We are now 7-8 weeks in with everyone on campus (except those that chose to remain virtual). It's going well - only a couple of people consistently needing mask reminders. We did have a couple of positive cases and quarantined a bunch of people for two weeks, but nothing else came from it. Knock on wood.
A few teachers want us to close between Thanksgiving and Christmas so they can travel. That's not going to happen.
We talked about that too. Elementary and middle school shot it down pretty hard so I’m hoping that doesn’t happen. I do think we might go virtual the first week back from winter break to give a three week break and two full weeks after Christmas in case people travel.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Post by JayhawkGirl on Oct 17, 2020 8:36:16 GMT -5
Personally, I’m pulling my kids out for the two weeks prior to Christmas to quarantine and have the holiday indoors with my parents. I talked to our principal about it twice this summer.
Our districts are ignoring the state and county gating health recommendations for schools and doing what they want. We opted for in person based on the gating criteria. It has since changed. Twice.
PDQ Have you contacted your state department of labor? The FFCRA says nothing about a “suitable alternative” which is what your school district is saying they’re giving you. We had a similar situation here, and a reminder from the enforcement officer led the district to change its decision. I realize that doesn’t solve your sub issue, but even if you can take the leave intermittently it may give you some relief.
Personally, I’m pulling my kids out for the two weeks prior to Christmas to quarantine and have the holiday indoors with my parents. I talked to our principal about it twice this summer.
Our districts are ignoring the state and county gating health recommendations for schools and doing what they want. We opted for in person based on the gating criteria. It has since changed. Twice.
I've got no issue with parents doing it (assuming we have sufficient tech for all of the new virtual kids).
Our school district just sent out a message that they're opening schools for the Pre-K developmental, Extended Resources and Life Skills students because of the absolute need for them to regain footing. It means basically 15 students PER SCHOOL (great for them, imo, to keep it so restrictive), as a first step toward opening schools for more students. We need to have an answer by Monday whether we want our own kids in school or to remain virtual. My husband and I are both diabetic and my granddaughter is asthmatic, so it seems a fairly simple choice for us, but the girls miss their friends and even the one that likes virtual learning wants to go back to school.
Personally, I’m pulling my kids out for the two weeks prior to Christmas to quarantine and have the holiday indoors with my parents. I talked to our principal about it twice this summer.
Our districts are ignoring the state and county gating health recommendations for schools and doing what they want. We opted for in person based on the gating criteria. It has since changed. Twice.
I've got no issue with parents doing it (assuming we have sufficient tech for all of the new virtual kids).
We won’t be allowed to join our full virtual - we will be basically out sick or out as if we had been exposed to someone and need to isolate. Thankfully our district issued 1:1 tech at the start of the year for everyone (though I had ordered iPads for them last spring.) the kids take them back and forth daily in case of shutdown/absence/quarantine.
We are a month in with our five day elementary hybrid for both kids. They go to school 8-12 then the ymca aftercare program takes them at noon where they eat bagged lunch and they do their virtual afternoon work there.
So far so good, my kids are so happy to be back to school and I’m actually able to catch up on my work and stop feeling constant panic / losing sleep thinking about work.
Our cases are on the rise but we are still green here. My city is at 3 daily cases per 100,000 and a 0.28% positive test rate. I assume eventually we’ll be all home again but for now I’m so thankful to our school, teachers and the ymca for doing such an amazing job.
Post by cherryvalance on Oct 17, 2020 20:29:18 GMT -5
PDQ
Staff goes back for two days next week to test our network. We have absolutely no guidance on how we're supposed to teach (i.e. can we move around the room? Do we just sit in front of our computers?) and at our most recent department meeting, my VP seemed exasperated and not at all confident about our return. The town rate was creeped up to 1.6 (which I know os way low compared to other areas, but is high for us) and there's been a few large, indoor sweet sixteens/quinces the past few weeks. No one wears masks at sports practices anymore.
Our school isn't even entirely ready for our return, in terms of having safety equipment, but we're losing tuition money like crazy, so it basically doesn't matter. We have to return. I'm pretty sure all staff requests to work remotely have been denied.
Post by Velar Fricative on Oct 18, 2020 8:05:03 GMT -5
WWYD?
Another parent I’m friends with is FB friends with the K teacher our kids had. K teacher attended a large indoor wedding last night with what looks like many other school teachers plus one of the assistant principals. Several of those teachers plus the AP posed for pictures behind a large Trump banner at the wedding. They posted lots more pictures of basically being on top of each other, drinking and obviously unmasked. It looks like a classic superspreader event.
