New York City public schools are set to resume in-person learning on Tuesday, following a recent winter storm that prompted a temporary shift to virtual classes. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the return to normalcy, affirming that the city’s educators and students had remained engaged online while city workers cleared the streets of the nearly foot of snow that fell on Sunday.
Mayor Mamdani praised the efforts of over 5,000 sanitation workers, who utilized 2,500 pieces of equipment to treat roads and prepare for safe travel. “The strength of our response is a testament to all of those who put in long shifts,” he remarked, emphasizing that New York City had been well-prepared to handle the weather challenges. The city’s school system reported about 400,000 virtual log-ons from parents, students, and staff during the unexpected switch to remote learning.
On Monday, while teachers and students interacted virtually, classes for grades six through 12 were already scheduled for a Professional Development Day. Mamdani humorously engaged with students by inviting them to hit him with snowballs during a virtual classroom visit.
In addition to the reopening of schools, all after-school programs and other school-based programming, which had been canceled due to the storm, will also resume, marking a return to regular function for the city’s educational resources. United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew commended the mayor’s handling of the snow day, granting him an “A” for his leadership during the weather event.
As cleanup efforts progress, New Yorkers are reminded that Alternate Side Parking rules will remain suspended for an additional day, as sanitation crews continue to manage snow removal. Department of Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan expressed concern over the large mounds of snow obstructing street corners, emphasizing the need for continued snow management. There are also plans to implement snow melting operations, utilizing machines capable of melting up to 120 tons of snow per hour.
Despite the challenges posed by the storm, the city’s infrastructure and community response illustrates resilience and preparedness, reinforcing a hopeful narrative as New York City embarks on its recovery and return to normalcy.