Bronx principals say outdoor classrooms too dangerous amid gun violence, drug use

Nearly two dozen Bronx principals say they’d love to have outdoor classrooms — if only they didn’t have to worry about their students getting shot or picking up used drug syringes off the ground.

The day after Mayor Bill de Blasio and schools Chancellor Richard Carranza crowed about turning city parks and streets near schools into classrooms amid the coronavirus, principals in the borough’s District 7 fired off a blistering letter.

“Our District has been in the grips of a wave of gun violence that is dangerously affecting and can further exacerbate the safety conditions for all members in our Learning Community,’’ the educators wrote.

“A few days ago, a woman was shot to death in front of one of our district schools,’’ the principals said — apparently referring to Patricia Vasquez, 25, who was killed early Saturday outside PS 1 and Alfred E. Smith HS in the Melrose section in District 7.

“Most of the parks next to the schools which we use for recess belongs to the Parks Department has to be cleaned daily as syringes and other drug paraphernalia are constantly found there each morning among broken beer bottles, urine etc.,’’ the letter said.

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