We are pretty upset. We live in the most conservative part of NYC and I assumed many teachers support Trump. But, I guess I didn’t expect it to be so in-your-face like this. My kid doesn’t go to school again until Wednesday but this other parent’s kids go in tomorrow and we are both concerned. I doubt any of these teachers are quarantining.
I try to be rational and tell myself that school safety protocols are in place to protect my kid against dumbass decisions people make. We can’t police what people do on their own time. But, this isn’t just one teacher going to a wedding - it looks like so many teachers and support staff at this one. And given their Trump support, I doubt they unmasked just for pictures.
The other parent and I are both struggling about whether we do or say anything. My teacher husband is strongly against saying anything because we have a lot of years left at this school and we don’t want to be blacklisted in any way. But I’m just sick to my stomach about this and I think I need to be talked down before I go straight to the principal (who does not appear to have been there). If I keep DD1 home for two weeks, who’s to say there won’t be another event that I don’t know about? Luckily, her actual teacher was not in these pictures, although this other parent’s pre-K kid’s teacher was.
This was on someone's personal FB? Unfortunately, I don't think you do anything. People are allowed to act like assholes on their own time.
That's my concern, as a teacher. It's not just idiot parents, but idiot colleagues (although luckily mine seem to be taking this seriously).
Yes, personal. It just feels wrong given the huge school population that appears to have been there. So many teachers, the AP, and support staff. One or two teachers? Meh. It’s their own time and I acknowledge we can’t police their behavior outside of school, but man, this is just irresponsible. My husband can’t get over the fact that they were blasting this on social media. My kid goes in 3 days over the next two weeks so I am hoping this does not cause an outbreak.
This was on someone's personal FB? Unfortunately, I don't think you do anything. People are allowed to act like assholes on their own time.
That's my concern, as a teacher. It's not just idiot parents, but idiot colleagues (although luckily mine seem to be taking this seriously).
Yes, personal. It just feels wrong given the huge school population that appears to have been there. So many teachers, the AP, and support staff. One or two teachers? Meh. It’s their own time and I acknowledge we can’t police their behavior outside of school, but man, this is just irresponsible. My husband can’t get over the fact that they were blasting this on social media. My kid goes in 3 days over the next two weeks so I am hoping this does not cause an outbreak.
What are you expecting will happen if you tell the principal? We aren’t doing any in person teaching in my district yet but I would be amazed if the principal could make those teachers quarantine based on fb pictures. Who is to say that the other teachers aren’t participating in other risky behavior? It sounds like it was a staff member who got married so the principal was probably invited too or at least knows of the event.
This was on someone's personal FB? Unfortunately, I don't think you do anything. People are allowed to act like assholes on their own time.
That's my concern, as a teacher. It's not just idiot parents, but idiot colleagues (although luckily mine seem to be taking this seriously).
Yes, personal. It just feels wrong given the huge school population that appears to have been there. So many teachers, the AP, and support staff. One or two teachers? Meh. It’s their own time and I acknowledge we can’t police their behavior outside of school, but man, this is just irresponsible. My husband can’t get over the fact that they were blasting this on social media. My kid goes in 3 days over the next two weeks so I am hoping this does not cause an outbreak.
The social media is really what surprises me, too. Who is friends with parents on FB?! Worst mistake ever lol.
But seriously, this does suck, and this is going to be a big issue for all schools going forward. We just can't dictate people's behavior outside of school. I'd love if my students weren't openly attending huge indoor parties, and I hope my colleagues are being as conservative as I am, but this is the risk with being in-person.
Yes, personal. It just feels wrong given the huge school population that appears to have been there. So many teachers, the AP, and support staff. One or two teachers? Meh. It’s their own time and I acknowledge we can’t police their behavior outside of school, but man, this is just irresponsible. My husband can’t get over the fact that they were blasting this on social media. My kid goes in 3 days over the next two weeks so I am hoping this does not cause an outbreak.
The social media is really what surprises me, too. Who is friends with parents on FB?! Worst mistake ever lol.
But seriously, this does suck, and this is going to be a big issue for all schools going forward. We just can't dictate people's behavior outside of school. I'd love if my students weren't openly attending huge indoor parties, and I hope my colleagues are being as conservative as I am, but this is the risk with being in-person.
