Pulling this out — in-person school cancelled

[boiler717]

I posted in the fall school thread because I think this is the only cancellation of in-person school I’ve seen for fall.
The large district next to ours had asked families to decide by last Friday on 100% virtual or 100% in person for school starting 7/30. They closed everything last night (sports, orientation, etc) and had an 8 am school board meeting. Voted today to move to 100% virtual and no fall sports. I think everyone else will follow suit soon.
We are in Indianapolis where cases started to rise in the last week.

[rooster222]

Jul 13, 2020 8:17:47 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I posted in the fall school thread because I think this is the only cancellation of in-person school I’ve seen for fall.
The large district next to ours had asked families to decide by last Friday on 100% virtual or 100% in person for school starting 7/30. They closed everything last night (sports, orientation, etc) and had an 8 am school board meeting. Voted today to move to 100% virtual and no fall sports. I think everyone else will follow suit soon.
We are in Indianapolis where cases started to rise in the last week.

I just heard this. I'm in HamCo, so anxiously waiting to see what will happen here.

[Poppy]

Did they cite specific reasons (eg insufficient teachers)?

[erbear]

There are several counties (somewhere in MD, maybe?) that have said they are starting virtually for the first 9 weeks then seeing if they can phase in in person. I will not be surprised if we end up doing this too. Frankly, I won’t be surprised by anything at this point.

[boiler717]

Jul 13, 2020 8:44:44 GMT -5 Poppy said:

Did they cite specific reasons (eg insufficient teachers)?

The teachers union did request no in person school; there was also a discussion of delaying until after Labor Day. The board statement cites increased community spread (with additional risk to Black students/staff) and lack of clear direction from government officials. The discussion was to table return to school until there is 14 days without cases (but that seems unlikely — maybe 14 days of decreasing cases?). Parents will get a 2-week notice for returning to school.

cbs4indy.com/news/washington-township-schools-moves-to-online-only-classes-indefinitely-to-limit-spread-of-covid-19/

[scribellesam]

I’m anticipating this is going to happen in a lot more places as it becomes clear that cases will not be under control within the next two months.

[imojoebunny]

Atlanta is virtual for 9 weeks, with a 2 week delayed start for planning. Our smaller district next to Atlanta hasn't announced, but guessing we will be similar, I am 90% sure virtual will be an option, and it is the one I am leaning toward. Testing here is taking 7-10 days to come back, so if teachers get the least bit sick, they will have to be out of the classroom for at least that time, even if they don't have covid. I just can't see how they will make it work, given that the average person probably gets some sort of cold and/or allergies 4 times a year, and anyone with any symptoms would have to be tested, and wait for the results. We have a lot of cases, and are close to being out of ICU beds, so there is that.

[pickel]

Jul 13, 2020 8:42:23 GMT -5 rooster222 said:

Jul 13, 2020 8:17:47 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I posted in the fall school thread because I think this is the only cancellation of in-person school I’ve seen for fall.
The large district next to ours had asked families to decide by last Friday on 100% virtual or 100% in person for school starting 7/30. They closed everything last night (sports, orientation, etc) and had an 8 am school board meeting. Voted today to move to 100% virtual and no fall sports. I think everyone else will follow suit soon.
We are in Indianapolis where cases started to rise in the last week.

I just heard this. I'm in HamCo, so anxiously waiting to see what will happen here.

Same here!

[redpenmama]

Interesting. I saw this mentioned on Facebook this morning but didn't know what state. I hope this is what our district does too. Even though I desperately want my kids in school and they want to be there, I don't think most states are ready for in-person classes.

Our state (KY) has done generally quite well, but our cases increased by 50% in the last week. We are supposed to start school August 24th. A few weeks ago, I was cautiously optimistic about sending them in person, but I'm wavering now. I hate that we are expected to commit to something for an entire academic year when everything is so fluid. Doing the first quarter virtually buys everyone some time.

[sdlaura]

My friend who lives in Portland, Oregon said they’re also starting virtually with the hope of moving to hybrid later.

Does anyone know if private schools in areas where public is 100% virtual will still be opening (if they have small enough class sizes already to meet public health guidelines)?

[cherry1111]

I know this is an unpopular opinion but I think this needs to happen in a lot of places. There should be community health metrics that are met before we open schools. I was just watching part of the WHO conference and that is what I heard them say. In areas with low community transmission school should be ok to open. Otherwise they need to remain closed. I hope they make this decision to remain closed here though it is doubtful.

