All of this sucks, but shit like this really REALLY pisses me off. So kids have to quarantine because there are zero restrictions, but they're essentially punished for having to quarantine since they can't even learn remotely.
It’s a giant ask to expect teachers to switch back and forth between hybrid teaching and in person instruction. They requires different planning.
Oh, I'm not putting this on teachers at all. More on the states and districts not mandating masks and not having Plan Bs executed because this will all just go swimmingly in their minds.
All of this sucks, but shit like this really REALLY pisses me off. So kids have to quarantine because there are zero restrictions, but they're essentially punished for having to quarantine since they can't even learn remotely.
It’s a giant ask to expect teachers to switch back and forth between hybrid teaching and in person instruction. They requires different planning.
Sure but there are other options. Could create a position where one teacher’s entire job is to teach the quarantined kids remotely.
All of this sucks, but shit like this really REALLY pisses me off. So kids have to quarantine because there are zero restrictions, but they're essentially punished for having to quarantine since they can't even learn remotely.
It’s a giant ask to expect teachers to switch back and forth between hybrid teaching and in person instruction. They requires different planning.
Agree. Teachers need to never be asked to do that ever again. Which is why schools need to take every precaution they can to make sure kids and teachers stay healthy. And they aren't. Most of my anger here is directed towards Abbott and friends. I do have some anger towards our superintendent though because even if she could require masks in schools she wouldn't.
ETA: I will say our district DID have a nice virtual school all ready to go. They hired a principal, teachers, everything. It was ready to go and this was their plan. Then funding didn't get passed. It was a casualty when Democrats tried to protect voting rights. So it all just sucks.
It’s a giant ask to expect teachers to switch back and forth between hybrid teaching and in person instruction. They requires different planning.
Sure but there are other options. Could create a position where one teacher’s entire job is to teach the quarantined kids remotely.
It’s not that simple… I teaching a class that requires myself and four other teachers to use the same curriculum but that doesn’t mean we will be in exactly the same place from one day to the next for a variety of reasons (pacing is usually dependent on the kids in front of you, etc). If you add in kids from other grades it becomes even more complicated. One teacher per school for quarantined kids still wouldn’t mean live direct instruction for an entire school day.
Sure but there are other options. Could create a position where one teacher’s entire job is to teach the quarantined kids remotely.
It’s not that simple… I teaching a class that requires myself and four other teachers to use the same curriculum but that doesn’t mean we will be in exactly the same place from one day to the next for a variety of reasons (pacing is usually dependent on the kids in front of you, etc). If you add in kids from other grades it becomes even more complicated. One teacher per school for quarantined kids still wouldn’t mean live direct instruction for an entire school day.
Of course it’s not simple and not ideal. But we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Nothing here is simple or ideal.
The reality is that kids will need to be quarantined this year, and they deserve live instruction in whatever way then schools can make that happen. It would be best if they can do this in a way where teachers are not teaching in-person and virtual at the same time. That sucks for everyone involved.
It’s not that simple… I teaching a class that requires myself and four other teachers to use the same curriculum but that doesn’t mean we will be in exactly the same place from one day to the next for a variety of reasons (pacing is usually dependent on the kids in front of you, etc). If you add in kids from other grades it becomes even more complicated. One teacher per school for quarantined kids still wouldn’t mean live direct instruction for an entire school day.
Of course it’s not simple and not ideal. But we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Nothing here is simple or ideal.
The reality is that kids will need to be quarantined this year, and they deserve live instruction in whatever way then schools can make that happen. It would be best if they can do this in a way where teachers are not teaching in-person and virtual at the same time. That sucks for everyone involved.
It’s insane to me to watch people continue to say that teachers need to sacrifice MORE for the kids but I don’t know why I’m surprised. This idea that we just need to do what’s best for the kids without any additional pay or incentive was here long before the pandemic and will be here long after.
Of course it’s not simple and not ideal. But we are still in the middle of a pandemic. Nothing here is simple or ideal.
The reality is that kids will need to be quarantined this year, and they deserve live instruction in whatever way then schools can make that happen. It would be best if they can do this in a way where teachers are not teaching in-person and virtual at the same time. That sucks for everyone involved.
It’s insane to me to watch people continue to say that teachers need to sacrifice MORE for the kids but I don’t know why I’m surprised. This idea that we just need to do what’s best for the kids without any additional pay or incentive was here long before the pandemic and will be here long after.
You’re reading a lot into what I’m saying. I did not believe that before the pandemic nor do I believe it now.
