By Dallas Hulsey 

The Washoe Education Association (WEA), like its brother and sister associations across the state, has faced an uphill battle to keep its educators safe this upcoming school year. For reasons of community-wide safety, the WEA stands by the Washoe County Health Department’s recommendation to transition to full digital learning in the fall. 

The WEA is concerned with the safety options presented to educators at this time. As a result, we filed an OSHA complaint with the backing of the Nevada State Education Association (NSEA). In a meeting with the WEA, NSEA President Brian Rippet said, “We want the public to know that we’re not going to withhold education services from our students and families. We’re working on a continuation of teaching and learning safely and equitably for all of our constituents.” 

The average classroom is already an unsafe space for children and educators in a pandemic. Gov. Steve Sisolak recently made classrooms even more dangerous. In Directive 028, the governor gave the OK for school districts to reduce the minimum social distance between K-8 students from six feet to three feet. This will not help prevent the spread of COVID-19. In fact, it will help escalate it. Our OSHA complaint is a legal attempt to rectify these safety issues. It is also a message to the governor that the WEA is willing to take every avenue available to protect our families. 

Educators of all ages are endangered by returning to work in-person. Nationally, 24 percent of all educators are in at-risk health categories according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The risk to educators is so high that many Nevada educators have spoken out to show their opposition to reopening schools. 

Recently, Washoe County School District sent out a survey to educators that showed that approximately 40 percent do not think it is safe enough to return to classrooms this fall. Another survey sent out by Empower Nevada Teachers shows that more than 50 percent of educators do not think it is safe to work in-person. This shows how concerned our educators are about workplace safety and how little faith they have in our broken education system.

In the 31st Special Session, which adjourned a few weeks ago, $156 million was cut in K-12 education funding. Elected officials did not provide any alternate sources of funding to education to amend the gaping hole left by those budget cuts. Now, as we hold the 32nd Special Session, the governor’s proclamation includes a proposal that would allow various entities, including school districts, to deny and escape legal responsibility and liability for COVID-19 illnesses and deaths once in-person schooling resumes.

The state Nevada is trying to make it impossible to sue for damages to our loved ones who contract or are affected by COVID-19. As people fall ill and die, their families will have no recourse for help with the bills. 

Adequate PPE and appropriate safety measures are the state’s responsibility. Educators deserve strong reopening plans. Limiting the state’s liability for damages as a result of inadequate PPE or the absence of other appropriate safety measures is misguided and unacceptable. 

We are reopening schools during a spike in a deadly pandemic. Safety measures and funding for education are being eroded at both the local and state level. We have tried advocating for ourselves by writing to our legislators, leaving public comments and holding socially distanced rallies. Despite all of this work, it is clear that we have not been heard by the governor and our elected officials in the Legislature.

The Washoe Education Association and the Nevada State Education Association are taking a stand against reopening when the science says it can’t be done safely. Our OSHA complaint is a signal to the Washoe County School District, the governor and the Legislature: We will not stand for reopening schools when it isn’t safe. 

Dallas Hulsey is a sixth year Washoe County educator and serves on the board of directors of the Washoe Education Association.