Back to school: SF city attorney warns legal action against teachers' union plan

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KRON) -- In San Francisco, the school district is back at the negotiating table with the teacher's union trying to hammer out a plan that would get kids back to school.

But in a new development, KRON4's Maureen Kelly reports that the city attorney's office is now warning the teacher's union that parts of the plan they've already agreed to -- are illegal.

A legal warning shot has been fired in the form of a letter to the head of the teacher's union. So far, the city attorney has not sued the United Educators of San Francisco, unlike the district and the school board because the union is not legally required to have a plan in place for reopening schools.

Dennis Herrera is taking issue with the parts of the reopening plan that the district and the union have already hammered out, and that the school board says they plan to ratify next week.

The plan would have teachers back in their classrooms once the city is in the red tier if they are vaccinated, or in the orange tier without getting those shots.  

Herrera argues that health officials say it's safe for in person learning right now, even in the purple tier, without waiting for staff to be fully vaccinated.

"Warning. Be advised that any school reopening plan to fail fails offer offer in-person instruction 'to the greatest extent possible' would be unlawful."

This comes as a number of elementary students gathered at a city park for a Zoom in, similar to a sit in protest, where they showed off what how they've been learning -- except they actually can see their classmates in the flesh. They say are really sick of distance learning.

"Being on a screen so long, it hurts my eyes, it makes my brain feel all mashed up like mashed potatoes, makes me feel groggy and make me lose my focus," Ayla said. "I don't like it, not at all."

The school district says they understand students and families are struggling and want to see our students back as soon as possible.  

But they maintain they can't reopen without meeting all of the conditions necessary. And it's those conditions the city attorney says are unnecessary, and he plans to challenge them in court if the deal with the union is ratified.

from KRON4 https://ift.tt/3bg82j6