DC-area educators demand coordinated reopening plan

Unions and associations representing more than 48,000 public school workers in the greater metro Washington, DC region mobilized together in a National Day of Resistance yesterday to demand a single, cohesive plan on reopening schools in the region. The DC-area public school educators and school-related personnel released a letter to Maryland Governor Hogan, Virginia Governor Northam and Washington, DC Mayor Bowser: www.DemandSafeSchoolsDMV.org/Press calling on Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to coordinate across school district boundaries for a “single, safe and sensible plan for returning to in-person instruction.” “Where I live I can walk across the street --- at 300 yards --- and be in the District of Columbia,” said PGCEA President and Prince George's County resident Theresa Dudley in her opening remarks during the National Day of Resistance press conference. Other union leaders said that the lack of a cohesive plan has created havoc for DC-area families, and the lack of proper sanitizing and protection in school facilities poses a threat for students as well as teachers. The coalition demanded immediate action and response from jurisdictional leaders.
photo (l-r clockwise from top): Timothy Traylor (AFSCME 2250), Theresa Dudley (PGCEA), Liz Davis (WTU 6), Dyana Forester (Metro Washington Council).