Our brothers and sisters at UFT started a petition to address this issue in New York City—the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic—but all of us around the state can certainly agree with the message and hope that the same common sense approach would apply to schools everywhere in New York State.
With so many lives in the balance and so much still unknown about the deadly coronavirus, it is critical that public school educators not return to school buildings until there are protocols and procedures in place to ensure the safety and health of staff and students. Before public schools are allowed to reopen, we must expect all of the following to be in place:
1. Widespread access to coronavirus testing to regularly check that people are negative or have immunity;
2. A process for checking the temperature of everyone who enters a school building;
3. Rigorous cleaning protocols and personal protective gear in every school building; and
4. An exhaustive tracing procedure to track down and isolate those who have had close contact with a student or staff member who tests positive for the virus.
Take action now to sign the petition demanding that these critical protocols and procedures be put in place before any public schools reopen in New York!
Without these protections in place, our staff, our students, and our families—both in New York City and throughout the state—will not be safe from the virus.
Please sign today!
https://www.change.org/p/federal-government-school-buildings-must-be-safe-before-they-reopen?