When Can You Update Dallas Isd At Your Service

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Some Dallas ISD teachers say they are concerned for the safety of students, themselves and family unit members if in-person learning resumes in the fall.

Even with temperature checks, face up masks, clear acrylic and other measures, some educators say going back to class in a pandemic isn't realistic.

"You lot tin can't continue kids clumped up in a room all solar day," said Sheila Walker. "That's not going to work for anybody."

Walker, a Dallas ISD community liaison, says she and other members of teachers' union NEA-Dallas are being left out of decision-making at the district.

Rodney Mancuso, a 6th grade teacher, worries that in-person classes will create a convenance ground for COVID-xix. "Especially with elementary and middle school kids, at that place will be transmission. They're not going to habiliment their masks and do everything they're beingness asked all the fourth dimension."

While children accept been largely unaffected by the virus, teachers are concerned what volition happen once it's carried home.

"Many thousands of our [students'] families have elderly people in their homes - they are multigenerational homes," said Diane Birdwell.

The AP world history teacher worries she, too, could get ill.

"If I go dorsum to schoolhouse and get ill and I end upwards in the hospital, it volition toll me thousands and thousands [of dollars]. It will wipe me out."

Rosa Maria Riviera is an ESL teacher at Dallas ISD. "I'one thousand non physically able to go back to the classroom because I have underlying conditions."

Still, the teachers admit that online learning comes with its ain set of challenges. "Due to the nature of distance learning, you merely cannot reach a significant portion of students if they don't want to exist reached," said Mancuso.

Birdwell wonders how it volition exist possible for such a big commune to shift to 100% online learning. "We are an in-person, 227-building district with 115,000 kids - how do you do this?"

While districts grapple with that questions, these Dallas ISD teachers say they are being left out of the decision making. They are concerned that plans are being made without input from people on the front end lines. Walker says her wedlock has received calls from employees in all departments. "Motorcoach drivers are calling, 'what are we supposed to do?'" she said. "'How are we supposed to ship these kids to school?'"

A district spokesperson told CBS 11 while teachers were non role of the main group of conclusion makers, subcommittees provided drafts of plans to 2 of the largest teachers unions, including NEA-Dallas. The district also sent surveys to all teachers.

The panel CBS 11 spoke with says, it's not enough.

"Nosotros're not criticizing," said Birdwell. "Nosotros're begging to be included."