Administration at Akron Public Schools release FAQ page on possible teacher strike

AKRON, Ohio — The Board of Schooling and administration at Akron Public Faculties is getting ready for a possible instructor strike, simply three days after college students are anticipated to return after winter break.

The Akron Schooling Affiliation introduced the 10-day strike discover early Thursday after contract negotiations with the varsity board failed and the primary half of the 12 months was plagued with violent disruptions to schooling corresponding to pupil fights, stabbings, weapons at school and academics’ assaulted.

Whereas there’s nonetheless an opportunity that the union and the board might come to an settlement earlier than the scheduled strike on Jan. 9, either side are getting ready for the worst. Friday, APS directors launched a Strike FAQ web page.

Answering questions, “What’s a 10-day strike authorization and what occurs throughout this time, will studying proceed throughout a strike and what if my household has no choices for childcare.”

Within the, “What are the excellent points or remaining negotiation subjects?” APS stated, partly:

Each events have reached tentative settlement on quite a lot of vital points. Whereas there are a number of remaining points, the important thing points seem like wages, medical health insurance, further unrestricted private depart days, and extra particular provisions for the definition of pupil assault as outlined within the neutral truth finder’s report.

Akron Public Faculties’ guardian Teresa Ridgeway stated the wording to the reply of that query is one in every of many issues that upset her.

“They push college security to the very again. They need to put academics’ wages and medical health insurance up entrance and that is not what’s on the forefront of this battle. It is college security,” she stated. “They preserve twisting this to make it just like the academics are, you already know, on the lookout for simply wages or for insurance coverage, in order that it is egocentric causes and it is not.”

The web page stated if academics strike, studying will proceed on-line:

Our students will proceed their schooling whereas academics are away from our college buildings. There can be an tutorial plan and really useful day by day schedule that may enable college students to pivot to on-line studying. This can embody alternatives for college students to satisfy on-line with an grownup and alternatives to finish on-line classes independently at their very own tempo. This method aligns with our accredited district blended studying plan. Whereas in-person studying is clearly most well-liked, our instructional neighborhood has developed intensive expertise in serving to college students be taught nearly.

Ridgeway stated the reply is just too obscure.

“What’s an grownup? Does this grownup have a prison background examine? Who’s going to be on the opposite finish of the pc if my youngster is at dwelling and so they’re assembly with my youngster. Who is that this particular person? Are they certified as an educator,” she requested.

Information 5 reached out to Mark Williamson, the communication director for the district, he stated the “adults” are non-union district workers and constructing directors.

APS stated, below Ohio legislation, college students are required to work on-line throughout a strike.

A guardian, who wished to stay nameless, advised Information 5 her youngster received’t be taking part in on-line studying and, as an alternative, can be standing with Akron Schooling Affiliation.

“I cannot ship my youngster to high school, nor will they do any kind of school-related actives or homework of any form,” she stated. “I hope the academics get all the things on their want record.”

Ridgeway echoed her sentiment.

“They’re attempting to bully and scare mother and father into conforming to this on-line education that they going to place collectively whereas the academics are hanging, however actually what we mother and father must be doing is standing with these academics and saying, no, we aren’t taking part on this,” she stated.

Different vital subjects to notice from the FAQ web page:

Breakfast and lunch can be supplied for college students by grab-and-go meal baggage.

There is not going to be after-school actives operated by the district as a result of the academics make up majority of membership advisors, this consists of sports activities.

Employees can be accessible for psychological well being and schooling assist.

In case you have no choices for childcare, APS stated:

We perceive that some households will want childcare assist. A restricted variety of seats can be reserved at Scholar Help Middle areas for households that want final resort protection. If no settlement is in place, and a strike seems imminent, APS will launch a pre-registration course of for households as shortly as doable.

Scholar Help Facilities for pre-registered college students in Grades Ok-5 can be in operation starting at 8:30 am and shutting at 2:30 pm day by day through the strike interval.  College students could also be dropped off starting at 8:20 am and have to be launched to oldsters/guardians for the return dwelling no later than 2:40 pm day by day.

To go to the web page, click on right here.

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