Othello School District, unions still in negotiations about start of school

OTHELLO — Whether teachers and staff in the Othello School District will be working in the district’s buildings, or from home, is still being negotiated.

School in Othello is scheduled to start Aug. 27, and the year will start with online instruction. Sandra Villarreal, the district’s executive director of human resources, said the expectation is that teachers and other staff will be at school.

Villarreal gave an update on reopening plans at the regular Othello School Board meeting Aug. 10.

Villarreal said whether or not teachers and staff are at school is a question that comes under provisions of the contracts with Othello Education Association and the union representing classified staff. “We are still in the middle of negotiations with both memberships. Expectations could tilt one way or the other,” Villarreal said.

Whether staff will be at the buildings or not, employees will have things to do. State education officials have mandated that all school employees should have what Villarreal called “meaningful work,” regardless of their job.

Board member Mike Garza used the example of a bus driver or a classroom aide. “What will (work) look like for them?” he asked.

“We continue to emphasize this distance learning is a lot of work,” Villarreal said. “We don’t anticipate our staff to have little work. We anticipate our staff will be very busy.”

Bus drivers would be delivering meals, she said, and providing transportation for students who need in-person instruction, special education being an example. Other staff will be conducting home visits to ensure kids are getting support, she said, as well as cleaning buildings and other tasks.

The district also needs to be ready when in-person school starts again, Villarreal said, and retaining staff will make that transition easier.