He says Alban has been “incredibly supportive”
Frederick, MD (KB) On Friday, the Frederick County Teachers Association (FCTA) said the decision to bring students and staff back to schools is “reckless” and expressed no confidence in Superintendent Dr. Theresa Alban and the Board of Education.
Board member Brad Young, and a guest on Mid-Maryland Live on WFMD, said he thinks the hybrid model is in the best interest of the school system.
“I’m going to do what I think is in the best interest of our school system and right now, I think we need to move forward with the hybrid model when the numbers are at a rate where the County Health Director determines that it’s implementable, and that’s what we’re doing,” he explained.
Young said Dr. Alban meets every week with County Health Officer Dr. Barbara Brookmyer, and he is confident that together they will make the right decision for students and staff.
He said for the FCTA to take away their vote of confidence based off of one issue is “excessive.” Young said many teachers have shown support for the Superintendent.
“The Superintendent has been an incredibly supportive superintendent of our teachers and our school system, and I know that Teachers Union teachers have been incredibly supportive of her,” he said.
The hybrid learning model is set to begin on February 16th, with teachers returning to classrooms on January 27th.
Young said he feels the school system is ready to welcome students back.
“I do think the school system is very well prepared,” he noted. “We’ve got the buildings properly prepared, the disinfectants, the sanitizers, the spacing, the masks, all those kinds of things.”
Young also said the current plan is flexible to meet the needs of all students.
“We need to get students that need to be back in the school, in the school,” he said. “The plan makes provisions for those that have immunocompromised issues to be able to be accommodated to the best that they can.”
Dr. Alban has the power to delay the start of hybrid classes if COVID-19 cases increase.