ORLANDO – The union representing 14,000 local educators is suing Orange County Public Schools and its superintendent to halt the district’s reopening plans, arguing that the current risks of coronavirus outbreaks is too high.
“The district’s actions put the health and safety of 25,000 school employees and over 200,000 students, and all of their families, at unnecessary and avoidable risk,” the union’s summary of the lawsuit states.
The school district plans to offer parents the choice of in-person learning and two options for online instruction, but the lawsuit contends that teachers won’t have such a choice and may be forced into in-person instruction that puts them at increased health risks. The schools are scheduled to open to in-person learning by Aug. 21.
The district has also been accused of failing to fulfill the union’s requests for public records about the names of schools where coronavirus cases have been reported and what disinfection steps have been taken to ensure a safe teaching environment.
“This includes a list of schools and worksites with COVID-19 outbreaks and what is being done to sanitize those worksites and keep students, teachers and all employees safe,” Wendy Doromal, the teachers association president, told the Florida Record in an email. “The community is entitled to information to make informed and fact-based decisions.”
The lawsuit, which was filed July 30 in the Ninth Judicial Circuit, seeks a temporary injunction on the reopening plans pending an arbitration process. It also urges the court to enforce provisions of the state’s public records law and comply with collective bargaining obligations.
“The district has not only failed to collaborate in good faith with us to work on real solutions and comprehensive plans, but it has failed to be transparent on safety-related information,” Doromal said.
A spokesman for the school district said the district would not comment on pending litigation.
The county has the highest level of coronavirus transmission in central Florida, according to the lawsuit. Cases number more than 27,000, while hospitalizations reached 735 and deaths numbered 174 as of July 27, the complaint states.
Orange county educators have the means of providing online instruction until protections are in place to ensure students and teachers can safely return to the classroom, according to the lawsuit.
“Since the district leadership has shown that they will not stand up for the health and safety of this community, we have no choice but to challenge their illegal actions in court,” Doromal said.