Public school teachers and staff were supposed to return to school buildings today ahead of the students’ return to schools as part of the School District’s hybrid learning plan set to launch on Feb. 22. However, as instructed by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) on Feb. 4, the staff didn’t report to school buildings due to COVID safety concerns.

Since the District has announced the return to the hybrid learning model, which includes a partial instruction inside school buildings, the opposition to the plan has been mounting. PFT has issued a few statements opposing the plan until building safety conditions are met. 

“We have repeatedly asked for real, concrete solutions, and instead have been presented with a dangerous window-fan installation program that further jeopardizes the health and safety of our educators and young people,” reads a statement by PFT President Jerry Jordan, issued on Feb. 4.

Jordan has called for intervention of a third party in this matter:

“Health and safety of the educators and students of Philadelphia is paramount. Despite ongoing discussions with the School District, we do not believe safety conditions outlined by the [agreement] have been met. As such, I have called for the intervention of the neutral third party, as indicated by our negotiated agreement.”

The Fund Our Facilities Coalition, which includes local lawmakers, unions and advocacy groups, has sent a letter to School District Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite and Mayor Jim Kenney, calling for transparency about decision making and to completely remedying building concerns before reopening schools.

West Philadelphia-elected politicians Jamie Gauthier (City Councilmember, 3rd District), Rick Krajewski (State Rep., District 188), Morgan Cephas (State Rep., District 192), and State Senator Vincent Hughes were among those who have signed the letter.

“As lawmakers, community leaders, and community advocates on this letter, we stand in solidarity with the workers of Philadelphia, including the unions and their members who work in our public schools,” the letter reads. “We will not allow them to be shamed, bullied or strong armed into accepting unsafe conditions at any point in their service to our city.”

“The latest push by the School District of Philadelphia to send teachers back into schools has raised deeply troubling questions about sufficient safety precautions and without even a comprehensive plan to vaccinate them before potential classroom exposure.”

The full letter is available here.

In response to PFT’s instruction for teachers not to return to school buildings on Feb. 8, the School District issued a statement on Feb. 5. Superintendent Dr. Hite expressed his disappointment with PFT’s disregard of the School District’s plan, but also hope that the mediation process will begin soon.

“We have been working tirelessly since spring 2020 to put in place numerous layers of safety, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments, to protect the health and well-being of everyone in our buildings,” the statement reads. “…We remain committed to doing everything we can to move forward with the slow and careful return to in-person learning.”

More information on the hybrid learning plan and the District’s preparation for reopening school buildings can be found here.