From the principal’s office to the lunch room, school staffers continue to register their unease over the impending reopening of New York City schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Local 372 DC 37 union, which represents nearly 23,000 Department of Education school aides, health aides, lunch cooks, lunch helpers, food loaders and handlers, crossing guards, substance abuse prevention and intervention specialists, family paraprofessionals, and parent coordinators, has also requested a delayed reopening. This comes after the unions for principals and teachers officially requested that New York City public schools delay reopening for in-person learning. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Black and Latino communities in New York City at higher rates than other communities. About 43% of the union membership are essential workers -- namely, school lunch employees and school crossing guards were deemed essential workers by the DOE.

Source: The Local August 15, 2020 21:44 UTC