In a renewed effort to increase student engagement and flexibility, BRHS has sent another proposal for remote Fridays to the Department of Education.  This comes after the NYC DOE initially turned down the school’s proposal for a weekly learning day in May 2024 but indicated that future proposals could be considered.
The proposal, championed by Principal Greg Fucheck, focuses on four main objectives:
Improving Attendance: Encouraging students to engage more consistently with their education.
Expanding Access to Virtual Learning: Providing high quality online instruction to accommodate diverse learning needs.
Offering Hybrid Schedules: Allowing students to choose between remote and in-person learning to better suit their circumstances.
Creating New Opportunities for Teachers: Facilitating professional development and collaboration.
The current plan aims to designate ten Fridays as optional remote instruction days for the spring 2025 semester. Students who choose to participate, with parental permission, can attend synchronous, live virtual classes from home. Those who opt out will continue with in-person instruction, except for gym, advisory and lunch periods.
The move to remote Fridays addresses several common challenges faced by students, including health appointments and childcare responsibilities, while also promoting a better work-life balance.

Students were invited to vote on the proposal in an online newspaper poll earlier this month: The poll showed strong support for the plan: Eighty percent of the 187 votes cast said yes to the proposal. Twenty percent said no.

Participation in remote classes will require students to join live meetings and stay engaged; no distractions like music or video games will be allowed, explained Mr. Fucheck.  Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in consequences, beginning with a phone call home. Repeated violations could lead to the removal of online privileges for that student, and if many students misuse the opportunity, the remote Friday initiative may be canceled altogether.
To support this initiative, teachers will alternate between online and in-person instruction every Friday, collaborating with colleagues who teach the same subject, regardless of grade level.
Students have mixed views on the plan.
Nahray Drayton, a freshman, isn’t a fan.  “No, no, no! No more Covid,’’ she said. “ I don’t want to be stuck in the house.”
Ashgan Alraidani, , a senior, said, “Middle, it’s not a thing to start for seniors, but a good idea for the rest. Their grades will definitely go down.”
Evin Rodriguez, a junior, added, “WORD, an extra day off is nice.”