CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Teachers Union voted to remain with remote learning on Thursday night, in spite of the district saying hybrid learning will begin on March 8.
Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Eric Gordon mandated that all teachers are to return to their assigned work sites on Monday to teach remotely.
No students are scheduled to report in-person on Monday and all classes are scheduled to continue virtually.
“The members of the Cleveland Teachers Union are eager to come back to the classroom to serve their students in person, but not until we can ensure a safe and orderly return,” said CTU President Shari Obrenski. “We need proven safeguards, like personal protective equipment, distancing, and ventilation, but the District has failed to address our concerns and to provide documentation we have requested.”
The union says they felt that the district bowed to pressure from Gov. Mike DeWine and tossed out its reopening plan.
“A well-planned, science-based reopening plan with safety mitigations in place was the right way to do this. We had that plan moving, and it got derailed. This rush job is fueled by political expediency, not sound science. We know that our schools will be able to reopen – it’s just not yet. We all want the same thing—to be together in school," Obrenski said.
The district released the following statement on the union's decision:
"It is the district’s intent to begin our transition to hybrid learning beginning Monday, March 8th as planned. We remain in discussion with the leadership of the Cleveland Teachers Union (CTU) regarding their concerns."