[ktw]

Jul 13, 2020 10:15:03 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

I know this is an unpopular opinion but I think this needs to happen in a lot of places. There should be community health metrics that are met before we open schools. I was just watching part of the WHO conference and that is what I heard them say. In areas with low community transmission school should be ok to open. Otherwise they need to remain closed. I hope they make this decision to remain closed here though it is doubtful.

Not unpopular with me. I agree with you. I actually feel relieved to see this action taken, to have some reassurance that we're not just plowing forward at any cost. I'm in NY, and while many mistakes were made, especially in the beginning, I am fairly confident in the Cuomo administration's ability to make rational decisions based on actual numbers and science. With our current numbers, that may mean reopening schools, but that picture may change by our post-Labor Day start dates, and I want there to be an option to pull back if it's deemed necessary. I hope other states will follow suit.

[madringal]

I am in NW Indiana, and I think our district will follow suit. Someone had to be the first in our state - now I think they will all do the same.

[cherry1111]

Jul 13, 2020 10:22:01 GMT -5 ktw said:

Jul 13, 2020 10:15:03 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

I know this is an unpopular opinion but I think this needs to happen in a lot of places. There should be community health metrics that are met before we open schools. I was just watching part of the WHO conference and that is what I heard them say. In areas with low community transmission school should be ok to open. Otherwise they need to remain closed. I hope they make this decision to remain closed here though it is doubtful.

Not unpopular with me. I agree with you. I actually feel relieved to see this action taken, to have some reassurance that we're not just plowing forward at any cost. I'm in NY, and while many mistakes were made, especially in the beginning, I am fairly confident in the Cuomo administration's ability to make rational decisions based on actual numbers and science. With our current numbers, that may mean reopening schools, but that picture may change by our post-Labor Day start dates, and I want there to be an option to pull back if it's deemed necessary. I hope other states will follow suit.

I envy your ability to trust your state government to make the right decisions to protect you. We have none of that here. The minute Abbott starts talking about potential shut downs again, people are calling for his head. It is so depressing and feels like we will never come out the other side of this due to leadership and my fellow citizens.

[redpenmama]

sdlaura, privates here are opening on time/in person, and our public district hasn't announced plans. I assume the smaller class sizes + more resources to make adaptations as needed make it easier for them to go forward with in-person instruction. Buses, overcrowded classes, etc. just aren't an issue for them.

[redpenmama]

Jul 13, 2020 10:15:03 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

I know this is an unpopular opinion but I think this needs to happen in a lot of places. There should be community health metrics that are met before we open schools. I was just watching part of the WHO conference and that is what I heard them say. In areas with low community transmission school should be ok to open. Otherwise they need to remain closed. I hope they make this decision to remain closed here though it is doubtful.

I agree too. It's understandably unpopular because most people can't swing it...and it sucks for parents and kids alike. But from a public health perspective, I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around returning to school in a city with increasing cases that are significantly worse than when we shut down in March.

[dcn]

Savannah schools in ga are planning to do virtual to start. Same with another county here (hasn’t been officially announced yet). Good for them.

[ktw]

Jul 13, 2020 10:31:34 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

Jul 13, 2020 10:22:01 GMT -5 ktw said:

Not unpopular with me. I agree with you. I actually feel relieved to see this action taken, to have some reassurance that we're not just plowing forward at any cost. I'm in NY, and while many mistakes were made, especially in the beginning, I am fairly confident in the Cuomo administration's ability to make rational decisions based on actual numbers and science. With our current numbers, that may mean reopening schools, but that picture may change by our post-Labor Day start dates, and I want there to be an option to pull back if it's deemed necessary. I hope other states will follow suit.

I envy your ability to trust your state government to make the right decisions to protect you. We have none of that here. The minute Abbott starts talking about potential shut downs again, people are calling for his head. It is so depressing and feels like we will never come out the other side of this due to leadership and my fellow citizens.

I am so sorry - it is awful. We're still waiting on full state guidelines for the schools, but at Cuomo's press conference today he released an actual formula for school reopening. If your region is in phase 4, the infection rate is below 5%, and your district plans are approved, the decision will be made in the first week of August that you can reopen. If that infection number climbs above 9% in the time between that announcement and schools reopening, they don't open. If it climbs above 9% after that, they close. (At least, this is how I understood it - regardless, tying this to actual numbers is the only thing that makes sense, and what we are lacking as a country).

[klassygoosey]

I concur.
The longer we wait to start in person the longer we will stay in person. Rushing to start with so much spread just means a sooner longer shut down.

