The Texas Education Agency released it's recommendations for how school districts can reopen, but many parents and teachers are asking if its safe.
Click here , Aldine AFT member, Stacey Pugh, and President Candis Houston's response.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been like nothing we have ever experienced, however, from the beginning of the school and higher education closures in March, dedicated public educators have been going above and beyond in service to our students, our communities, and our families.
Schools aren’t just where students take tests and get homework, they’re where they interact, learn life lessons, and develop the social and emotional skills that take them into adulthood.
They’re also where millions of kids get meals, after-school care, and other important support – all provided by the dedicated educators who share our communities.
New Mexico educators did their best during this Spring’s remote learning, truly “building the plane while flying it,” but still, our students experienced a huge loss of learning, and New Mexico’s lack of digital infrastructure exposed our existing inequities in education.
New Mexico educators want to reopen to at least a hybrid model. Most have been impacted by the coronavirus personally, and they teachers can tell you stories of how their students have been affected.
We strongly endorse reopening if basic safety ‘must haves’ are met:
o Physical distancing of 6 feet,
o Increased Hand washing,
o Face coverings and PPE,
o Improved Ventilation,
o Ongoing Labor/Management collaboration.
All this cannot be done on the cheap – these are the investments we mean when we talk about spending more money on education and in our communities, and less money on policing and militarization. This is the stuff that will actually be make or break for our kids.
o Our national analysis costs out an additional $116.5 billion for instructional staff, distance learning, before- and after-school care, transportation, personal protective equipment, cleaning and health supplies, health staffing, custodial and cleaning staff, meeting children’s social and emotional needs and additional academic support for students.
o The average school will need to see an extra $1.2 million, or $2,300 per student, to open its doors.
o This is separate and apart from the $175 billion that all school districts need to retain their educators at a time when state and local revenues are cratering.
o We need federal money for this QUICKLY so that high-need districts can do their infrastructure improvements now, if we have any chance of safely reopening in the fall.
Disclaimer
By signing this petition, you are allowing AFT New Mexico to contact you regarding this or future public education campaigns.
Welcome to the Local's website. This site was last updated by Vice President Greg Bem in July 2020.
As of the 2019-2020 academic year, all union membership forms are filled out and signed electronically. Faculty should work with their Dean's administrative assistant to have the membership form set up. The membership form has been included here to preview: Membership Form.
To play the game: follow this link to the registration page (this is so we can confirm that ONLY A&R members are eligible to win). From the registration page you will need to select a "nickname"...this is VERY important that you remember your nickname when the game starts.
The Rules:
1) Register via the link above
2) From a "non-state" device, navigate to www.kahoot.it at 3:30 pm...(the game will be "locked" at 3:45 and the game will begin)
2) Enter in the passcode listed on the Registration Page (from the link above)
3) Answer the 20 questions
HINT: the questions are timed, so answering correctly quickly equals more points
4) A&R will verify the top 3 winners are members and contact them for their prize
5) Enjoy and wait for the next competition to begin!
Please click the link 2020 Summer School LOA to review and download the document.
Lost a teaching assignment? Not sure if you will be working in the fall? Check out the following link to see how AFT can help: https://www.aft.org/member-benefits/member-benefits-assistance-job-interruption
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/nafttaskforcepetition
Please sign now and ask others to sign!
Call your senator today at 833-868-8109 and tell them to pass the HEROES Act to invest in our states, communities, and public schools. The HEROES Act will provide crucial funding for our K-12 and higher ed schools, and other state and local services.
Senator John Cornyn
Senaor Ted Cruz
The University of Maine System announced fall reopening plans on July 1. The pdf containing them is here. The document is long on rhetoric and short on details.https://www.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2020/07/Together-for-Maine-Principles-DISTRIBUTE-JULY-1-2020.pdf
And here is another pdf that has some details:
