Schools
School Reopening Is 'Unsafe,' Essex County Teachers Union Says
"The risk to the health and safety of our students and staff is too high," the 12,000 members of the Essex County Education Association say.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ – A union that represents 12,000 teachers in Essex County is claiming that a return to classrooms this fall would put the safety of staff – and students – at risk of infection from the coronavirus.
On Friday, the Essex County Education Association (ECEA) released a statement about its members’ worries amid the looming return to classrooms.
“Out of the more than three thousand counties in the United States, Essex County ranks in the top 10 nationally for the number of COVID-19 deaths,” the union stated in a release. “We mourn for the more than two thousand residents who lost their lives and recognize that each one represents a family that will never be the same.”
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“For the last several weeks our members have been faithfully participating in reopening committees in our districts,” President Anthony Rosamilia wrote.
“We would like nothing more than to return to our classrooms and offices to educate our students in a safe environment,” Rosamilia continued. “However, it is clear that the science supports that reopening school buildings this fall is unsafe.”
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The ECEA’s full statement follows below.
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