© 2024 90.7 WMFE. All Rights Reserved.
Public Media News for Central Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Back To School Order Raises Concerns

Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran's executive order calls for schools to  open brick and mortar campuses five days a week in fall.
Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran's executive order calls for schools to open brick and mortar campuses five days a week in fall.

This week Florida’s education commissioner Richard Corcoran released an executive order telling schools that they will have to open up brick and mortar campuses five days a week in fall. 

School districts are now trying to figure out how to reopen schools safely- as the coronavirus pandemic continues to surge statewide. Teachers are worried about the health of their students and themselves once campuses reopen. 

Intersection host Matthew Peddie spoke to Elizabeth Albert, president of the Volusia United Educators, a union representing some 3,800 educators and support staff in Volusia County. 

Albert said she's disappointed by the executive order.

"We are shocked and saddened to think that the governor and the commissioner feel that they can control and dictate what is done within Volusia County Schools," said Albert. 

She said it's the school board's job to make decisions for teachers and students in Volusia County.

"So we feel that it is an extreme...example rather of overreach on the part of the governor and the commissioner."

Albert said a plan for how Volusia County schools will return to class is set to be released on July 15th.

"We've surveyed our members and we have some members who are ready to go back brick and mortar; we have other members that are highly concerned about returning to schools based what they're seeing in our state and in our communities about the rise in cases of COVID," said Albert.

"So we we are just hoping that whatever plan is presented affords a variety of options, not only for the educational professionals, but for parents as well."