Area teachers join Democrats in questioning normal school opening in the fall

Will it be safe to go back to school this fall, for students or teachers? 

Some teachers in Wisconsin are worried about the spread of COVID-19, and they’re criticizing President Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos for not doing enough to ensure health safety in schools. 

Tammy Gruen teaches at La Crosse Logan High School, and says “We can’t risk the health of our students, or their families, to go back before it’s safe.”    

Gruen was among Wisconsin educators who took part in a Democratic Party media call on Tuesday. 

The event was timed to coincide with DeVos having a meeting with members of the Wisconsin Federalist Society.

Logan Middle School teacher Jesse Martinez also spoke in the video call, saying he doesn’t want students or school staffers to get sick.

“We do not want our students to have to deal with the trauma of possibly experiencing a beloved teacher getting sick or possibly dying because there’s a pandemic happening at this very moment in our country,” said Martinez.

Democrats accuse DeVos of putting more effort into a bill to make it harder for college students to report sexual assault on campus.