AFSCME
Governor Extends School Closures Through May 1
Monday, March 30th, 2020
From: Executive Director Joe Rugola
Governor Mike DeWine has extended the state shutdown of schools through May 1. Nothing else about his original school closure order of March 12 changes, which means the pay and benefits of OAPSE members will continue uninterrupted.
OAPSE remains in constant communication with the governor’s office, the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Health. We support the decision to keep OAPSE members, school children and Ohio families safe through the closure of schools and other agencies through which we deliver critical services to the people of Ohio.
We also support the governor’s recommendation that OAPSE members and all essential employees practice appropriate physical distancing while on the job and at home. We agree with the additional employee safety steps the state is incorporating into its directives to employers. And we stand with the governor in his encouragement that OAPSE members and all Ohioans be permitted to work remotely if possible.
We realize many of you are on the job during this crisis -preparing, packing and serving meals; delivering breakfasts and lunches across the state; deep cleaning and sanitizing our schools, libraries and administration buildings; caring for children; helping to teach remotely; and performing the key administrative tasks that are keeping our schools, libraries, departments of developmentally disabled, head start agencies and community colleges going.
We appreciate your dedication, and we want to assure you that you are not alone.OAPSE will continue to be on the job for you throughout the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
We will be in touch with regular updates.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, contact your local union president or your field representative.And continue to check your email, Facebook, Twitter and oapse.org for the latest information on COVID-19 and other important issues.
Also, we know many of you are at work cleaning our schools, preparing and delivering meals, and taking care of children and our communities. Please send us photos of this important work — with names and local unions — so we can post to our social media accounts and share with all Ohioans how important the work of OAPSE members is to our communities. And please be mindful of physical distancing as you take photos of the important work you are doing!