, principals, priests, parents, and students of the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York for their community effort to safely reopen our schools.
Catholic Schools In East Harlem Hire John-Paul Barnaba As New Principal
Principal John-Paul Barnaba from the Academy of St. Paul & St. Ann was featured in Harlem World Magazine on September 23. Mr. Barnaba already led his previous school’s transition to remote learning, making a transition within days. His leadership involved overseeing the development of virtual classes, Parent Advisory Meetings, Open Houses, Honors Assemblies, Spirit Week, and hybrid graduation, which featured both virtual and social-distance graduations during the COVID-19 crisis.
A lifelong educator, Principal Barnaba is very happy to lead the new Academy which “builds on the strengths of both the St. Paul’s and St. Ann’s communities.”
In NJ and NY suburbs, private schools see enrollment rise as families seek in-person learning
Students of New York and New Jersey public schools are flocking to private schools due to frustration with the continuation 
of remote-learning. One such family is the Olivas who have happily transitioned to St. Patrick’s School in Yorktown Heights:
“As soon as the district announced in late summer that it would open for the new school year with strictly virtual instruction, the Olivas sprung into action: They pulled their children from the district and enrolled them in the closest private school with room.
Although Phil Oliva spends more than an hour each day commuting his children to and from St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Yorktown, in Westchester County, he doesn’t regret the decision.
“My kids love their new school and they love their teachers,” he said.
Photo: the Oliva Children, who transferred from public school to St. Patrick’s School, because we offer in-person learning. Photo by: Phil Oliva.
How City Catholic Schools are adjusting to a new normal
As week two of the successful reopening comes to a close for the Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York, Pix 11 visited Immaculate Conception School on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx to see how school leaders and families are adjusting to the “new normal.” From advanced cleaning procedures, to spaced out desks and additional technology for remote learners, the crew documented how Catholic schools are rising to the challenge of bringing students back into the classroom.
Educators Went ‘Above and Beyond’ to Reopen Elementary Schools, Superintendent Says
Superintendent of Schools Michael J. Deegan visited all of the elementary schools within the Archdiocese of New York in order to personally thank principals, pastors, teachers and staff on the successful reopening of our Catholic Schools. Thanks to the tireless effort of the Catholic Schools Reopening Advisory committee, as well as the leadership at the individual school level, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York enjoyed an extremely successful and joyful return to the classroom this fall.
Cardinal Dolan Opinion Piece: Congress and Trump have unfinished business: Funding all schools
Wednesday, September 16. Timothy Cardinal Dolan published an Opinion piece in the Washington Examiner, entitled “Congress and Trump have unfinished business: Funding all schools.”
Below is the full article. Click here to view article in the Washington Examiner.
The beginning of a new school year is always a time of excitement for teachers, parents, and especially students as they look forward to reuniting with friends, meeting new challenges, and settling back into a routine of study. This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the usual anticipation has been mixed with a sense of anxiety.
Our elected officials in Washington could do enormous good to ensure our children, teachers, and staff have the resources they need to sustain our schools through this pandemic. Both the Senate and the House have proposed tens of billions of dollars more for education. But after more than two months, no agreement has been reached, and a political stalemate continues. The result is the education and well-being of all schoolchildren suffer.
Here in the Archdiocese of New York, our school administrators have done tremendous work preparing for a new model of in-person and remote learning, prioritizing safety but recognizing the importance of getting our children back in the classroom. We’ve had a safe and successful opening with almost all of our students and teachers present. The parents I’ve heard from tell me how much they appreciate the innovative steps our schools took this past March when they had to pivot to online learning and how impressed they are with the steps our schools have taken to prepare for this year.
What’s missing so far, though, is a commitment from many of our elected officials to providing the desperately needed emergency assistance to ensure that all school facilities are safe, that all students and staff have the personal protective equipment and educational resources they need, and that direct assistance is available to help tuition-paying families with the cost of a religious or independent school should they determine such a school to be the best fit for their child.
