Reply to DCPS Employee Return to In Person Work Guidance

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The 12 weeks FFCRA leave are not in addition to traditional FMLA. It counts against any traditional FMLA balance. It’s literally titled “expanded FML” and just adds one qualifying reason for FMLA leave: that your kids are home because school is closed.

My kids have been in a daycare for kids of essential workers since the pandemic started. No infections. No closures.

Whoever cited the example of the gym: seriously? An outbreak among a group of adults is not relevant when considering putting a group of kids with one or two adults and the adults can distance from each other. Kids are less likely than adults to get it and pass it on.

Yes, school is childcare and is essential.

Kids, even young kids, will wear masks at school with teacher and peer pressure. Teachers get the kids to do a ton of things they don’t want to do (like line up, clean up, etc.) with guidance and peer pressure.

Re: fecal matter: um, my kid’s PK teachers wouldn’t wipe her butt. PK3 kids have to be potty trained and have to wipe themselves, or no wipe. Exceptions for kids who can’t due to developmental delays can be made.

Specials shouldn’t happen if school reopens. It’s not wise for an art teacher to see 100 students a day. The art teacher, if able to report to school, becomes a main teacher for another small pod of students.

I’m an essential worker and cannot take off of work to stay home and care for/manage distance learning for my kids. I am expected to go to work. Teachers are essential too. I’m afraid I do not support teachers who don’t feel comfortable going to work, unless they are in an at-risk category.

Schools should have a hybrid model. Teachers who are at-risk can lead the remote learning. [/quote]

NP here:

Actually, DCPS policy is that no child is refused enrollment due to not being toilet trained for ANY reason. I’m a PK teacher and I do change diapers and wipe butts, actually. They haven’t said what PPE they’ll be providing me in order to do so *especially* since DCPS neglected to reapply for Head Start funds which previously funded a paltry supply of gloves and baby wipes, which we still had to beg for. I don’t have a sink in my PK classroom, the bathroom on our hallway has been out of soap for probably at least 75% of the days I’ve worked in the building (been there for years). Staff bathroom never has soap.... we bring our own. All of these things have been described already by other posters.

Nurse refuses to call to send kids home because they don’t like to do the paperwork part or get cussed out by parents or because honestly often parents don’t answer.... and that’s on days that we even have a nurse in the building. I’m not sure where exactly they would isolate a symptomatic student in our building because they don’t specify in the DCPS document what that means. Parents send their kids to school ill all the time because they don’t have other options... they will straight up tell me they knew their child was sick.

The bottom line is that FMLA does not cover all teachers or school staff who are high risk.  Even DC FMLA would cover a max of 16 weeks for an employee’s own medical condition. Beyond that you could use 16 weeks if you could prove a family member had a medical condition you were actively caring for. Nothing requires that leave be paid.... so DCPS is essentially saying take the time off unpaid once your accrued sick leave is gone. For example, you are not fully covered if you just had a baby as one PP said — if you’ve taken 12 weeks of federal FMLA you are not eligible for the child care leave if your kid’s school or daycare is closed. DCPS document does not state that teachers would have an option to opt to telework / be assigned to distance learning. If families are being given the option to opt for 100% distance learning without penalty because they or their child are at risk or they aren’t comfortable, we should be given the same respect and accommodation. Central office employees are being given the option to telework without taking leave. I would like to be able to opt to be teaching via distance learning from my home even if it means temporary reassignment to a grade level etc..... which isn’t something DCPS offered in this form they asked us to sign. I’m not asking to be paid for not working without a medical reason to be home. Childcare for DCPS employees is going to be a huge issue, though. Most of us live in MD or VA.

I would be fine with going back in person if I was sure DCPS would follow through with specific plans and protocols. They have provided vague ideas which historically they have not followed through with. [/quote]

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