The president of the teachers union in Volusia County says the district’s reopening plan was designed to give parents and students choices, but not teachers.”We have a lot of inquiries about retirement. We have a lot of inquiries about leaves of absences and just leaving the field in general,” Elizabeth Albert said.Albert is the president of Volusia United Educators. She says her members are scared to return to brick and mortar locations amid the current chaos of coronavirus.Though a recent school district survey indicates a majority of teachers and staff will return to work, Albert says it’s because they have no other options.“When you are faced with starvation or eviction versus work, you are going to pick work because you need to provide for yourself and your family,” Albert said.However, Albert says it’s a decision teachers and support staff shouldn’t have to make given current pandemic numbers.Among the concerns teachers have, is school cleanliness. That is also a concern for school board members who have been critical of the company providing janitorial services.They are worried about the provider’s ability to disinfect classrooms and keep sanitation supplies on hand per CDC guidelines.Albert believes even if teachers were alone in the classroom, they would be at risk. The addition of students raises that risk. “What we’re asking Volusia County schools to do is afford people the ability to work but in a safe way and right now it looks like that needs to be distance learning,” Albert said. “They want to be back with their children, they want to teach, but they want to return face to face when it is safe.”Teachers are due back next Tuesday for planning. School, in person and online, starts Aug. 31. The union is working to change board members’ minds in these next few weeks.
The president of the teachers union in Volusia County says the district’s reopening plan was designed to give parents and students choices, but not teachers.
“We have a lot of inquiries about retirement. We have a lot of inquiries about leaves of absences and just leaving the field in general,” Elizabeth Albert said.
Albert is the president of Volusia United Educators. She says her members are scared to return to brick and mortar locations amid the current chaos of coronavirus.
Though a recent school district survey indicates a majority of teachers and staff will return to work, Albert says it’s because they have no other options.
“When you are faced with starvation or eviction versus work, you are going to pick work because you need to provide for yourself and your family,” Albert said.
However, Albert says it’s a decision teachers and support staff shouldn’t have to make given current pandemic numbers.
Among the concerns teachers have, is school cleanliness. That is also a concern for school board members who have been critical of the company providing janitorial services.
They are worried about the provider’s ability to disinfect classrooms and keep sanitation supplies on hand per CDC guidelines.
Albert believes even if teachers were alone in the classroom, they would be at risk. The addition of students raises that risk.
“What we’re asking Volusia County schools to do is afford people the ability to work but in a safe way and right now it looks like that needs to be distance learning,” Albert said. “They want to be back with their children, they want to teach, but they want to return face to face when it is safe.”
Teachers are due back next Tuesday for planning. School, in person and online, starts Aug. 31. The union is working to change board members’ minds in these next few weeks.
