Aug. 19, 2020 10:00p
(WGTD)---Teachers are so concerned and frightened following the Kenosha School Board's reversal to allow the option of in-person learning this fall that dozens have contacted the teacher's union for help in writing a last will and testament.
"I'm not trying to be dramatic. It's the truth," said Kenosha Education President Tanya Kitts-Lewinski. "Educators are legitimately concerned," she said.
In the face of public pressure, the board voted unanimously Tuesday night to give parents and students the option of going back to school. A remote learning option remains. Parents are expected to be contacted this week to declare a choice.
At the meeting, several speakers during public comments accused the board of bending to pressure from the KEA when it decided to go all-virtual last month.
In an interview with WGTD News Wednesday, Kitts-Lewinski said parents' anger is misdirected. "Educators want schools to open. We want to see our students, "she said. "We go into our profession because we love the learning and being in our classrooms. We just want schools to open safely and we want them to open and stay open."
KUSD administration has conceded that it fully expects some classrooms or even schools to have to close temporarily because a student or teacher will have tested positive for the virus.
Kitts-Lewinski asked the public to remember that some teachers at the middle school and high school levels may come in contact with over 100 students per day. "It's not that educators don't feel for our families...the issue is that we cannot sacrifice the lives of a single student or educator because we can't get this virus under control," she said.
She said the KEA is weighing its options on how to respond to the board vote.
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