Memo: NSEA Opposes Senate Bill 4

This past weekend, dozens of educators wearing red face coverings joined with other workers in front of the legislature to protect Nevada workers. We called attention to a dangerous plan to shield employers from COVID-related liability, which would be a strong disincentive for employers to ensure workplace safety. We chanted, “Kill the Bill, Not the Workers!”

In the 31st Special Session, thousands of educators from across the state asked the legislature to Fund Healthy Schools. Instead, we ended up with a net loss of over $100M to K-12 education. Now, in the 32nd Special Session, thousands of educators from across the state again have asked you to reject limiting COVID-related liability for Nevada employers, including school districts.

Cutting funding and cutting corners while safely re-opening schools is just not possible. Placing limits on liability sends the absolute wrong message to school districts, who now are walking away from good- faith negotiations over worker and student safety. In this way, SB4 is already putting our educators, students, and community more at risk.

The science and data on COVID-19 transmission among children is still emerging. Last week, the Centers for Disease control released a study on the transmission and infection among attendees of a camp in Georgia that suffered a COVID-19 outbreak. All attendees of the camp provided a negative COVID-19 test before attending. Within 14 days, 51% of 6 to 10 year-olds and 44% of 11 to 17 year-olds tested positive for COVID-19. The study’s authors found that COVID-19 spread efficiently in this camp setting, “resulting in high attack rates among persons in all age groups, despite efforts by camp officials to implement most recommended strategies to prevent transmission.” Those measures were similar to the ones recommended here for Nevada school districts.

While it is encouraging that kids don’t get sick and die in the same numbers as adults from COVID-19, evidence is mounting that they can be significant vectors. Now, as thousands of educators and families prepare to go back to school, we believe essential school supplies should mean pencils and paper or Chromebooks and wifi, not wills and trusts. Please protect educators, students, and Nevada workers. Kill Senate Bill 4, not the workers.