I'm surprised your school reopening plan says nothing about mitigating risks outside of school. Ours does - for both students and teachers. While I wouldn't expect any substantive action, I'd expect the school to at least pay lip service to that by admonishing teachers for participating in risky behaviors.
The social media is really what surprises me, too. Who is friends with parents on FB?! Worst mistake ever lol.
But seriously, this does suck, and this is going to be a big issue for all schools going forward. We just can't dictate people's behavior outside of school. I'd love if my students weren't openly attending huge indoor parties, and I hope my colleagues are being as conservative as I am, but this is the risk with being in-person.
I'm surprised your school reopening plan says nothing about mitigating risks outside of school. Ours does - for both students and teachers. While I wouldn't expect any substantive action, I'd expect the school to at least pay lip service to that by admonishing teachers for participating in risky behaviors.
Any union worth it’s weight will not include this. When does that clause go away? Does it leave room for them to incorporate a rule about “risky “behavior outside of the pandemic too?
I'm surprised your school reopening plan says nothing about mitigating risks outside of school. Ours does - for both students and teachers. While I wouldn't expect any substantive action, I'd expect the school to at least pay lip service to that by admonishing teachers for participating in risky behaviors.
Any union worth it’s weight will not include this. When does that clause go away? Does it leave room for them to incorporate a rule about “risky “behavior outside of the pandemic too?
Right. I certainly can’t see the UFT agreeing to something like this.
I know deep down nothing can be done but man, I’m just annoyed at the poor judgment. And yes, why are they friends with parents? I wish I didn’t know any of this and just could continue assuming the worst of people without it being proven lol.
Any union worth it’s weight will not include this. When does that clause go away? Does it leave room for them to incorporate a rule about “risky “behavior outside of the pandemic too?
Right. I certainly can’t see the UFT agreeing to something like this.
I know deep down nothing can be done but man, I’m just annoyed at the poor judgment. And yes, why are they friends with parents? I wish I didn’t know any of this and just could continue assuming the worst of people without it being proven lol.
I don’t think I could keep my child in a school with these people as teachers. I’m sorry.
The social media is really what surprises me, too. Who is friends with parents on FB?! Worst mistake ever lol.
But seriously, this does suck, and this is going to be a big issue for all schools going forward. We just can't dictate people's behavior outside of school. I'd love if my students weren't openly attending huge indoor parties, and I hope my colleagues are being as conservative as I am, but this is the risk with being in-person.
I'm surprised your school reopening plan says nothing about mitigating risks outside of school. Ours does - for both students and teachers. While I wouldn't expect any substantive action, I'd expect the school to at least pay lip service to that by admonishing teachers for participating in risky behaviors.
What? Putting it in writing, as an agreement, would be enough to formally reprimand an employee. Who would police this? Will admins be trolling through employee's social media? Will parents? What if someone sees you out in the community and doesn't think you're taking an appropriate level of care? What if I see kids engaging in risky behavior? Do I report them?
What are the actions your school is proposing to take against people who don't comply, staff or students?
I know it sucks when people don't take risks seriously, but this is not the answer.
I'm surprised your school reopening plan says nothing about mitigating risks outside of school. Ours does - for both students and teachers. While I wouldn't expect any substantive action, I'd expect the school to at least pay lip service to that by admonishing teachers for participating in risky behaviors.
What? Putting it in writing, as an agreement, would be enough to formally reprimand an employee. Who would police this? Will admins be trolling through employee's social media? Will parents? What if someone sees you out in the community and doesn't think you're taking an appropriate level of care? What if I see kids engaging in risky behavior? Do I report them?
What are the actions your school is proposing to take against people who don't comply, staff or students?
I know it sucks when people don't take risks seriously, but this is not the answer.
I took a look- I'm wrong. It's not in the plan itself. It's just in the email distributing the plan. Our school has sent regular emails reminders that everyone needs to be careful and take steps to mitigate risk if they want school to reopen. I guess that isn't standard.
What? Putting it in writing, as an agreement, would be enough to formally reprimand an employee. Who would police this? Will admins be trolling through employee's social media? Will parents? What if someone sees you out in the community and doesn't think you're taking an appropriate level of care? What if I see kids engaging in risky behavior? Do I report them?
What are the actions your school is proposing to take against people who don't comply, staff or students?
I know it sucks when people don't take risks seriously, but this is not the answer.
I took a look- I'm wrong. It's not in the plan itself. It's just in the email distributing the plan. Our school has sent regular emails reminders that everyone needs to be careful and take steps to mitigate risk if they want school to reopen. I guess that isn't standard.
