I was just told by my principal that I have to delete a FB post in which my husband and I (both teachers) express our questions and concerns about starting school in Oklahoma next month.

Edited to delete the mention of the name of the school district we work for per their request

These are some of the concerns we have as school teachers in Oklahoma beginning school next month.

I was just on the Covid-19 ward of the hospital and the doctor there highly recommended that my husband and I (both teachers) wear N95 masks to protect ourselves when we return to school, just like other frontline workers. Will frontline worker PPE be provided by (the district) or do we have to purchase our own out of pocket?

Will schools still be required to do tornado, fire, and lock-down drills? They are needed for the safety of all, but students and teachers cannot possibly keep a safe distance from one another in these situations.

Parents often send their children to school sick, which is especially a problem during a normal flu season. We know that Covid-19 does not necessarily present with a fever, so checking temperatures each day, while a great step, isn’t enough. Just like parents send their children to school with the flu so they can pay the rent (and can’t afford to take the child to a doctor in the first place) they will do the same with this deadly virus. What steps is (the district) taking address this issue?

The substitute shortage pre-pandemic was a huge issue. Will teachers be expected to substitute one hour a day as opposed to having a planning period? Can we refuse the request or can we be financially compensated for having to cover other teacher’s classes?

Teachers will inevitably be faced with the Covid-19 deaths of students and co-workers this school year. Will (the district) be providing mental health counseling to employees free of charge? Or will we have to pay for that out of pocket as well?

Will the families of teachers with pre-existing health conditions forced to work in this dangerous environment be financially compensated by (the district) if their life is lost due to contracting Covid-19 while at school?

Will (the district) be financially liable for the hospitalization costs of teachers who contract Covid-19 on the job?

Can (the district) provide free, onsite, Covid-19 testing every 2 weeks?

Submitted July 16, 2020 at 12:13PM by bats0482 https://ift.tt/2CIv4RM