Teachers’ unions in Connecticut presented a petition Thursday signed by 14,000 members, urging the state to put in more precautions to make classroom learning safer.
Mary Yordon is president of the Norwalk Federation of Teachers. She is one of those calling on Governor Ned Lamont to switch to all-remote learning until stricter protocols are in place that can be enforced state-wide.
"We believe that there is a responsibility for every student," she said. "There's an equity question here, and every student and every employee should be able to work without the unnecessary risk. It should not be a local decision, there should be a basis of safety in every district, that is a fundamental thing."
Union representatives say their members are facing unacceptable risks in some districts where there isn’t enough space to keep people 6 feet apart and mask wearing is not enforced.