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An open letter to the school communities in Westchester, Putnam, Orange and Rockland Counties from the leadership of teacher and staff unions:
We feel compelled to write to you in a shared voice, as there are universal elements to our concerns about re-entry into the schools this September. It is important to note that this is a discussion about re-entry, not reopening. The education of children is, and has always been, our top concern. One truth that cannot be ignored as a necessary precursor to any successful model of instruction is a safe learning space. Though we will open this September for instruction, the only question is the modality of that instruction. All districts in New York were required to create a re-entry plan that addressed three options: full virtual, hybrid, and full in-person instruction. The hybrid model is the most popular one for re-entry this September, but it poses significant risks. The hybrid model requirement gained traction in the state early on, but unfortunately, most of what we have recently learned about Covid-19 and children calls the safety of this model into question. These risks are not a reflection of inadequate efforts by any one district or administrative team in protecting the children and staff in their schools. Rather, they are inherent inadequacies when a system designed around instructing students is tasked with creating learning environments that will protect children and teachers during a viral pandemic. Additionally, there has been a failure in state and federal governments to ensure that adequate testing, PPE, and HVAC filtration systems are readily available. The requirements for the district plans were provided by the Governor’s office and the State Education Department in the middle of July and they were to be completed by July 31. The Governor even added new testing and contact tracing requirements in the first week of August. To create truly safe reentry plans districts would require more time, direction, and resources. It is telling that neither the state nor federal governments have provided additional resources to help ensure a safe re-entry. Districts have been on their own. Educators approach every task with a “can do” attitude. Throughout the months of July and August, teams in each district leaned in and got the job done. The plans were made and it is truly impressive work. The problem, however, is that they are plans to meet government requirements for safety; they are not necessarily plans to make the schools as safe as they can be. The limits of these plans could be seen close to home this summer when the Greenburgh-North Castle school experienced an outbreak of Covid 19, despite meeting or exceeding all Department of Health guidelines and having a very small student population. As anyone with any experience planning school events can attest, even the best plans on paper never match what happens once actual students are brought in. Every plan assumes a well-behaved student body that will follow all directives and maintain masks and social distancing, even during hall passing. Plans assume we will be able to hire enough leave replacements, substitutes, and monitors to supervise students in the next three weeks. This will not occur. When schools reopen with the potential of being understaffed, it will make an already unsafe situation even worse. In every survey conducted about reentry, the most important condition people have is that the schools be safe. The phrase “Maslow before Bloom” is never more applicable than the current situation. It is irrational to expect students will be able to learn in any reasonable manner, when their teachers and classrooms are constantly conveying the need for vigilance in mask- wearing and social distancing. The constant need for vigilance cannot help but be internalized as fear and anxiety. At best, schools will be more similar to a well-meaning prison than an actual rich learning environment where thoughts can be shared and joy can be expressed. Before we can return to schools we must be sure that every reasonable precaution has been met in order for schools to be safe. The goal cannot be to just mitigate risk, but to create the safest possible learning environment. Many of these requirements go well beyond the capability of an individual school district and require action at the state or federal level. We may feel powerless to secure what is necessary; that, however, does not change the reality of its necessity. To ensure that in-person instruction begins safely, every school district should be putting into place the following measures that create the highest health and safety standards for our students, teachers and staff:
Additional Resources: Hybrid Model Risks https://www.wired.com/story/hybrid-schooling-is-the-most-dangerous-option-of-all/ Testing: https://covidstates.net/COVID19%20CONSORTIUM%20REPORT%208%20TEST%20JULY%202020.pdf HVAC: https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/technical%20resources/covid-19/ashrae-reopening-schools.pdf New Information on Children and Covid 19 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-scientists-know-about-how-children-spread-covid-19-180975396/ https://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/2020/08/12/westchester-doctor-school-chronic-illness/3331348001/ https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/12/health/covid-kids-school-gupta-essay/index.html https://www.lohud.com/story/news/education/2020/07/29/greenburgh-north-castle-summer-school-coronavirus/5530181002/ Cosigning Presidents Marcia Heffler