Post by charteroakstate on Aug 12, 2021 8:40:22 GMT -5
[quote author="You’re reading a lot into what I’m saying. I did not believe that before the pandemic nor do I believe it now. [/quote]
What would you propose? Not snarky at all, because as a district administrator, we’ve been struggling with this and I’d love to hear suggestions. We do have a mask mandate and 3 feet spacing, as well as good ventilation in place, but it’s not practical to hire a teacher to cover quarantines for reasons previously stated. We have decided, in conjunction with our state DPH and local health district, that we will offer some remote option if a child is quarantined by the local health district only. It will probably fall on classroom teachers to teach synchronously again- which again, is unfair to both teachers and in person students, but necessary.
[quote author="You’re reading a lot into what I’m saying. I did not believe that before the pandemic nor do I believe it now.
What would you propose? Not snarky at all, because as a district administrator, we’ve been struggling with this and I’d love to hear suggestions. We do have a mask mandate and 3 feet spacing, as well as good ventilation in place, but it’s not practical to hire a teacher to cover quarantines for reasons previously stated. We have decided, in conjunction with our state DPH and local health district, that we will offer some remote option if a child is quarantined by the local health district only. It will probably fall on classroom teachers to teach synchronously again- which again, is unfair to both teachers and in person students, but necessary.[/quote]
Extra prep time to handle the extra workload, which I know means more money since you will have to pay someone else to cover their class.
Honestly though, I just don’t think we should offer synchronous learning and students should be three feet apart, masked and have good ventilation or air purification. It’s ten days. A lot of people complaining about the ten days have taken their kids out of school for vacation… live instruction wasn’t important then…
I didnt watch but Carroll County Md school board met last night and voted to NOT require masks in school. Every county around us is. Apparnelty thr quarentine guidelines are asseninine, but I didnt wantch so Ill have to wait for them to be published before I get really really mad. Theres also no hybrid option this year, no virtual option, and if kids are out because of exposure there will be no live instruction provided. I am so fucking mad. So mad. B (9) will absolutely wear a mask if I ask her to, even if most of her class doesn't.
Wicomico County is requiring masks! I don't know about quarantine and missed work. Hopefully by the time school starts they will have a plan
ISBE sent a letter to all superintendents today that outlined consequences. It’s my understanding that a private school in Illinois lost its status as a recognized nonpublic school today due to this.
Plus students would not be able to participate in IHSA sports. Like usual, I expect the sports aspect to be the one thing some people will actually listen to.
This part makes me nervous: "A district would have multiple opportunities to remedy the deficiencies that present a health hazard or a danger to students or staff before becoming unrecognized.." Maybe the state HAS to go through a certain process, but all I see is weeks or even months? of the district still not requiring masks and in the meantime, kids (and staff) are at risk. I'm hoping it's not drawn out like that. I feel like some of these districts are trying to call their bluff. It shouldn't take multiple times to remedy anything - it takes one day to institute a mask mandate in school (that should already be there). UGH!
Agree, but there was a letter from ISBE posted in a mask group that was addressed to a private school that already took away their recognized status. Maybe they have a chance to fix it and get status back, but it seems ISBE is serious. I don’t want to post the school name here but I can PM if you want it.
It’s a giant ask to expect teachers to switch back and forth between hybrid teaching and in person instruction. They requires different planning.
Sure but there are other options. Could create a position where one teacher’s entire job is to teach the quarantined kids remotely.
A local district is doing that here. But they are requiring a teaching license and only paying long term sub pay. They also can’t say what the days would look like for the position. there is no real plan. I picture the person in this position possibly having 10-15 kids in quarantine at some point, all at different grade levels and from different classes, and it will constantly change. That’s a lot to coordinate with teachers and students. It’s a lot to try to teach. It’s possibly a lot of work for little pay. I considered it for a minute, but it isn’t worth the headache at that pay (I’d rather have a regular teaching job that would pay me an appropriate amount for my experience and masters degree). Districts just don’t have money to create these positions. As a parent, I’m happy schools are trying this, but as a teacher, I foresee a lot of flaws with this.
mala, a friend from HS teaches in Carroll and just the way they handled last year made me believe that they wouldn't do the right thing again this year. She ended up taking a LOA since she just couldn't handle being in the building health wise.
As for the quarantine, teaching issue. I'm just curious what happens when a whole class is out? I can see not doing anything for a smaller number, but if a whole class is out, I think there needs to be a shift to virtual for the quarantine period. This also assumes that schools/people follow and adhere to quarantine requirements.
mala, a friend from HS teaches in Carroll and just the way they handled last year made me believe that they wouldn't do the right thing again this year. She ended up taking a LOA since she just couldn't handle being in the building health wise.
As for the quarantine, teaching issue. I'm just curious what happens when a whole class is out? I can see not doing anything for a smaller number, but if a whole class is out, I think there needs to be a shift to virtual for the quarantine period. This also assumes that schools/people follow and adhere to quarantine requirements.
