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(WWJ) An agreement has been reached between Detroit Public Schools and the teacher's union to have in-person classes starting September 8th.
A letter of agreement calls for no more than 20 students in a classroom, plus requirements that students and teachers will be at least six feet apart.
Teachers who teach in-person will receive $750 per marking period as hazard pay. They will also be provided protective equipment like gowns, face masks, face shields, shoe covers, and gloves.
Coronavirus testing will be available for teachers and students, but will not be required. Any teacher who gets sick will be paid sick time, but won't have those hours taken from his or her sick bank time.
Some teachers have been protesting the return to class due to concerns over the coronavirus so Supt. Nikolai Vitti said one of many key provisions agreed to by the district and the union is the establishment of a joint Labor Management Committee on Schools Reopening. The CSR will meet weekly to review reopening issues and review pandemic related data to inform any recommendations to leadership regarding the plan.
"This is another layer of monitoring, accountability, and collaboration to ensure commitments of safety are implemented with fidelity," the district said.
Despite disagreement from some parents and school leaders, Dr. Vitti has long said that kids in Detroit need to return to their classrooms.
“We are living in difficult times. It is our hope that through this agreement we can now collectively own the reopening of our schools to best serve our children and families while ensuring the safety of our employees,” Vitti said. “The need to serve our children never stops. Even in a pandemic, we need to find ways to best serve and support our children. For some of our families and students, this means face to face instruction and for others it is online learning. This agreement signals we will work together to provide equitable education opportunities for our children and families.
"I personally want to thank the DFT for the open dialogue and collaboration in preparation for a safe reopening of school on Tuesday, Sept. 8.”