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Friday, March 29, 2024

Some teachers balk at returning to school buildings, cite safety concerns due to COVID-19

Credit: WCPO Cincinnati
Duration: 02:09s 0 shares 1 views

Some teachers balk at returning to school buildings, cite safety concerns due to COVID-19
Some teachers balk at returning to school buildings, cite safety concerns due to COVID-19

As some schools finalize back-to-school plans and others rethink theirs, upset teachers are speaking out, worried that safety measures in place are not enough.

AS MORE AND MORE SCHOOLS ROLLOUT THEIR BACK TO SCHOOL PLANS-- MANY ARE OPTING FOR IN-PERSON CLASSES.

BUT WITH THERECENT RISE IN COVID-19 CASESACROSS THE TRI-STATE --SOMEARE NOW WONDERING IF THAT'STHE BEST IDEA.AS WCPO 9 NEWSREPORTER JOSH BAZAN EXPLAINS--SOME TEACHERS SAY MORE NEEDSTO BE DONE TO MAKE SUREEVERYONE IS SAFE.Lonnie Dusch/Science teacherat Princeton High School00:05:01"We have a lot ofconcerns.

I have a lot ofconcerns."THE IDEA OF LETTINGALL STUDENTS GO BACK TO CLASSFULL TIME THIS FALL-WHICHPRINCETON CITY SCHOOLS AND THEWEST CLERMONT SCHOOL DISTRICTARE BOTH CONSIDERING- LEAVESSOME TEACHERS UNEASY.LonnieDusch/Science teacher atPrinceton High School00:13:36"In all honesty, I'm hopefulthat we choose virtual tostart.

As much as I want to beback with my students I thinkthe safest way is to bevirtual, at least at thebeginning of the year."StacyRecker/Social tsudies teacherat West Clermont High School00:01:09"Our members deserveto not be anxious or fearfulabout contracting the virus atwhat potentially is asuper-spreader event at alarghigh school or middleschool."THE OHIO EDUCATIONASSOCIATION IS CALLING FORSCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE TO DOONLY VIRTUAL LEARNING IF THEIRCOUNTY IS ON A RED OR PURPLEALERT LEVEL FROM GOVERNOR MIKEDEWINE.

THE UNION ALSO WANTSTO SEE THE STATE PUT OUTUNIFORM REQUIREMENTS THAT ALLSCHOOLS MUST FOLLOW, INSTEADOF RECOMMENDATIONS.StacyRecker/Social studies teacherat West Clermont High School00:02:06"But I think the mostimportant things for teachersand students is a policy with100 percent masking and sixfeet of social distancing atall times."JOSH STANDUP"Otherthings O-E-A wants alldistricts to do include dailhealth checks and creatingspecific protocols for how tohandle quarantine and contacttracing after a positive case."Lonnie Dusch/Science teacherat Princeton High School00:04:32"The hurdles are high,admittedly.

They're reallyhigh because the safety of ourstudents and our families isour absolute number oneconcern."SOME DISTRICTS' PLANSALREADY MEET THESE STANDARDS,BUT NOT ALL.

THE CINCINNATIPUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OFEDUCATION IS EXPECTED TO ONCEAGAIN DISCUSS ITS PLAN AT APUBLIC MEETING MONDAY.

AS OFNOW, THE DISTRICT IS GOINGWITH A BLENDED MODEL.

THECINCINNATI FEDERATION OFTEACHERS-NOT AFFILIATED WITHO-E-A-HAS TOLD W-C-P-O IT ALSOWANTS TO SEE THE YEAR STARTFULLY REMOTE IF THE SITUATIONDOESN'T IMPROVE.

JB WCPO 9NEWS.

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