Statement: Justin Krebs’s Statement on de Blasio’s Two Case Rule Anouncement

Following Mayor de Blasio’s announcement on the two-case rule, Justin Krebs (Secretary,

District 15 President's Council; Exec. Board Member, PS39 Parent) issued the following

statement:

This is a good step to reduce disruption and get more schools open more days—much like adding an opt in period and hopefully changing the 6 foot rule. But to really get all kids back full time in person this fall, we need to prioritize a real plan immediately. I’m disappointed that after months to plan we’re still missing definitions around testing and tracing—and parents are still left wondering when their kid’s school could close.

Every parent with a kid in hybrid school knows how infuriating the unscientific two-case rule has been—how a baseless rule has stolen some of the few precious in-person days while creating chaos for kids, teachers, administrators and caregivers. But, changing this rule when there’s one day left in the opt-in period is the latest example of rushing parents and guardians to make decisions without all the information they need—and it chips away at the collective trust we’re going to need to build among teachers, parents and students to have a successful reopening this fall.

We need fewer surprise announcements and more focus on a real plan for full-time in-person

school this fall.