Jul 13, 2020 10:15:03 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

I know this is an unpopular opinion but I think this needs to happen in a lot of places. There should be community health metrics that are met before we open schools. I was just watching part of the WHO conference and that is what I heard them say. In areas with low community transmission school should be ok to open. Otherwise they need to remain closed. I hope they make this decision to remain closed here though it is doubtful.

[hermione]

I wish my district would do this. Please, take this decision (and the associated guilt) out of my hands.

[maudefindlay]

Jul 13, 2020 8:17:47 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

I posted in the fall school thread because I think this is the only cancellation of in-person school I’ve seen for fall.
The large district next to ours had asked families to decide by last Friday on 100% virtual or 100% in person for school starting 7/30. They closed everything last night (sports, orientation, etc) and had an 8 am school board meeting. Voted today to move to 100% virtual and no fall sports. I think everyone else will follow suit soon.
We are in Indianapolis where cases started to rise in the last week.

I'm just 45 min south of there and we are begging our schools to require masks. I applaud that district. Doing what is safe and not letting anyone bully them.

[cherry1111]

Jul 13, 2020 12:12:19 GMT -5 hermione said:

I wish my district would do this. Please, take this decision (and the associated guilt) out of my hands.

YES!!!! I am so stressed about this. I am crying daily and sick to my stomach, literally.

[rooster222]

Jul 13, 2020 12:44:47 GMT -5 cherry1111 said:

Jul 13, 2020 12:12:19 GMT -5 hermione said:

I wish my district would do this. Please, take this decision (and the associated guilt) out of my hands.

YES!!!! I am so stressed about this. I am crying daily and sick to my stomach, literally.

Agree!!! And tell us what virtual learning looks like so we can make a decision from there! My kids keep asking me random questions about driving them to school and meets for sports and I can't even use brain space on that stuff yet.

[imimahoney]

This completely sucks for so many reasons but is really the best and safest decision.

[icedcoffee]

I'm curious if any of the schools who have said they will be 100% virtual next year have indicated whether they will continue with classroom based learning like they did last year or if it will be more like a couple teachers lead the whole grade for that school or even the whole grade for the county. Essentially--how big will class sizes get this year?

[Susie]

Cuomo said today that in NY, schools will be able to reopen in regions that are in phase four and have a coronavirus infection rate of 5% or less on a rolling 14-day average.  I haven't read all the details, but there'll be a stop on it if we hit >9%.

It gives me a lot of comfort to see reopening tied to rational metrics like that.

[boiler717]

Jul 13, 2020 13:10:30 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I'm curious if any of the schools who have said they will be 100% virtual next year have indicated whether they will continue with classroom based learning like they did last year or if it will be more like a couple teachers lead the whole grade for that school or even the whole grade for the county. Essentially--how big will class sizes get this year?

Our district said that elearning would be administered at the district level, not school / class but a mix of synchronous and asynchronous and a mix of group and 1:1. I assume students would be assigned to a teacher but no idea on how many kids per teacher. My sons PreK is combined with K; there are around 20 kids with a FT teacher and FT IA. I hope they can split into more small groups with a 10:1 ratio.

[abs]

Jul 13, 2020 12:12:19 GMT -5 hermione said:

I wish my district would do this. Please, take this decision (and the associated guilt) out of my hands.

1 million percent this. I constantly feel like puking. Every option feels awful and I would prefer to just execute a plan instead of deciding one.

[bronxgirl]

I just saw on FB that the Los Angeles school system is going all virtual for the fall.

[icedcoffee]

Jul 13, 2020 13:32:10 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Jul 13, 2020 13:10:30 GMT -5 icedcoffee said:

I'm curious if any of the schools who have said they will be 100% virtual next year have indicated whether they will continue with classroom based learning like they did last year or if it will be more like a couple teachers lead the whole grade for that school or even the whole grade for the county. Essentially--how big will class sizes get this year?

Our district said that elearning would be administered at the district level, not school / class but a mix of synchronous and asynchronous and a mix of group and 1:1. I assume students would be assigned to a teacher but no idea on how many kids per teacher. My sons PreK is combined with K; there are around 20 kids with a FT teacher and FT IA. I hope they can split into more small groups with a 10:1 ratio.

I wonder if districts are going to use this as an "opportunity" to furlough teachers.  When this all happened in March I heard of very few teachers who were furloughed whether they were working or not (which is awesome), but if schools are committing to 100% virtual next year do we think they will keep staff levels the same?