Reply to This is the Form Letter That WTU Members Sent to Mayor

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[quote=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.[/quote]

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