If the teacher is taking sick time they probably have a sub. Subs online are another crazy set of issues.
From our district: What if my child has been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19? If your secondary-age child has been within that proximity, you will have four options: 1. Your child can be quarantined for 10 days (including weekends) and return to school. 2. Your child can be quarantined for seven days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus after seven days, they can return to school. 3. They can attend school and will be required to wear a face mask for five school days. You will monitor their con- ditions. If any symptoms arise, they must stay at home. 4. Remain in school with no mask requirement and monitor for symptoms. If any symptoms arise, the student will be sent home. If your elementary child has been within that proximity, you’ll have four options: 1. Your child can be quarantined for 10 days (including weekends) and return to school. 2. Your child can be quarantined for seven days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus after seven days, they can return to school. 3. They can attend school and will be required to wear a face mask for 10 school days. You will monitor their con- ditions. If any symptoms arise, they must stay at home. 4. They can attend school, will be required to wear a mask for 7 days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus, they can remain in school without a mask.
The only time a child may be required to wear a face mask in Utah is if they have a confirmed close contact with covid.
Post by litebright on Aug 12, 2021 10:39:45 GMT -5
I did my first at-home rapid covid test this morning, on both DD2 and myself. She had what I thought was a bug bite near her elbow a few days ago that has morphed into a blistery rash and as of this morning, some of it has spread to her face, which makes me think it's either heat rash/hives (we've had some of our worst heat of the summer the past couple of days and she's been at an outdoor camp) or something else (poison ivy?). I remembered that rashes could be a covid symptom, especially in kids, and Google confirmed it for me although there is kind of crazy variety even within the kinds of rashes that covid can cause, apparently. And I've had a slightly sore throat, so I tested both of us just in case. Both negative.
It's the BinaxNow test and it's very similar to a pregnancy test, only with a liquid solution plus the nasal swab that soak across a test strip and eventually give you one (negative) or two (positive) lines. You're supposed to test twice within 3 days to be sure, since the rapid tests aren't as accurate as PCR, so I'll test us again in the next couple of days and see if I can get her into the pediatrician to get checked out, too.
I'm ordering several more tests to have on-hand because I feel like with school starting, even with a mask mandate and one kid fully vaxxed, there are going to be times like this morning where things are just iffy enough that I'm going to want to test them. Even if it's not PCR. There's a few at-home PCR tests that are on the market, but they are $$ and I haven't been able to find them in stock.
I didnt watch but Carroll County Md school board met last night and voted to NOT require masks in school. Every county around us is. Apparnelty thr quarentine guidelines are asseninine, but I didnt wantch so Ill have to wait for them to be published before I get really really mad. Theres also no hybrid option this year, no virtual option, and if kids are out because of exposure there will be no live instruction provided. I am so fucking mad. So mad. B (9) will absolutely wear a mask if I ask her to, even if most of her class doesn't.
I didn’t watch either, but apparently (and not surprisingly), it was a total shit show. And the leader of the anti-maskers sends her kid to private school. She’s an absolute mess.
So I learned today that DeSatan's executive order on no mask mandates also considers parents asking teachers if their students can sit by other masked students to be "covid bullying" and it's not allowed. And if a school does it, that student can get a state scholarship to use funds to go to a private school. Because Republicans in this state try to find every possible avenue to continue to squeeze funding from public schools.
By shear luck my DD is seated next to other students who are wearing masks and she says only two students in her class of 20 aren't wearing a mask. But at her (small) elementary school there are already 13 staff/teachers out with COVID (apparently some due to in person planning meetings last week before school started), several neighboring schools have entire classes quarantined as of today and today was day 2 of school starting! Not off to a great start here.
Wow - Day 2 and all that?! I mean, seems so much simplistic logistically and with teacher and student liability/safety just to mask.
DeSatan is such an idiot… I hope he/the gov’s office gets sued, but I think there are all sorts of issues to that.
I know...I expected it wasn't going to go great this year here but not already on day 2! He is being sued for the executive order, not sure where it will go though.
I did my first at-home rapid covid test this morning, on both DD2 and myself. She had what I thought was a bug bite near her elbow a few days ago that has morphed into a blistery rash and as of this morning, some of it has spread to her face, which makes me think it's either heat rash/hives (we've had some of our worst heat of the summer the past couple of days and she's been at an outdoor camp) or something else (poison ivy?). I remembered that rashes could be a covid symptom, especially in kids, and Google confirmed it for me although there is kind of crazy variety even within the kinds of rashes that covid can cause, apparently. And I've had a slightly sore throat, so I tested both of us just in case. Both negative.
