Unvaccinated Students & School Closures

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they stick with a quarantine policy if there is exposure to a COVID case at a high school, you would have 4 or 7 teachers out (depending on the school’s schedule) and upwards of 150 kids who have to quarantine because HS kids switch classes and have many teachers. They would have to adjust this policy because it would be a nightmare.

Wait, have they really not fixed this yet? They are going to make vaccinated teachers quarantine if a student is positive?

Vaccinated teachers don’t quarantine. I’m at an elementary school and my class had to quarantine but I still had to come in and teach in an empty classroom

Did you tell your admin that you were vaccinated? And is this DCPS?

I'm wondering how teachers' concerns with letting anyone know their vaccination status (and the adjacent union negotiations over this) will interact with these types of quarantines.

Yes this is DCPS and yes I told them. It was dumb that I had to come in but I did. I wasn’t allowed to be in my classroom because of “cleaning” so I had to teach from the teachers lounge. People were coming in and out to use the copier and vending machines. I should have just told them no and taught from home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they stick with a quarantine policy if there is exposure to a COVID case at a high school, you would have 4 or 7 teachers out (depending on the school’s schedule) and upwards of 150 kids who have to quarantine because HS kids switch classes and have many teachers. They would have to adjust this policy because it would be a nightmare.

Wait, have they really not fixed this yet? They are going to make vaccinated teachers quarantine if a student is positive?

Vaccinated teachers don’t quarantine. I’m at an elementary school and my class had to quarantine but I still had to come in and teach in an empty classroom

Did you tell your admin that you were vaccinated? And is this DCPS?

I'm wondering how teachers' concerns with letting anyone know their vaccination status (and the adjacent union negotiations over this) will interact with these types of quarantines.

Yes this is DCPS and yes I told them. It was dumb that I had to come in but I did. I wasn’t allowed to be in my classroom because of “cleaning” so I had to teach from the teachers lounge. People were coming in and out to use the copier and vending machines. I should have just told them no and taught from home.

Hopefully teachers in these scenarios will volunteer that they are vaccinated and won't say that they that is private medical information. That would allow the vaccinated students and the vaccinated teacher to keep teaching and learning in the classroom (if DCPS follows CDC guidelines regarding no quarantine after exposure if vaxxed).

If teachers don't provide this information (even if vaxxed)....then I guess they have to work from home for two weeks. I guess the vaxxed kids can do zoom with the teacher from the school and the unvaxxed kids will have to go home and do zoom from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they stick with a quarantine policy if there is exposure to a COVID case at a high school, you would have 4 or 7 teachers out (depending on the school’s schedule) and upwards of 150 kids who have to quarantine because HS kids switch classes and have many teachers. They would have to adjust this policy because it would be a nightmare.

Wait, have they really not fixed this yet? They are going to make vaccinated teachers quarantine if a student is positive?

Vaccinated teachers don’t quarantine. I’m at an elementary school and my class had to quarantine but I still had to come in and teach in an empty classroom

Did you tell your admin that you were vaccinated? And is this DCPS?

I'm wondering how teachers' concerns with letting anyone know their vaccination status (and the adjacent union negotiations over this) will interact with these types of quarantines.

Yes this is DCPS and yes I told them. It was dumb that I had to come in but I did. I wasn’t allowed to be in my classroom because of “cleaning” so I had to teach from the teachers lounge. People were coming in and out to use the copier and vending machines. I should have just told them no and taught from home.

Was that your principal's decision? How silly.

[Anonymous]

When the FDA officially approves it my kids will get it. Until then they will mask up. Mind your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You know what helps stop the mutations? Vaccines.

Again, the problem is those that can be vaxxed but have chosen not to.

the problem is bigger than that unfortunately. this is a pandemic = a worldwide illness. few countries have vaccines, the US being the one country with the most, followed by Europe. most other countries have little to none, even first word countries like Australia or Canada. the virus mutates where it can run unchecked and then the new strain spreads all over including the US. concerning variants were first detected in the UK (thanks to JOhnson's irresponsible handling of the pandemic when it first reached the UK), Brazil, India and South Africa. none of these strains developed in the US but they all reached the US, including the Delta variant that is spreading fast.

so it is correct that vaccines spread mutations but they should be given wordwide. if we let covid run wild in South America, Africa and Asia, we will pay the price too because the variant will find its way to the US. agree with you that no vaxxers in the US are a huge problem (the virus, even variants would spread much less if people were all vaccinated) but the problem with mutation is worldwide

Canada has vaccinated about 70% of its entire (not just eligible) population with one dose, and is rapidly progressing on second doses. More than two-thirds of 12-17 year-olds there have gotten one dose. Vs. 55% in the entire U.S. with one dose, and not much increase these days. Europe is also catching up to the U.S. This could be a big problem for schools. In other countries, the overwhelming majority of eligible students may soon be vaccinated, but not here.