At the end of the last school year, we had to announce that 20 of our outstanding Catholic schools would not reopen this fall. Understandably, many parents, having suffered losses of income and uncertainty over what the future would bring, could not afford to enroll their children. This was despite the modest tuition our schools charge and even with the generous scholarship assistance we offer.
To their credit, when President Trump and Congress enacted the CARES Act back in March, the measure included the “Education Stabilization Fund,” intended as a quick burst of emergency financial relief to all children and teachers. However, not only was the fund insufficient to address the needs of all schools, the means used to divide the funds among public and independent schools has left many schools, and therefore their respective students and teachers, without any emergency assistance.
The divisive, confusing formula spurred an unnecessary, time-wasting controversy that has pitted public schools against independent schools, even prompting Richard Carranza, the chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, to take an ugly swipe at the private schools that are performing a public service by successfully educating thousands of New York’s students, the majority of whose family incomes are below the poverty line. Carranza said: “As the largest school district in the nation, we need more, not less, funding from our country’s leaders, whose job it is to support public institutions rather than privatization that benefits the privileged few.” New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has even joined in a lawsuit to keep all children in the city from promised funds.
The chancellor and the mayor should know better, and so should government leaders. The job of our country’s leaders is to serve all of the country and, in this case, all students and all teachers in all schools in every state. Crises and disasters of the past, whether they have afflicted the entire country or just some communities, have always brought us together. This time should be no different.
Both houses of Congress and both political parties need to put children first and pass this new education funding for all schools now. The education and safety of our children demand action.
School has started. Parents are calling. Will our nation’s leaders answer the call?
Timothy Dolan is the cardinal archbishop of New York.
NY Post: “Here’s what functional NYC school systems look like — and it puts DOE to shame”
The New York Post Praised the Opening Process at New York Catholic Schools in an Opinion piece published on September 12th, saying:
“… Meanwhile, the city’s Catholic schools opened all-in-person classes last week. That’s the 60,000-student Archdiocese of New York (covering Manhattan, Staten Island, The Bronx and parts of Westchester) as well as the separate, 22,000-student system covering Brooklyn and Queens.
Students were met with new safety procedures and protocols that included temperature checks, hand sanitizer and masks.
At Immaculate Conception School in The Bronx, an industrious maintenance worker roamed the halls wiping doorknobs, staircase rails, walls, hallways and other contact points…”
The New Normal – Catholic School Students Across NYC Return to Classrooms
CBS New York was at Immaculate Conception School at Gun Hill Road in the Bronx to document the first day of school. Wednesday was the first day of school for all students attending an Archdiocese of New York Catholic School in New York City. Seventh grader Nailla Thompson was interviewed by the CBS New York news team and said, “I feel kind of nervous, but then I’m also excited because it makes sure that we’re able to go back to school.”
Students flock to NYC Catholic schools as public schools lag behind
The New York Post visited Immaculate Conception School on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx for their first day of school. “Catholic schools across the five boroughs opened on Wednesday — with the COVID-19-fighting regimens of temperature-taking and stair-rail sanitizing mixed with the age-old traditions of crisp new uniforms and first-day jitters.”
Principal Amy Rodriguez said that even the more nervous parents were happy to see all of the safety and cleaning procedures in place. Superintendent of Schools Michael J. Deegan said the Archdiocese of New York is so excited to open the schools for in-person learning.
NYC Catholic school students head back to class Wednesday Sept. 9
Catholic Schools in the New York City welcomed back students on September 9. All students will receive five days of classroom instruction with live streaming of lessons to provide synchronous learning. Classrooms and buildings will be outfitted with several new safety protocols as well as technology to allow for accommodations for both in-person and remote students.
Catholic schools in NYC welcome back students on first day of school
Our parents wanted their children back in the classroom and we worked tirelessly to get them back to school, safely. Thanks to ABC7NY for showcasing the safety precautions at Immaculate Conception School on Gun Hill Road in the Bronx early in the morning, before students arrived.
Click here to view the News Article
Click here to view the video coverage
And, Superintendent Michael Deegan was happy to witness the back-to-school excitement at Immaculate Conception School on Gun Hill Road. After two decades spent as a Catholic educator, this was certainly the most anticipated #ArchDay1!