Teachers’ concerns
Teachers share concerns on virus resources and funding
Connecticut’s largest teachers union released a survey of Tuesday that revealed concerns about“huge inequities”in COVID-19 resources and funding between school districts. Lack of proper ventilation, cleaning and personal protective equipment were among issues raised.
Connecticut’s largest teachers union released a survey of its members Tuesday that revealed concerns about “huge inequities” in COVID-19 resources and funding between school districts.
Lack of proper ventilation, daily cleaning and access to personal protective equipment were among the most common issues raised by educators.
The Connecticut Education Association said that in their COVID-19 Equity Survey nearly 2,000 teachers highlighted inequities between the state’s 33 lowest-performing districts, called Alliance Districts, and non-Alliance Districts.
“Our teachers shared their experiences regarding the lack of school funding; shortages of PPE, cleaning supplies, and learning resources; limited technology and access to the Internet; poor ventilation; and no plans to engage absent students,” CEA President Jeff Leake said, in a written statement.
“These are all things needed to keep school communities safe and the staff in place to help students achieve. These issues are most severe in our lowest-performing school districts,” he added. “We must demand changes in policies, programs, and practices that condone or ignore unequal justice and hinder student success.”
Coronavirus funding from the state varied widely between districts. Although they are both Alliance Districts, Hartford received about $11.9 million, nearly three times of what it requested, while New Haven received about $5.3 million, less than half of what it requested.
Of those surveyed, nearly 80% of teachers in Alliance Districts said school buildings and classrooms are not properly ventilated, while 66% of non-Alliance District teachers said the same. Ventilation is becoming an increasingly important issue as revised guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states the virus may be spread indoors more easily than previously thought.
While 64% of non-Alliance District