This is the Form Letter That WTU Members Sent to Mayor
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
and this is why DCPS will end up being out all year - read what their ask is:
Greetings Mayor Bowser, Chancellor Ferebee, and representatives, My name is [NAME], and I am a [ROLE] in DC Public Schools. After watching the news conference on July 16th with Mayor Bowser and Chancellor Ferebee concerning the reopening of DCPS, it is apparent to DCPS staff and families that the District leaders must commit to implementing distance learning for the start of the 2020-21 school year. During the conference, Mayor Bowser stated that DC did not have enough data to decide about the upcoming school year. This assertion is patently misleading. We have data that show trends that do not make it ideal for opening school buildings but instead reinforce the need to continue learning virtually. Given the geographical proximity between DC, Maryland, and Virginia, we must also take into account how COVID-19 impacts the greater DMV region. As several surrounding districts chose to start the year virtually, the District does not need to delay their decision when the only acceptable choice is distance learning. Despite Mayor Bowser and Chancellor Ferebee stating that their conversations with teachers have been productive, these statements are disingenuous as educators, and the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) have rarely been invited to the table to discuss their concerns. These remarks are performative, and educators deserve to be an integral part of the conversation related to reopening schools. Members of the WTU Reopen DC Taskforce created a report outlining recommendations for schools. As highlighted in the outline, “The members of the Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) look forward to the reopening of our schools and the resumption of in-person learning. However, consistent with [the] Department of Health recommendations, until an effective treatment is widely available or a vaccine is developed for COVID-19, our city will need to develop a new path to safely and responsibly continue the education of District students. The District’s plans to reopen our schools must prioritize protecting the health of teachers, students and our communities in order to ensure teachers are able to fulfill our mission of educating students and preparing them for college and careers.” In addition to this report from the WTU Taskforce, multiple State Board of Education Representatives, like Ward 5 member Zachary Parker, have expressed their concern about starting the year with in-person instruction given the unsafe conditions in the District. In a letter to the Deputy Mayor of Education, Parker outlined clear recommendations for schools to reopen: 28 consecutive days with a decline in cases Increased access to testing and expedited turnaround time All schools have adequate supplies to address health and safety needs All schools have a comprehensive plan to address future outbreaks Until we can meet the criteria mentioned above, it remains unsafe to open school campuses. We want to firmly reiterate that the acceptable number of COVID-19 related deaths in our schools is zero. Thank you for your time regarding this matter, and we look forward to the July 31st announcement that we will continue distance learning. |
Anonymous
|
LOL
Out of control. |
Anonymous
| Makes sense to me— non teacher |
Anonymous
| The acceptable number of deaths is zero? This is a pandemic. Good luck with that. |
Anonymous
Read it again. It says the acceptable rate of deaths IN SCHOOLS is zero. What is the rate of deaths in schools you are ok with? |
Anonymous
| The rate of deaths in schools is already zero. And why does the decline in numbers have to be TWICE what Fauci says it should be? Do teachers realize that some government employees (like me) are already back at work?? And we didn’t have a choice other than if we could whether we had a pre-existing condition or lived with a vulnerable person. |
Anonymous
| Also note DCPS emailed questionnaires to teachers asking if they felt they were unable to return because of a health condition or because they lived with a person who person who did. Do you know what WTU did? The WTU leaders texted ALL of the teachers and told them not to respond to the questionnaire. And the teachers didn’t respond so DCPS could not adequately staff their classrooms. So DCPS kids never had a chance against WTU. And our kids will be home until next Fall. You can believe it. |
Anonymous
You can do the same thing teachers have been told to do: quit. Don’t complain because teachers have stood up to their employers and you were unwilling to do the same. |
Anonymous
| What they’re asking for seems reasonable to me. They’re going to be exposed to a large cross section of the population in close quarters, it makes sense they’d want more days of decline to feel comfortable. |
Anonymous
You have the same choices that teachers do - you can quit or return. |
Anonymous
It was not a questionnaire or a survey to gather data. It was a “Letter of Intent” asking teachers to commit to either reporting in person or taking leave while providing zero details about safety, cleaning procedures etc. |
Anonymous
|
Can the OP stop with the teacher bashing. Every single public schools union (minus custodians) was pushing the mayor for distance learning. That includes the administration.
The return to work form was not signed by any administrator or EMPLOYEE OF CENTRAL OFFICE. No one signed them. Stop blaming all of this on the teachers. Why do you want your kid to be a guinea pig? Let another state open and see if this country can sustain a school without a major break out of Covid. We have way more active infections that Europe. Let someone else take the chance with their kids and lets see what happens. I’d rather not be the trailblazer here. |
Anonymous
It’s zero because schools were closed. It’s like saying no one has died from food poisoning while your restaurant was closed. |
Anonymous
|
Mayor Bowser should start bargaining with the union and stop disrespecting educators.
-DC Parent & voter |
Anonymous
How many teachers have lost their job because if refusing to return? If that was an actual consequence, I’m okay with that. If they’re refusing and being accommodated in the form of schools being entirely shut down, I’m not okay with that. I don’t feel like a real attempt st hybrid was attempted. Just ultimatums and politics. Also the death rate in DC is pretty close to 0. In the past 14 days, 7 people have died. |