Wichita teachers who want to resign over COVID-19 safety concerns face $1,000 fines
Mary Harrison said she will likely resign from her teaching job with the Wichita school district if the Board of Education votes to return students to class in person next month.
The resignation could cost her more than $1,000.
It won’t be easy, but she’s able to handle the financial hit well enough. She knows that’s not the case for everyone.
“A lot of teachers would quit if they were told they have to teach in-person classes,” Harrison said.
The fine comes from the teachers’ union contract from last year, which outlines the terms of a teacher’s request to be released from the contract. The deadline for resignation was late May. If a teacher resigns after that date, they must pay the district damages of $1,000 plus $100 per week for each week after May 29. Teachers could pay a maximum of $5,000 in penalties.
Wendy Johnson, a spokesperson for the district, said that teachers who were eligible for retirement were given the option to retire without a penalty before Aug. 3. They can retire at 50% of the penalty through Aug. 28. For other teachers, the contract language about monetary penalties remains in place, she said.
The contract expired at the end of July, but remains in effect until the union and district negotiate a new one, which is ongoing.
When union members agreed to last year’s contract, teachers didn’t know the coronavirus pandemic was on the horizon and their jobs would become high-risk, Harrison said.
Now that the nature of the job has changed, teachers shouldn’t have to make a choice about whether or not they need to resign over worries about the health of their families, Harrison said. Some teachers are seeking more flexibility from the district given the pandemic.
“I don’t blame our district and I don’t blame building administration,” Harrison said, “But we are way too ill prepared to open our buildings to anyone, let alone students, and not staff.”
While some teachers have considered resignation, others would not choose that route for a variety of reasons, they say. Other concerns, such as the ability to social distance or control the spread of the virus, are at the top of their minds.
As teachers headed back to work in person last week, they found themselves bracing for the unknown: should they prepare virtual learning lessons, or plan for in-person education? How will they protect themselves and their families if they don’t know what form education will take?
The Wichita Board of Education will meet on Aug. 20 to decide whether to open the buildings to students or start the year online. Assistant Superintendent Tiffinie Irving previously said the choice will be based on coronavirus conditions in Wichita on that day. The Board last month delayed the start of the school year until Sept. 8.
Most teachers who spoke with the Wichita Eagle say the decision will arrive too late, not allowing them to use the full time from the delay intended for further preparation. They pointed to other large school districts across the country that have already decided to begin the year virtually.
Six Wichita teachers told The Eagle that they think starting the school year fully remote is the best option. Nearly half of 1,347 teachers who responded to a survey from the union said they preferred a model that is flexible enough to move among in-person, virtual and hybrid classes. More than 70% of teachers surveyed said they did not think students will be able to maintain social distancing or wear masks if required.
Nicholas Green said resignation isn’t a choice for him, given the large monetary penalty and loss of income. Green teaches social studies at Wichita West High School.
At the same time, he worries that if he goes back to in-person teaching, he could carry the virus home to his wife, who is immunocompromised and at a higher risk of complications from COVID-19.
Even now, without students, Green thinks teachers shouldn’t have to be in the buildings if they can work effectively and attend meetings remotely.
Green would like to see the BOE vote to begin classes virtually next month, with an option for teachers to choose whether they will teach from home or remotely in their classrooms.
United Teachers of Wichita, the teachers’ union, has heard from multiple teachers who are concerned about the monetary penalties for resignation, said Gabriel Costilla, vice president of UTW and an English and debate teacher at Wichita West High School. The worries also stem from a lack of clarity on what the return to school will look like in Wichita.
“Some teachers may be concerned, but not speak up because they don’t know what will happen,” Costilla said. “Teachers don’t know whether or not they will be in an unsafe situation when school does start.”
The union is currently in negotiations with the district over a new contract, and Costilla said they’ve discussed the concern about resignations with administration. The district is holding to the contract language, Costilla said.
Costilla said they may hear from more teachers depending on what the BOE decides on Aug. 20. Most are seeking additional flexibility from the district, he said.
