NY Teachers Report Unsafe Conditions Via New Coronavirus Tracker

NEW YORK, NY — New York State United Teachers, the union that represents teachers across the state, created its own coronavirus tracking map where teachers and other staff can report conditions at schools.

The union launched the map last week to help track coronavirus health and safety around the state. It said the goal of the site is to crowdsource reports about health and safety violations so teachers and families can know if their schools are safe.

"A consistent flow of information about the safety of our schools is critical for educators, students and families, and this website is designed to help us all stay vigilant as the school year rolls on," union President Andy Pallotta said in a news release. "Though we know some districts are working closely with their staffs to put health and safety first, problems still exist around the state. By empowering educators and community members to report their concerns, it’s our hope that we can elevate the voices of those who otherwise may go unheard.

The state has its own coronavirus tracker for schools, which shows how many positive cases of the virus have been identified in schools. Instead of tracking the number of cases, the union's tracker compiles safety violations that people have seen.

Some school reports on Long Island so far include concerns over:

• Management of sick people
• Masks and social distancing
• Ventilation
• Health screenings
• Cleaning and disinfecting

People can visit the union's map to see if schools in their district have had violations reported. They can also submit reports about violations in social distancing, lack of face coverings, inadequate cleaning programs and more.

View the New York State United Teachers map