Date: November 24, 2020

TO: Woodson Principal Floyd (cefloyd@fcps.edu) and AP Brooks (ajburke@fcps.edu), Frances

Ivey (FWIvey@fcps.edu), Rebecca Baenig (RGBaenig@fcps.edu) , Michelle Boyd
(mboyd@fcps.edu), Megan Mclaughlin (Megan.McLaughlin@fcps.edu), Abrar Omeish
(Abrar.Omeish@fcps.edu), Rachna Sizemore Heizer (Rachna.SizemoreHeizer@fcps.edu) ,
Karen Keys-Gamarra (Karen.KeysGamarra@fcps.edu), Dr. Gloria (gloria.addo-
ayensu@fairfaxcounty.gov)

Subject: Concerns about Returning to In-Person Work at Woodson HS

We are writing as members of the CAT B department at Woodson High School to explain why it
is not safe for us to work in person right now. We returned to in-person instruction on
October 26, and from just 8 days back in the building, we experienced the following
ramifications:

● Over 1/4 of our department tested positive for COVID-19 (4 out 14 staff
members), and over half of us are experiencing or have experienced
COVID-19-like symptoms. Another staff member in an adjacent department
has also tested positive.
● 1 out of only 20 students has also tested positive for COVID-19, and
another yet to be confirmed student case seems likely.

Nevertheless, we are being asked to return to in-person instruction starting next Tuesday,
December 1st, and this is why we are writing you today. For the sake of the health and well-
being of the entire Woodson HS community (students, staff, and parents), we urge you to
make all CAT-B instruction at Woodson virtual until the COVID-19 situation in Fairfax
County is more under control and FCPS has a stronger safety plan in place.

Before our return to school on October 26, many staff members in our department applied for
ADAs. One applied for an ADA because she is diabetic, has asthma, and also lives with her
grandmother who is high risk. She was given no accommodations. Another member of our
department applied for an ADA because she has asthma, and she also was denied. Another
staff member applied for an ADA because her daughter has a medically documented heart
defect, which puts her at a high risk for COVID-19. She too was denied. Moreover, the district
refused to engage in the interactive ADA process with this staff member. It offered no
additional accommodation, such as a virtual work assignment or even additional PPE.
This staff member is a single mother of two who has been forced to take an unpaid leave of
absence until June, during which time she’s barred from working in the educational field. She’s
experiencing serious financial hardship as a result. No one who applied for ADA
accommodations in our department was approved. Our choice was either to take an
unpaid leave, resign, or return to work in an unsafe environment.
When we returned back to Woodson HS on October 26th, we noted a number of safety
violations that put the health of students, staff, and Woodson families at risk.

● Mask Violations: Multiple students were not wearing masks, far more than the two who
received medical exceptions. And worse, there seemed to be no effective system in
place for enforcing mask rules. Students frequently took their masks off in class and also
walked the halls without masks on.
● Social Distancing Violations: There was also no explanation as to how we would be
safe when changing diapers, something we were still doing regularly. It is impossible to
maintain a 6 feet distance when changing a diaper.
● Ventilation Problems: The bathroom we were changing diapers in has no vents or
windows. One of the classrooms our team was working in is small and appears to have
insufficient ventilation, as it is hot and without windows. When one of our team members
asked in an email about the ventilation in their classroom, they received no response as
to whether it met current guidelines.
● Insufficient PPE: We were provided with gloves and hand sanitizer, but not all staff
members received masks, and some only received one disposable mask for two weeks
of in-person work.
● Insufficient Safety Training: Our staff had no medical training before the students
came in. We just went in and started getting the classrooms in order. During the three
weeks of training in August, we never received safety training. We had no guidance on
what to do when students refused to wear their masks.

The result of these violations for our department have been devastating. 4 of our team
members, in addition to another staff member, and 1 of our students have tested positive
for COVID-19, exposing their families and contributing to the community spread of the
virus in Fairfax County. And the member who applied for an ADA in the hopes of protecting
her grandmother? Her grandmother is now also suffering from COVID-19-like symptoms and
awaiting test results.

The total number of new cases per 100,000 persons is now 311 in Fairfax County, well
beyond the safety threshold established for the vast majority of FCPS’s population. The
positivity rate in the county is now 8.2% in the ‘Higher Risk’ Category. We work with
students who have trouble wearing masks, who need diapers changed, and yet we are being
asked to return as the pandemic surges. That’s why we need your help. We love our jobs and
want to do them virtually right now for the sake of the health and well-being of our entire
community.

Thank you for your careful consideration of this letter,

CAT B Team Members

Woodson HS