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Local Public School Teachers Overwhelmingly Against Reopening Classrooms

90 percent say no in United Teachers Union poll

Published on Thursday, July 16, 2020 | 9:28 am
 

Ninety percent of the teachers polled by the United Teachers Union (UTP) agree that it is not time to open schools, Pasadena Now has learned.

The question “Do you agree with UTP’s Executive Board and Bargaining Team that Pasadena Unified School District should not physically reopen school campuses on August 17,2020?” was sent to the union’s 900 members. It is not known how many teachers responded.

“Educators and children must teach and learn in conditions that are safe and healthy,” said UTP President Allison Steppes in a prepared statement. “The health and safety of our students and staff must take precedence when considering the physical reopening of school buildings. We know that students do their best when their health and safety are assured.

“Medical science and public health professionals must inform school districts on the conditions of health and safety necessary to reopen schools. Consequently, United Teachers of Pasadena believes that PUSD can best protect the health and safety of students and educators by not reopening schools to ‘in- person teaching.’ on August 17, 2020.”

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education will vote on a recommendation by Superintendent Brian McDonald to keep all kids learning at home when school opens on Aug. 17.

“We have been preparing for the possibility of a full distance learning model,” McDonald said. “Our school reopening plan is designed to allow us to move seamlessly from a hybrid model to a full distance learning environment and back again as conditions change.”

According to McDonald distance learning will have a strengthened emphasis on teacher-student engagement, including more live interaction with certificated employees and peers for the purpose of instruction, progress monitoring, and maintaining school connectedness.

The district will continue planning for a return to in-person learning during the 2020-21 academic year.

“I have been following the data in the last two weeks. The numbers nationwide, statewide, and locally have all been going in the wrong direction,” said Board President Patrick Cahalan.

California was the first state to enact a Safer-at-Home order. During that time, the state exceeded expectations in combatting the virus. However, in the past several weeks, numbers across the country have surged.

California reported 11,126 new cases of the virus on Wednesday and 147 deaths. So far, more than 7,300 people living in California have died from the virus.

Districts across the country are struggling with the decision to open classrooms for in-school learning or keep students at home and continue distance learning.

Some teachers and parents say they are afraid the reopening of schools has been rushed.

In Texas, some teachers are writing wills, and establishing medical power of attorney established, and taking out extra life insurance. One teacher in Texas said the country is prioritizing money over people.

In California, messaging appears to suggest that it is not yet safe to send students back to school.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has rolled back the state’s reopening and barred indoor activities at churches, museums, restaurants, hair salons and shut down bars.

Newsom and health official are also telling people to stay home whenever possible.
Large events still have not been cleared and on Wednesday the 2021 Rose Parade became arguably the largest event in the nation to be canceled since the pandemic began.

“Most recently, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued Reopening Protocols for K – 12 Schools, that under particular conditions, could permit the reopening of schools to ‘in-person teaching,'” Steppes said.  “However, the prevailing conditions speak to the current spike in Los Angeles County of COVID -19 cases, increased number of hospitalizations and increased number of deaths, thus making it too risky to endanger the lives of our students and employees by reopening schools. The Pasadena school community must regard students and the educators who work at our sites as human beings whose lives are valued.”

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