A longstanding problem is even worse during COVID-19 By Debra Coyle If you work in a New Jersey school, you’ve probably witnessed firsthand the problem of overcrowded classrooms. Students scrambling for…
By Debra Coyle Hurricane Ida turned roadways into raging rivers and left 30 people dead, countless homeless, and caused millions of dollars in damage. According to the New Jersey Department…
By Dorothy Wigmore Creepy crawlies. Rodents. Ticks. Bees and wasps. The pandemic has made us forget many other health and safety hazards and introduced new ones. One of these hazards…
By Dorothy Wigmore "Local leaders should ask the administration about those rubberized floors," says Tracie Yostpille. "If you have them, they need to be tested." As president of Freehold Township…
By Dorothy Wigmore Heat harms our minds and bodies. Yolanda Hernandez knows that from personal experience. So do other parents in New Brunswick’s public schools. “My son had vomiting, fever,…
ESP experiences in the pandemic By Dorothy Wigmore It’s not easy being an educational support professional (ESP) in this pandemic. For many ESPs, too often, it’s a hard choice: paychecks…
by Heather Sorge COVID-19 has placed a spotlight on how badly many New Jersey schools need upgrades, repairs, and replacement. Overcrowding and outdated or nonexistent ventilation systems are especially prevalent.…
Stories from the front lines By Dorothy Wigmore Ventilation matters, disinfecting less so The Metuchen Education Association has worked with district administrators and its UniServ field Rep, Nancy Grbelja, about…
By Dorothy Wigmore They’re both invisible, usually. One—ventilation—is essential to education unions in this pandemic. The other—how to win changes around the topic—is too. Across the country, activists are inspecting…
By Dorothy Wigmore Indoor air quality. Mold. Toxic chemicals. The pandemic. Most school staff face occupational health and safety (OHS) hazards, affecting their physical and mental health, spirits and job…