WHEREAS, on September 29, 2023, a significant weather event impacted New York City and subsequently all New York City public schools;

WHEREAS, the City of New York and the Department of Education had been forewarned through weather reports, allowing sufficient time for decisions regarding the operational status of school buildings;

WHEREAS, the City of New York and the Department of Education exhibited a substantial deficiency in effectively communicating with schools about the impending weather conditions, with substantial guidance not provided until the afternoon;

WHEREAS, despite the precedents set by the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy, the City of New York and the Department of Education seemingly failed to assimilate and implement the lessons learned, thereby jeopardizing the well-being of the school community;

WHEREAS, climate change is an undeniable reality with cities like New York experiencing its ramifications with growing frequency; the recent air quality event caused by the Canadian wildfires and other such incidents are no longer rare occurrences but are manifesting more frequently, highlighting an urgent need for New York City public schools to be better equipped and prepared;

WHEREAS, the Department of Education has not provided Building Response Teams (BRTs) with sufficient training or instruction to adequately address climate-related emergencies;

WHEREAS, since 2020, the capability exists for New York City to transition to remote learning, ensuring safety while maintaining the continuity of education; to avoid a repeat of 225,000 students missing instruction that we experienced on September 29, 2023;

WHEREAS, all school-based teachers, lab specialists and mandated related service providers have digital classrooms linked to all students they serve; and

WHEREAS, the decision to continue with school openings on the said date demonstrated a lapse in judgment, risking the well-being of staff and students;

WHEREAS, despite past decisions to eliminate snow days, the provision for remote learning on inclement weather days remains a necessity, and remote instructional days are aidable days;

WHEREAS, there was a stark absence of proactive and timely decision-making from the city, with the first substantive guidance being shared almost midway through the day;

WHEREAS, the increasing impacts of climate change on cities, including New York, mandate an elevated level of preparedness for similar events;

WHEREAS students should not have to choose between their safety and their education; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, The Department of Education and the UFT Safety & Health department shall convene at the earliest to reassess and amend existing safety plans to enhance preparedness for climate-induced weather incidents; and, be it further

RESOLVED, Building Response Teams must be equipped with improved instructions, and targeted training for weather-related emergencies ensuring their timely dissemination; and, be it further

RESOLVED, The City of New York shall improve its communication strategy, aiming to provide early notifications to students, parents, and stakeholders to prevent transportation challenges during adverse conditions; and, be it further

RESOLVED, The City of New York and the Department of Education shall capitalize on the remote learning option to circumvent issues observed in student attendance during the recent event; especially where schools in flood zones have documented history of flooding; and, be it further

RESOLVED, the City of New York should err on the side of safety and proactively utilize remote instruction when impending emergencies are detected.