One of New Jersey’s largest school districts says starting the school year with in-person classes is a “mathematical impossibility” because 375 of its teachers will not return to the classroom because of coronavirus fears.
Elizabeth’s school board voted late Monday night to begin the 2020-2021 school year with all-remote classes so its school buildings can remain closed due to the teacher shortage. The district’s plan — which goes against state guidelines calling for all public schools to offer some in-person classes — needs to be approved by the state Department of Education.
”As of Monday, 375 teachers have notified the district that they cannot report to work inside a school building in September due to health related issues. There would be insufficient staff to open safely in person with that many teachers unavailable for in-person instruction,” said Pat Politano, a spokesman for the Elizabeth School District.
The vote in Elizabeth, one of the state’s largest cities, increases pressure on Gov. Phil Murphy and the state Department of Education to either drop the state’s plan to reopen schools with in-person classes or modify the guidelines to allow school districts to choose whether they want to go all-remote.
Jersey City, Bayonne and Willingboro are among the districts that have already submitted school reopening plans to the state with no in-person classes because the districts say it would be unsafe for students and teachers. Several teachers unions and the state principals’ association have also called for keeping schools virtual.
You see ladies and gentlemen, without teachers it's kind of difficult to have in-person school.
We explained twice in the last week how the NYCDOE is mandating staffers to stay home if you have any COVID-19 symptoms including a headache or runny nose or if you have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 symptoms. Take them up on their offer and stop expecting the UFT to save you.
The UFT is so out of touch with the national teacher militancy movement. In all probability, they are going to protect their dues which could be lost if there's a strike. On the other hand, maybe Mulgrew/Unity are ready to actually fight. Regardless, you don't need Mulgrew. The DOE is directing you not to come to work for many common ailments and you must do a health check every morning before work to monitor your own health. If enough UFTers follow their rules when the DOE gives them some of the headaches they are infamous for giving to teachers and other UFT members, school buildings cannot open. Follow the rules.
I can't make it any clearer. We won't be alone if we are all remote. The Washington Post reports that 17 of the largest 20 school districts in the country are starting the year all remote. Could we please join the national teachers who refuse to take crap any longer.
29 comments:
Contradict much? Don't listen to mulgrew, he is the worst, he is not the union, uft is out of touch, you don't need mulgrew, but pay dues. Why?
Yes, Elizabeth's school board gave into teachers' demands......but not without adding a little "fuck you" to the district's teachers by requiring them to travel into school buildings each day to conduct a full day of remote learning from their classrooms.
James I get what you are saying. But are we to use our own sick days when we take off or is the DOE going to not charge us days?
Mulgrew...
Please stop listening to survey falsehoods from
@NYCMayor
, and listen to science + to the
@nynurses
we banged pots for every night at 7pm: ‘Opening in-person schooling could easily erase the progress New York has made, and spark a resurgence of COVID-19.’
It's not just the dues they protect but the very financial integrity of the union itself. If they lose support from Cuomo let's say, remember that law protecting UFT from those wanting to leave? Gone. That would lead to wish fulfillment of some of your readers - de-unionization. If I thought there was a vibrant and united opposition movement to help pick up the pieces I would be more militant.
That’s still not too bad. I’d take that.
We could grieve for the CAR days back like many want to do for the March days. Let's be realistic, there are risks here but the risk of doing nothing is that the virus spreads again and chances of becoming infected grow.
What makes you think the opposition won't be united here Norm?
The UFT needs to display ethical integrity and protect the rank and file; then they wouldn’t have to worry about their financial integrity. If they mess this up - it’s the beginning of the end of for Mulgrew and Unity. If their past actions are predictors of future results, I’d prepare for the absolute worst like my once obese who followed Mulgrew’s advice and just made out his will.
Ethical integrity and the UFT? After what happened in March where the Union knew buildings were infected with COVID-19 cases and they didn't urge members to leave, please forgive me for being a bit skeptical here.
Also, when UFTers were ready to start calling in sick en masse in March, the UFT could have looked the other way. Instead, they sent out that memo urging members not to call out sick.
I want to see the UFT act in a militant way but I will believe it when I see it.
Norm, I don't see the UFT losing Cuomo support here. You think he sides with de Blasio on the schools?
Teachers need to look out for themselves.
Reminder get the facts UFT TOWNHALL
tomorrow 3 30
I posted this before. I called the UFT gave my name and file number and said I won't be going in until I can eat at a restaurant and see a show without a mask. You should do it too. They can ignore me, but not 80,000 teachers. Like I said until we do it it's just words, no consequences what can it hurt? On the other hand if enough of us do it, or use the " I feel sick" guideline provided by the DOE we can force their hand hopefully. Unfortunately the second choice involves starting the school year in school, call before that happens, PLEASE!
We get the Mulgrew spin tomorrow. Facts, maybe not.
James today...
Ethical integrity and the UFT? After what happened in March where the Union knew buildings were infected with COVID-19 cases and they didn't urge members to leave, please forgive me for being a bit skeptical here.
