New York City moves to reopen high schools as dangerous COVID-19 variants spread The New York City Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee fights to unite educators, parents, students and the broader working class to prepare strike action to close all schools and nonessential workplaces. Register today to attend our next meeting this Wednesday, March 17 at 7pm EST! Nearly a year after educators forced New York City public schools to close by threatening to conduct wildcat sickout strikes as the coronavirus began its deadly spread, Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio is moving forward with plans to resume in-person learning on March 22 at the district’s 488 high schools. The reopening occurs under conditions in which more transmissible variants of COVID-19 now make up the majority of active cases in the city.