All Seattle Public Schools employees must return to in-person work five days a week starting July 1.
The official announcement landed in employees’ inboxes Thursday from Bev Redmond, chief of staff and public affairs at the district. Superintendent Ben Shuldiner’s weekly newsletter Sunday night also included the announcement as he reflected on the fact that the pandemic first shuttered schools six years ago.
Approximately 330 employees currently work in a hybrid or fully remote capacity, according to the district. These employees include staff responsible for curriculum development and implementation, managers of staffing and labor relations who support schools and staff with workforce matters, and communication and customer service specialists who interact regularly with families, community members and the public.
“Those are folks that should be in schools with teachers or here in offices working collaboratively with others,” Shuldiner said Monday.
For example, people who coach teachers or create curriculum will be able to do their jobs better in schools with the teachers, and people who interact regularly with helping families can better do their job if they are actually in the school or central office to greet people when they walk in the door, Shuldiner said.
“We are a student-centric organization; we care about what happens in the schools. We want to make sure that everybody who can be is working in schools, with students, with teachers, with families, and that they are present,” Shuldiner said.
All medical and legal accommodations will be respected and supported, the district said.
Chief Operations Officer Fred Podesta is leading the plan to address workspace needs as employees transition back to the office.
Shuldiner said he consulted many people within the district about the decision.
“The feeling was that the best thing for our students, the best thing for our school district was to make sure everybody … is working in schools, working together and collaboratively.”
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