What the Heck is Going On? Listen to the Experts!

https://tinyurl.com/nmusdsafevideo

LETTER TO TEACHERS (and everyone else)

One of my members made this beautiful testimony video and we need more people from the community to add to it. Would you mind spreading the word? Thank you for everything you do!
Tamara

Hi everyone,

I hope this message finds you and your family safe and well. I wanted to send out a few updates about our efforts to ensure a safe and effective reopening in NMUSD.

First, a clarification: Although the district has sent several emails to the community over the past few weeks implying that reopening plans are finalized, the district and the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers have not agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding. Without an MOU, the union cannot vote on a bell schedule. The vast majority of members still oppose this proposal due to the educational detriments for our students, the impossible workload for our staff, and the high risk of exposure for our whole community.

The NMFT negotiating team has presented a long list of questions and concerns on behalf of the members, which include teachers, nurses, counselors, and psychologists. Days before elementary is set to return, many of them remain unanswered. We continue to pursue a variety of actions to oppose the plan and push for a response from site administrators, district leadership, and the school board.

One of our biggest obstacles right now, though, is that many families in our community have not been properly informed about the implications of the district's hybrid model, with regards to both safety and academic effectiveness. We greatly appreciate your efforts to spread the word to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues.

Now there's a new way you can do that. Over the past couple weeks, we solicited recorded testimonies from those of you who signed the petition and compiled them into a video that can be shared via email, text, or social media.

Here's the link to the video:

The testimonies in the video are very powerful, and speak to many of the problems with the hybrid model for students, teachers, and support staff. We still need to present the voices of parents and family members, so we ask that you please consider sending in videos of your own. For anyone who still wants to contribute their testimony, we would love to add yours to the compilation.

Here's how to do it.

Thank you again for all of your support.

-Alex

--
Tamara FairbanksNewport Mesa Federation of Teachers
President