On December 15th the Board adopted a District-wide policy to continue with our phased school reopening plans to provide an option to parents to have their children attend school one day per week with approximately 3 - 7 students in a classroom, wearing masks and following all of the District's safety protocols. This important first step to return our kids to school for in-person learning is based on the fundamental precept that families should choose what is best for their individual situation.
We need teachers to teach our kids, and a majority of them want to return to school. Some feel it is too dangerous to return, even though the District has detailed safety plans, and the data and research is clear that schools are not major sources of transmission of coronavirus.
The District has plans to provide accommodation for teachers who have medical issues, or have family members at risk, or suffer from anxiety, or have childcare issues. These teachers could teach from home as they do today, with substitute "proctors" to help manage the students in the classroom. Parents are stepping up to fill the proctor shortage - thank you!
This solution is based on the fundamental idea of choice. We shouldn't deny an in-person education to any parent and student who wants one. Every parent in this District has seriously considered the risks and rewards of sending their kids to school. It should be their choice.
Unfortunately, the California Teachers Union joined forces with our local San Dieguito Faculty Association to throw sand in the gears of our expanded reopening plan. They filed a lawsuit and threatened to file for an emergency temporary restraining order to prevent us from executing our plan to provide student choice. Their lawsuits are based on a technical interpretation of the definition of "open." Rather than give parents a choice while providing accommodation for teachers, the Union chose to sue the District over the definition of the word open. Then, an organized email campaign was targeted at the Board to tell them to stop wasting District money on lawsuits - lawsuits that the union filed!
We have a special Board meeting set for Monday December 28th to discuss the CTA lawsuit and other threatened legal action. This has and will continue to constrain my ability to comment here in our Group, both for time and legal reasons. However, you should all know that I have you, the parents and children of our District, as my top priority. I will never stop fighting for you.
Please remember, this is the Union's action, and they do not represent the views of all of our teachers. By providing medical and childcare accommodations, the District is as fair and compassionate as possible, but I'm not sure this message was conveyed. I'm sorry that you will have tough conversations with your children as you try to explain why they will see more days slip away in distance learning. Meanwhile, I continue to hold out hope. Call me an optimist. Call me a fighter. With all of your amazing support and encouragement, we will fight together.