Teachers union leader calls for 'fully reopening’ schools this fall
Randi Weingarten is promising a campaign that resembles a "get out the
vote" effort, but for school reopening.
Nothing should stop public schools from fully reopening this fall, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten will declare this morning in a speech that will also set out details of a $5 million union outreach campaign to coax families back to in-person classes.
"Given current circumstances, nothing should stand in the way of fully reopening our public schools this fall and keeping them open," Weingarten is expected to say in an address scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.
"Public health experts caution that, unless many more people get
vaccinated, we will not reach herd immunity against COVID," Weingarten
said of returning to classes in a draft version of the address. "But we
can manage the threat by encouraging people to get vaccines and following
guidance from the CDC to prevent the spread of disease — which currently
includes the layered mitigation of masking and distancing, ventilation and
sanitizing, handwashing, and COVID testing and contact tracing that help
prevent outbreaks and minimize quarantines."
Outreach campaign: Weingarten is promising a campaign that resembles a
"get out the vote" effort, but for school reopening.
She's expected to note local unions, such as the Pittsburgh Federation of
Teachers, will go door to door to visit students’ homes and encourage
families to send their children back for in-person learning, and cite
Covid-19 vaccination events in Los Angeles and Chicago.
The union released new polling results Wednesday that concluded 73
percent of parents — but only 59 percent of Black parents — said they are
comfortable with in-person learning for their child this fall. By
contrast, 94 percent of parents (and 87 percent of Black parents) said
they’d be comfortable with in-person learning this fall if schools adopt
safety measures such as mask-wearing and physical distancing requirements
and make Covid-19 vaccines available at school buildings.
"These mitigation measures are vital," Weingarten is expected to say. "So
is collaboration with parents to create trust and transparency."
Looking ahead: Weingarten will also use her speech to continue union
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