'Minimal' Impact From Fairfax Teachers Union 'Mental Health Day'

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Fairfax County Public Schools continued the school day on Wednesday amid a teachers union's call for members to take a mental health day.

The Fairfax Education Association, one of the teachers unions for FCPS employees, encouraged teachers to take Oct. 28 off. FEA President Kimberly Adams cited an Oct. 30 deadline to decide on their return to in-person instruction when requested by FCPS. Teachers can choose to return to in-person instruction when requested, take a leave of absence, resign or retire.

Lucy Caldwell, a spokesperson for FCPS, said the "impact has been minimal" from the teachers union's mental health day, and students have been attending in-person and virtual classes Wednesday morning. FCPS had been making plans to ensure scheduled classes have teachers amid the teachers union's plan.

Along with encouraging a mental health day, Fairfax Education Association is calling for virtual schooling to continue for the rest of the academic year, citing the safety of the school community.

"Science and Health Safety data support and require that no one should return to in person instruction until there is a widely available scientifically proven vaccine or highly effective treatment," a petition from the FEA reads.

"Many of our teachers have told us they want to return to the classroom, and believe that the steps FCPS has taken make it safe for them to do so. For others, we have offered a variety of alternatives in a good faith effort to accommodate their preferences.

Caldwell shared a statement with news outlets on teachers' return to in-person instruction.

Many of our teachers have told us they want to return to the classroom, and believe that the steps FCPS has taken make it safe for them to do so. For others, we have offered a variety of alternatives in a good faith effort to accommodate their preferences.

We are doing our best to balance the needs of students, some of whom are struggling with distance learning, and the needs of our instructional staff. Our return-to-school plan, in which gradually certain cohorts of students and their teachers return to in-person instruction, prioritizes the safety of students and staff. We have protocols in place, robust health and safety metrics, a transparent dashboard, and a phased-in approach that will allow us to closely monitor conditions and to make necessary adjustments.

We call upon the FEA to work with us constructively in bringing about a safe return to the classroom.

Much of the FCPS student population is continuing to receive virtual learning, but the school district started to bring back cohorts of students for in-person learning in October. A concurrent instruction model featuring students learning virtually and in classrooms is being tested in several schools. According to Caldwell, about 3.5 percent of students and around 600 teachers are involved in the in-person instruction.

At an Oct. 22 meeting, the Fairfax County School Board voted to request an earlier return proposal for two groups of students to return than what Superintendent Scott Brabrand proposed. The superintendent's proposal calls for a Jan. 4 return for group seven (third to sixth grade, secondary public day Programs-special Education at Burke Middle School, Cedar Lane School, and Quander Road School and students with target learner profiles at Davis Center and Pulley Center). Group eight (middle and high school students in grades six to 12 and Davis & Pulley Career Centers) would return on Jan. 26.

The school board directed the superintendent to bring back a revised plan on Nov. 12.

This story includes reporting from the Associated Press.