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This week two agreements were signed. The first one is for in the event of a District closure due to COVID. The second was addressing Simulcasting/Dual Platform instruction.
It has taken almost three months, bargaining with KSD to get these done, and it was not because KEA wasn’t trying. Since elementary students now have access to vaccinations, it seems less likely that there will be a need for a full district closure. However, if it were to happen we now have a plan in place.
Simulcasting/Dual Platform Instruction, has been a sore point for KEA. We know the amount of work it takes to be an educator in person and that teaching online takes additional time, resources and support. All things KSD does not want to acknowledge. KEA’s stance is that if something is worth doing, then it is worth doing right. Unfortunately KSD believes, “teaching online is just like teaching in person. All you have to do is put a camera up.” This shows how disconnected they are from the classroom. This agreement was signed, despite our concerns, so not to continue to impact students. KEA demanded to bargain this agreement prior to the start of the school year. KSD refused to acknowledge concerns around these issues and delayed the ability for impacted students to be able to return to class.
There are three very important pieces in this agreement:
- Simulcast/Dual Platform instruction is only being offered to health impaired students who cannot attend school due to a medical concern. This is not an option for every student in place of an online academy. KSD chose not to offer an online option for families, despite KEA’s urging last spring.
- You do NOT have to offer a simulcast/dual platform option for students in your class. We know the amount of time, work, and effort it takes to teach in multiple platforms. Know that KSD has refused to provide any additional time, resources, or support to any educator who volunteers to take on this additional workload.
- If you chose to teach a simulcast/dual platform student, you have the right to give a 3-day notice to terminate if you realize at any point, it is too much or too difficult to do and will be done without judgement.
Educators are under so much pressure to do this important work and the need for support for our students and staff is only growing. We encourage you to think carefully before entering into this option for your own health and time. If KSD is writing this into IEP’s they are required to provide it. If you chose not to offer it then KSD must look elsewhere for this service that they agreed to. There is to be NO PRESSURE put on any educator to offer simulcast/dual platform instruction. If you feel that you are being pressured to do so, let your building rep know immediately.
Both agreements are linked to this article. Thank you for all you do and please take time to care for yourselves.
KEA Bargaining Team
Links:
Forced Closure MOU
LOA Simulcast
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