The Union Classroom Teachers Association has made the decision to support Superintendent Kirt Hartzler's recommendation to start the upcoming school year via distance learning.
READ MORE: Union Public Schools release 2020-21 school plan
A member survey was conducted at the Board of Education meeting on Monday night.
“This survey clarifies information that was previously gathered by a July district survey,” President Deena Churchill said. “In July, nearly 70 percent of teachers reported to the district they want to return to school in person. What the survey did not address was whether teachers’ decisions would be impacted by a continuing rise in COVID-19 numbers within the district in the interim.”
The survey results showed that 69% of the members do no feel safe returning to a face-to-face style of learning on August 24th.
Over three hundred individuals were surveyed, representing one-third of Union's total teaching staff.
“As representatives of our members on the district Re-entry Task Force, we received hundreds of emails from teachers who expressed fears about returning in person,” Churchill said. “While we realize we have members who support a return to in-person learning, it is our duty to support the majority of our members.” “It is our privilege to advocate for the wishes of our members and support Dr. Hartzler in his recommendation to the Board to start the year via distance learning.”
Union Public Schools will decide if the school year will begin in-person or online Monday, Aug. 10 at a meeting scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
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