Arbitration ruling on Reopening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

What are you talking about “the best way to do that”? Do you work in labor law? The arbitrator is exactly the way that they go about getting these things, it’s literally the purpose of arbitration in labor relations. The HVAC records and in-school student data are things that DCPS and WTU agreed upon months ago. DCPS needs to hold up their end of the bargain. The protests, slogans, etc is all irrelevant. The MOA is the only thing that matters here.

So can someone tell me if DCPS has the names of students who want to go back? It’s starting to look like dcps set a number of kids they want to return snd just started calling folks. Come to think of it, I was never asked formally (something with my children’s name on it) about our preference.

It seems simple, make a list of which students want to return and then ask which students want to return. If 20% of the students want to return and 10% of the staff, the difference could be made up with the cares staff right?

No ones headed back at our school, too much speculation about unreported cases. It just sucks that so many teachers got called up and the kids were off for three days and I still have no idea what my kids are doing Monday morning. Who their teacher will be, I just know both of them have to return in person.

What do you mean by dcps never asking your preference about virtual or in school? When you were offered a spot, you accepted or declined, right? That would be a pretty good indication of your preference.

Offered a spot? I’ve never been offered a spot. Never asked if we want in person yet my kids dl will be switched to a new teacher new kids and over 35.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

[Anonymous]

Schools are not the source of spread. they need to open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

What are you talking about “the best way to do that”? Do you work in labor law? The arbitrator is exactly the way that they go about getting these things, it’s literally the purpose of arbitration in labor relations. The HVAC records and in-school student data are things that DCPS and WTU agreed upon months ago. DCPS needs to hold up their end of the bargain. The protests, slogans, etc is all irrelevant. The MOA is the only thing that matters here.

No. The MOA envisions a discussion between DCPS and the WTU about individual non-systemic violations so that they can be rectified. Complaining, e.g., about the lack of soap in a few specific buildings should not be handled through arbitration unless DCPS refuses to fix the issue after being notified. The WTU jumped to arbitration on violations that, even if true, would not normally be the subject of arbitration at this stage. Now, if I really believed WTU just wanted to hold DCPS' feet to the fire on a list of specific fixes and that's why they took this nuclear step, fine... but we all know that's not what's going on here. If you look at the WTU's own materials re: its protest about reopening, MOA breaches are only 1 out of 4 things mentioned. This is a tactic, it is not about these minor breaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

What are you talking about “the best way to do that”? Do you work in labor law? The arbitrator is exactly the way that they go about getting these things, it’s literally the purpose of arbitration in labor relations. The HVAC records and in-school student data are things that DCPS and WTU agreed upon months ago. DCPS needs to hold up their end of the bargain. The protests, slogans, etc is all irrelevant. The MOA is the only thing that matters here.

So can someone tell me if DCPS has the names of students who want to go back? It’s starting to look like dcps set a number of kids they want to return snd just started calling folks. Come to think of it, I was never asked formally (something with my children’s name on it) about our preference.

It seems simple, make a list of which students want to return and then ask which students want to return. If 20% of the students want to return and 10% of the staff, the difference could be made up with the cares staff right?

No ones headed back at our school, too much speculation about unreported cases. It just sucks that so many teachers got called up and the kids were off for three days and I still have no idea what my kids are doing Monday morning. Who their teacher will be, I just know both of them have to return in person.

That means you didn't get a spot. They offered people spots based on a lottery w/ certain priorities and then a pure lottery. They did not only offer spots to people who had previously expressed an interest. It sounds like you just didn't understand how the process was working. At our school, the survey data -- which each school had on an individualized basis and which was presented to their Reopening Corps -- indicated that up to 80% of students wanted to return depending on the grade level, so it's not like schools could just accommodate everyone's preferences. (And no, "CARES staff" could definitely not cover the gap between staff preference and parent preference at many/most city schools.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

What are you talking about “the best way to do that”? Do you work in labor law? The arbitrator is exactly the way that they go about getting these things, it’s literally the purpose of arbitration in labor relations. The HVAC records and in-school student data are things that DCPS and WTU agreed upon months ago. DCPS needs to hold up their end of the bargain. The protests, slogans, etc is all irrelevant. The MOA is the only thing that matters here.

the arbitrator should not hold up reopening of all schools based on fishing-expedition accusations by the union.

