As evidence for their claims, the coalition points to the fact that private and parochial schools in Philadelphia have been providing in-person instruction for months with few outbreaks, and that teachers and school-based staff will be eligible to receive the vaccine from pop-up clinics slated to open on February 22. | From: WHYY (Read more.)
Expanding access to benefits comes at a time when schools are experiencing declines in enrollment, and more people are going hungry.
En un cambio de última hora, la ciudad anunció que los profesores no estarían obligados a presentarse en sus aulas el 8 de febrero. | From: AL DÍA (Read more.)
However, in the lead up to Feb. 8, there has been significant blowback from teachers, unions and local political reps that reopening early is putting teachers back into an unsafe work environment where COVID-19 could run rampant. | From: AL DÍA (Read more.)
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) said in a statement Sunday that “thousands of teachers” will work outside their buildings instead of going inside. | From: WHYY (Read more.)
Facing pressure from activists and elected officials, Comcast Corp. said it will increase internet speeds for low-income families and postpone fees on heavy data users as consumers increasingly rely on broadband during the pandemic. | From: The Inquirer (Read more.)
Philadelphia public school teachers bundled up in winter coats, gloves and hats sat outside on folding chairs on a bitter cold Monday morning as a show of solidarity over concerns about coronavirus safety amid a planned return to classrooms. | From: NBC10/Telemundo62 (Read more.)
A spokeswoman said that about 2,000 staff members who had been expected to go to school buildings to prepare for a Feb. 22 reopening for early-grade students can teach remotely instead, since a mediator hired to review a safety agreement between the district and teachers union won’t have a decision in time. | From: Chalkbeat Philadelphia (Read more.)
One of the questions he will have to decide is whether key parts of the agreement, specifically around adequate ventilation, cover days when only staff is in the building or only become operative when students return. | From: Chalkbeat Philadelphia (Read more.)
The district will utilize window fans as the main component at those schools to ventilate the air in classrooms, and Superintendent William Hite Jr. on Thursday defended the reopening. He cited federal guidelines that approve of the air flow provided by those fans and promised daily monitoring in every classroom. | From: NBC10/Telemundo62 (Read more.)
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