Teachers Union Issues No-Confidence Vote In MCPS' Reopening Plan

ROCKVILLE, MD — The Montgomery County teachers union has issued an overwhelming vote of no confidence in the district's school reopening plan, saying it does not adequately address the safety of students and staff.

The vote, taken at an emergency meeting on Monday, came days after Montgomery County Public Schools said it would begin phasing students back into classrooms on March 1.

The Montgomery County Education Association said the plan does not offer enough space, people, or resources to pull off a safe reopening without "negatively impacting students' learning experience."

Lower-income and minority students, who mostly have opted to remain online, will be hit the hardest, according to the union.

"MCEA cannot support the current plan, which will only increase inequity in Montgomery County schools," the union said.

Superintendent Jack Smith said he was "deeply perplexed" by the no-confidence vote, especially after the teachers union reached an agreement with MCPS about returning to schools.

"Our recovery plan and discussions with the association followed months of tremendous collaboration and interaction in development of this work," Smith said. "Physical distancing, face coverings, hand-washing, COVID-19 case tracking, testing, and personal attestation will all be a part of the experience once students return to ensure safety for all."

In a statement, members demanded that the school system adheres to the Centers for Disease Control's school reopening guidelines and "adequately staffs all instructional models" — particularly those that directly serve vulnerable student populations.

Another major sticking point with the union is members' contention that all teachers and staff have a chance to be vaccinated for the coronavirus before returning to school buildings.

Employees can only pre-register for a vaccine appointment through the county. But they are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the state's mass vaccination sites and private providers.

New CDC guidance says teachers do not need to get vaccinated before returning to the classrooms. But County Health Officer Travis Gayles thinks educators should have some sort of protection against the virus.

"I think it is important for them to have access to at least one shot before going back into the classroom," Gayles said. "I know some may say that's controversial, given some of the CDC guidance, but I do think we should continue to ensure that they have access to that as an added layer of protection."

Despite that, Gayles said school leaders have done their due diligence to plan for a safe return to in-person instruction.

Under MCPS' reopening plan, about 500 students with special needs — as well as about 230 students in career and technical programs — will be the first to return on March 1.

More students will begin returning to classrooms on March 15. Hybrid learning schedules will vary by school and grade level.

In an email to Patch, MCPS spokesperson Gboyinde Onijala wrote that leaders have "developed a comprehensive recovery plan that prioritizes the safety of students and staff and the continued academic growth of all students."

"While we understand that staff may have some questions and concerns," the statement read, "these plans were developed with input from a diverse set of MCPS stakeholders and are reflective of the district's commitment to fostering a partnership that benefits our students, staff, and community."