A majority of New Yorkers believe that Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Education should take over New York City schools and take control of them from Mayor Bill de Blasio, according to a Spectrum News poll / Ipsos.
Sixty-one percent of those surveyed were in favor of Cuomo and NY State having control of what is the nation’s largest school district, according to the survey. 22% said they did not agree.
The results of the opinion poll are in tune with the criticism Mayor de Blasio faced about when and how to reopen the city’s public schools safely amid the COVID-19 crisis.
During the summer Cuomo criticized the mayor’s reopening plan.
“I am disappointed that New York City did not have their plan in time because it is one of the main districts where there is a lot of discussion and dialogue,” Cuomo said in a conference call on August 1. “And until there is a plan, people are not going to feel like there is an informed dialogue.”
58% of those surveyed approve of the way Cuomo has handled plans to send children back to school, while 34% disapprove.
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“One thing we’re seeing is that New Yorkers see Cuomo a little better than they see de Blasio,” said Chris Jackson, Ipsos senior vice president. “So all things being equal, Cuomo gets a little more benefit of the doubt on a lot of issues, I think, including schools and education.”
The start date for part-time in-person instruction was delayed twice.
De Blasio often disagreed with teachers and principals unions on whether health and safety precautions were adequate.
Face-to-face school finally started for all grades on October 1.
The last part of the survey sampling came amid reports that initial testing data showed a low number of positive COVID-19 results in schools.
“So now after we’ve had hundreds of schools tested, more than 16,000 test results have returned, only 28 students and staff have tested positive in our entire school system after more than 16,000 test results have returned. “de Blasio said at a news conference Wednesday. “That is a positivity rate of 0.17 percent. This is really extraordinary.”
The online survey of 850 city residents was conducted between October 7 and 19. Their results are +/- 3.8 percentage points. The results of the question about whether the state should take over the city’s schools are +/- 5.3 percentage points.
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