Governor declares that all Florida schools must reopen in the fall
By NJ Chicaa
@NJChicaa (115972)
United States
July 7, 2020 12:06pm CST
Governor Ron De Santis announced today that all Florida brick and mortar schools must reopen for the fall. Florida currently has the 3rd highest number of COVID-19 cases in the nation. De Santis is a Republican governor who has basically followed everything Trump has said/done about the pandemic. He is known to have presidential ambitions so he doesn't want to risk his popularity with Republicans due to negative tweets from Trump.
Teachers are pushing back as they feel that their lives and their students' lives will be endangered by opening up prematurely. One of the Florida district's teachers union pointed to contract language prohibiting unsafe working conditions.
I have to say that I would side with the teachers unions. I am not going to feel comfortable if we have to go back in person in September. I haven't seen any kind of plan to protect the students and staff. There is no extra funding allocated by the state yet for districts to buy PPE, inistall plexiglass shields, deal with extra teachers/subs/buses, etc. My district already is trying to deal with a $5 million shortfall. There's no way that they will be able to re-open safely without assistance from the state.
What a mess.
Florida, which initially avoided the worst of the pandemic in its first few months, now has the third-highest number of coronavirus cases in the US at 206,000 and counting.
6 people like this
7 responses
@divalounger (5849)
• United States
7 Jul 20
This is insanity--I come from a family of teachers and teachers are really scared--
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
7 Jul 20
I saw something about this yesterday or earlier today. I think the governor or maybe it was one of the mayor's in FL. said "Well those who are uncomfortable can keep their kids home." I don't remember exactly what was said to be fair.
I also heard recently that the RNC that was going to be held in Charlotte and moved to Jacksonville is now possibly not going to happen for the exact same reasons our governor was bring ing up.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
7 Jul 20
@NJChicaa That is something that can be said about a lot of what has come out of the Trump WH.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53960)
• Los Angeles, California
7 Jul 20
Omg. I know the debate still goes on here for our district, but most likely it's continued online learning. School officially starts in a month - and with the spiking numbers and already severe budget cuts, there is no way they can make things safe for students, teachers, and staff. All I have to say is I am glad we are not in FL with a governor like that . . . but oh I feel bad for those living there 
.
.1 person likes this
@HannahKusKus (4025)
• Semarang, Indonesia
7 Jul 20
I know it well, since im a teacher. I also being afraid for reopening the school. Theres no certain protection to both students and teachers. But in other side, i really want to teach directly (offline), cause this eduaction must go on, although the condition in a mess. Here next week is new academic year, but it stil conduct in online too. After the welcoming party the teacher can conduct learning with small group by home visit
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155957)
• United States
7 Jul 20
August is next month. No way will the spiking cases be under control by then...this is going to be so hard on parents who work though if the schools are shut down again. Between a rock and a hard place.
