{"id":50937,"date":"2020-07-21T22:49:33","date_gmt":"2020-07-21T22:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/21\/teachers-unions-push-back-on-dod-plan-to-reopen-schools-in-the-buildings\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:27:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:27:37","slug":"teachers-unions-push-back-on-dod-plan-to-reopen-schools-in-the-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2020\/07\/21\/teachers-unions-push-back-on-dod-plan-to-reopen-schools-in-the-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"Teachers\u2019 unions push back on DoD plan to reopen schools in the buildings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Unions representing educators in Department of Defense schools<\/a> for military and DoD civilian children are urging school officials to open schools remotely only this summer, rather than bringing most students into the buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA physical reopening of our schools this summer presents unacceptable health and safety risks to students, employees, and their families,\u201d said the union leaders in a letter to Department of Defense Education Activity<\/a> Director Tom Brady.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leaders noted that COVID-19 continues to be a \u201cmassive threat\u201d at many locations where DoDEA schools are located, both in the United States and abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe realize the important role DoDEA schools play in support of the military but a physical reopening of schools under present conditions risks turning students and employees into spreaders of the virus \u2013 which would be incredibly harmful to military readiness,\u201d wrote union leaders Brian Chance, president of the Federal Education Association, and Jane Loggins, FEA director for the Stateside Region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DoDEA officials didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment on whether they are considering the request for a remote-only reopening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FEA president Brian Chance met virtually with Tom Brady the morning of July 21, and presented the letter, according to FEA spokesman Gary Hritz. \u201cIf DoDEA refuses to go with a totally remote opening, we\u2019d encourage all parents to choose the virtual option,\u201d Hritz said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his message to parents, students and school staff earlier this month, Brady acknowledged that some families may have circumstances where they don\u2019t want to, or are unable to, send their child back to the school building setting. Some students have health or other concerns related to the pandemic that will prevent them from returning to the building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thus, DoDEA is providing its virtual school platform as an option for those students to continue their learning remotely, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the physical setting is the preferred one. \u201cWe have always believed that instruction in the classroom is the optimal learning environment for most of our military-connected students. Restoring teaching and learning to the familiar environments of our classrooms, provides students with stability and continuity,\u201d Brady stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brady said the schools \u201cwill remain flexible and prepared for any contingency.\u201d DoDEA officials have outlined guidance in a publication called \u201cEnsuring a Safe and Healthy Return to School,\u201d<\/a> for social distancing for Health Protection conditions Alpha, Bravo and Charlie regarding classrooms, corridors and common area, cafeterias, buses, playgrounds and large group events. In HPCON Charlie, schools are closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\t