Our teachers are essential workers and they are essential to our communities. However, it is not essential that teachers distance teach from their physical classrooms.

Since March 19th, California's Essential Workers have been asked to continue to serve the community "except where telework is possible.” Teachers can determine for themselves if they are able to telework.

On July 17th, 2020 the State Of California's Industry Guidance for Schools, makes it plain that they must "Ensure Teacher and Staff Safety" and that "staff who are at higher risk for severe illness or who cannot safely distance from household contacts at higher risk, by providing options such as telework, where appropriate, or teaching in a virtual learning or independent study context." Breakrooms, bathrooms, supply rooms are all shared spaces used while on campus.

On July 23rd, the CDC released guidelines stating if community transmission levels cannot be decreased, school closure is an important consideration and that even with a substantial but controlled level of transmission we should be enacting a significant level of mitigation strategies.

Some teachers may prefer to teach from their physical classrooms.

This should not be a mandate.

Public schools looking to force teachers into the classroom do not trust their faculty and staff to balance their own personal safety and their obligations at home with their duty to execute rigorous and well thought out distance learning. Private schools and charters are using the appeal of in-person instruction to tempt parents away from our public schools. 

Let Teachers Choose.