TCTA staff and leadership are closely monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its potential impact on Texas schools, our members and TCTA operations, especially with regard to the recommendations of healthcare experts including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.
As we send this update Friday afternoon, President Donald Trump is expected to declare a national emergency. This move would allow federal officials to direct billions of dollars in disaster funding to states.
Members are beginning to call regarding what their employing districts can and should do as the situation develops. We know that the commissioner of education is meeting daily with a team of people who are monitoring the situation and seeking appropriate responses and proactive measures. As information is received from TEA and other sources, we will share it with you.
TCTA members with questions can contact the TCTA Legal Department through our
Ask-A-Lawyer portal
(for general questions) or by calling 888-879-8282 (for specific issues).
Many employers are making provisions to provide paid leave to their employees in the event of illness, close exposure or childcare issues, including such companies as Walmart and Uber.
TCTA attorneys believe that school districts, in this era of local control, have the ability to create paid “emergency leave” provisions to take care of their faculty and students in the event of school closures or outbreaks or exposures that might affect the health of many.
Public education is, by its very nature, a large public gathering. You may wish to inquire if your district has plans or is in the planning stage to make preparations for coronavirus-related absences or disruptions. The needs of hourly employees should be carefully considered to avoid a loss of income or people feeling the need to come to work when they are not well. Some institutions of higher education are extending spring break or plan to offer classes online only after spring break; several Texas school districts have cancelled classes for one or more days this week, effectively beginning their spring breaks early.
We are making contingency plans at TCTA Headquarters to provide for how we will continue to be accessible to our members in the event our operations are disrupted. If we are not functioning as usual, we will provide information on our website and social media pages regarding how you can continue to access members of our staff.
Are your hands chapped yet from all of the extra vigorous washings and sanitizer uses? If yes, good for you.
Stay well, and we’ll do our best to ensure that you stay informed as this unusual public health emergency develops.
Keep scrolling for some valuable resources, including a look at pending legislation at the federal level.
