WATCH LIVE: Older, Infirm Teachers Plead With Palm Beach Schools To Let Them Stay “Virtual”

Teachers Say They Have Experience, Love To Teach, Enjoy Distance Learning, But Fear Death From COVID-19

BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Several teachers who self-identified as “older” are pleading with the Palm Beach County School Board to let them teach virtually until COVID-19 is under control. The school board previously said that was not a problem, but recently changed course. Their new options: teach, take personal leave, or be fired.

Among the teachers speaking during a public comment portion of Wednesday’s “work session” was one who said he was 80, loved teaching his students virtually, and continues to be called by parents who want him to teach more because his work is so effective and student love it. But he suffers from COPD and AFIB and can’t risk teaching in a COVID-19 infected school.

The teacher said he was initially told by school officials that “virtual” education would be an option for high risk teachers throughout the COVID crisis. The Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association concurs. But now the school board is changing course — refusing to let teachers maintain a remote presence.

Watch the latest, live. We expect this meeting to continue until at least 6 p.m. on Wednesday, September 2, 2020.