UPDATE (WKOW) — With cases continuing to rise, and just a month and a half left before school starts in Madison, the Madison teacher’s union is calling for school to go all virtual for at least half of the first semester.
Just last week, MMSD released an updated plan for the new school year, making clear an all virtual school year was a possibility.
However MTI is requesting they scrap all possibility of in person learning and focus on the virtual.
In their demand, MTI acknowledged that the first attempt at virtual learning was stressful for students and teachers.
That’s why they want the district to focus on 5 specific criteria for improvement, including making sure every student has access to internet and a device that makes virtual learning possible.
As a part of their reopening plan, MMSD has already said it will be providing Chromebooks for every student and WiFi hotspots for those who need it.
MTI wants virtual learning until at least the first quarter of the school year, but is asking that it last until there are no new cases for two weeks.
In a statement, School Board President Gloria Reyes said she supported starting out in an all virtual model before going to a mix of virtual and in person.
She went on to say that she thanked MTI for contributing but ultimately experts will make the final decisions.
MMSD sent out a survey on Monday to families about how they would like to see the district proceed.
27 News reached out to MMSD Thursday and, while officials weren’t able to comment, a spokesperson said they will be addressing the topic at a virtual press conference Friday.
MADISON (WKOW) — The union representing Madison teachers today called on the Madison Metropolitan School District to adopt all-virtual learning when school begins in the fall.
In a news release, Madison Teachers Inc. said that virtual learning is the best model to ensure the physical and emotional health of students, staff, and the families in their households.
The district currently is considering three options for the upcoming school year: all virtual, all in-person and a hybrid of the two.
District leaders earlier have said they hope to release a final plan by early August.
“As educators, this is a difficult decision for us because we pursue our profession out of our love of working with children — and that work is done best when we can do work with them in person,” said MTI Vice President Michael Jones. “We are excited to work with our students and families. Commencing September 1, staff will be ready to teach! But we refuse to jeopardize the lives of our children or our families with a reopening plan that relies on magical thinking and unfunded mandates,” Jones added.
MTI staff and leadership said in the news release that they continue to engage with the district and community stakeholders seeking information and expressing health and safety, staffing, instructional equity issues, and workload concerns regarding the myriad of plans being considered for the 2020-21 school year.