Also, when UFTers were ready to start calling in sick en masse in March, the UFT could have looked the other way. Instead, they sent out that memo urging members not to call out sick.
I want to see the UFT act in a militant way but I will believe it when I see it.
James in March...I'm furious, I will never forget this, the uft screwed us, they sent us to die.
James about the opt out...Dont do it.
James right after opt out expiires....The uft screwed us again.
james is a sucker.
Mulgrew has just hooked up his Xanax IV in anticipation of tomorrow’s meeting. Should be an infuriating afternoon with putrid steaming bullshit served on fine china as the main course. Choose your own dessert, I recommend one served cold.
In September 1993, the start school year was delayed by 2 weeks by Dinkins— due to the threat of crumbling asbestos in buildings that posed potential health threats. Fast forward to the Covid times of September 2020–how can Cuomo, DeBlasio, Mulgrew or anyone else in their right mind—suggest that it’s okay for schools to safely reopen. By the way, I’m assuming DeBlasio and his wife would have felt comfortable having their son return to Brooklyn Tech?
To the Anti- Union idiot who keeps telling people to stop paying dues. Shut up! Go start your own blog and post it when its up so the others who think like you can follow. My question to you to ask yourself- because I won't believe your answer - Have you ever had a job, a real adult job, not your paper route, in which you actually had to negotiate anything - vacation days, health care, salary??? I am not saying that teachers can't do this individually - some will be better than others - some will have no job - because they suck at their job yet still have one cause they have a union. My point is having a union does give members rights and it gives employers rules to follow but most importantly a union is a mechanism to organize and work for change. Mulgrew is a disgrace. Teachers should be protesting him every day. WE should follow him around, go wherever he is - until he resigns or changes. Mulgrew thinks he works for the DOE, not the UFT. This blog is for people who want to change the union, not for people who want to destroy the union.
The mayor was just asked how does he know for sure how many teacher will show up in September.
The answer was based on the assumption that since 15% of teachers applied for reasonable accommodation, the remaining
85% of teachers is fine with returning to school buildings in September.
Lies Mulgrew has told since March:
1) You are still getting Thursday and Friday off (mutters under his breath "if they give it to you")
2) We are going to get full compensation for those 7 days (author's note: pending lie)
3) You will only be teaching the in person kids (somebody needs to tell Carranza, because he CLEARLY has stated otherwise, repeatedly)
4) There will be different teachers for each group, so there will be no MOSL (see lie 3, more pending lies).
5) There has to be a nurse in every school (HA! There are nurses who have put in for medical accommodations. So how are they filling those spots, plus the schools who currently have no nurse?
Feel free to add to the list.
1050 am, Ok, great, when will i see this change? What have you done to help cause change?
I prefer to think of myself as a trade unionist who believes in a union if not our union's leaders.
Yes, I am still angry about what happened but I keep pushing forward, not in reverse.
1133, you make sense, so you must be anti union or a scab or a piece of garbage. Dont you know we pay dues forever for no reason, and we cant vote out who is in charge? We will spend endless hours saying how bad the uft pres is yet keep supporting the union he leads ensuring nothing will change. Even potential death to us or our families will not make us rethink...
@10:50am...Amen.
@12:13 pm...what have you done? Leaving the union only saves you $$$--If that's your answer. You're still walking into a minefield albeit with extra $$$ in your purse. Those $$$$ will go to your next of kin (God forbid but schools are a minefield) if you dont have a plan to stay safe. So, what have YOU done?
You have to risk it...to get the biscuit. Step out and DO something. Sometimes you have to teach (no pun intended) people how to treat you. I know im always saying the same thing But: If many of you had spoken up and acted out about the diploma mill policy of the DOE, maybe the DOE and UFT would have second thoughts about messing with you. Action isn't easy but it's necessary.
It seems too many teachers want a victory (real victory not unity's version of a victory) without risk or without fighting back. Lose a car day. Call in sick first day kids arrive. Maybe you'll be surprised and like in March many will join you. All anyone has to lose is one car day. The opportunity to show mulgrew what balls look like and to show deblasio mulgrew's opinion means nothing to us is worth losing a car day. I won't be in school first day kids arrive.....i will be on the phone with my doctor complaining about something. If it's for nothing and not enough teachers join me I will still be happy I tried something rather than whine whimper and obey. If covid symptoms mean teachers lose car days then schools best prepare for sick teachers to go to work like many do with cold symptoms. Is it a cold or is it covid? No one has thought all of this through. Teachers who are mothers always come to work sick because they use those self treated days to stay home when their children get sick or when there's 8 inches of snow and the mayor refuses to close schools. Teachers will become spreaders....kinda karmic in a weird way.
Hell has frozen over. I 100% agree with w4s..... her 2:31 comment. (Trump voter here)
@11:25 am: clink clink (wine glasses). Welcome to reality. P.S. Peace lover here. I will never vote for Trump but respect your choice. Stay safe.
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