[Anonymous]

If there will be separation of kids for exposure quarantines based on vaccination, I hope that means that DCPS will actually verify kids’ vaccination status (for those that say they are vaxxed).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also love the kids who make 1.5-2 years with of growth all the way through ES. By that logic- when they graduate 5th grade they should jump to HS, correct?

They are behind dummy….so no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they stick with a quarantine policy if there is exposure to a COVID case at a high school, you would have 4 or 7 teachers out (depending on the school’s schedule) and upwards of 150 kids who have to quarantine because HS kids switch classes and have many teachers. They would have to adjust this policy because it would be a nightmare.

Wait, have they really not fixed this yet? They are going to make vaccinated teachers quarantine if a student is positive?

Vaccinated teachers don’t quarantine. I’m at an elementary school and my class had to quarantine but I still had to come in and teach in an empty classroom

Did you tell your admin that you were vaccinated? And is this DCPS?

I'm wondering how teachers' concerns with letting anyone know their vaccination status (and the adjacent union negotiations over this) will interact with these types of quarantines.

Yes this is DCPS and yes I told them. It was dumb that I had to come in but I did. I wasn’t allowed to be in my classroom because of “cleaning” so I had to teach from the teachers lounge. People were coming in and out to use the copier and vending machines. I should have just told them no and taught from home.

Hopefully teachers in these scenarios will volunteer that they are vaccinated and won't say that they that is private medical information. That would allow the vaccinated students and the vaccinated teacher to keep teaching and learning in the classroom (if DCPS follows CDC guidelines regarding no quarantine after exposure if vaxxed).

If teachers don't provide this information (even if vaxxed)....then I guess they have to work from home for two weeks. I guess the vaxxed kids can do zoom with the teacher from the school and the unvaxxed kids will have to go home and do zoom from there.

NP who is a vaccinated teacher. I have no problem sharing my vaccination status in terms of medical privacy or whatever BS people keep claiming (because your vaccination status really isn’t privileged information). My issue would be having to simulcast if there is a positive covid case. There is no way my school will have the technology needed for this to be successful so it will probably be some nonsense where I have to stand in front of my computer and jump through hoops for both groups. I do worry that if this happens frequently you will lose teachers because that is just nonsense and so much extra work at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they stick with a quarantine policy if there is exposure to a COVID case at a high school, you would have 4 or 7 teachers out (depending on the school’s schedule) and upwards of 150 kids who have to quarantine because HS kids switch classes and have many teachers. They would have to adjust this policy because it would be a nightmare.

Wait, have they really not fixed this yet? They are going to make vaccinated teachers quarantine if a student is positive?

Vaccinated teachers don’t quarantine. I’m at an elementary school and my class had to quarantine but I still had to come in and teach in an empty classroom

Did you tell your admin that you were vaccinated? And is this DCPS?

I'm wondering how teachers' concerns with letting anyone know their vaccination status (and the adjacent union negotiations over this) will interact with these types of quarantines.

Yes this is DCPS and yes I told them. It was dumb that I had to come in but I did. I wasn’t allowed to be in my classroom because of “cleaning” so I had to teach from the teachers lounge. People were coming in and out to use the copier and vending machines. I should have just told them no and taught from home.

Hopefully teachers in these scenarios will volunteer that they are vaccinated and won't say that they that is private medical information. That would allow the vaccinated students and the vaccinated teacher to keep teaching and learning in the classroom (if DCPS follows CDC guidelines regarding no quarantine after exposure if vaxxed).

If teachers don't provide this information (even if vaxxed)....then I guess they have to work from home for two weeks. I guess the vaxxed kids can do zoom with the teacher from the school and the unvaxxed kids will have to go home and do zoom from there.

NP who is a vaccinated teacher. I have no problem sharing my vaccination status in terms of medical privacy or whatever BS people keep claiming (because your vaccination status really isn’t privileged information). My issue would be having to simulcast if there is a positive covid case. There is no way my school will have the technology needed for this to be successful so it will probably be some nonsense where I have to stand in front of my computer and jump through hoops for both groups. I do worry that if this happens frequently you will lose teachers because that is just nonsense and so much extra work at some point.

