Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

102 Schools Won't Reopen Monday as Recovery from Hurricane Sandy Continues

By Julie Shapiro | November 4, 2012 7:17pm | Updated on November 5, 2012 7:44am

NEW YORK — Kids are heading back to classes Monday after a week off — but more than 100 schools will remain closed because they are still recovering from Hurricane Sandy.

The closed schools include 57 that were heavily damaged and may not reopen for weeks, 29 that have no power but were not hurt in the storm and 16 that are still being used as temporary shelters for evacuees, officials said.

Many of those schools will reopen on Wednesday, after Election Day, but those that were hit hardest by the hurricane will move into other buildings temporarily. Some schools, particularly in Far Rockaway and Coney Island, could remain closed for the rest of the school year.

For a complete list of schools that will not reopen Monday, visit the Department of Education's website.

"Our kids have already missed a week of school and we don't want them to miss another day," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Sunday. "Our kids need to get back to class."

The city made more than 1 million robo-calls to tell families about school and busing changes, but Bloomberg acknowledged that some parents will probably still be confused.

"It is complex and people are going to make mistakes and are going to be misinformed," Bloomberg said. "We're trying to do our best. It's not going to be perfect."

Some students in damaged buildings will be moved to schools as far away as other boroughs on Wednesday, and in some cases, elementary students will share buildings with high schoolers.

"We have to go where there are empty seats," Bloomberg said.

Because some of the schools reopening on Monday still do not have heat, Bloomberg advised kids to wear layers.

"Dress your children with that in mind," Bloomberg added.