Opinion: Teachers say we need key steps to reopen schools

June 17, 2020
By PAULA HERBART/President – Michigan Education Association
One of the most important decisions our state will make in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic is when and how to safely reopen our public schools.
MEA recently completed a landmark survey on COVID-19’s impact on public education, with more than 15,000 responses from educators across Michigan. Teachers and support professionals are understandably concerned about restarting school prematurely without the proper public health safeguards in place.
In particular, educators are concerned for the health and well-being of their students, their colleagues and families at home — knowing that students often carry illnesses home with them from school to family members.
Overwhelming majorities believe key steps are necessary to safely return to in-person learning:
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