My kids attend an unrenovated school with windows that are sealed shut, so having records and data about HVAC upgrades is not a “fishing expedition” for us.

Have you looked at your school's most recent checklist? They're all available online. If anything is showing as not finished, then inquire of *your principal* who was in charge of building readiness at you school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any idea on what happens Monday if they roll out with in person? I heard at our reopening parent meeting that class size for virtual will swell to 35 for pre k 3 kid and 38 for 1st grader. All new teachers and class composition. My kid will adjust but I worry about the kids who need more support and some of the students who don’t speak English. About 1/4 of my oldest class seems to have parents that speak only Spanish (I’ve been ear hustling in class) but not much translation to keep parents in the loop. I think they DCPS should go back the drawing board and make a better plan. Swelling class sizes, new teachers, AND asynchronous seems like a lot of concessions on top of a few care classrooms in quarantine due to positive cases. It’s just way too messy.

I am confused by your question. Individual schools have totally different plans, including different plans by grade level. No one can tell you what will happen at your school unless you share the school name. Your school's plan sounds, frankly, terrible. But that wasn't forced on them by DCPS. Our school is retaining class composition except for students who opted into in person or who agreed to be reallocated to a new teacher virtually to facilitate right sizing of classes (some parents wanted to stay w/ the same teacher even w/ simulcasting & potentially a bigger class; other parents wanted to move if it meant no simulcasting & a smaller class). All of the things you're complaining about are things YOUR school decided to do with teacher input. DCPS had to approve the plans -- and there were some plans rejected, although some of the schools convinced DCPS on appeal -- but schools set the plans in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Why? Serious question. And how do you think it's appropriate to move the goalposts? And how does it ever end? You do realize mutated strains will keep popping up, most likely literally forever like with the flu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

The arbitrator can't do that. So basically you're admitting the arbitration is a sham and that the WTU is going back on its word and shifting the goal posts. Awesome. I would think shifting the goalposts & backing out of a legal agreement would at least require *some science* showing teachers were now more at risk right now in DC in a school setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Why? Serious question. And how do you think it's appropriate to move the goalposts? And how does it ever end? You do realize mutated strains will keep popping up, most likely literally forever like with the flu.

+1. There will continue to be changes in the landscape - it's a pandemic. Kids need to go back to school. Schools have been closed for far too long as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

What are you talking about “the best way to do that”? Do you work in labor law? The arbitrator is exactly the way that they go about getting these things, it’s literally the purpose of arbitration in labor relations. The HVAC records and in-school student data are things that DCPS and WTU agreed upon months ago. DCPS needs to hold up their end of the bargain. The protests, slogans, etc is all irrelevant. The MOA is the only thing that matters here.

So can someone tell me if DCPS has the names of students who want to go back? It’s starting to look like dcps set a number of kids they want to return snd just started calling folks. Come to think of it, I was never asked formally (something with my children’s name on it) about our preference.

It seems simple, make a list of which students want to return and then ask which students want to return. If 20% of the students want to return and 10% of the staff, the difference could be made up with the cares staff right?

No ones headed back at our school, too much speculation about unreported cases. It just sucks that so many teachers got called up and the kids were off for three days and I still have no idea what my kids are doing Monday morning. Who their teacher will be, I just know both of them have to return in person.

That means you didn't get a spot. They offered people spots based on a lottery w/ certain priorities and then a pure lottery. They did not only offer spots to people who had previously expressed an interest. It sounds like you just didn't understand how the process was working. At our school, the survey data -- which each school had on an individualized basis and which was presented to their Reopening Corps -- indicated that up to 80% of students wanted to return depending on the grade level, so it's not like schools could just accommodate everyone's preferences. (And no, "CARES staff" could definitely not cover the gap between staff preference and parent preference at many/most city schools.)

It was not a lottery process at my school. I was asked to compile a list of students I thought should be in person and I ranked the students in my class based on who should be in person.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if the union succeeded in stopping the reopening? Just wondering!

[Anonymous]

Ok but does anyone know what happened with t this arbitration?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok but does anyone know what happened with t this arbitration?

Here's a guess... nothing. No opinion was reached. There have been no press releases from either DCPS or the WTU, have there?

The WTU has a meeting scheduled for Saturday @ 4:30, I would guess collective action for the upcoming week will be voted on then. Stay tuned.