CTA : Schools Must Be Safe

CTA President E.Tobey Boyd. 

"We have said all along, California cannot reopen schools unless it is safe. That applies to all schools on county watch lists or not, and to schools districts seeking waivers from adhering to CDPH guidance, but counties are on that watch list for a reason. 

Governor Gavin Newsom was absolutely right when he emphatically said in Monday’s news conference that he doesn’t 'believe anyone should be forced to put their life and health at risk, period. Full stop.' 

Given the exponential increase in COVID-19 cases, the record number of deaths in just the last month, the growing number of counties on the state watch list, and so many unknowns that threaten the long-term health and safety of students and educators, we believe we must take all precautions and preventative action to protect students, educators and our communities. 

And now, with the cases of children who have been infected with COVID-19 in childcare right here in California, in Texas, as well as the students in Georgia, we can NO LONGER SAY, kids aren’t transmitters. Granting waivers would further exacerbate the racial and economic inequities that exists in our schools and communities. Let’s not forget 30% don’t have access to technology—Wi-Fi and computers. 

This waiver guidance certainly expands on the footnote that was in the previous guidance, however, we cannot ignore the science-based directives that have put counties on a watch list. 

Educators want desperately to be back in classrooms and schools with their students doing the work they love, but there is too much at stake to ignore science, facts and safety. 

Unfortunately, many local districts and communities don’t have the necessary resources or capacity to maintain even the most basic prevention measures of six feet physical distancing and limiting contacts, much less the other important preventative actions such as personal protective equipment (PPE), testing and tracing, or adequate ventilation and cleaning supplies.

 It is clear that communities and school districts have not come close to meeting the threshold for a safe return to in-person learning. If any waiver is considered, per the guidance, the decision must be made with parents and educators.” - E Toby Boyd, CTA President

Demand Safe Schools Day of Resistance

DEMAND SAFE SCHOOLS: DSA says NO to premature in-person reopenings

Political conditions in the U.S. continue to deteriorate as we count down to a new school year and the threat of an in-person return to the classroom pushed by politicians in both major political parties threatens the lives of educators, support staff, parents, and students alike.

In the midst of this ever worsening crisis, mass action in the streets is the only antidote to the fear and uncertainty now gripping millions of people around school reopenings and the unchecked spread of COVID-19.

To that end, DSA has nationally endorsed the Demand Safe Schools Day of Resistance to school reopenings called for Monday, August 3rd by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), and an ever-growing list of other militant teachers’ unions and community organizations fighting the reckless return to in-person learning.

We’ll be in the streets demanding:

• No reopening until the scientific data supports it
• Police-free schools
• All schools must be supported to function as community schools with adequate numbers of counselors and nurses and community/parent outreach workers
• Safe conditions including lower class sizes, PPE, cleaning, testing, and other key protocols 
• Equitable access to online learning
• Support for our communities and families, including moratorium on evictions/foreclosures, providing direct cash assistance to those not able to work or who are unemployed, and other critical social needs
• Moratorium on new charter or voucher programs and standardized testing
• Adequate and equitable funding, through federal stimulus
• Massive infusion of federal money to support the reopening funded by taxing billionaires and Wall Street

Here’s how YOU can take action to support the fight for safe schools!

• Are you an educator or school staff worker? Join our educators constituency call to learn more about organizing your co-workers to resist school reopenings on Monday, 7/27 at 7pm ET/6pm CT/5pm MT/4pm PT. This call is open to anyone who works in a school. 
• Join the Demand Safe Schools group on Facebook to stay up to date on new information.

 

Vote: Proposition 47

Yes on Proposition 47.
This reform will improve public safety, reduce prison spending and invest hundreds of  millions in k-12 schools, victim services, and mental health and drug treatment.
It will change the lowest-level of nonviolent crimes such as simple drug possession and petty theft from felonies to misdemeanors- and dedicate the savings to crime prevention.
Endorsed by the Sacramento Progressive Alliance.