In meeting with Jill Biden, Pittsburgh schools union leader supports delay for in-person instruction

While school districts in Southwestern Pennsylvania finalize their fall reopening plans, some educational leaders are advocating for stronger safety guidelines and a delay to in-person instruction.

On Tuesday, in a virtual campaign stop for the Joe Biden presidential campaign, Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and U.S. Sen Bob Casey, D-Scranton, gathered schoolteachers and leaders to discuss the presumptive Democratic nominee’s plan for reopening schools.

The plan emphasizes lowering covid-19 case counts before reintroducing in-class instruction; it also suggests offering more emergency funding to schools and lays out points to close equity gaps.

“This pandemic has really shone a light on the inequities within the U.S.,” Jill Biden said. “We have to bring all schools up and create equality among them.”

The Zoom participants criticized President Donald Trump’s approach to mitigating the coronavirus pandemic, particularly when it comes to public schools.

Nina Esposito-Visgitis, president of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, said the approach, which included threats to cut off federal funding to districts that teach classes online only, was “disrespectful to teachers.”

Casey added that the decision to reopen schools is not one that can be made in Washington — it has to be a local decision with local parents and educators in mind. “What people are looking for from Washington is not a dictate,” he said. Rather, they are looking for “leadership, compassion for educating children.”

The call comes while Pittsburgh Public Schools board members consider a nine-week delay for in-person instruction and as a national union promised support for striking teachers.

Esposito-Visgitis said she supports the resolution on the table in Pittsburgh Public Schools to keep learning remote for the first quarter. A key reason, she said, is that the number of daily covd-19 cases in Allegheny County far surpasses the number in March when school buildings first closed. The school board will consider the issue on Friday.

“If it’s not safe, we can’t go back,” she told the Tribune-Review. “Absolutely not.”

Also on Tuesday, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said the union would support any teachers who strike in states that reopen schools without adequate health and safety measures.

The national union — the second largest teachers union in the U.S. – is advocating for schools to delay in-person instruction until average daily test positivity rates are below 5%. In Allegheny County, test positivity rates often rose above 10% in late June and throughout July.

AFT also suggests widespread contact tracing, mask requirements and physical distancing requirements. In a speech at the union’s biennial, virtual convention, Weingarten unveiled a resolution authorizing the “safety strikes” as a last resort.

“Let’s be clear,” she said. “Just as we have done with our health care workers, we will fight on all fronts for the safety of our students and their educators. But if the authorities don’t get it right, and they don’t protect the safety and health of those we represent and those we serve, nothing is off the table.”

In Pittsburgh, several school board members praised the proposed delay at last week’s meeting. Esposito-Visgitis said she expects the resolution to pass Friday.

“I do not see (board members) not voting the resolution. I can’t even imagine that,” she said. “I think they’ll do the right thing.”

Esposito-Visgitis said she supports a hybrid plan Pittsburgh Public Schools presented last week – but doesn’t think the region is ready to put it in place. She said the district should wait for the “go-ahead” from scientists to begin phasing in face-to-face instruction. Until then, she’s relieved the board is planning ahead and will have detailed procedures and curricula ready to implement, along with a continuous quest to provide every student with a laptop or tablet.

“We’re on a good path, but you can’t rush it,” she said.