Broward County charter schools should operate remotely

Over the course of the last week, it has become painfully obvious that Charter Schools

USA, in Broward at least, has decided to play politics with the well being of their teachers.

Broward County has seen a little under 60,000 positive cases of COVID-19. Because of the death of a loved one caused by the virus, 748 families are grieving. Charter Schools USA has used the low, overall percentages of infections and deaths as a talking point as to why schools should be physically opened for the school year in Broward.

I am not only a Commissioner in the City of Coral Springs, but I am also a governing board member for the Coral Springs Charter School, operated by Charter Schools USA. We voted unanimously to begin the school year in a mobile-learning format.

After that meeting, it was brought to my attention that although we, as a governing board, voted to physically close the school until Broward’s infection numbers declined to a reasonable number, teachers were still required to report to Coral Springs Charter School. Why? Children may not get as sick as adults when it comes to COVID-19, but they can be carriers and pass the virus off to adults.

I then find out that Renaissance Charter School in Coral Springs is not only requiring that teachers report physically to campus, but that students will also report physically to campus in a few weeks. Why?

When contacted, Charter Schools USA Florida State Director Eddie Ruiz issued this statement: “We continue to monitor the situation with COVID every day and we have been preparing ever since the spring for all options to provide what is best for students.

We have developed three flexible models that include in-person, fully mobile classroom and a combination of in-person and mobile learning. As educators, we have a moral responsibility to provide each child a high-quality education. In this unique time, we have to protect students from irreparable harm caused by the interruption of their education due to this crisis.

We are closely monitoring federal, state and local health directives to determine the best decision for our students and faculty. We have been listening to our parents, working with our team of dedicated educators as well as our governing boards to determine the best, appropriate, safe, decision for our schools. We are preparing our facilities, and providing appropriate health accommodations consistent with CDC guidelines. We will not compromise the health or safety of our students or staff.

If it is determined it is safe to return to the classroom when school opens, we are ready. However, we will make the decision to return to a fully mobile classroom if the situation in a specific community warrants that approach. We will make the final decision for each of our schools soon and these decisions will be based upon the best and current information available.”

I have been in contact with numerous teachers at multiple charter schools and they all share the same concerns. Pregnant teachers, teachers who are immunocompromised, teachers with spouses who are immunocompromised, teachers worried about their families if they are to fall ill, parents advocating on behalf of their son or daughter because they fear retaliation for speaking out.

There are also many instances in which Charter Schools USA has not operated in good faith with their instructional employees around reopening, leaving many employees in the dark with many of their questions unanswered. They are also requiring their teachers to sign a COVID-19 letter of acknowledgement which I am sure is a way to avoid any legal repercussions if an outbreak were to occur at the school. Teachers should have the option of teaching remotely and that courtesy has not been given to them.

If we can prevent any death or infection that can have long term health complications, we should act accordingly. Charter Schools USA should not open their schools and put their teachers, students and noninstructional staff in harm’s way. Why gamble with all of those lives within the school? All it takes is one infection, in a enclosed space such as Renaissance Charter, to create a series of negative events that will affect the school, anyone connected to the school, Coral Springs and Broward County at large.

Remember this isn’t the only Charter Schools USA operated school in Broward County requiring brick-and-mortar operation for the fall. Think about that.