Dobbs Ferry United Teachers Edward Caperna USWOM Michael Lillis Lakeland Federation of Teachers Nate Morgan Hastings Teachers Association Vanessa Vaccaro Ossining Teachers Association Tom McMahon Mahopac Teachers’ Association Jennifer Maldonado Hendrick Hudson Education Association Elisa Rosen Hendrick Hudson Education Association David Wixted Scarsdale Teachers Association Anthony Nicodemo Greenburgh North Castle United Teachers Mary Claire Breslin New Rochelle Federation of United School Employees Samantha Rosado-Ciriello Yonkers Federation of Teachers Brenda O’Shea Somers Faculty Association Andrea McCue Haldane Faculty Association James Groven Irvington Faculty Association Judith A. Kelly Teachers’ Association of the Tarrytowns Chris Tyler Harrison Association of Teachers Jeanne Whelan Tuckahoe Teachers’ Association Roseanna Cutietta Hawthorne Cedar Knolls Federation of Teachers Rick Tivnan Brewster Teachers' Association Carene Domato Mt. Vernon Federation of Teachers Melissa Barreto BOCES Teachers’ Association Jeff Yonkers NYSUT ED 16 Director Sean Kennedy Yorktown Congress of Teachers Lisa Jackson Carmel Teachers’ Association Janet Knight Mamaroneck Teachers’ Association José Fernandez Peekskill Faculty Association Amy Geiger Katonah-Lewisboro District Teachers’ Association Kathleen Fox Edgemont Teachers’ Association Miriam Longobardi Chappaqua Congress of Teachers Jennifer Cole Greenburgh Eleven Federation of Teachers Jim Nolan Mount Pleasant Cottage School Teachers Association Kara McCormick-Lyons White Plains Teachers’ Association Alyson Tina Ardsley Congress of Teachers Ryan Odell Putnam Valley Federation of Teachers Catherine Armisto United Staff Association (PNW BOCES) Vincent Kennedy Katonah-Lewisboro Support Staff Association Jennifer Moore Croton Teachers’ Association Melinda Merkel Rye Neck Teachers’ Association Jim Agnello Bronxville Teachers’ Association Kevin Budzynski Elmsford Teachers Association Clare Delongchamp Eastchester Teachers’ Association Vanessa Van Deusen Graham School Federation of Teachers Brenda Wright Cornwall Teachers' Association Virginia Campbell Mount Pleasant Teachers Association Michael Groarke Bedford Teachers’ Association Sparrow Tobin Board of Directors NYSUT ED14 Laura Beck Orange-Ulster BOCES Teachers Association Ray Hodges Monroe-Woodbury Teachers Association Theresa Uhelsky Minisink Valley Teachers Association Jon Wedvik Clarkstown Teachers Association In the past, summer in the Tarrytown region has typically been synonymous with training. With our Summer School program and the Summer Leadership Conference, union leadership training and professional development have always been a priority. These days, it is not business as usual. That said, I am pleased to announce the on-line summer training schedule for the Tarrytown Regional Office.
This summer, we will be offering 27 different webinars. There are up to the minute topics such as Distance Learning Issues and Union Leadership in a Virtual World. We will also address issues in the news with Racial Justice for Educators and Combatting Racism to Build Union Power. There will also be webinars to address the importance of politics with a Lobbying 101 webinar and Navigating Political Discussions Among Members. To help support your newer officers and building reps, we will be doing Building Rep, Negotiations and Grievance training in one-hour blocks. All webinars will be done at no cost to the local or the individual. Most webinars will be offered twice over the summer to accommodate everyone’s schedule. The training will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays of each week, beginning July 7. All will start at either 9 am or 4:30 pm and will run approximately 1 hour. As we all shake off the fatigue of the past 100+ days, I am sure that many of you, and the other leaders in your local, will venture out of the house and perhaps take a vacation. This training format will allow for everyone to participate, no matter where they go. At the bottom of this e-mail, you will find a link to the Tarrytown Learning Center website, where you will find a short summary of each webinar offered, as well as the registration form. Upon our receipt of your completed form, registrants will receive a confirmation e-mail and, the day before the session, a link to join the webinar. Please feel free to contact me or your LRS if you have any questions. Please also forward this link to the other leaders in your local. In solidarity, Marc Link To Summer Training http://tarrytownlearningcenter.org/2020-summer-union-training/ Date: October 30th, 2019
Time: 4 PM Location: Little Sorrento 3565 Crompond Rd, Mohegan Lake NY Will you retire in the next ...1...5...10 years? As you enjoy an informational dinner seminar learn how you and your loved ones are affected by the Pension Options in the NYS Teachers Retirement System. • Strategies to help maximize your NYS Pension • Costly mistakes to avoid • Why early planning is essential • Elder Care issues & Estate Planning Peter Knapp, CLU® is a noted financial speaker and will present his extensive knowledge on the subject. His 30 years of advocacy throughout NYS has made him an invaluable resource for teachers. Please call 914-460-1218 or email [email protected] to make a reservation.
The proposed school budget is now online for the public to see. On May 21st, residence in the Brewster Central School District can vote. Polls open at 6:00am.
If you live in Brewster, please show up and support our schools. |
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February 2025
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