Mar 17, 2020 | Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2020
DENVER – Despite new federal guidance released today to limit public gatherings to 10 people, more than half of Colorado school districts have yet to announce plans to close. Having any schools open while the COVID-19 virus continues to spread unnecessarily puts the health of students, educators and the public at risk, according to the Colorado Education Association.
“Governor Polis has taken decisive steps to ensure the safety and health of Coloradans by making tough decisions to temporarily close down restaurants, bars, casinos, gyms, breweries and coffeehouses. Yet there has been no order or recommendation to Superintendents to close down Colorado’s public schools for public health and safety as we have seen happen in other states,” said CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor.“Today we call on the Governor and the Superintendents of schools that have yet to close to put the health and safety of students and educators first in order to help stave off this massive public health crisis.”
Only about 85 of Colorado’s 178 school districts have closed. The majority of large districts have closed but there are still a significant number that have not closed. Some districts on spring break this week have yet to communicate a closure beyond their spring break period.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is clearly not slowing down in our state. Every parent, student and educator has good reason to worry that school could be a place where this disease can be contracted despite our best efforts. As long as this unprecedented threat looms over us, teaching and learning should not occur inside our school buildings. We call on Governor Polis to act decisively and encourage all Superintendents to close our public schools,” added Baca-Oehlert.
Baca-Oehlert reiterated CEA’s earlier calls for school districts to establish food service programs for all students in need, to compensate all dedicated school staff with the full pay and benefits they would normally receive during the school year, and for the Colorado Department of Education to reassess and waive standardized testing requirements for students.
# # #
Mar 13, 2020 | Press
DENVER – As schools begin closing across Colorado to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Colorado Education Association has a message for school districts: feed children and pay staff.
“Student safety is the top concern of every educator and CEA members respect the decision of many districts to close schools in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. We must be mindful, though, that our public schools are safe, supportive environments for Colorado children and provide critical resources that our students can’t afford to miss for a prolonged period,” said CEA President Amie Baca-Oehlert, a high school counselor.
“Educators are keenly aware that many children only receive hot, nutritious meals by way of school breakfasts and lunches. We applaud the districts that have already created plans to ensure students have access to food during the school closures and we are calling on all districts to utilize the UDSA waiver to allow emergency feeding programs for students in all districts that are experiencing closures,” Baca-Oehlert said.
Baca-Oehlert emphasized that districts have a responsibility to compensate dedicated teachers and school support staff during school closures too.“The people who keep our schools running – custodians, food service workers, secretaries and bus drivers just to name some – are most vulnerable to distress and losing their sense of economic security during a long school closure. Districts must value the immeasurable contributions of education support professionals to student success and compensate them with the full pay and benefits they would normally receive during the school year.”
CEA also calls on the Colorado Department of Education to reassess and waive standardized testing requirements for students. We are also calling for discussions on the impacts of school closures at this point in the year on educator evaluations.“Districts should focus resources to student needs,” observed Baca-Oehlert.“Our educators, students and families have enough stress and uncertainty in their lives right now and high stakes testing that is linked to educator evaluations shouldn’t be yet another weight on their minds.”
The coronavirus will test our school communities to be at their best for students and employees, Baca Oehlert added, and those that rise to the challenge will be remembered for lending comfort and care at this critical time.
“Districts attempting to solve one crisis can create a different kind of crisis for students and educators by not keeping a ‚Äòpeople-first’ sense of purpose. The last thing we need at this time is to create any more anxiety for people than is already out there,” Baca-Oehlert concluded.
# # #
