AFT Plan to Safely Reopen Schools and Communities

 

Dear Union Members and Allies,

 

I am reaching out in a time of urgent need. The current window is closing for the time to create a back-to-school plan for this fall and current plans do not include adequate provisions for student, teacher, and community safety. I need your help to impress upon our leaders that we need a fall re-opening plan that meet everyone’s needs.

 

At AFT, we have provided the state with our suggestions for a safe school re-opening. I have included this document for you to review. We are actively working with local and state leaders to modify plans and procedures according to concrete evidence from health professionals and the latest research. We want to return to school to teach our students, and we want to do so in a scenario that is safe, sustainable, and responsive to changing conditions.

 

I welcome your concerns, suggestions, and help as we work together to make this happen. Please contact me directly with your feedback. I am including links that you can follow to locate and contact your local leaders to voice your opinions. They need to hear your perspective, your concerns, and suggestions. No one has the unique perspective that you have, and we need others to understand the scene of education as we see it. Your voice deserves to be heard.

 

Visit the link below to find your local representative. Click on the My Legislators tab, and enter your address. Click on the image of the representative and you will then see the contact information for elected officials in your area. Write a short description of your concerns and suggestions and send it off to them. Continue the conversation and express your concerns to the fullest!

https://le.utah.gov/

 

In solidarity, 

 

Ani Ostendorff

AFT Vice President K12 Licensed Employees

AFT Utah

aniostendorff@gmail.com

336-202-1848

 

The Texas Education Agency Releases Recommendations on School Openings

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.

Stand With New Mexico Educators for Safe School & Higher Education Re-Opening

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. 

Add your name TODAY (BY CLICKING HERE) to show you stand with New Mexico’s public educators and call on New Mexico’s school districts and higher education institutions to prioritize student and educator safety as mandatory before we re-enter the academic year. 

Disclaimer

By signing this petition, you are allowing AFT New Mexico to contact you regarding this or future public education campaigns.

LWTECH'S FEDERATION OF TEACHERS (AFT LOCAL 3533)

Welcome to the Local's website. This site was last updated by Vice President Greg Bem in July 2020.

Current Membership Form (2019-2021)

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.

Test Run

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!

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