With the surging COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) infection rate — the highest since May — consistent statewide safety protocols must be established and strictly enforced, along with uniform transparency in reporting and responding to cases, for schools. If that's not possible, Connecticut must shift to full-time remote learning until after the holidays. Those are some of the required statewide steps outlined in the Board of Education (BOE) Union Coalition's "Safe and Successful Schools Now," report released today.

Click here for the report of the union coalition, which includes Council 4.

 

Seven of eight counties across Connecticut are reporting COVID-19 cases at levels that state guidance says should require hybrid or remote learning, yet many schools continue with full-time in-person classes. Dozens of schools are quarantining hundreds of students and employees or closing with little notice.

 

"The dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases raises safety concerns for students," said Connecticut Education Association (CEA) President Jeff Leake. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says schools are not the safest place during the pandemic, and in-person learning is a high-risk activity. The state must take steps now to strengthen safety or else move to all distance learning as we brace for this second wave of the virus."

 

"We applaud those school officials who have worked in partnership with their employees and placed a high priority on health and safety," said Jan Hochadel, AFT Connecticut's president. "Too many have fallen short on both counts, so more must be done immediately. It just makes sense to proactively close buildings rather than have students endure constant disruptions and upheaval." 

 

"In-person, classroom learning is best for our students, but only when safe," said Jody Barr, executive director of Council 4 AFSCME. "The state's COVID-19 numbers demonstrate it's not safe. We need strict, statewide protocols, remote learning where that is not possible, and a commitment to keep all school staff on the job."

 

While the governor has increased protections such as allowing only 50% capacity in venues such as restaurants, there are no similar protections for schools.

 

"Between infections and quarantines some of our schools are operating with half the normal staffing levels," said CSEA/SEIU, Local 2001 Paraprofessional Council President Cynthia Ross-Zweig. "We’re all working hard to guarantee the safety and emotional well-being of students, but there’s only so much we can do when we are this short-staffed."

Click here to sign our petition to Gov. Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona calling for a shift to all remote learning unless stronger protections are in place.

 

The "Safe and Successful Schools Now" report provides specific steps to strengthen and enforce protocols to keep our education communities safe:

 

Educators have a lot to contribute and these steps focus on what’s best for everyone. Despite the unprecedented challenges of this pandemic, educators and school staff work to ensure that students keep learning and stay engaged. They must be allowed to participate in any decision-making that impacts safety in the classroom for them, their students, and their families.

 

Click here for our coalition's previous public statement. 

Click here to sign our coalition's previous petition urging quarantine pay for school employees.

 

Click here for a full, print version of this latest press release.