Teachers And Parents Don't "Feel Safer," Says Prov Teachers Union Head After Raimondo Pronouncement
GoLocalProv News Team
Teachers And Parents Don't "Feel Safer," Says Prov Teachers Union Head After Raimondo Pronouncement
Providence Teachers Union President Maribeth Calabro told GoLocal she disagrees.
"[Raimondo] in one breath tells people to limit large number gatherings and increase mandatory mask-wearing - but schools will have up to 30 bodies, no masks, and then some teachers see up to 120 students in a day or the so-called stable groups, then go to busses with different students that go home to families that may be impacted," said Calabro.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"I don’t see or feel that that is safer, nor do my teachers or the parents that I am listening to," she added.
Raimondo Pushes In-School Learning
The Rhode Island Department of Education last week received plans from school districts for reopening on August 31.
Raimondo said that final decisions on school reopening plans will be communicated to families by August 17.
"In fact, you’ll be safer in school than not being in school," said Raimondo. "We’re going to let science guide those decisions, guide us around the virus and around...the needs of our kids to be in school."
Raimondo on Wednesday spoke to school districts providing varying plans about what that will look like, from in-person, to online, to a hybrid approach -- but acknowledged that there have been no decisions made at this time.
"Right now there’s a lot of worry and unanswered questions," said Raimondo.
"It’s wrong to just say it’s safer to keep kids at home. I don’t know that’s true," said Raimondo. "Our children are suffering — nutritionally, emotionally, mental health, immunizations are down. This is an equity issue. I worry most about children who live in poverty for who distance learning [was an issue]."
"It’s way too early to throw in the towel," said Raimondo. "Right now everything’s on the table. There’s more work to be done."