What is Mutual Aid & Why it is important

By Laura Fuchs

Being separated from our students and families, it is hard not to feel helpless in the face of all of this unknown. While it is important to advocate for the government to step up and support our families, we know that there are immediate needs that are still not being met. But community members are stepping up to help each other using what is known as Mutual Aid.

From Big Door Brigade: "Mutual aid is a term to describe people giving each other needed material support, trying to resist the control dynamics, hierarchies, and system-affirming, oppressive arrangements of charity and social services. Mutual aid projects are a form of political participation in which people take responsibility for caring for one another and changing political conditions, not just through symbolic acts or putting pressure on their representatives in government, but by actually building new social relations that are more survivable."

Read more at https://bigdoorbrigade.com/what-is-mutual-aid/

Please Share with your school, students and families. Volunteer. And Donate.

For Immediate Release:                                    Contact: Joe Weedon

March 26, 2020                                                jweedon@gmail.net

                                                                        202-277-9410

Washington Teachers’ Union and Fox 5 Partner to Air Lessons on TV

“Learning Doesn’t Stop—Lessons on TV” Geared Primarily

for Students without Laptops

WASHINGTON—The Washington Teachers’ Union is partnering with Fox 5 and its sister station, Fox 5 Plus (WDCA), to air lessons on television, starting Monday, March 30, for students who do not have access to laptops or Wi-Fi during school closures.

The lessons, presented by District of Columbia Public Schools teachers, will begin Monday on Fox 5 Plus at 10 a.m. Each day of the week will feature a 30-minute lesson aligned with district learning standards for a particular grade group. Mondays will be for early childhood learners and first-graders; Tuesdays for second- and third-graders; Wednesdays for fourth- and fifth-graders; Thursdays for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders; and Fridays for ninth- through twelfth-graders. Lessons will mostly be in the subjects of English language arts, math and history.

The program is called “Learning Doesn’t Stop—Lessons on TV.”

“We’re doing this because at least 30 to 40 percent of our city’s students do not have access to a computer. They shouldn’t be left out of distance learning because of their economic circumstance,” said WTU President Elizabeth Davis. “Even with the city’s recent investment in 16,400 new laptops and thousands more available in our schools, DCPS has been slow to release them to every student who needs one. Every child needs an equal chance to learn while schools are closed, and we’re working to help fill the gap with lessons on TV.”

Patrick Paolini, general manager of Fox 5, said the station was thrilled to team up with WTU in this time of crisis.

“Fox 5 is committed to serving the community in any way we can. The lessons on WDCA taught by our community heroes—teachers—will help kids keep learning as we all get through the coronavirus crisis together in a variety of ways,” Paolini said.

The lessons on WDCA will be promoted daily on Fox 5’s “Good Day DC” morning show and on TEGNA-owned CBS affiliate WUSA9’s “Great Day Washington” morning program.

“Helping our community’s children to keep learning is one of the greatest public services we can provide during this trying time,” said Richard Dyer, president and general manager of WUSA9. “We’re glad to partner in this effort to make sure D.C. students have access to various avenues for learning.”

Teachers also will post the lessons on WTU’s website, www.wtulocal6.net, so students and their families can work on the lessons discussed throughout the week.

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March 25, 2020

For more information contact:

Joe Weedon, 202-277-9410

WTU Urges DCPS to Release Laptops to All Students in Need

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Teachers’ Union (WTU) President Elizabeth A. Davis issued the following statement today.

“The WTU’s top priority during this public health crisis is the safety of our city’s teachers and students. However, as we enter this new and uncharted territory, teachers across the city are increasingly concerned about the digital divide that plagues our city.

“DCPS must act TODAY to ensure all students, in all grades, have access to computers as we embark on Distance Learning across the District. We urge the Mayor and DCPS to act immediately to ensure widespread access to computers for all families in need by expanding device distribution to include Middle and Elementary school students.

“In the coming days, public health experts expect the crisis facing our nation to grow. Each day that we delay is another day that students will go without access to their lessons and interactions with their teachers and potentially undermine efforts to distribute them.

“We recognize that there are additional barriers that must be overcome during this crisis. The distribution of laptops will not solve all our concerns. We are working with local TV stations as well as DCPS to make video lessons available to students and their families, and we must also identify ways to further expand Wi-Fi access to all students.

“The gaps that have become apparent across our city during this crisis are not new. We have long known that they have existed. They impact the achievement of our students and the success of our teachers and schools. As we emerge from this crisis, we hope to work with our city’s elected leadership to re-examine the impact of the digital divide and opportunity gaps on our students, reform our teacher evaluation and school accountability metrics to de-emphasize federally-mandated standardized tests that reflect these gaps, and to prioritize reforms to close the achievement gaps that plague our public schools.

