One in four teachers at greater risk from coronavirus

DOUG: SCHOOL BEGINS IN A MONTH, AND DISTRICT LEADERS SAY A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE LOOKING AT RETIRING BECAUSE OF COVID-19. AS NANCY LAFLIN REPORTS, UP TO 25% OF THE A.P.S WORKFORCE IS CONSIDERED HIGH RISK. NANCY: THE HEAD OF THE TEACHER’S FEDERATION SAYS THEY ALL WANT TO GET BACK TO THE CLASSROOM, BUT SHE SAYS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK. AND THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT GETTING THEMSELVES, THEIR STUDENTS, OR FAMILY MEMBERS, SICK. ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN ONE MONTH. TEACHERS HAVE TO BE BACK TO WORK IN THREE WEEKS. >> THEY KNOW THAT OF THE 14,000 TOTAL EMPLOYEES THAT THEY HAVE IT COULD BE UP TO 26% WHO ARE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK. HIGH RISK COULD BE OF A CERTAIN AGE OR THAT WE HAD CANCER AND WE’RE A SURVIVOR OR THAT WE HAVE OTHER HEALTH COMPROMISING CONDITIONS. NANCY: ELLEN BERNSTEIN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALBUQUERQUE TEACHER’S FEDERATION. SHE SAYS THE DISTRICT WILL HAVE TO ACCOMMODATE STAFF WHO ARE HIGH RISK, AND THERE ARE LOT OF THEM. >> THIS IS A LOT OF MOVING PARTS THAT I DON’T THINK ARE SETTLED YET. NANCY: SHE SAYS WITH COVID CASES GOING UP IN NEW MEXICO, BERNSTEIN BELIEVES IT WON’T BE SAFE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO GO BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM NEXT MONTH. >> I THINK WE NEED TO START SCHOOL ON TIME BUT I THINK WE NEED TO WAIT A WHILE BEFORE START IN PERSON TEACHING AND LEARNING. NANCY: BERNSTEIN SAYS A LOT OF TEACHERS ARE TELLING HER, RIGHT NOW, WITH SCHOOL JUST WEEKS AWAY, IF THEY HAVE TO GO BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM, THEY ARE CONTEMPLATING RETIREMENT. >> ONE OF THE THINGS I’M HEARING FROM A LOT OF EDUCATORS IS DEPENDING ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY THINK THE RETURN PLAN IS SAFE FOR THEM THEY MAY RETIRE AND I DON’T THINK OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM EVEN STATEWIDE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE RETIRE BECAUSE THEY DON’T FEEL SAFE. NANCY: THE MANDATE FROM THE STATE IS THAT STUDENTS ARE IN THE CLASSROOM HALF THE WEEK, AND WORKING VIRTUALLY THE OT

Video above: Teachers contemplating retirement if forced to return to classroomNearly 1.5 million teachers are at higher risk of serious illness if they contract coronavirus, according to an analysis released Friday evening.About 24% of the total suffer from health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or obesity, or are older than age 65, which make them more vulnerable, the Kaiser Family Foundation report found.The share of teachers at high risk based on criteria identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the same as for workers overall, Kaiser said. Schools face the challenge of high traffic and tight quarters, which could make social distancing difficult.The analysis comes as the nation is engulfed in a debate over whether it's safe to bring children back into the classroom this fall. President Donald Trump ramped up the pressure last week on state officials to reopen schools in the fall, threatening to withhold federal funding.But many teachers and parents remain concerned about being able to keep children and their instructors safe, especially as the number of cases surges across the nation and more than two dozen states have halted or started to roll back their reopening plans.Local school leaders, public health experts, educators and parents should be involved in the decision to open schools, and they must take into account factors including community spread of COVID-19 and the ability of schools to institute safety protocols, according to a joint statement released Friday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AASA, The School Superintendents Association."Returning to school is important for the healthy development and well-being of children, but we must pursue re-opening in a way that is safe for all students, teachers and staff," the groups said."For instance, schools in areas with high levels of COVID-19 community spread should not be compelled to reopen against the judgment of local experts," the statement continued. "A one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate for return to school decisions."But others are worried about continuing distance learning, citing the toll it takes on children's education and parents' ability to return to their jobs. They have pointed to the fact that kids are less likely to suffer serious illness from coronavirus.When asked about the increased risks that come with opening schools, South Carolina's Republican Gov. Henry McMaster said Friday, "Our plan is to have the schools open and a lot of discussion's going on about that right now.""We need to get 'em back in," he said of the students. "People have to go to work. Parents have to go to work. Teachers want to go to work. Everybody wants to get the schools started. But we have to be sure that we're doing so safely."

Video above: Teachers contemplating retirement if forced to return to classroom

Nearly 1.5 million teachers are at higher risk of serious illness if they contract coronavirus, according to an analysis released Friday evening.

About 24% of the total suffer from health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or obesity, or are older than age 65, which make them more vulnerable, the Kaiser Family Foundation report found.

The share of teachers at high risk based on criteria identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the same as for workers overall, Kaiser said. Schools face the challenge of high traffic and tight quarters, which could make social distancing difficult.

The analysis comes as the nation is engulfed in a debate over whether it's safe to bring children back into the classroom this fall. President Donald Trump ramped up the pressure last week on state officials to reopen schools in the fall, threatening to withhold federal funding.

But many teachers and parents remain concerned about being able to keep children and their instructors safe, especially as the number of cases surges across the nation and more than two dozen states have halted or started to roll back their reopening plans.

Local school leaders, public health experts, educators and parents should be involved in the decision to open schools, and they must take into account factors including community spread of COVID-19 and the ability of schools to institute safety protocols, according to a joint statement released Friday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and AASA, The School Superintendents Association.

"Returning to school is important for the healthy development and well-being of children, but we must pursue re-opening in a way that is safe for all students, teachers and staff," the groups said.

"For instance, schools in areas with high levels of COVID-19 community spread should not be compelled to reopen against the judgment of local experts," the statement continued. "A one-size-fits-all approach is not appropriate for return to school decisions."

But others are worried about continuing distance learning, citing the toll it takes on children's education and parents' ability to return to their jobs. They have pointed to the fact that kids are less likely to suffer serious illness from coronavirus.

When asked about the increased risks that come with opening schools, South Carolina's Republican Gov. Henry McMaster said Friday, "Our plan is to have the schools open and a lot of discussion's going on about that right now."

"We need to get 'em back in," he said of the students. "People have to go to work. Parents have to go to work. Teachers want to go to work. Everybody wants to get the schools started. But we have to be sure that we're doing so safely."

��vlog