Teachers Share Concerns Ahead Of TPS Board Vote On Return Plan Tuesday

Many teachers and parents at Tulsa Public Schools wait anxiously to hear if they’ll be heading back to in-person classes as the Board of Education is set to vote Tuesday night.

Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist recommended a staggered return to students to head back to class in the middle to end of November. There are some teachers who said they want to go back, but others feel it’s too risky.

"I deeply respect the amount of thought and the process going into these decisions because they are not easy and there is not a good answer,” said Tulsa Public Schools teacher Elizabeth Steinhocher. "It's hard to think that we could truly put up safety parameters to keep each other safe at this point."

Steinhocher said in March she was talking with one of her third grade students about the risks of COVID-19 and why they were going to learn from home for the next few weeks. She said that student became immediately concerned about his nana.

"He was like I'll be okay but if this makes my nana sick, I don't know what I would do, my Nana can't die,” said Steinhocher.

Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist is recommending students return to the classroom in a hybrid format. The plan includes two days of being in class and three days of learning from home.

Related Story: TPS Superintendent Recommends Careful Phasing To In-Person Learning

The goal is to have all students back in the classroom by November 30.

"We know that when we wear our masks, wash our hands and watch our distance, it's just as good as a vaccine," said Gist. 

Many TPS teachers said they're concerned for their own safety and the safety of their families. 

Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association President Shawna Mott-Wright said the district has a lot of veteran teachers, who are part of the at-risk population.

"We have a lot of teachers talking about resigning and retiring and if that happens in a massive group, that's going to hurt kids more than anyone,” said TCTA President Shawna Mott-Wright.

Gist said she wouldn't recommend going back to in-person classes if they didn't have a way to keep people safe.

"Of course there are risks in all parts of life generally speaking and we aren't doing anything that doesn't follow the guidelines that medical experts are giving us,” said Dr. Gist.

"I know that there is always going to be risk,” said Steinhocher. “I am just saying that I don't think there’s enough information to risk someone's Nana."

The Board of Education will vote Tuesday night during their 6:30 p.m. meeting on whether or not to follow Superintendent Gist’s recommendation. The meeting will be held virtually.