WORCESTER – The Education Association of Worcester [EAW], the union that represents teachers in Worcester, wrote a letter to Superintendent Maureen Binienda with concerns about the remote learning program in the city.
EAW has organized a caravan starting at 4:30 PM on Thursday, May 21, to bring attention to their concerns. It will start at the parking lot of the Immaculate Conception Church at 353 Grove St. and follow a route to city hall.
The letter outlined three areas which EAW believes changes will benefit students and educators.
Educators believe current requirements to document how they are spending their time are cumbersome and take away from direct teaching time with students. The EAW proposed a more streamlined and comprehensive system of tracking student contact.
EAW also says the Education Support Professionals and Instructional Aides in the school system are being underutilized. The letter suggests better definition of roles and access to resources would enable better utilization of these professionals.
Technology needs of students is another barrier to effective remote learning in the district, according to EAW. It called the attempt to meet these needs “… late and weak…”
The EAW asked that the School District establish joint labor-management committees and engage in collective bargaining to collaborate with educators on solutions.