Unions Maintain Push for Uniform School Quarantine Policies

Board of Education (BOE) Union Coalition leaders are urging Governor Ned Lamont create a clear, uniform policy regarding how school districts should handle quarantines and leaves in our public schools.

Labor leaders (including Council 4 Executive Director Jody Barr) wrote in a January 8 letter  to Lamont that too many districts are not following procedures established by health experts for responding to COVID-19 exposures. Those local school officials are jeopardizing the health and safety of their communities and the success of their students. 

Click here for the coalition’s letter to the governor.

“Our AFSCME union is mourning the loss of Eleanor DeShields, a beloved paraprofessional in Bridgeport who died of COVID-19 last month,” said Barr. “School employees should not have to risk their health and their livelihoods when local districts are unable or unwilling to keep students and staff safe.

Barr added, "That’s why we’re again calling on the state to establish strong and consistent health and safety protocols across every district. It’s the least we owe Eleanor and all of the dedicated teachers and support staff our Coalition represents.”  

In their letter, union coalition leaders further pointed out how some districts are disregarding education department recommendations to accommodate staff requests to work remotely due to health conditions, quarantine or child care. 

Click here for the state Department of Education (SDE)'s school support staff continuity directive.

Coalition members stressed that a uniform, statewide policy on school quarantine and leave is necessary due to recent actions showing some districts cannot be trusted to do what is right for their education communities. Labor leaders highlighted local officials' irresponsible advice from legal counsel to deny staff opportunities to work remotely and inform those who must quarantine they are not eligible for paid leave.

The educators’ group is also calling for the public health provisions of previous COVID-19 orders to continue through the end of the school year.