One of the most impacted groups during the Bay Area's omicron surge has undoubtedly been teachers, students and parents.
In the Oakland Unified School District, teachers and kids are taking the battle against coronavirus to their schools. Two teachers from Oakland Unified joined KCBS Radio's "Bay Current" on Friday to explain what it's been like in the classroom as omicron surges across the region.
"Before the pandemic, schools in East Oakland (were) already in need of more counselors, teachers and nurses," said Julie Mendoza, a teacher at Roosevelt Middle School. "The pandemic has compounded all of these issues into a crisis, and into an emergency situation every day."
Mendoza noted that it's frustrating receiving emails from the district stating that resources are being provided to classrooms when many students have been left without teachers or guidance from instructors.
On Thursday, Oakland schools faced a teacher "sickout," the second such event in the last month, where educators protested working conditions during the current surge of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations.
Students have also circulated an online petition threatening to go on strike with a student "walkout" next week if their demands for more PPE, safer classroom conditions and remote learning options are not met.
Related