Johnson, the school district spokesperson, said it’s important that the district know what class rosters will look like and what teachers will work in-person, with MySchool Remote or Education Imagine Academy. Knowing teachers are in place helps the district make those decisions.
“Through the entire duration of planning, conversations about what would provide the safest possible work environment have been paramount,” Johnson said.
In late July, the district shared results of a survey sent to employees about their intent to return in the fall. Around 33% of respondents said they would “return with confidence” and 66% will “return with concern” for the safety of themselves and others.
Johnson pointed to the district’s COVID-19 response plan, which outlines the various steps the district will take for different circumstances, such as when someone tests positive for the virus or when there is a household contact. Johnson could not confirm whether any teachers or other staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since last week.
The school board’s decision about a return to school was set for Aug. 20 to allow time to examine whether or not local public health orders, such as the mask requirement, had an impact on controlling the coronavirus in Sedgwick County, Johnson said.
In addition, the district has scheduled professional learning days ahead when teachers can learn more about technology tools that might help them if they need to teach virtually.
Teachers want to see students, but say safety comes first
Virginia Quincy teaches English at Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center, an alternative high school in the district. She said she’s considered resigning because returning to school in-person doesn’t feel safe to her.
Quincy is at higher risk for COVID-19 complications, given her Type 2 diabetes. However, she’s also in a unique position at her school, where high school students often work online in the building or on project-based learning. She said it’s safer during the pandemic than other public schools because of it.
Despite the setup, she said her classroom was not equipped with hand sanitizer or disinfecting wipes when she arrived on Thursday, and there were not enough face masks. It concerns her that teachers returned to work in that environment.
Johnson, with the district, said they have been proactive in placing orders for personal protective and cleaning equipment, but acknowledged there might have been some distribution difficulties, like needing to order more pumps for the hand sanitizer.
Green, however, doesn’t think that face masks and hand sanitizer are going to keep COVID-19 out of Wichita schools. He looks at the desks in his classroom, where 26 students will sit this fall, and doesn’t see how proper social distancing is possible.
“I can’t imagine it being safe with whatever precautions we put into place,” Green said.
Even if school does return in person, it won’t look the same way families are accustomed to. Green said it will be more regimented and students won’t interact and work together in the way he’d typically like them to. Teachers will have to operate differently.
“I want my kids to come back. I want to be face to face,” Green said. “It really hurts that I feel like that’s not the right answer right now.”
Derek Goon, who teaches drawing, painting and graphic design at Wichita West High School, agrees.
“I think if this district really cared about its staff and teachers and students, it would go completely online” to start the school year, he said.
It causes anxiety for both parents and teachers to not have an answer, said Goon.
He feels prepared enough to teach virtually, having used the summer to reflect on what went well and what could be improved. He also feels like West High has generally handled safety precautions well since teachers’ return to work last week, and it’s comfortable for just teachers — but not when you add students into the mix.
Martin Schoket, who will teach English at Chester Lewis this fall, also feels ready to teach online. He said the district did a good job of putting together professional development training during school closures in the spring, and he’s ready to put those resources back to work.
He understands the challenges families face with online instruction, but he also pointed to the trauma children can undergo in dealing with long-lasting implications of the virus.
It’s not just about teachers’ safety, Harrison said. She thinks it’s unsafe for the entire Wichita community for school buildings to open to students next month.
Ultimately, Harrison said she is sure she will resign if the board chooses to begin schooling in person. The monetary penalty doesn’t make it any easier.
“It’s with a heavy heart. It’s not like I’m stoked,” Harrison said. “I love my school, my students, staff and my work. But I don’t love it more than I love my family.”
Are you a teacher with Wichita USD 259 who would like to speak with a reporter about your preferences for the return to school? Contact reporter Megan Stringer at 316-347-7442 and mstringer@wichitaeagle.com.
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 4:49 AM with the headline "Wichita teachers who want to resign over COVID-19 safety concerns face $1,000 fines."
