Colorado Education Association wants to start school remotely until demands are met

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) —  The Colorado Education Association voiced concerns Monday about teachers and students returning to the classroom next month, saying if their demands aren’t met, teachers might not show up to work.

Amie Baca-Oehlert is the president of the Colorado Education Association, which has 39,000 members across Colorado. According to its website, members are largely current, former or prospective teachers.

Baca-Oehlert said Monday that a survey was released to members asking various questions about possibly returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says, of the members who responded, these were the results:

• 95% of respondents say educators should vote on return to school plans
• 53% want to begin school year with all remote learning
• 8% want to begin school year all in-person learning
• Less than 20% of respondents think school districts can keep them safe from the coronavirus
• 78% said they would join colleagues in refusing to return to work if demands aren’t met

This is what Baca-Oehlert says the association is demanding:

1. Employees voice and safety must drive decision-making through honoring bargaining rights or a vote from all employees
2. Safety protections, protocols, and precautions must be provided by school districts for all students and staff
3. Our community must be provided with transparency and data that has driven the decision making process
4. Equity for students, staff, and families must always be provided, no matter where the learning is occurring

KRDO reached out to District 49 and District 20, which have released reopening plans for fall 2020, but we have not gotten a response yet.

The CEA also has specific concerns about the Colorado Department of Education’s guidance for schools released Monday. Watch KRDO Newschannel 13 at 10:00 p.m. to find out what those concerns are.