NoVA Teachers Unions Call For Return To Virtual Schooling: Watch

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — Education associations from across Northern Virginia on Monday called on state leaders to reverse school reopenings and return to virtual learning as cases of the coronavirus continued to climb in the area.

In a news conference on Monday, Fairfax Education Association President Kimberly M. B. Adams was joined by presidents from the surrounding districts of Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William to call for change.

During the conference, the groups' presidents urged the governor and other state leaders to reconsider coronavirus restrictions and limit public school allowances to what was allowed in the state's reopening phases one and two.

“The safest option is to remain virtual for our schools until cases return to a downward trend," Adams said. “It is unacceptable for our districts to continue to disregard scientists and medical experts."

Fairfax County Public Schools announced on Monday it is delaying the return of a fifth cohort of students that were scheduled to return on Tuesday.

Prince William Education Association President Maggie Hansford echoed Adams.

"Our counties are all interconnected," Hansford said, calling on state leaders "to act immediately to ensure students and staff stay healthy across the commonwealth."

Ingrid Grant, president of the Arlington Education Association — where the district remains in Phase 1 of reopening — said the district should be used as a bellwether in ensuring student and staff safety amid the pandemic in other districts.

"Some superintendents have looked at the fact that our educators matter, and what we do for educators, ultimately we’re doing the best for our students," Gant said. "In Alexandria, they have a choice if they want to return. That’s not happening in Loudoun, Fairfax, Prince William."

Gov. Northam last week announced a handful of statewide restrictions designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus in public. The measures include capping the size of public and private gatherings, expanding the state's mask mandate, strengthening enforcement in retail businesses and putting a 10 p.m. curfew on serving alcohol.

"The most recent guidance given by the governor to protect the commonwealth specifically excluded schools," Adams said, referencing Northam's Friday announcement. "We must stand united to push back against this rapid increase in the virus. Gov. Ralph Northam must provide leadership for our schools in addition to the guidance he has given to our businesses and public spaces."

The outdoor news conference was held as a rise in cases was reported across the state.

At least one coronavirus death and 1,161 new cases of the virus were reported in Virginia on Sunday, according to a New York Times database. The state's case rate averaged 1,389 over the past week, up 8 percent from two weeks prior.