Thread by @leoniehaimson

.@StephenLevin33: Why is 0.2% positivity rate fr/random testing in schools so much lower than citywide positivity rate? Dr. Varma - city positivity rate higher b/c more sick testednot same as actual prevalence -- we estimate actual citywide prevalence last week about 0.1%-0.7%.

(this is one of most interesting stats we've never heard before from Mayor or anyone else.)

What statutory authority for mandated Covid testing asks @JoeBorelliNYC - & if they forced to remote, does that constitute sound basic education? Carranza:we'll get the legal authority for you. We are all choosing from portfolio from imperfect solutions including remote learning

.@BobHoldenNYC : when will grading policy released? Imminent. Gifted testing? Before end of month as well. Why no cameras to show live teaching in classrooms? Pedagogically not best practice so don't encourage that. All teachers are teaching full time.

Carranza: happy to answer in writing to any other questions. @MarkTreyger718 You said 38,000 applied for accommodations; is that just teachers or all school staff? everyone. What happens in cold weather when windows shut? Moran: less than 200 rooms don't have functioning exhaust

Can we get data of how many kids made no contact with? We will work on getting you this info.

Mulgrew: we had to fight to close schools in March & in April we started putting together plan to reopen; we were frustrated in April, May, June when city would not engage w/us. Finally in July, Aug started talking about safety standards had to be established; then testing, etc.

Mulgrew: We still face major challenges w/ staffing, child care, & DOE guidance that contradicts our agreements or their own previous guidance.

Mulgrew: We didn't have real engagement w/ DOE until after July 4th. Planning for opening schools in pandemic takes far more time than usual. @MarkTreyger718 : usually planning for school reopenings starts in March in usual year.

Do you know how many teachers we still need? Mulgrew: Most of the hires are full-time substitutes. We know we have record # of operational complaints.

Treyger: DOE said today only about 15-20% parent consent forms in to allow Covid testing of blended learning students. Mulgrew not true- [I think he's confusing opting into remote learning] Treyger, 72,000 consent forms. [there's a big confusion here about consent forms]

Mulgrew: there's confusing language in consent forms about whether testing is mandated or not; & D75 students are not exempt.

.@MarkTreyger718 : there are 77,000 requests for devices - why wasn't this planned months ago? Mulgrew: the health & safety stuff is working, got it down amazingly fast & we got everything we asked for. ventilation, PPE, etc. Instructional side not working.

Mulgrew: DOE should ask the other operational divisions to handle distribution of devices as they did w/health & safety protocols & supplies; b/c the instructional staff not functional.

Mulgrew: ICT model should not be open to interpretation as 2 teachers are required; we're getting more complaints than normally.

Mulgrew responds at length about winter plans for ventilation with a lot of technical details. Says DOE working on this are doing a good job and we have verified with independent experts.

Mulgrew: Remote learning & inadequate broadband capability in schools keeps me up at night.

Mulgrew criticizes Learning Bridges program; seats not made available to teachers where they work or near home b/c the CBOs chosen were locked in first.

Tottenville in SI & other areas in Bronx over 3% says @MarkLevineNYC what's protocol to determine where close schools? Mulgrew: zip code agreement for immediate extra testing. We gave them 5 days when Mayor announced putting into remote setting. The Gov made zones.

We look at state & city data. Our biggest challenge is can we do enough to prevent 2nd wave hitting us. We may have to back to fully remote. Our medical experts said we know reopening schools important, but epidemiologists said schools have been bridge to greater spread. (where?)

Mulgrew: best data to look at is hospitalizations & unfortunately on uptake. @BenKallos thanks him for showing up in Sept when Carranza didn't & for helping to ensure schools safe. re Learning Bridges contracts - should city step into to operate some of them vs CBOs?

30,000 Learning Bridge seats not enough. How many virtual content specialists? Mulgrew: We agreed that it would be helpful in late August, & don't have a single one. DOE instructional side has no idea what they want or how to implement it. Schools are making this work.

.@MarkTreyger718 he's heard in his district state troopers are closing schools in red and orange zones? Mulgrew: Not aware. [Maybe this refers to state enforcement w/yeshivas? what have you heard @yaffedorg ?]