Since Governor Andy Beshear made the recommendation for school districts to implement remote learning until at least September 28, 2020, most school districts in Kentucky have announced plans for students to stay home and receive virtual instruction. What has not been made clear, however, is if teachers may also stay safe at home to deliver that instruction. 

There are over 55 articles compiled here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YQntfyKPF7kj-GudXwQvExTYo3CUz9L9_B_gv7jaTC8/edit?usp=sharing which indicate how dangerous it is to work in the same building with a person who has contracted Covid-19. Most teachers do not work alone in a room all day. They share rooms (sometimes closets) with colleagues, eat lunch in common areas, and share restrooms. Teachers would still be putting themselves and their families at risk.

Giving staff the CHOICE to report or stay healthy at home is giving school employees a right to life and livelihood. Many teachers and/or family members have co-morbidities putting them at higher risk of complications or death from Covid-19. Teachers who have been carefully isolating and limiting non-essential activities since March are being forced to throw away those precautions in order to do what -- prove to the community that they are working? Students are trusted to work from home, so why are teachers not being given the same trust? In March, April and May teachers stepped up to the plate. They are more than ready to do that now that they have had more planning time, yet superintendents and other administrators are still pushing the need for teachers to report to buildings that may not have adequate broadband capabilities for all classes being streamed at once. Why waste the building's energy and resources when many teachers have better work spaces in their homes?

Last but not least, there is the issue of child care. Teachers are being told they are not allowed to bring their children into the buildings with them, yet also were not told of any plans until the last minute. Teachers with kids may have to take a leave (exacerbating our already dire substitute situation) or add their children to day cares that are already limiting capacity. This also compounds the risk of virus exposure teachers and their families are going to experience.

It comes down to a control issue. Teachers are professionals who were hired to do a job. They understand that and are often praised for going above and beyond. What makes anyone think that they would suddenly stop taking care of their responsibilities just because they are in a home office behind a computer screen?