CFT President Jeff Freitas talks with Novato Federation of Teachers President Mariah Fisher, who discusses the efforts of a new county-wide coalition of educators, school workers, and parents that is advocating to reopen schools only when it is safe to do so.

Marin County, where the Novato school district is located, initially announced that schools would reopen in August with very few health considerations for the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the district was proposing that all schools should have all students on campus five days a week, with four feet of social distance, and that in-person instruction would start on August 20.

On July 16, more than 150 Marin County teachers and parents held an action at the Marin County Office of Education building in Terra Linda. Because of pressure from teachers and parents, the county backed down from its initial direction that all schools should be physically reopened, and the county’s schools will all be opening through distance learning, at least through September.

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