DANVERS, Mass. — As dozens of Danvers teachers protested their school district’s hybrid reopening plan Monday, parents and children rallied feet away in support of the plan.
The Danvers Teachers Association called for a fully remote return to school, expressing concerns about what they say are inadequate ventilation systems and an unclear plan on how to move students throughout the buildings.
“It’s emotional, because who doesn’t want to be back in a classroom with your kids in a normal sense?” said kindergarten teacher Jen Sisson. “I always say I don’t know how to teach kindergarten without hugging.”
Sisson recently underwent an extensive hip surgery and muscle removal after contracting a staph infection from a cortisone shot at a hospital. While Sisson may be more vulnerable to coronavirus than most, she is concerned about the health and safety of more than just herself.
“I don’t need any complications on top of what I’ve already been through,” Sisson said. “Each child is so precious. I just don’t feel like it’s safe right now to put children, their families, the faculty, the staff at risk.”
Fourth-grade teacher Katy Bullers, mother of a three-month-old son and two-year-old daughter, told Boston 25 News, until better ventilation and planning are provided, she does not feel safe returning.
“My fear is that people in the town will die, teachers will die, maybe kids will bring it home, maybe family members will die,” Bullers said. “It’s a real fear. This is a real virus. And it’s something that we need to take seriously.”
Bullers said remote learning has come a long way since the pandemic shut down schools last spring, and educators are better prepared to teach online.
But feet away from the teachers protesting Monday, parents and children held signs supporting the hybrid model approved by the school committee and submitted to the state this month.
“They need to get back for that social, emotional reason, too. It’s not just about being back in school learning,” said Ellen Dugas, a mother of three who recruited her own mom, a retired Peabody teacher, to help her kids with their online lessons. “It’s so hard. Just looking at my kids, my nine-year-olds, and telling them that they’re going to be okay, and try to get back to some sort of normalcy and see their teachers, see their friends.”
Laura Pelletier, mom of three boys, joined other parents Monday to support children with special needs, who she said require more in-person learning than a fully remote plan can provide.
Pelletier, a physician’s assistant, switched her hours last spring to help coordinate her sons’ online lessons.
“I have children with profound dyslexia – my oldest – anxiety, attention deficit [disorder], and to have them do their own schedule and be functional at that, it’s not possible,” Pelletier said.
Asked about teachers’ concerns about safety, Pelletier said she supports educators, but they will have to take the same precautions as other essential workers.
“When I see teachers here, I can’t help but think about other workers who’ve been doing it since we’ve opened back up: hair dressers, Market Basket employees,” Pelletier said. “I think you have to be COVID-capable, COVID-wise. You have to clean, you have to do due diligence.”
Students will return under the hybrid model on Sept. 16, unless they choose a fully remote model taught by Danvers teachers, Danvers School Committee Chair David Thomson said in a statement to Boston 25 News Monday:
“Starting the Danvers Public School year on September 16th in a hybrid model is far from ideal, but given the current environment it was the decision that has been made...” Thomson said. “Everyone has the right to express their opinion and I applaud those who are doing so as long as it is peaceful and respectful.”
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