Union claims Orleans Niagara BOCES reopen plan is not protecting students & teachers

Union claims Orleans Niagara BOCES reopen plan is not protecting students & teachers

MEMBERS OF THESTATE TEACHERSUNION ARE TAKINGLEGAL ACTION.THEY SAY THESAFETY OFSTUDENTS AND STAFFIS ON THE LINE AT ANUMBER OF BOCESSITES IN NIAGARACOUNTY...THAT'S WHERE 7EYEWITNESS NEWSSENIOR REPORTEREILEEN BUCKLEYSPENT THE DAYTALKING WITH AUNION LEADER ANDTHE SCHOOLSUPERINTENDENT....STUDENTS IN THISSECURITY AND LAWENFORCEMENTCLASS AT THENIAGARA CAREERAND TECHNICALEDUCATION CENTERARE SEATED SIX FEETAPART WITH MASKS...BUT MEMBERS OFTHE NEW YORK STATEUNITED TEACHERSUNION HAVE FILEDTHIS COMPLAINT TOTHE NEW YORK STATEDEPARTMENT OFLABOR...THE UNION IS CRYINGFOUL OVER THEREOPENING PLAN ATORLEANS NIAGARABOCES...SAYINGSTUDENTS ARE NOTBEING PROTECTEDAGAINST COVID..DEBORAH HILLBURN."OUR TEACHERS DOWANT TO BE HERE.ITIS NOT ACONCERN.WE WANTTO BE HERE.WEJUST WANT TO BEHERE AS SAFE ASPOSSIBLE."DEBORAH HILLBURNIS A NYSUTPRESIDENT FOR THEBOCES DISTRICT.THE UNION'SCOMPLAINT ACCUSESTHE ORLEANSNIAGARA BOCES OFQUOTE "NON-COMPLIANCE".IT STATES "THERECOGNIZEDHAZARDS RANGEFROM IMPROPERPHYSICALDISTANCING OFSTUDENTS ANDSTAFF, LACK OFAND/OR IMPROPERFACE COVERINGS,FAILURE TO CLEANAND DISINFECT HIGHTOUCH AREAS, THEFAILURE TO CONDUCTMANDATORYSCREENINGS ANDPPE SHORTAGES, TONAME JUST A FEW.""THERE'S BEEN NOCHANGE IN THESTUDENTPOPULATION COMINGIN TO ACCOMMODATETHE SAFETY NEEDSTHAT NEED TO BETAKEN CARE OF - INTERMS OFSPACING.ANDSOCIAL DISTANCING."===BUTT===EILEEN BUCKLEY."BUT WE TOOK THEUNION COMPLAINTSDIRECTLY TO THESUPERINTENDENT -WHO MET US HERE -AT ONE OF THEBOCE'S SITES AND HEDENIES THEIRCLAIMS."===BUTT===DR. CLARKGODSHALL.

I BELIEVEWE ARE INCOMPLIANCE."SUPERINTENDENTDR. CLARK GODSHALLOVERSEES THEORLEANS NIAGARABOCES DISTRICTTHAT COVERS 13-SCHOOL DISTRICTS...DR. GODSHALL.

"ITHINK PEOPLE ARESOMEWHAT UPSETTHAT WE WERE OPENFULL TIME.WITH 13DIFFERENTSCHEDULES.WE HADTO BE OPEN."THE UNION LEADERSAYS SHE'S HADCOMPLAINTS FROMTEACHERS AT THENIAGARA CAREERAND TECHNICALEDUCATION CENTER,THE ORLEANSCAREER ANDTECHNICALCENTER...AND AT THEROYHART SITE ANDTHE NORTHTONAWANDALEARNING CENTERFOR SPECIALEDUCATION....DEBROAH HILLBURN."IN OUR OPINIONTHESE ARE THE KIDSTHAT SHOULD HAVEBEEN GIVEN MORESQUAREFOOTAGE.SO THEYCOULD BE SAFEFROM EACH OTHERBECAUSE THEY AREMEDICALLY AT RISK."THE UNION ALSOCLAIMS TEACHERSWERE WARNED OF ALIMITED ON P-P-E...BUT THESUPERINTENDENTSAYS THEY HAVEPLENTY...DR. GODSHALL.

"I'MJUST AMAZED AT THEFALSEINFORMATION.WE'VESPENT OVER $30,000ON PPE."THESUPERINTENDENTSAYS HE HAS MORETHAN 700-STAFFERSAND HAS NOTRECEIVED A SINGLECOMPLAINT.BUT THE UNIONLEADER SAYS A POLLOF MEMBERSCURRENTLY SHOWS87-PERCENT HAVE"NO-CONFIDENCE" INHIS LEADERSHIP.IN SANBORN, EILEENBUCKLEY, 7 EWN.FUN AND GAMES AREON HOLD AT DAVEAND BUSTER'S.