Philly Teachers Push for Virtual Learning Amid Cold, Unsafe Schools

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The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers is calling for a return to virtual learning after students resumed in-person instruction this week amid reports of classrooms without heat, burst pipes, and other unsafe conditions in aging school buildings following a recent snowstorm and extreme cold.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the ongoing challenges facing urban school districts with aging infrastructure, as teachers unions push for safety measures that may conflict with district plans to resume full in-person learning.

The details

The union said multiple schools reopened with classrooms registering temperatures at or below 50 degrees, forcing students to wear coats. At one school, a "massive flood" from burst pipes rendered several classrooms and the lunchroom unusable. The district acknowledged issues like a partial power outage disrupting heating, but said repairs were completed and schools would remain open for in-person learning.

• Students resumed in-person instruction on Thursday after schools were closed on Monday and operated virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• The return followed three consecutive days of closures due to the recent snowstorm and extreme cold.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The School District of Philadelphia said schools would remain open for in-person learning, despite the union's request for a return to virtual classes.