AFT-WV is disappointed that, once again, the Governor has misrepresented our position regarding school re-entry metrics. The 5% positivity rate is only one of six necessary factors in the AFT’s guidance document, A Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities. The Governor continues to cherry-pick the portions of AFT’s public health guidance document to suit his own agenda.
Today, Governor Justice unveiled additional changes to the WVDE color-coded school metric. While we agree that more testing is imperative in gaining a more accurate reflection of the infection rates in our communities, AFT-WV questions the effectiveness of a constantly changing metric for school attendance. Employees, parents, and students need a system they can trust and easily understand.
CHARLESTON- The state’s largest education union responded to reports that school-related COVID cases are no longer being reported by state officials.
On September 4th, Governor Justice said “I want every single thing transparent at all times,” when he was still reporting cases at his tri-weekly briefings. Additionally, State Health Officer Dr. Ayne Amjad stated that same day that “we have announced the schools because we do think it’s a public health/safety concern, and parents, teachers and the public do need to know….and we will be doing that.”
In her September New York Times column, AFT President Randi Weingarten says that going back to school has never looked like it does now. Weingarten explains that because of President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus, which has been chaotic, contradictory and inept, and the lack of federal guidance and funding, we’re seeing a patchwork of school reopening plans across the country.
AFT-West Virginia would like to clarify the misleading and out of context remark made by Governor Justice in his press conference today about school reopening. We have been working with officials at the WVDE on a consistent basis throughout this pandemic. We have shared our re-entry guidance documents and safety checklists with the WVDE to help ensure we have input into the re-entry process.
WASHINGTON—The 1.7-million member American Federation of Teachers announced the results of its biennial officer elections on September 1st, with delegates to the union’s convention (held virtually in July) voting overwhelmingly to re-elect President Randi Weingarten, elect Fedrick Ingram as secretary-treasurer and elect Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus to her first full term.
Delegates to the convention also elected AFT-West Virginia President Fred Albert as an AFT Vice-President.
AFT-WV has been alerted to concerns some members have regarding one of the resolutions passed during the 2020 AFT National Convention last week. We want to take the opportunity to clarify some points for those members with concerns.
First and foremost, it is important to remember that AFT-WV and our local affiliates are independent and autonomous as per our constitution and bylaws. There are occasions where the viewpoint of the national organization is different from that of AFT-WV, and this is such an instance.
*A message from AFT-WV President Fred Albert*
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