Walking through the hallway at Francis Lewis High School is like an Olympic sport, said Arthur Goldstein, an English as a second language teacher and dean at the coveted Queens school.

The building operates at 203% of its intended capacity, according to education department data.

“The hallways are diabolical. You’ve never seen anything like it,” Goldstein said. “I have taught classes of up to 50 students… We can’t do three feet of social distancing.”

With the 2021 school year just a month away, it’s still unclear whether — or how — New York City schools will adhere to social distancing measures as COVID looms over the return to classes. Schools are slated to reopen to all students, as the mayor has promised, without an option for remote instruction.

On Thursday, the Council for School Supervisors and Administrators, or CSA, the union representing principals and other school administrators, sent an email to members noting confusion over whether schools would have to comply with social distancing as a strict rule or only in cases where it’s possible — as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. Sparking the uncertainty were capacity reports shared from the education department that “gave the impression that all schools must maintain three feet of social distancing for all students at all times,” the email to principals notes.

“The city obviously wants it both ways, to offer no remote option and for families to believe that students and staff can maintain three feet of social distancing at all schools at all times,” the email said.

In a separate letter to the mayor and chancellor, the union’s head said that the “majority of schools” would be unable to maintain three feet of social distancing with their full student rosters and said the union has requested an “immediate” meeting with city leaders to gain clarity on what the rules will be.

The education department said that officials are “working hand in hand with principals to maximize social distancing and ensure the absolute safest learning environments for our kids.” The department has been holding weekly office hours to help school leaders address space issues, conducting building walkthroughs, and encouraging “creative” use of space, said education department spokesperson Katie O’Hanlon.

She noted that some schools have removed unneeded furniture to make more room. Others have implemented grab-and-go meals and will be using outdoor space for lunch.

Last fall, the need for social distancing led to complicated hybrid schedules, with students learning in school buildings part time and at home the rest of the school week. Even then, those socially distanced schedules were made possible by the fact that the majority of children stayed out of buildings entirely, opting to learn exclusively from home.

Read the full article about NYC schools distancing by Christina Veiga and Amy Zimmer at Chalkbeat.