NYC public schools have remote classes Monday due to winter storm, Mamdani says

Instead of a snow day, New York City public school students will pivot to remote learning Monday due to the winter storm, the city announced Sunday.

This applies to K-8 students who are scheduled to have school on Monday. High schoolers and some 6-8 grade students are already scheduled to have Monday off for a professional development day. Staff participating will also be remote. 

The city is forecast to get at least 8 inches of snow in Sunday's massive winter storm, which raised concerns about students being able to get to school safely on Monday morning.

"As snowfall begins to blanket our city and conditions become hazardous, closing school buildings is a necessary step to keep New Yorkers safe," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Sunday. "Over the past week, my administration has prepared for this moment – ensuring devices are in hand, families are informed and educators are ready to welcome students online. Our school system, and our city, is prepared to weather this storm together."

Teachers, students are prepared for remote learning

Mamdani said tens of thousands of students and teachers already logged on in advance of the remote day. 

"We have stress-tested systems, sent students home with the materials and technology they need to learn virtually and are working with vendors to ensure that our systems have the capacity they need," he said.

The last time public schools pivoted to remote learning due to weather, back in February 2024, technical problems left students and teachers unable to log on for hours. At the time, city officials blamed IBM, the company hired by the city to run the remote learning program.  

Newly appointed Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels has promised the system will be prepared this time around. 

"Over the last several months, our educators have been setting up virtual classrooms, and our I.T. team has been testing the system to ensure our students will be able to log in," he said Sunday. 

"Feel free to throw a snowball at me"

Mamdani confirmed Friday that city public schools would not have a traditional snow day Monday, explaining that the number of holidays in the school calendar doesn't allow any flexibility for missing a day of class.

New York state law requires students receive 180 days of instruction.

Mamdani acknowledged that not having a day off may be upsetting.

"I know this may disappoint some students, so if you do see me, feel free to throw a snowball at me," he said. 

Samuels said students will have real-time and asynchronous learning, leaving time to play outside.

"Don't worry. There are many hours in the day," he said. "You'll work hard, but there will be time to enjoy the snow." 

Stay with CBS News New York for the latest on the winter storm impacting our area.