GCEA Statement on Re-opening School Buildings
Tuesday, July 14th the Maryland State Education Association issued a joint statement in conjunction with the Baltimore Teachers’ Union and the Maryland Parent Teacher Association calling for the 2020-21 school year to start primarily online. The Garrett County Education Association concurs with this position. A link to that statement can be found here: www.marylandeducators.com/press.
GCEA leadership understands and agrees that the ideal situation for teaching and learning to occur is face to face, especially for our youngest and most high need students. However, we are not in an ideal situation. Corona virus infections are spiking across the country and Maryland saw its single highest rate of new infections since May on Saturday, July 18th. The infection rate for young people is also far outpacing the infection rate for older people in Maryland now. A new study from South Korea shows that children from 10 years old to 19 spread the virus just as easily as adults. All of this brings up new questions about re-opening schools.
The simple fact that so many basic questions as to the health and safety of our students, their families and our staff cannot be adequately answered should give pause to any thought of face to face instruction. To be clear, GCEA has sought answers to concerns about re-opening brought to us by our members. Based on the responses, it is not clear that GCPS is prepared to bring students and staff safely into buildings.
GCEA leaders also want to make clear that our members worked harder during the spring shutdown of buildings than they ever have. With the expectation of higher levels of student, parent and staff accountability going into the fall semester, the workload in a primarily online re-opening will likely increase further. Our members are not looking for free time off and will be more than earning the compensation set forth in our Negotiated Agreements.
There is legitimate concern among our members that the loss of learning and stability of the school environment will negatively affect our students. While GCEA leaders share that concern, it is important to remember that loss of learning can be recovered. Loss of life cannot. It is because we must think of our most at risk students, families and staff that GCEA leadership urges the Garrett County Board of Education to adopt a primarily online model for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year.
GCEA leadership understands and agrees that the ideal situation for teaching and learning to occur is face to face, especially for our youngest and most high need students. However, we are not in an ideal situation. Corona virus infections are spiking across the country and Maryland saw its single highest rate of new infections since May on Saturday, July 18th. The infection rate for young people is also far outpacing the infection rate for older people in Maryland now. A new study from South Korea shows that children from 10 years old to 19 spread the virus just as easily as adults. All of this brings up new questions about re-opening schools.
The simple fact that so many basic questions as to the health and safety of our students, their families and our staff cannot be adequately answered should give pause to any thought of face to face instruction. To be clear, GCEA has sought answers to concerns about re-opening brought to us by our members. Based on the responses, it is not clear that GCPS is prepared to bring students and staff safely into buildings.
GCEA leaders also want to make clear that our members worked harder during the spring shutdown of buildings than they ever have. With the expectation of higher levels of student, parent and staff accountability going into the fall semester, the workload in a primarily online re-opening will likely increase further. Our members are not looking for free time off and will be more than earning the compensation set forth in our Negotiated Agreements.
There is legitimate concern among our members that the loss of learning and stability of the school environment will negatively affect our students. While GCEA leaders share that concern, it is important to remember that loss of learning can be recovered. Loss of life cannot. It is because we must think of our most at risk students, families and staff that GCEA leadership urges the Garrett County Board of Education to adopt a primarily online model for the first semester of the 2020-21 school year.
COVID -19 Response Statement
GCEA Members,
We’d like to take the opportunity to express our support for the decisions that have been made at the state level to attempt to #flattenthecurve in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This is an extraordinary situation and anything that can be done to keep our students, our members and the community safe should be taken now.
GCEA has been in communication with the GCPS Human Resources Director regarding the requirement at the state level for schools to be closed. We will continue to provide input on next steps and will do our best to provide what information we can to our members. We realize there will be many questions along the way and we will be available to answer them.
Evan West will be in the ACEA office for the majority of the next two weeks unless there is some mandate for him not to be. You can reach him at 301-729-8280 or at ewest@mseanea.org. We’ll also post updates on Facebook page.
One question that is of utmost concern for our members is, “Am I going to be paid for this time?” the answer is yes. Another is, “Are we going to have to make this time up?” We don’t know everything we need to know about that question yet. For example, we don’t know if Easter Monday will be used as a make-up or if days will be added to the end of the year. Our Negotiated Agreements require our members to work 187 days in most cases, but we also don’t know what, if any, type of waivers might be granted to address those days. We also have members that will be at work during this time and that work 12 months. We’re also not sure yet how that will affect your work year.
We understand that this situation is scary and frustrating. GCEA will be here for our members in whatever ways we can. In the meantime, take advantage of the time off to reset and recharge, practice social distancing and do like your teachers always said and practice good handwashing.
GCEA Members,
We’d like to take the opportunity to express our support for the decisions that have been made at the state level to attempt to #flattenthecurve in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This is an extraordinary situation and anything that can be done to keep our students, our members and the community safe should be taken now.
GCEA has been in communication with the GCPS Human Resources Director regarding the requirement at the state level for schools to be closed. We will continue to provide input on next steps and will do our best to provide what information we can to our members. We realize there will be many questions along the way and we will be available to answer them.
Evan West will be in the ACEA office for the majority of the next two weeks unless there is some mandate for him not to be. You can reach him at 301-729-8280 or at ewest@mseanea.org. We’ll also post updates on Facebook page.
One question that is of utmost concern for our members is, “Am I going to be paid for this time?” the answer is yes. Another is, “Are we going to have to make this time up?” We don’t know everything we need to know about that question yet. For example, we don’t know if Easter Monday will be used as a make-up or if days will be added to the end of the year. Our Negotiated Agreements require our members to work 187 days in most cases, but we also don’t know what, if any, type of waivers might be granted to address those days. We also have members that will be at work during this time and that work 12 months. We’re also not sure yet how that will affect your work year.
We understand that this situation is scary and frustrating. GCEA will be here for our members in whatever ways we can. In the meantime, take advantage of the time off to reset and recharge, practice social distancing and do like your teachers always said and practice good handwashing.
Check Out Our Facebook Feed!
GCEA MOURNS THE PASSING OF FORMER UNISERV DIRECTOR STEVE BENSON
Steve Benson was UniServ Director for ACTA and GCEA for nearly 20 years. Prior to that, he was a union staffer for WVEA and organized one of the first wildcat educator strikes in the nation in the early 90's. Steve was a tireless fighter for educators, public education and the common good. He will never be replaced and will be missed dearly.
Find out more about MSEA and NEA by clicking the links below:
