Posted on 03/27/2021 8:42:08 PM PDT by grundle
More than a dozen Oakland elementary schools and preschools will not reopen as planned Tuesday after the majority, if not all, teachers at the sites opted not to return until required to do so in mid-April, despite an $800 incentive and prioritized vaccinations.
District officials had to rescind reopening plans at six elementary schools and 10 preschools Thursday, days before students in preschool through second grade were scheduled to head back after seven months of distance learning.
Under an agreement between the district and the unions, those students were scheduled to return to school on March 30, with all elementary and at least one middle or high school grade back in schools by April 19. High-needs students across all grades, including homeless students, foster youth, English learners, disengaged students and those with special needs, among others, would also be able to return by mid-April.
The lack of teachers volunteering could nullify an agreement between the union and district officials to pay all teachers a $2,000 stipend. The deal required there be enough teachers to ensure that priority students across all grades could return on March 30. That includes homeless students, foster youth, English learners and those struggling with distance learning.
An additional 30 schools were scheduled to reopen to a limited number of students given the staffing shortage, while 31 elementary and early learning sites will reopen as planned, said district spokesman John Sasaki.
The district did not have enough substitutes or alternative staff members to cover all the classrooms where teachers opted not to return.
The news is likely to upset many families who had eagerly awaited reopening as many students struggled academically and emotionally with distance learning. The delayed reopenings point to the challenges districts face as they struggle to reopen in the face of difficult labor relations and complicated logistics.
Parent Annie Gottbehuet questioned how the district and union could agree to bring back the youngest students, “who are the least able to sit down and learn through Zoom, and not require the teachers to be there.”
It’s likely a substitute or other staff member will cover for her daughter’s kindergarten teacher at Montclair elementary until mid-April, she said.
It’s “laughable” that teachers aren’t coming back right away given it’s likely her kindergarten daughter will only get five hours of in-person learning per week, with the rest still online through the end of the school year.
School board President Shanthi Gonzales said it was discouraging that some sites would not reopen as planned Tuesday because it would have allowed schools to slowly ramp up for a full return.
“Parents are very frustrated and in particular children who’ve experienced isolation, depression, all of those things,” she said. “It’s disappointing and I’m very sympathetic to the families. I wish more teachers were volunteering.”
District officials said 58% of families have indicated they would be returning for in-person learning.
At Cleveland Elementary, officials notified parents this week that the school would not reopen Tuesday as planned, but remain closed until April 19, when teachers and staff are required to be back in classrooms unless excused from in-person instruction.
“At this time, we simply do not have enough staff who opted in for in-person instruction to open our classrooms to K-2 and priority students on Tuesday,” Principal Peter Van Tassel said in a letter to families. “Although this is disappointing news, please know that we are working hard to make sure we find every way possible to serve our students safely.”
On Thursday, Garfield Principal Alicia Arenas continued to prepare for Tuesday, even though 60% of her staff has opted not to return.
She said the decision for each teacher was personal and that the school would reopen a few classrooms Tuesday with the rest for families in mid-April.
“We are very excited to return,” she said. “We miss our students and we miss our families.”
District and union officials agreed earlier this month to a deal that would reopen schools on March 30, with a voluntary return period for teachers until April 14 and all K-5 classrooms back five days later.
The deal offered teachers a significant financial incentive, including a $2,000 stipend for all 2,700 union members who return to in-person learning this spring, if enough educators returned to reopen for priority students, including those with disabilities.
With some schools failing to reopen, it’s unclear whether that measure was met, Gonzales said.
Teachers for preschool through second grade who return voluntarily will still receive an $800 stipend.
Families have the option of remaining in distance learning, with about 45% of the district’s 36,000 making that choice, Sasaki said.
Those who choose in-person learning will return part time, splitting the week between time in the classroom and virtual instruction.
The agreement acknowledges that not all teachers will be fully vaccinated until mid-April, which is why officials agreed to reopen the first sites in March with teachers who volunteer to return to in-person instruction.
At Montclair Elementary, officials said only students whose teacher is returning will be back in classrooms Tuesday. The rest will remain in distance learning until mid-April.
“I ask that you respect our teachers and the decisions they made based on their personal situations,” said Principal Maite Barloga.
Sasaki said that in some cases, prioritized students — including those with the highest needs — would have priority in returning Tuesday, depending on the number of staff opting to come back early.
To see the full list of schools and the status of reopening, go to ousd.org.
stinking arrogant self absorbed with their flimsy little education degree think they're too good to perform their duties while all the important people do theirs....
BS.....
More proof that selfish democrats are the enemy, folks. They can only survive when government forcefully taxes the productive to pay the salaries of lazy democrats.
Those who can...do...those who can’t, well, become a democrat.
Teachers unions - liars, cheats, thieves, thugs, tyrants.
This should be considered an illegal job and action and their contacts should be voided.
This likely explains a lot.
Public employee unions are a good thing /s
They’re getting paid for sitting on their a$$es and have the political power to enforce it.
Socialism in action. Get paid whether you work or not.
Reagan winks
Then charge them for fraud, and attach their wages for accepting wages and benefits under false premisses, burn every one of these clowns.
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