Berkeley County teachers say they aren’t getting enough time for allocated breaks; wear red Wednesday to protest

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Elementary school teachers in Berkeley County will wear red on Wednesday in protest of the district.

It comes after teachers said BCSD has not provided them with enough time for allocated breaks.

Berkeley County Education Association President Kathleen Low spoke to the school board on Tuesday urging them to allow teachers their allocated breaks. She says teachers are unable to even take a bathroom break without making a phone call.

“Right now, those teachers are reporting 30 minutes early to work to sit and do nothing, so we have teachers that are reporting to schools at 6:40 in the morning to just sit for 30 minutes prior to their workday, and that means they don’t get time to go to the bathroom, to get lunch until the two or three o’clock in the afternoon,” said Low.

Protestors are calling on the school board to hire teacher associates to watch the children so the teachers can take their allocated breaks. She says state legislators have already designated these breaks for teachers, and it is now up to the county to enforce it.

“If we want them to be focused on doing their best for the kids, we need to make sure they are rested and ready to go and do the thing they need to do,” said Low.

The district provided News 2 with the following response to teachers concerns:

“BCSD has not received teacher complaints or concerns regarding how individual schools schedule unencumbered time. If a teacher has a concern, they can reach out to their principal and/or the Office of Administrative Services. Additionally, staff is always encouraged to share concerns with the Human Resources Department.

BCEA is a special interest group and does not work directly with or on behalf of the district or schools.”

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