SOUTH QUEENS WOMEN’S MARCH CALLS ON NYC DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF TEACHERS, STAFF AND STUDENTS

QUEENS, NEW YORK - South Queens Women's March (SQWM) calls on the NYC Department of Education (DOE) to act swiftly to protect the lives of its teachers, staff and students. 

Countless community members we know are teachers at NYC DOE schools including many of our own SQWM members. 

New York State saw a record high number of new COVID-cases last week and yet, DOE schools remain open with no new actions in place to protect the lives of those working and learning in schools. 

Classroom spaces have not gotten larger. Class sizes have not gotten smaller. Vaccination rates among younger children are still lagging. Yet, DOE schools remain open.  

DOE teachers are requested, but NOT required, to get tested on a weekly basis. For those who choose to get tested, COVID-19 testing remains inaccessible, with teachers having to travel distances, having to wait in long lines and having to find time to get tested outside of working hours. We have heard that testing kits on-site at schools run out each day, forcing staff who want to get tested to find alternative means of doing so. 

"The DOE continues to exploit the unpaid labor of teachers. Folks are spending HOURS in lines to avoid exposing our students and coworkers to COVID when the responsibility should be on the DOE to provide regular testing!" - DOE public school teacher & SQWM Member 

"As a teacher, I am terrified of going to work every day. At least 2-3 more staff members and many students are testing positive or not coming to school each day because they don’t feel safe. I’m having flashbacks of March 2020. It breaks my heart that we have to go to the building everyday when we have a mechanism in place for remote learning." - DOE public school teacher & SQWM Member 

South Queens Women's March calls on the DOE to take immediate actions, including but not limited to:

- Ensuring that all on-site testing sites at DOE schools have an ample supply of tests each day 

- Providing remote options for learning to reduce COVID-risk among staff and students 

- Requiring testing and social distancing of 6 feet between all students and staff