Earlier this week the PW Perspective spoke with several Prince William County Public School teachers and staff, who expressed their concerns on returning to teach in-class when COVID-19 rates have risen over the past month. During the January 6 School Board meeting it was recommended that grades fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth will return on April 20 for in-person instruction, with grades seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th and 12th returning on April 27.

The Prince William Education Association today released the following statement in response to the proposed plan:

“The Prince William Education Association (PWEA) is dedicated to the health and safety of every PWCS student
and educator. That has been, and will continue to be, our top priority since this pandemic began.
Our situation is dire in Prince William County (PWC). The positivity rate is over 20% and continues to rise.
Already, COVID patients on the eastern end of PWC are being moved to Stafford hospitals because our county
is overwhelmed. We are losing control of this health crisis, and we have yet to peak from the holiday surge.”

“While Dr. Walts’ revised plan to keep middle and high school instruction virtual until late April is beneficial, it
still disregards the needs of all other staff members who have been in the building since August and remain
there. It ignores the elementary students and educators who are being forced to come into the building, despite
the danger.”

“To assist our county in controlling community spread and, most important, ensure the health and
safety of our students and staff, the school board should:”

● Approve Dr. Walts’ revised plan for middle and high school instruction to remain virtual until the end of
April.
● Allow all Tier 1 and Tier 2 educators to teach virtually this school year.
● Roll back SPED, ESOL, and all elementary instruction to All-Virtual until at least the end of March.
● Provide hazard pay for any PWCS educator or staff member who is still required to work in the school
building.

“It is unfortunate that the school board has led for months with the idea that Dr. Walts has full control to change
the return to learn plan at any time, as he did at Wednesday night’s school board meeting. Yet, the entire board
refused to keep their word and accept the plan. We ask that our school board, for once in this historical crisis,
make the safety and health of all employees a priority by remaining 100% virtual.”

There will be a special session of the board on January 12 to discuss the proposal.