The Oakland teachers’ union is criticizing school leaders for failing to tap into a resource that could help students during the pandemic: substitute teachers. The union is rallying supporters to demand action at Wednesday's board meeting.
Substitutes could be in a good position to step in and provide individual and small group support for students who are falling behind. In the deal that the union and district reached this summer on distance learning, the two parties agreed substitutes could be assigned to schools that ask for extra help. According to the union, at least 150 substitutes volunteered to take on those special assignments, but they’ve been slow to come.
For its part, the district says its been meeting regularly with the union on the issue and is working to distribute tech devices to substitutes who need them. The union already filed a formal grievance and plans to ramp up public pressure tonight.
—Vanessa Rancaño (@vanessarancano)