No snow day! New York City school buildings closed, but classes go all-remote

NYC public school buildings are closed due to snow, but classes continue all-remote

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Thursday, December 17, 2020
Will NYC schools close because of snow?
Mayor Bill de Blasio comments on the status of schools ahead of the major winter storm.

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- New York City public school buildings will be closed on Thursday, but students continue to learn all-remote, Mayor de Blasio said.

Meanwhile, Catholic Elementary Schools of the Archdiocese of New York are closed Thursday due to snow.

"The health and safety of our teachers, staff and students are always the first thought that crosses our minds," Superintendent Michael Deegan said. "To that end, the Archdiocese will have a 'traditional snow day' tomorrow with no online instruction and all schools buildings closed."

Archdiocese high schools operate independently, so families need to follow instructions from their individual schools.

RELATED: SCHOOLS CLOSING PAGE -- LIVE UPDATES

NJ Burkett has the latest on the impact from the impending winter storm.

Mayor Bill de Blasio had advised parents to be ready with an alternative plan for Thursday if the city had to close school buildings, and remote learning offered during the pandemic provided that alternate plan.

"Obviously, remote education will be there for all kids," de Blasio said. "It's not like the school day of old. Kids will have that option, whether they are happy about it or not. They will have learning Thursday either way. As someone who cares about education, I am proud to say it is a remote learning day for all students if we end up having to cancel in-person education."

RELATED: Snow halts outdoor dining in New York City

De Blasio said snow days for kids these days are a "thing of the past."

"Someone said to me the other day, they felt kind of forlorn," he said. "It ends the snow day as we know it. As kids, (we) looked forward to a day off. Yes that's true, that's now going to be a thing of the past, even when kids are home, because they will be learning. I'm kind of sad for the kids, on one hand. O the other hand, we got a lot of learning that needs to be done, a lot of catching up, so it's the right thing to do."

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NJ Burkett reports.

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