The press conference included around 4,500 educators and education staff from Indiana with the purpose of calling schools to only begin in-person schooling if it is safe to do so, with the right protocols and safety measures for keeping covid cases under control.

Indiana governor Eric Holcomb made masks mandatory in any public area, including outside with other people present, in the state last month. He also mandated masks for school children grades three and up with some exceptions. 

In terms of reopening school, Holcomb has not announced any specific statewide directions despite requests and protests from school leaders and the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) on the effects of opening school this month.

The American Federation of Teachers is demanding that coronavirus testing must be available in local communities for schools, that safety and protective equipment is available for teachers and that school educators have all the resources they need.

According to recent reports by the Indiana Association of School Business Officials, some schools are seeing delays in receiving supplies for teaching safety.

On Tuesday, August 4th, the Indiana State Department of Health added 836 confirmed COVID-19 cases, putting Indiana now at 69,255 of positive cases.

According to a post from NPR, President of the American Federation of Teachers, Randi Weigngarten says the union would support “safety strikes” by teachers if safety measures are not met when schools are set to reopen in the fall.

At the union’s online biennial convention, Weingarten stated, “We will fight on all fronts for the safety of our students and their educators… But if authorities don’t protect the safety and health of those we represent and those we serve… northing is off the table…Not advocacy or protests, negotiations, grievances or lawsuits, or, if necessary and authorized by a local union, as a last resort, safety strikes.” 

In a recent interview from Tuesday, Weigngarten discussed the issue of reopening schools in more depth with Sal Khan, owner of Khan Academy.

Weigngarten explained the steps that the teachers union has been taking since April in reopening schools this fall, including relatively similar protocols seen at the beginning of this year for the coronavirus.

She went on to say that the goal of opening schools back up has to be “get[ting] kids back to school safely in a way that doesn’t endanger kids and teachers” which she said cannot happen immediately.

Weigngarten stated that safety strikes are a last resort and explained that learning the science is what’s necessary right now for making sure things are done correctly and responsibly.