“We encourage all families and community members to follow the advice of local public health agencies during this crisis. The latest updates, including locations where students can obtain free meals, are available at https://coronavirus.dc.gov/.”

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We want to Thank everyone who was able to join us for a chat with President Davis on Monday evening. At the peak of the call, we had over 400 people on the line. We’ll host additional Virtual Town Halls as the situation requires. Yesterday, we compiled the information we received via text, email and on the call and shared a list of topics we discussed with DC Public Schools officials. Today, we want to share that information with you. We encourage you to continue to share your questions and concerns with us via email at WTUCommunications@WTULocal6.net or contact your Field Rep.

We have a(nother) short survey we’d like you to complete to help us understand the challenges that you’ll face as we move to Distance Learning on Tuesday, March 24. Please click here: https://forms.gle/VDppXqxdj8EKa3EK8

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The Access Gap

Our top priority during this public health crisis is your health and that of our community. However, we also want to ensure that instruction can continue and that we support teachers & students in this transition. We know that many of our students will lack computers and internet access (Comcast has made internet access available, free in many cases). If you identify a student or family in need of a computer or internet access (Comcast has made internet access available, free in many cases), please email your school and the grade of the student to WTUCommunications@WTULocal6.net. We want to ensure that DCPS and our city’s elected officials are aware of the needs and that Distance Learning doesn’t increase our city’s achievement gaps.

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This is a tough time for all. COVID-19 has had an unprecedented and devastating impact around the world. The District has declared of a State of Emergency giving the Mayor wide latitude to close government offices and schools. DC Public Schools’ (DCPS) has developed a plan to modify operations through Tuesday, March 31.

The health of our teachers and our community is our utmost concern during this crisis. We have been in continual conversation with the Chancellor and have requested that the Chancellor cancel tomorrow's Professional Development in light of recent CDC guidance limiting gatherings of 50 or more individuals as well as reports that at least one DCPS teacher has been exposed to the virus. The WTU encourages all teachers to ensure they put the health and safety of themselves and their families first as they consider whether or not to report for tomorrow's PD sessions.

We are also working with DC Public Schools to clarify the expectations for School-Based Employees over for the period of Distance Learning that begins on March 24. Last Friday, we sent a letter to the Chancellor asking for clarification on numerous issues including:

·       Concerns about needing to report to schools that have not been deeply cleaned on Monday, March 16 (we have since called for PD to be cancelled or for provisions to be made for teachers to attend remotely);

·       Access to Distance Learning tools and resources as well as concerns that many students will lack needed technology and internet access;

·       The lack of a process and timeline for developing clear expectations for teachers, in partnership with the WTU, for any period of Distance Learning; and

·       The unilateral decision to move Spring Break without prior engagement with teachers or the WTU.

The WTU is concerned that disruptions in instruction and disparities in access to technology will create uneven results on standardized testing due to occur later in the Spring. As such, we have recommended that DC suspends PARCC testing and that tests are not used for school accountability and teacher evaluations for the coming year.

We’ll continue to share information as it becomes available and encourage you to be in communication with your Building Representatives and Field Representatives if you have any questions or concerns. 

We urge you to follow the advice of health professionals. Many resources, including information about how to protect yourself and your family, are available on coronavirus.dc.gov. The symptoms that are currently being seen with coronavirus (COVID-19) are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you experience the symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) or have reason to believe you have been exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19), call your healthcare provider before visiting a healthcare facility.

AFT Resources on the coronavirus are available here: https://www.aft.org/coronavirus

Virtual Tools and Resources for Distance Learning

Please join WTU Professional Development Coordinator Sarah Elwell for a virtual session via Zoom that explores virtual tools and resources that can be used for distance learning and communicating with students and families in the event of a school shutdown.

Time: Mar 14, 2020 11:00 AM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/848478429

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Time: Mar 16, 2020 09:00 AM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/433524160

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Time: Mar 16, 2020 06:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/318373489

Specialized Cleaning

In addition to current cleaning activities routinely carried out by DCPS custodians, specialized cleaning is being performed daily.  Enhanced routines include:

·       Increased attention to cleaning all frequently touched surfaces in common areas and restrooms, including but not limited to doorknobs, light switches, elevator buttons, tables, sink faucets, toilets, chairs, and any other hard surfaces in common areas.

·       Disinfection of each cleaned surface, such as through the use of a disinfectant spray, after cleaning.

·       Use of CDC-recommended products.

Each school has a designated individual who oversees operations. Please contact this individual or your Building Representative if you have any concerns regarding supplies, sink functionality, or other issues that may prohibit the proper washing of hands.

For any questions about COVID-19, DCPS encourages you to visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/, which includes information from DC Health. Questions may also be directed to dcps.covidqs@k12.dc.gov.