Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, NJ21United has been at the forefront of the #OnlyWhenItsSafe movement in New Jersey to protect school staff from the ravages of the novel coronavirus. While the caucus recognizes the challenges and inequities of crisis distance learning models, a deadly global pandemic requires drastic measures to protect the health and lives of school employees.

The news that Montclair School District’s Superintendent Ponds has sued the Montclair Education Association for protecting the safety of their members is disappointing, and reflects a grievous lack of concern for the safety of school staff and the wider Montclair community. For a superintendent to pursue legal action against school employees who only want to be safe and healthy during a historic public health crisis is unconscionable and insulting.

The plain truth is that school employees will only be adequately protected from COVID-19 when they are vaccinated. Unfortunately, Governor Murphy has chosen to de-prioritize school employees in the vaccine rollout process. If the state had chosen to aggressively pursue vaccination of classroom teachers and support staff in New Jersey, most schools could be open for in-person learning already.

The Governor has chosen not to do so, and the responsibility for that decision lies with him. Montclair parents who are rightfully concerned about their children and their education should reserve their ire for our Governor, and his poor decisions in this matter. Superintendent Ponds should save the money he’s spending to pay his lawyers, and instead join Montclair EA President Petal Robertson to pressure Trenton to vaccinate all school employees as soon as possible.

Every school employee wants to be back in their classroom, behind the wheel of their bus, or at the side of their students, but only when it is safe to do so. President Robertson and the entire membership of Montclair EA are right to vigorously pursue their health and safety, and the NJ21United caucus stands in solidarity with them.

NJ21United is a progressive caucus of members of the New Jersey Education Association.

Find us online:
http://nj21united.org
Twitter: @NJ21United
www.facebook.com/nj21united

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