Teachers take “Not until it’s safe” school reopening protest to CM Mary Cheh’s home

DC teachers have been conducting home visits. But not of their students.

Yesterday, teachers gathered in front of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s home.

#OnlyWhenItsSafe chanted outside of @MayorBowser home by @dcpublicschools teachers. Demanding better care and response to #COVIDー19 @fox5dc pic.twitter.com/Be9Qk8eQi9

— Jesse Burkett-Hall (@BurkettHall) July 20, 2020

Members @WTUTeacher drove protest car caravan through DC this evening, stopping at homes of Council Members and Mayor. They say anything other than distance learning for Fall Semester is unsafe for them, their students & families @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/aCsgIB91WI

— Jackie Bensen (@jackiebensen) July 21, 2020

And several showed up at the home of Ward 3 Council member Mary Cheh. The teachers announced their arrival on Cheh’s street by tooting their car horns. She came out to talk with them.

The teacher-protesters came to demand that schools reopen “only when it’s safe.”

Mayor Bowser was scheduled to announce the DC Public Schools reopening plan on July 16th, but instead delayed the decision until July 31st. She did present some possible options for hybrid online and in-person instruction. She also said that DC Public Schools would make a 100 percent virtual option available to all except pre-K3 and pre-K4 students.

Even if school buildings do reopen on August 31st, students will engage in online learning. The protesting teachers reminded Cheh that they are demanding $11 million from the Council to close the technology gap many of their students face. They also demand that the DCPS negotiate with teachers on providing an acceptable level of personal protective equipment (PPE). Another concern raised was poor air quality and HVAC systems in many schools, even in newer ones.