USEP Update 8/31/2020

USEP UPDATE

MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2020

Hello USEP Members,

I hope you all had a safe first week, amidst all the usual beginning of the year confusion, and the added dimension of COVID. The purpose of this memo is to update you to many of the concerns that have been expressed to us through phone calls, emails and at our Rep Council meeting last Tuesday evening.

• USEP lawsuit – was “in the queue” behind the statewide lawsuit. The state-wide suit has taken precedence in the court system. Pasco County positivity rates have been trending down for several weeks and currently sits at 4.0%, which is below the CDC recommendation.
• FEA lawsuit – Judge Dotson agreed that the DOE Commissioner overreached his authority in requiring Districts to open in B&M to receive funding. After back and forth appeals, the automatic “stay” (hold) on the Department of Education’s Emergency Order remains in place. The state filed a motion to certify the case to the Florida Supreme Court and bypass the appellate process, but this was denied. The current status is that nothing legally has changed, the Emergency Order remains in effect and the hearings will continue at the appellate level court. Arguments begin this week.
• Sick Leave Bank – information regarding the Sick Leave Bank program will be forthcoming to employees over the next weeks. PLEASE LOOK FOR THAT INFORMATION! Even if you have not participated in the past, USEP strongly encourages participation this year due to the uncertainty of the situation.
• Daily COVID-19 Update – www.pasco.k12.fl.us/news. The daily information on students and/or employees is on the right side of the page.
• COVID–19 Specific Information – Employees should all have access to a folder on their MyPascoConnect called “ReOpening Plan (Staff).
  • Click on – ReOpening Plan
    • Click on – “All”
    • Click on – 08. Health & Wellness
    • Click on – “Click Here” (This takes you to the Health & Safety Information page)
    • Click on – 03. Managing COVID like illness.
  • Click on – Procedures for Sick Student
    • Here are the Guidelines for Staff for various scenarios
  • Click on – Procedures for Sick Staff
    • Here is the protocol for Employees
  • Click on – How to Manage COVID at Home
    • Tips for home concerns
  • Click on – 04. Confirmed Positive COVID-19 Student
    • Staff and admin. Procedures for a known Positive student
  • Click on – 05. Confirmed Positive COVID-19 Staff
    • Procedures to follow by District and employee
  • Click on – Notification to Parents & Staff
    • Exclusion letter
  • Click on – Return to School After Home Isolation
    • Protocol for students and employees
  • Click on – FORMS
    • Click on – PARENT COVID RESPONSE PROTOCOL
      • This includes a detailed response for various situations regarding students
    • Click on – STAFF COVID RESPONSE PROTOCOL
      • This includes a detailed response for various situations regarding staff

The Department of Health, not school administrators, makes the determination on whether a student or staff member goes home, however the message may be delivered by an administrator.

• Breakfast in the Classroom – Tuesday evening we delivered the message to Rep Council attendees the initial response from District regarding breakfast.
  • Teachers can stand in/outside of doorway and monitor from there, or
  • Teachers may speak to an administrator to seek an alternative place for students to eat that is safe (hallway, another room, commons, outside, etc.)

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR SITUATION AND HAVE NOT HAD A CONVERSATION AFTER TUESDAY WITH YOUR ADMINISTRATOR, PLEASE HAVE THAT PROFESSIONAL CONVERSATION FIRST, BEFORE CONTACTING YOUR BUILDING REP.

• MSOL Class Size – The District has stated that they will use data from the 10 and 20-day class counts to re-distribute class loads. It was not the intent to have grossly oversized rosters and we have been told this will be addressed.
• Dismissal – This seems to be a bigger problem at the elementary levels, and conversation was had with Assistant Superintendents to seek a remedy. Changes have been instituted at several schools with the intent of speeding up the dismissal process. Transportation has also made changes to expedite the end of day procedures.
• Transportation – District agreed to keep seats #1 and #2 open for social distancing between drivers and students. Drivers will get updated rosters identifying mask exempt students.

There are other issues that we continue to address and some not known to us yet. If you have concerns that arise at your worksite, please contact your USEP Building Rep. We continue to advocate for safety in all situations.