TSTA demands only remote learning for first nine weeks of school

SAN ANTONIO (KTSA News) -Several school districts have announced that they’ll have  remote learning for the first three weeks of the fall semester before allowing students back in the classroom, but  the Texas State Teachers Association says that’s not enough.

“For the sake of our health and the health of our students and communities, we demand that our school districts provide only remote instruction for the first nine weeks,” said TSTA.

Adonis Schurmann with the North East Education Association, an affiliate of TSTA, says teachers miss their students, but they don’t want to rush back to their classrooms in the midst of a pandemic.

“There’s a real concern for the safety of all education staff members, not just teachers, but custodians, bus drivers, paraprofessionals and students,” said Schurmann. “Teachers love to teach, but please create an environment that’s safe for everyone.”

She told KTSA News that 9 weeks of remote learning would give school districts more time to make sure that adequate COVID-19 protocols are in place.

TSTA says educators “didn’t sign up to put their lives at risk when that can be avoided by common-sense precautions, such as an extended period of virtual learning.”