It's the BinaxNow test and it's very similar to a pregnancy test, only with a liquid solution plus the nasal swab that soak across a test strip and eventually give you one (negative) or two (positive) lines. You're supposed to test twice within 3 days to be sure, since the rapid tests aren't as accurate as PCR, so I'll test us again in the next couple of days and see if I can get her into the pediatrician to get checked out, too.
I'm ordering several more tests to have on-hand because I feel like with school starting, even with a mask mandate and one kid fully vaxxed, there are going to be times like this morning where things are just iffy enough that I'm going to want to test them. Even if it's not PCR. There's a few at-home PCR tests that are on the market, but they are $$ and I haven't been able to find them in stock.
We recently went on vacation for a week to a rural-ish area. I wasn’t sure how easily accessible PCR tests would be so I bought two 2 packs of BinaxNow just in case one of us started to have any concerning symptoms. We luckily didn’t use any but I’m happy to have them in my linen closet as we head into the school year. I don’t think they substitute for PCR but I think they have a complementary use.
After complaining about being left for the wolves at the school board meeting and threatening to pull our kid, we now have a meeting with the superintendent. This is the 2nd largest school district in Michigan - I know he is going to try to appease us and I am going to leave more angry than I am now.
After complaining about being left for the wolves at the school board meeting and threatening to pull our kid, we now have a meeting with the superintendent. This is the 2nd largest school district in Michigan - I know he is going to try to appease us and I am going to leave more angry than I am now.
I'm liking that you have a meeting with him just to at least keep open the possibility of a mask mandate. Hoping for the best!
After complaining about being left for the wolves at the school board meeting and threatening to pull our kid, we now have a meeting with the superintendent. This is the 2nd largest school district in Michigan - I know he is going to try to appease us and I am going to leave more angry than I am now.
I'm liking that you have a meeting with him just to at least keep open the possibility of a mask mandate. Hoping for the best!
Oh, I am crafting a list of talking points to be sure. I just don't expect much.
From our district: What if my child has been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19? If your secondary-age child has been within that proximity, you will have four options: 1. Your child can be quarantined for 10 days (including weekends) and return to school. 2. Your child can be quarantined for seven days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus after seven days, they can return to school. 3. They can attend school and will be required to wear a face mask for five school days. You will monitor their con- ditions. If any symptoms arise, they must stay at home. 4. Remain in school with no mask requirement and monitor for symptoms. If any symptoms arise, the student will be sent home. If your elementary child has been within that proximity, you’ll have four options: 1. Your child can be quarantined for 10 days (including weekends) and return to school. 2. Your child can be quarantined for seven days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus after seven days, they can return to school. 3. They can attend school and will be required to wear a face mask for 10 school days. You will monitor their con- ditions. If any symptoms arise, they must stay at home. 4. They can attend school, will be required to wear a mask for 7 days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus, they can remain in school without a mask.
The only time a child may be required to wear a face mask in Utah is if they have a confirmed close contact with covid.
You have 4 options....do anything you like because we don't intend to enforce anything and these options literally cover all possible approaches. Have a nice day. Or am I reading that wrong?
I don't know if anyone else has been looking at this dataset, but it's updated daily by the CDC and shows the new admissions to hospitals [ETA: for confirmed covid positive patients] by age group and region. I'm in HHS region 4 (which to be fair also includes TX [ETA: Sorry it's Florida, not TX]) and while the rate is still low, it's so much higher now than it's been in the whole pandemic.
From our district: What if my child has been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19? If your secondary-age child has been within that proximity, you will have four options: 1. Your child can be quarantined for 10 days (including weekends) and return to school. 2. Your child can be quarantined for seven days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus after seven days, they can return to school. 3. They can attend school and will be required to wear a face mask for five school days. You will monitor their con- ditions. If any symptoms arise, they must stay at home. 4. Remain in school with no mask requirement and monitor for symptoms. If any symptoms arise, the student will be sent home. If your elementary child has been within that proximity, you’ll have four options: 1. Your child can be quarantined for 10 days (including weekends) and return to school. 2. Your child can be quarantined for seven days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus after seven days, they can return to school. 3. They can attend school and will be required to wear a face mask for 10 school days. You will monitor their con- ditions. If any symptoms arise, they must stay at home. 4. They can attend school, will be required to wear a mask for 7 days and receive a rapid test. If they do not have the virus, they can remain in school without a mask.
The only time a child may be required to wear a face mask in Utah is if they have a confirmed close contact with covid.
You have 4 options....do anything you like because we don't intend to enforce anything and these options literally cover all possible approaches. Have a nice day. Or am I reading that wrong?
That is how I read it too—I especially like options 3 and 4 for secondary… (/s)
Why is secondary not as strict as elementary? That seems to be opposite everything the un-maskers say (little kids don’t spread it, they are harmed more by masks because they can’t learn how to form words, etc).