The Baltimore Teachers Union
AFT 340 AFL-CIO
Seton Business Park
nd
5800 Metro Drive, 2 Floor
Baltimore, MD 21215-3209

Hand Delivered By Courier
January 3, 2018

Dear Dr. Santelises:
The past 36 hours have been quite difficult for our membership and the children they teach. Our
educators have been forced to endure teaching in classrooms with dangerously low temperatures,
instructing students who have been forced to try to learn bundled up in coats, hats and gloves.
Trying to provide a stable learning environment in these extreme conditions is unfair and
inhumane, to say the least.
This morning, my Field Representatives and I have received several calls from members in
schools, outside of the four that were closed today, citing lack of heat and frigid temperatures.
As I shared in my email to you yesterday, I do realize that you and your staff are managing the
best you can to rectify the issue in this record-breaking cold weather, however, doing so on the
backs of our members and the children of Baltimore City is unacceptable. Additionally, your
expectation that our members and the children that they teach endure bursting boilers, drafty
windows, frigid temperatures in classrooms, and risk getting sick in these “less than ideal”
conditions, is utterly ridiculous.
The forecast for the remainder of the week keeps us in the grip of frigid temperatures. I implore
that you close schools in the District until your facilities crew has had time to properly assess and
fix the heating issues within the affected schools in Baltimore City. This is the best way to
ensure the safety of our members and our children.
I look forward to hearing back from you on this very important issue.
Sincerely,

Marietta English
President, Baltimore Teachers Union

Telephone: (410) 358-6600

Fax: (410) 358-2894

Website: www.baltimoreteachers.org