Workshop on Jan 5th-- Reopening Schools and Union Demands

The School Board will meet and discuss proposed changes to the "Fall 2020 Reopening Plan" on Jan 5th at 4pm.  The proposed changes have not yet been presented to the Board.  However, we have received the demands from the VBEA Union (see below).*  The VBEA is a subsidiary of the NEA and has been fighting hard to keep our students out of school.   The most recent list of demands are arbitrary, unreasonable and not based in science.   Several current School Board members have very close ties to the VBEA including continued membership in the organization.   

Multiple physicians recently advised our Board that keeping children out of school is causing harm and that COVID spread is NOT occurring in schools.  VBCPS, through the CARES Act, has spent millions of dollars to be able to safely return our students back to school (plexiglass, PPE, cleaning supplies, and more).  Yet our classrooms remain empty and our children and families are suffering.

Nowhere in this message below from the VBEA President does it mention the long lasting negative impacts of continued closures on students.  Achievement gaps continue to widen, anxiety and depression continue at all time highs and obesity in children will all have a lasting impact.

I do not blame teachers for the decisions that have been made.  Most teachers want to be back in the classroom and I do not believe the VBEA represents even close to a majority of teachers.  I believe most teachers are making lemonade out of lemons.  However, students are continuing to fall behind and are NOT receiving the same type of instruction they would in-person.  Especially our students with special needs and students in specialty programs such as Vo-tech.  

**** The VBEA wants to "adjust curriculum standards and pacing guides"!   Our students are already behind and the VBEA wants to continue to lower the bar??

**** VBEA wants parents/taxpayers to pay for childcare for employees.   How many other employers are paying childcare expenses for employees while parents have to be home with their kids?  The funding comes out of the taxpayers' pockets--- it doesn't grow on trees!  What about parents and students?  

You can provide your input regarding the VBEA demands to the School Board at vbcpsschoolboard@googlegroups.com.

*I always get comments that state:  "VBEA is not a union".  They are a subsidiary of the NEA (National Teacher's Union).  If you are a member of the VBEA, you are automatically a member of the NEA.  See photo

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