WIS is making teachers come in for two workdays

[Anonymous]

I am so terrified I am going to get sick! We have to go in for two workdays, where we will attend virtual meetings. No one can explain why we need to be on campus for Zoom meetings, so there is that. But I have an underlying health condition and they aren’t sterilizing until Wednesday. And teachers are allowed to bring their kids!! I know childcare is probably an issue but we are closing exactly because groups of kids aren’t safe right now.

I am fully ready to move to distance learning - modules compete, checklist done, checked that my tech works. Admin doesn’t care. The ignorance of science at a progressive school is so disappointing.

Yes, I can take sick leave. But I only have four days of that left for the year, so burning half at the START of an epidemic to which I am high risk would be stupid. Teachers who did the work already shouldn’t have to go to campus! I really liked the new admin until this week.

[Anonymous]

This is a horrible position to be in. Is there someone you can talk to about your specific situation? Explain what you just put here, let them know that you are ready and willing to teach but you are concerned about being on campus due to your health. I hope this works out for you, please keep us updated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a horrible position to be in. Is there someone you can talk to about your specific situation? Explain what you just put here, let them know that you are ready and willing to teach but you are concerned about being on campus due to your health. I hope this works out for you, please keep us updated.

A colleague tried and was told a firm “deal with it” so I don’t dare also speak up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a horrible position to be in. Is there someone you can talk to about your specific situation? Explain what you just put here, let them know that you are ready and willing to teach but you are concerned about being on campus due to your health. I hope this works out for you, please keep us updated.

A colleague tried and was told a firm “deal with it” so I don’t dare also speak up.

Actually maybe if more people spoke up they would be more open to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a horrible position to be in. Is there someone you can talk to about your specific situation? Explain what you just put here, let them know that you are ready and willing to teach but you are concerned about being on campus due to your health. I hope this works out for you, please keep us updated.

A colleague tried and was told a firm “deal with it” so I don’t dare also speak up.

Actually maybe if more people spoke up they would be more open to change.

Nope. My principal is on my side but she is being overruled. A higher admin sent emails containing funny gifs about the epidemic. They just don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

I work at an independent school in the area and I know that they will look at sick leave differently in light of COVID. I can't imagine them counting days and holding them against any unfortunate employee to contract it. This reflects very poorly on WIS. Am going to mention though, I don't think you need to worry about sick leave as I think the school year is over. Take your 2 days of leave now OP.

[Anonymous]

I would not go in.

[Anonymous]

Send an email to your principal or whoever is mandating this, but include all staff on it as well, and say you are not attending because of your at risk situation. Hopefully if others know what you are doing they will follow suit, and if that's the case you will likely not be charged leave for those days.

[Anonymous]

Provide a doctors note and then Skype in

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at an independent school in the area and I know that they will look at sick leave differently in light of COVID. I can't imagine them counting days and holding them against any unfortunate employee to contract it. This reflects very poorly on WIS. Am going to mention though, I don't think you need to worry about sick leave as I think the school year is over. Take your 2 days of leave now OP.

The school year is definitely over. But if I am too ill to teach virtual lessons, I have to find a substitute and take leave, just like usual. It’s not like I get vacation from Wednesday to August, so I need to plan. And given my underlying health issues, I frequently see specialists and can’t always choose appointment times that coincide with my schedule, so there are reasons unrelated to the new virus to be conservative with leave.

I wish I could be confident that WIS would be understanding in the future. A week ago, I would have had no doubt. But now I seriously think they would cut my paycheck as a lie in a hallway on a ventilator. That sounds dramatic, and I hope it is, but their stubborn refusal to listen to public health experts thh hi is week doesn’t give me the confidence I once had.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at an independent school in the area and I know that they will look at sick leave differently in light of COVID. I can't imagine them counting days and holding them against any unfortunate employee to contract it. This reflects very poorly on WIS. Am going to mention though, I don't think you need to worry about sick leave as I think the school year is over. Take your 2 days of leave now OP.

The school year is definitely over. But if I am too ill to teach virtual lessons, I have to find a substitute and take leave, just like usual. It’s not like I get vacation from Wednesday to August, so I need to plan. And given my underlying health issues, I frequently see specialists and can’t always choose appointment times that coincide with my schedule, so there are reasons unrelated to the new virus to be conservative with leave.

I wish I could be confident that WIS would be understanding in the future. A week ago, I would have had no doubt. But now I seriously think they would cut my paycheck as a lie in a hallway on a ventilator. That sounds dramatic, and I hope it is, but their stubborn refusal to listen to public health experts thh hi is week doesn’t give me the confidence I once had.

Omg you are fine to go in. You were already teaching in there being exposed if it was in your school already. If you are that bad, you should not teach at all and get a note if you can’t go in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Provide a doctors note and then Skype in

All the meetings are by Skype. If they don’t see my classroom behind me, they will charge me sick leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at an independent school in the area and I know that they will look at sick leave differently in light of COVID. I can't imagine them counting days and holding them against any unfortunate employee to contract it. This reflects very poorly on WIS. Am going to mention though, I don't think you need to worry about sick leave as I think the school year is over. Take your 2 days of leave now OP.

The school year is definitely over. But if I am too ill to teach virtual lessons, I have to find a substitute and take leave, just like usual. It’s not like I get vacation from Wednesday to August, so I need to plan. And given my underlying health issues, I frequently see specialists and can’t always choose appointment times that coincide with my schedule, so there are reasons unrelated to the new virus to be conservative with leave.

I wish I could be confident that WIS would be understanding in the future. A week ago, I would have had no doubt. But now I seriously think they would cut my paycheck as a lie in a hallway on a ventilator. That sounds dramatic, and I hope it is, but their stubborn refusal to listen to public health experts thh hi is week doesn’t give me the confidence I once had.

Omg you are fine to go in. You were already teaching in there being exposed if it was in your school already. If you are that bad, you should not teach at all and get a note if you can’t go in!

By that logic, we should never close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send an email to your principal or whoever is mandating this, but include all staff on it as well, and say you are not attending because of your at risk situation. Hopefully if others know what you are doing they will follow suit, and if that's the case you will likely not be charged leave for those days.

Ooh, that’d be great. But it would ruin my career.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send an email to your principal or whoever is mandating this, but include all staff on it as well, and say you are not attending because of your at risk situation. Hopefully if others know what you are doing they will follow suit, and if that's the case you will likely not be charged leave for those days.

Ooh, that’d be great. But it would ruin my career.

Distance learning is important, but if you have health issues that is more important. The school should work with you to plan this remotely. I can't believe they are having faculty AND their kids come in at this point. I predict that as soon as the testing ramps up in the coming week, we are going to see that COVID is everywhere in DC.