Okay, that's completely different from putting it as a mandate in the reopening plan. I would imagine reminders are standard in most districts.
At the beginning of the school closure, our former superintendent was sending out robocalls asking parents to please keep kids at home because they were all over the school playgrounds (and town). But, again, you can't dictate what people do off of school property/outside of school hours.
Post by RoxMonster on Oct 18, 2020 11:45:44 GMT -5
I wouldn't do anything. This is the risk with being in-person. Even though the kids aren't back, I'm in the building and required to attend in-person meetings with my colleagues with little if any physical distancing, and I know many of my colleagues are not taking it seriously outside of work, so I do get the concern. I also know many of my students and their families have been taking vacations to high-risk areas and socializing in large groups, which is part of my concern with coming back, but there's not much we can do.
Are masks required at your school? Are they doing physical distancing? If so, I would probably still send her. With those two things together, she may not even be close to her teacher at all and at least would have masks on.
Right. I certainly can’t see the UFT agreeing to something like this.
I know deep down nothing can be done but man, I’m just annoyed at the poor judgment. And yes, why are they friends with parents? I wish I didn’t know any of this and just could continue assuming the worst of people without it being proven lol.
I don’t think I could keep my child in a school with these people as teachers. I’m sorry.
I’m here. You can’t control what they are doing but I would have a really hard time putting my kid in danger. I think I would have to give serious thought to pulling my kids for a while since the school is very likely compromised now. And I would let the principal know why, honestly. At my school (non-union), we were told in no uncertain terms that we need to do our best to mitigate risk by making smart choices. There’s nothing in our contracts about it and it’s not binding in any way but I do think people (teachers and families, since it’s in our “community contract” for them as well) think twice before doing risky things right now.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
Post by Velar Fricative on Oct 18, 2020 12:04:35 GMT -5
H and I are debating what to do, but he’s deferring to me because this will impact me more since he’s teaching on-site and I’m home with DD1 all the other days (DD2 goes to Pre-K3 five days a week). It will have an impact on my job because I count on these days when they are both in school to do site visits (the one thing I can’t do from home) and otherwise be more productive in my office. Luckily I have time to decide because DD1’s next day at school is on Wednesday. They all wear masks, her teacher wasn’t in any of the pictures, and there are only 6 kids in her cohort so distancing is not an issue. I felt fine about her being in school because these safety protocols are supposed to reduce likelihood of transmission no matter what anyone does outside of school. But I’m still so disappointed. My boss is great and I was going to text her about this anyway just to vent (we are close friends outside of work), so I’ll ask about potentially taking her out and doing fully virtual.
And because people might ask, no, moving or switching to another public school or even to a private school is not an option right now for many reasons.
Post by wanderingback on Oct 18, 2020 12:10:32 GMT -5
I think unless you plan to completely pull your child from school I probably wouldn’t do anything. But that is obviously a consideration to take is to do virtual school if that’s an option if you don’t trust the school staff to keep your child safe.
Unfortunately, we all have to interact with staff that don’t always make the safest choices on their personal time. I honestly just try not to think about it. Thankfully everyone wears masks all day which I think helps although we can’t always socially distance, but overall I feel ok about it and try not to worry about other people’s decisions.
We had our first hybrid day today. It. Was. Terrible. After getting in the groove of full remote and having some success, this is like starting all over. My seniors hands down said they would rather be home, because all the rules make it "not school". I was the worst teacher I've been in a while today. MAJOR props to those of you who've been doing it this way all year. I just want to quit.
We had our first hybrid day today. It. Was. Terrible. After getting in the groove of full remote and having some success, this is like starting all over. My seniors hands down said they would rather be home, because all the rules make it "not school". I was the worst teacher I've been in a while today. MAJOR props to those of you who've been doing it this way all year. I just want to quit.
Ugh, I’m so sorry. I have a feeling we are headed that way soon and I am not looking forward to it at all.
We had our first hybrid day today. It. Was. Terrible. After getting in the groove of full remote and having some success, this is like starting all over. My seniors hands down said they would rather be home, because all the rules make it "not school". I was the worst teacher I've been in a while today. MAJOR props to those of you who've been doing it this way all year. I just want to quit.
Ugh. I’m sorry. It does get easier and better (though still pretty shitty). The high school kids are pretty miserable both ways. My middle schoolers are ok with the protocols - they are just so happy to be back.
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”