This story is quite frankly, upsetting and amazing at the same time to us at Robin Hood Radio….it was sent to us by an employee of Region One, by the way, we also recieved three calls from concerned employees on this subject as well. What I do not understand is that the High School and town education budgets for this year were all approved…so it will cost nothing more to just pay these people and give them the OPTION to come in to work if it feels safe…well, anyway, read the letter and you decide..it sounds like a lack of consideration for the non certified employees to me..a “slap in the face”. See the letter below.
So given the corona virus Region One has decided to attempt in taking part in online learning. Rather than just closing for 2 weeks (as of right now, could be longer) they have sent in a waiver to the state for online learning which means the days we are out would count as school days and days would not be added to the end of the year.
Teachers would “teach” from home and have assignments posted daily on google classroom. They would be available from 8:30-3:30 which is what the online school day would be.
As for us non certified employee’s like paraprofessionals we are expected to report to work if we want to get paid. A meeting was held with members of the region, the union president and our rep. They discussed this and given the circumstances we would be assisting our teachers who are home by doing daily “chores”. However cleaning will be going on, and we have to practice social distancing meaning we all have to work in separate areas.
Not sure how that is going to work! A meeting was called at the end of the day for faculty and staff. The faculty meeting was the biggest joke! We are in a crisis and all faculty and staff are expected Monday for a “professional development” day to prepare for this “online learning” even though we have not even been approved.
We all have to enter this building when even the President has declared an emergency.
After the faculty meeting those of the non certified who were present then met with principal and assistant principal to be told our school would only be open from 8:30-3:30 and those were the hours we had to work (mind you the meeting days before with other members and union reps said we could work our hours however we choose to), the work we would be doing is odd and end jobs that haven’t gotten done over the years like filing, dismantling bleachers etc. (completely not in my job description. My job is to help kids!)
Ian said they are offering us up jobs so that we can not apply for unemployment (nice! Glad that’s how he feels about his employees) when Pam sent her email out she said for the safety of students, families and faculty and staff the school was closing for two weeks minimum!
We however must be an exception because we must report to get paid! Not sure how is entering the building everyday is going to stop the spread!
Everyone, READ, RSD 1 Union Contract. Pay attention to Sec. 1.1 Article V also Section 5.6 Time to go to work.
I am hoping not to upset everyone here, let’s be educated on what is going on. Something like none of us have seen before a virus that is 5 times more contagious. Our politicians, doctors, good citizens are remarking on how America is coming together. Italy, they keep their moral up by singing in the streets because they are doing what is called for them to do. Shops, stores, offices across the nation are in the same boat as we are. For now, you can throw that Union Contact out the window. Weather Union or not Americans come together. Maybe the public doesn’t realize if you stop to think about how many class rooms are there, how many desk and chairs, file cabinets, calk board ledges, phones, door knobs, bathrooms, showers, water fountains, 2 auditoriums plus upstairs,(how many seats?), administrators offices, desk, chairs, Library desks, chairs, selves, computers and key boards. Music room, micro phones, audio room, weight room, science/robots building, art building, etc, etc, etc,. Now all those desk with GUM stuck inside desks, under desks, under chairs. Cafateria tables, teachers lunch rooms and break rooms. How many custodians are there? Never, never in 2 weeks will that ever get done. You are worried about working in close quarters with cleaning staff? But your letter said you would also be cleaning. I am sure with all the Machines, KABOIE’s, in shower and locker rooms and bathrooms, there still isn’t enough people to work one in each room while the custodian’s do their heavier work with the machines and Mops and scrubbers. You will hardly ever cross paths, and you will certainly be more than 6 or8 or10 or more feet away from anyone. Disinfecting, you will have the cleanest jobs there. Just doing the desks chairs, legs and emptying out the food and gum stuffed desks, I doubt in 2 weeks with every Paraprofessional, and custodian you can finish a deep cleaning of that school. After all, those rooms you work in, those rooms on your daily work schedule you clean desks anyways from all the food and soda and juice you allow in your room. So, wouldn’t it be nice to know that the rooms are cleaned, because you help do it. You say the money is there anyways, look the teachers money is there also,,they are home doing their job and I am sure they have it harder with all the calls, and questions to be written back and responds time and keeping up with EVERY student. Cleaning sounding any better now? I know during the school year in school you are relied on heavily, you do above and beyond. But coming together in this unheard experience sets a priority. If your hardcore UNION,,,,go ahead and go get that contract. If it says anything like it did say when I worked there….maybe that Elniffee is right,,,,”Time to go to work.” Yes,,,,,,,,I miss the STUDENTS!!! I also miss the summer work, step back,,,ready for teachers and students,,it’s done, it’s ready. Think of it this way, NO one is in the building to bother you,,,,,our best work was done on school vacations.