Tangipahoa Federation of Teachers Employee Questions
To Superintendent Stilley and Board Members:
The following are questions and concerns that our members have expressed to us. From over 150 questions collected we have selected the top 12 for your consideration. You may or may not have been presented these already, but we find these to be extremely important to be considered before children arrive in the buildings.
- Are all classrooms and school areas of every school fully ventilated? Before schools open, will the school district obtain certification from a company that they are properly ventilated? Mold and dust accumulate on ceiling vents in offices and classrooms. Will the AC vents be cleaned to remove dust and mold and possible trapped Covid virus particles on a regular basis?
- Do all classrooms allow for proper safe social distancing? Are the classrooms big enough to accommodate 6ft? How are guidelines going to be handled for social distancing in hallways during transitions (For example- in hallways will tape be used to mark pathways and in classrooms will 6 feet areas be marked off as well.)
- Due to excessive and ongoing student abuse of bathroom facilities our school bathrooms have a reputation of custodians not being able to keep up with maintaining sanitary and safe bathroom conditions. How will this be different now in a Covid environment? There are huge concerns as to whether the bathrooms will be cleaned after each use.
- Given the inadequate building space on school campuses parish wide what is the plan to accommodate sick room space when schools exceed the available sick rooms? (For example- 3 sick rooms and 10 people need to report)
- Do classrooms and restrooms have biohazard receptacles in place to encapsulate potential Covid particles that may be trapped in waste materials. (Examples- a student has a nosebleed, uses a Kleenex, sneezes, or vomits in their mask)
- Given that washing hands with soap and water is the best way to kill the virus will hand washing stations be set up at the schools? (For example- utilizing cafeteria hand washing stations with classroom rotating schedule sand proper distancing)
- Students are required to wash their hands a minimum of 9 times a day (upon entering the school, before they eat breakfast, after they eat breakfast, before lunch, after lunch, before PE, after PE, scheduled restroom breaks, and exiting campus). Our understanding is that soap and water washing is preferred. Will schools have a combination of soap and water and hand sanitizing methods incorporated throughout each day?
- School employees are trained in Handle with Care (restraint) techniques. Those techniques require the employee to be in close physical contact with students. What is the school district’s plan to protect the safety of students and employees in those situations? When de-escalating a student who requires a Handle with Care hold, how can an employee do so safely without risking contact with a student? Employees have been pushed, punched, spit on, bitten, kicked, shoved, etc. Will the plan be communicated, and the training take place prior to student arrival on August 12?
- Teachers have concerns of what will happen when a student takes off their face covering or uses other PPE in ways that during class interferes with instruction Has the district developed consequences and procedures for students who don’t follow safety guidelines and disrupt class?
- Will the district’s discipline plans be adjusted for unruly students who refuse to social distance or follow procedures that may endanger themselves or others?
- Employees are very concerned about the potential for community spread whether it be in their family community, their school community, or their local community. Given the comorbidities of those we know and love and those who are complete strangers to us is it worth opening school at this time. Given the most recent data of our Red Zone status to open at the present time seems like an idea worth reconsidering.
- Employees of TPSS are looking for the processes that address employees with the highest risk of serious illness if they become Covid infected. (Examples- opportunities to apply for a work from home option)
We continue to receive questions, daily. We appreciate the opportunity to present these questions now and in the future. Again, we respectfully ask that face to face learning be delayed so that we can create the safest environment for students, staff, teachers, and the families of Tangipahoa Parish.
Sincerely,
Dina Esquinance
President, Tangipahoa Federation of Teachers
& School Employees