January 8, 2022

BURLINGAME – California Teachers Association President E. Toby Boyd, a kindergarten educator, released the following statement in response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 that is impacting students, educators and school communities:

“Educators remain committed to keeping our schools open for in-person teaching and learning. The fast-spreading Omicron COVID-19 variant is adding new challenges, with thousands of students and educators testing positive and creating significant staffing shortages. Our schools must have proper safety measures, access to testing and adequate staffing. We appreciate the Governor’s announcements today and urge the state to provide rapid COVID tests in our schools, provide high-quality K/N 95 masks for educators and all school staff and proper ventilation. We also join with our labor partners in calling on state leaders to restore COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for all workers in California to allow school employees to quarantine, recover and return to their students and classrooms.”

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The 310,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association.