August 20, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a largely unmitigated disaster. More than half a million Americans have died as a result of the virus. Through it all, nurses, nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, other healthcare professionals, and the various staff that keep our hospitals running have been worked to the bone. Without the efforts of these workers, including the workers who we represent across the state of Wisconsin, many more would have tragically lost their lives. As if healthcare workers weren’t a vital part of society before, the debt they are owed after what they’ve struggled through over the past year and a half is vast.

Despite the service of these workers to the communities in which they live and beyond, the healthcare corporations that they are employed by have not done enough to reciprocate these efforts. At several junctures over the course of the pandemic, employers have refused to offer bonuses for essential workers, failed to provide ample Personal Protective Equipment, failed to provide proper medical equipment, failed to provide proper staffing, and failed to produce appropriately safe working conditions. To sum it up, corporate healthcare employers have failed their workers and the people to whom they provide care. While the frontlines were starved for support, it was the bottom lines that received the reinforcements. This behavior isn’t new on the part of these corporations, but the stark differences between their words and their actions has never been more clear than now.

Concord, NH --- AFT-NH President Deb Howes Released the Following Statement on Approval of Rules for School Voucher Program

I attended the BESE meeting today. As you may have heard, the unruly crowd led to the meeting being adjourned before public comment and discussion of the mask mandate. 

Many have requested that we take the pulse again on the issue of masks now that the second week of school is almost complete. Even if you have taken it before, please take this second survey. There is some new content. As your representative, I need to know where you stand. 

COMING SOON! Check back here for more information by Sept. 1st, 2021! 

Dear President Holloway and Superintendent Brumley:

Due to the COVID-19 global health pandemic, the 2020-2021 school year was extremely challenging for students, families, and teachers. Unprecedented natural disasters, including Hurricanes Marco, Laura, Sally, Beta, and Delta in 2020 and the winter storm of February 2021, drastically disrupted the school year in multiple parishes. Students across the state were subjected to different levels of in-person instruction, online instruction, and instruction in a hybrid format of both in-person and online instruction. MORE

NOTICE: The Steward Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2021 has been cancelled. Contact the office with any questions at (410) 962-1492.

Resources and more information about UConn's COVID vaccination policy and the memorandum of agreement (MOA) UHP reached with UConn Health management.

Back to School Survey
We need to hear from you! Please take a few minutes to fill out a brief survey regarding the start of school:

Student Debt Clinic
*Do you or a family member have student loan debt?

*Are you struggling to make monthly payments or worrying about student loans following you throughout your life?

August 17, 2021 – Click on the link below to read a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which reflects the working conditions under the Mask Mandate with the Optional Opt Out which was voted on by the School Board on August 16, 2021. 

2021-2022maskmandatewithoptoutoptionsigned.pdf

Given the contentious nature of the mask mandate, I would like to provide a simple means for you to contact BESE members as well as the governor. It is unclear whether BESE has the power to overturn the mask mandate in schools, but they will discuss and possibly vote on the matter at tomorrow's meeting in Baton Rouge at 9 AM. Use this platform to let them know how you feel.