It seems for sanity that DL is probably the only option if there is even a single kid (or teacher) that is unvaxxed in the class. That is going to get complicated in MS and HS with mixed cohorts, though.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's been posted here so far: OSSE's current guidance says that vaccinated teachers and staff DO NOT have to quarantine:

"Provided that they do not currently have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days or is fully vaccinated may be admitted while awaiting COVID-19 test results, after close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19, when a household contact is awaiting COVID-19 test results, or after travel."

https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/FINAL_OSSE_Health_and_Safety%20Guidance_for_Schools-COVID-19_Recovery_Period.pdf (page 22)

[Anonymous]

I have an acquaintance who was vaccinated who just caught Covid. He's fine, but unvaccinated people in his family caught it (also fine thankfully). Elementary schools need to be in person masked or hybrid with some distancing as was done in spring, and only vaccinated 12+ kids should attend IRL unless they have a solid health excuse. DC needs to set up a virtual school (a separate one) for the anti vaxxers. Teachers and students have families, small children and younger siblings, and it's not fair to them to get secondhand exposure from anti vaxxers in the school building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they stick with a quarantine policy if there is exposure to a COVID case at a high school, you would have 4 or 7 teachers out (depending on the school’s schedule) and upwards of 150 kids who have to quarantine because HS kids switch classes and have many teachers. They would have to adjust this policy because it would be a nightmare.

Wait, have they really not fixed this yet? They are going to make vaccinated teachers quarantine if a student is positive?

Vaccinated teachers don’t quarantine. I’m at an elementary school and my class had to quarantine but I still had to come in and teach in an empty classroom

Did you tell your admin that you were vaccinated? And is this DCPS?

I'm wondering how teachers' concerns with letting anyone know their vaccination status (and the adjacent union negotiations over this) will interact with these types of quarantines.

Yes this is DCPS and yes I told them. It was dumb that I had to come in but I did. I wasn’t allowed to be in my classroom because of “cleaning” so I had to teach from the teachers lounge. People were coming in and out to use the copier and vending machines. I should have just told them no and taught from home.

Hopefully teachers in these scenarios will volunteer that they are vaccinated and won't say that they that is private medical information. That would allow the vaccinated students and the vaccinated teacher to keep teaching and learning in the classroom (if DCPS follows CDC guidelines regarding no quarantine after exposure if vaxxed).

If teachers don't provide this information (even if vaxxed)....then I guess they have to work from home for two weeks. I guess the vaxxed kids can do zoom with the teacher from the school and the unvaxxed kids will have to go home and do zoom from there.

NP who is a vaccinated teacher. I have no problem sharing my vaccination status in terms of medical privacy or whatever BS people keep claiming (because your vaccination status really isn’t privileged information). My issue would be having to simulcast if there is a positive covid case. There is no way my school will have the technology needed for this to be successful so it will probably be some nonsense where I have to stand in front of my computer and jump through hoops for both groups. I do worry that if this happens frequently you will lose teachers because that is just nonsense and so much extra work at some point.

I agree. But it isn’t fair to make vaccinated kids lose out on valuable classroom time because of other students unwillingness to get vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's been posted here so far: OSSE's current guidance says that vaccinated teachers and staff DO NOT have to quarantine:

"Provided that they do not currently have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90 days or is fully vaccinated may be admitted while awaiting COVID-19 test results, after close contact with someone with confirmed COVID-19, when a household contact is awaiting COVID-19 test results, or after travel."

https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/FINAL_OSSE_Health_and_Safety%20Guidance_for_Schools-COVID-19_Recovery_Period.pdf (page 22)

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:An alternative to requiring students or teachers to disclose vax status is to create a policy that you need to wear a mask, and you need to quarantine after exposure, UNLESS you have shown proof of vaccination. Then no one is required to show this proof. But if you do show the proof then you have certain privileges.
[/quote

This is what should happen, with staff and students. And one would hope it would incentivize stragglers to vaccinate. Glad my teens attend charter where the admin can make these kinds of calls without a WTU negotiation. Of course, there are still equity concerns since the most likely to opt out of vaccination are people of color. Schools will look bad if vaccinated white kids get to go maskless and don't quarantine while unvaccinated students of color are required to mask, test and quarantine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you think schools must close down if an unvaccinated student gets covid?

Not the OP, but certainly all those exposed would have to be quarantined for two weeks (under current rules). In a high school with students switching classes this means the exposure could range across several groups of kids and teachers. So is not the whole school, but it could be a number of kids/teachers. And that’s just one positive test.

Incorrect. DOH calls/screens everyone exposed in a school setting (the the "close contacts" however defined), but fully vaccinated students are told by DOH they are not required to quarantine. Schools are not required to shut down, although those with larger number of unvaccinated exposures might choose to do so for equity reasons. Of course this is not fair for the vaccinated. Students who are eligible to be vaccinated should get vaccinated or suffer these inconveniences (even though their parents are to blame). At least that's how it works in charters.