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Unions representing employees of the San Francisco Unified School District said on Sunday they had reached an agreement in principle with the district to safely reopen public schools in the city – a major step in a controversial months-long debate that pitted city officials against district leaders.
In a key element, the unions said they had agreed to return to classrooms when the city was in red level, the second least restrictive level in California’s plan to reopen, if on-site staff were vaccinated against the coronavirus. If the city progresses to the orange level, a less restrictive category that implies a “moderate” spread of the coronavirus, teachers and other staff would return without vaccination.
Given that San Francisco currently remains in the purple level, the most restrictive in the state, which means reopenings would likely still be on track for the deal announced by the union. When the time comes, county health officials will also need to approve the procedures in place.
District officials with 53,000 students did not immediately respond to calls for comment Sunday morning.
“This is a major step forward towards a goal we share with so many parents: the safe reopening of school buildings for students and staff,” the unions said in a statement Sunday morning. “In addition to reaching an agreement on basic safety standards, the unions also negotiated revolutionary language that provides support to the school district for vaccine prioritization, availability and education of their members.
The announcement follows a week of massive pressure on unions and district officials to reopen closed schools in the event of a pandemic.
A tearful mayor, London Breed, stood in front of children holding signs saying ‘I miss my friends’ at a press conference Thursday with families and urged both sides to end the division and on the finger to open schools.
“It really breaks my heart to be here, to see these kids and these families, to know what they’ve been through,” Breed said. “Children are struggling in our city and we all know it.”
SF public schools have been closed since mid-March, even though 15,000 students from the city’s private schools are back in classrooms.
The press conference came a day after city attorney Dennis Herrera sued the district and school board, saying they had failed to create a specific and concise reopening plan required by the ‘State. District officials said they had a plan.
Union and district agreement allows for a return to in-person instruction in the state’s red-level coronavirus reopening – which is characterized by “substantial” spread of the coronavirus – if vaccines are made available on-site staff and those planning to do so. report in person until San Francisco goes orange.
Schools in purple-level counties are allowed to open for K-6 grades if their “average adjusted case rate” is less than 25 cases per 100,000 people and they file a safety plan.
County health officials are allowing schools to reopen with a waiver below the purple level, but it appears the deal the union announced would not allow district schools to do so.
“This agreement paves the way for the safe reopening of schools in San Francisco. Now we need city and state officials to step up and make vaccines available to school staff now, while UESF continues to focus on finalizing agreements regarding classroom education, schedules and continues to improve distance learning for students and families who choose not to even return. with those standards in place, ”said a statement from Susan Solomon, president of United Educators of San Francisco.
This story will be updated.
Tatiana Sanchez is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected]. Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez.
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