BOE Meeting – 11.10.20
President Sanchez, Dr. Matthews, Commissioners and Student Delegates,
My name is Joan Hepperly Co-Executive Director of UASF. Last night UASF conducted a meeting with our members and approximately two thirds of our members were present with short notice of the meeting. This is significant. Our site and central leaders are committed to their students, staff and school communities and they want to ensure that all safety measures are in place when their schools open.
In a current survey of our members, 94% of 194 respondents want UASF to negotiate health, safety and flexibility in our Hybrid MOU.
UASF wants these safety and health precautions and testing in place for our administrators, staff, students, and others entering the school site. Based on the Decision Tree, student learning conditions are also our educator and staff working conditions.
We appreciate that the site assessments addressed in the resolution tonight would inform all school communities regarding the readiness of their buildings.
As UASF returns to negotiations on Friday, we appreciate that Dr. Matthews has allowed us the time to continue our discussions and negotiations so that our members, staff and students feel safe returning to their school sites.
UASF supports that there will be Principals’ Round Tables so that decisions impacting their work is seen through their lens.
Sadly, a recent Chronicle article erroneously laid blame to site leaders for delaying the opening of school sites. Schools are open and they are virtual. Our district, site and central office leaders have been working tirelessly with a tremendous increase in work hours and their job expectations. Along with teachers and other staff, they are working together to ensure there is quality distance learning and supporting students through the distribution of chromebooks and other materials.
We urge all to continue to build our collective efforts to uplift the lives of students, their families, our staff and community for a hope filled healing.
We look forward to our negotiations this Friday and moving in a direction that will fully support our members and our labor partners regarding health, safety and flexibility.
In Solidarity,
UASF Leadership in Support of our Members