California Educator

February/March 2022

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I N W H A T W A S planned to be a return to meeting in person for the first time since January 2020, CTA State Council of Education met virtually Jan. 13-16 after the uncontrolled spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant forced a quick shift to a remote format. It was the kind of flexibility in the face of uncertainty that educators have exhib- ited for almost two years. CTA President E. Toby Boyd thanked State Council mem- bers for their understanding, noting that while much has changed since the begin- ning of the pandemic, CTA's focus has remained the same. " It 's b een tw o years since th e f irst COVID-19 case was identified in the U.S. and changed our lives. And since then, safety, guided by the science, has been our top priority — the safety of all educators, our students, and families," Boyd said. In his report to State Council, Boyd addressed the impacts of Omicron on schools across the state and outlined what is being done to keep educators and students safe. Boyd said CTA continues to support in-person instruction as long as it is safe to do so. "Educators and students must have the safety precautions they need. ere must be regular testing. And there must be enough staf f to run a school ," said Readying for Challenges Ahead Meeting remotely again, State Council sets a vision for the coming year By Julian Peeples Boyd , who outlined steps to be taken immediately in a January letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom, including providing high- quality masks for educators and restoring C OVID suppl em ental sick l eave. " No educator should have to choose between going without pay and spreading the virus to their students and their families." In addition to the ongoing pandemic, there are numerous challenges facing educators and public schools, includ- in g up c omin g el e ctions and a frin ge minority that wants to prevent students from learning the truth about our nation's history. Several dangerous ballot initiatives, including a voucher 49 F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 2 2 CTA & You

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