NYC Public Schools reopen after historic blizzard with only 63% attendance rate
NEW YORK (WABC) -- New York City Public Schools reopened for in-person learning on Tuesday in the aftermath of a historic blizzard that battered the region, but there was only a 63% attendance rate among students, according to the schools chancellor.
Elected officials on Staten Island, which got about 28 inches of snow, say that number was about 16%. On top of the absent students, 180 faculty members at Tottenville High School also could not make it in.
Overall, the Department of Education said 12,000 of the 78,000 teachers called out sick on Tuesday, with the DOT only able to slot 5,000 substitute teachers to replace them.
The teachers' union points out that many teachers do not live in the district they work in. So many of them are parents too, with kids in closed school districts, forcing them to stay home with the same childcare needs.
The mayor addressed concerns about the decision to resume in-person classes at a Tuesday news conference, explaining that New York City public schools were not positioned to shift to remote learning immediately following midwinter break. Device availability was not guaranteed, and he emphasized that schools provide essential services such as warm meals, mental health support, and childcare for nearly 900,000 students.
Many were frustrated and critical of the decision, from students, parents, elected officials and the teachers' union.
"This was not a decision we agreed with, but we understood, I understood their point of view," said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. "You know there are a lot of families. This is their only access to daycare for childcare, but teachers get upset when they hear these things cause we're not a babysitting service. We're an educational institution."
The Staten Island borough president was particularly critical of the response to the storm.
"A very terrible response to the storm. If you drive around Staten Island, a lot of roads are still impassible. North shore, mid-shore, south shore, all over the island, people can't move, literally," said Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella. "To require and force kids and families to put them in harm's way unnecessarily I think was a mistake. I came out full throttle against it. Staten Island, you can't jump on a subway. You got to take a car. It was just very very unsafe, unwise, ill advised."
The city on Tuesday admitted that sanitation crews faced challenges on narrow streets in the borough, so extra personnel and equipment and private contractors were moved to Staten Island Monday night.
Some parents say the city was simply not prepared.
"It's not safe though, a lot of streets in Staten Island aren't plowed," said one parent. "Side streets, especially like this, don't look safe right now. Looks like there's downed trees, branches."
The day before in-person resumed, more than 169,000 New Yorkers signed an online petition asking Mamdani to switch to remote learning on Tuesday, citing safety concerns, hazardous roads and transit.
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As for how residents are digging out following the storm, they had a particularly tough time in the Bronx on Tuesday.
Along Arthur Avenue, residents described it as a war zone.
Things were finally somewhat buzzing along the world-famous street where many businesses have either been closed or had to cut back because of the recent storm.
At Vincent's Meat Market, the team couldn't make deliveries on Monday, but packages were once again rolling out to places all over the area on Tuesday.
PHOTO GALLERY: Blizzard of 2026 photos across NYC, Tri-State area
Support for Vulnerable New Yorkers
An enhanced Code Blue remains in effect through Wednesday morning, with shelters operating under an opendoor policy so that no one is turned away. Outreach workers have made more than 250 placements in shelters since Saturday. Residents who see someone in need are urged to call 311, which forwards Code Bluerelated calls to 911. LinkNYC kiosks can also be used to call 311 or find warming center locations.
Citywide Cleanup & Damage Response
The city received over 1,800 reports of fallen or damaged trees, and the interagency Downed Trees Task Force is actively responding. The mayor praised the NYPD Tow Truck Task Force, which removed 37 stuck vehicles, including seven MTA buses and 21 ambulances, ensuring emergency vehicles could reach those in need.
Staten Island: Hardest Hit
Mayor Mamdani noted that Staten Island experienced the highest snowfall totals, nearing 28 inches in some neighborhoods. In response, sanitation staffing on the island was increased by 210%, with additional equipment brought in to address snowdrifts and narrow, hilly roads. As a result, 99.2% of Staten Island roadways have now received at least one plow pass.
City Services & Transit Updates
Trash collection: Suspended today; resumes Wednesday at 6 p.m., with delays expected due to volume.
Recycling: Resumes next Monday.
Alternate side parking: Suspended through the end of the week.
Libraries and city buildings: Fully open
New Yorkers can look up the last time their street was plowed at nyc.gov/plownyc.
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