Members of the Saint Paul Federation of Educators Local 28 say the days leading up to the return of fulltime in-person learning are filled with stress and anxiety.
Pre-k through second grade students will return to in-person learning on Monday, with grades 3 through 5 returning Tuesday, February 16.
As the students' return draws near, many teachers and staff are still waiting to find out if they themselves will even be in the classroom.
"Some people still don't know if they've had their leaves granted for next week," said SPFE vice president Leah VanDassor. "There's a lot of stress around that. It didn't help that there was some confusion around the vaccines allotted for the district this week."
The uncertainty, according to the union, comes from the lack of approved ADA accommodation requests. The request, which existed before COVID-19, are being made by staff and teachers that have a medical condition preventing them from returning to work in person. If approved, accommodations would be granted to work virtually.
"It's a long process," VanDassor said. "With as many people who've been requesting them, it's been an even slower process because it's just inundated the district's HR department."
According to SPFE, who cited numbers from Saint Paul Public Schools, 514 people in the district had requested either an ADA or Executive Order 20-82 accommodation as of Monday, January 25.
73 of the ADA requests and 91 executive order accommodations had been approved.
"We've got a limited timeframe for people to make a decision about if they try to get an ADA," VanDassor said. "There have been quite a few people who, although they would qualify for an accommodation, have been denied that accommodation because of a loophole that allows an employer to deny the request if it causes an undue hardship for the employer."
According to the Union, the every ADA request by elementary specialists has been denied.
"If they need an accommodation, it means that school won't have someone to cover another teacher's prep. Then the kids won't get art or physical education," VanDassor said. "They could do their job virtually, but that doesn't do any good when you're trying to allow a teacher to have their daily takeoff."
An agreement between the District and SPFE allows members to take leave if needed during the pandemic, but it still leaves those making that decision in a tough spot.
"It's not an easy choice to decide that you can't do your job. You either resign, or temporarily quit and lose your pay and health insurance. That's where some people are at making that choice."
VanDassor says several members at higher risk of complications brought on by contracting COVID-19 could qualify for safer accommodations.
"They're not being granted accommodations because ADA was not adjusted for COVID."
As Monday approaches, SPFE continues its plea to Saint Paul Public Schools to delay the return of in-person learning until at least early March as the vaccine rollout for teachers and staff appears to provide some sense of hope for a safer, more confident return.
"We'd have for less stress, rush, worry, confusion and anxiety," VanDassor said. "Parents and families not knowing whether to do virtual or in-person learning would know that teachers had been vaccinated and could safely work near students."
