KEA: No Claim of Responsibility for KUSD Teacher Absences

Sept. 21, 2020 6:35a; Updated 10a; Updated at 5:25p with KEA statement

(WGTD)---In a statement released Monday evening, the Kenosha Education Association did not claim responsibility for organizing a surge in teacher absences that caused a halt to in-person teaching at seven schools. But the teacher's union believes that a continuation of in-person teaching will contribute to community spread of COVID-19 and have "harmful, and potentially fatal, consequences for teachers, students and families." 

276 teachers called in sick forcing about 3,600 students to switch gears on short notice, stay home and join the remote learning format.

The affected schools were Bradford, Harborside, Indian Trail, LakeView, Lincoln, Reuther and Tremper. All-virtual will be in place for these schools through the end of the week because it's difficult to quickly move back and forth between on-line and in-person, according to district spokesperson Tanya Ruder.

Through Sunday, the district had seven confirmed cases of students with COVID-19 and three staff members. The new school year began Monday, Sept. 14th with parents and students given a choice of either in-person or remote learning. 

The KEA says at least 16 staff members and 100 students are in quarantine at Indian Trail alone. "Some staff are living in their basements to keep their families safe and preserve their livelihoods," the KEA statement said. 

The union also said it was sympathetic to the inconveniences suffered by parents but that educators are "deeply distressed" by being forced to put themselves at risk by entering buildings.  

The district sent an email to staff Sunday evening warning that sick days require a reason for an absence, and that policy may require individuals to get tested for coronavirus before being allowed to return to work. .   
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