CDC guidelines for opening a K-12 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send half the kids in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. All wear masks, wash hands often and sit far apart.
Everybody eats lunch at home. I'd rather DC go to school 3-3.5 hours than try to learn online in elementary school.

You must have never worked in a school. Let me start
1. Kids will not get picked up after a half a day, parents will leave them there because they will be at work or hanging out at home.
2. Kids are entitled to free and reduced lunches and at some schools breakfasts too that by law must be eaten on the premise (schools got a waiver for food to be taken off campus).
3. Not all kids are going to be willing to wear masks and there is nothing a school can do to force a child to wear a mask.

[Anonymous]

Right, but if we don't adapt as a society, we're handing victory in the pandemic to our economic competitors, and overseas trade partners, who do to re-oopen schools safely, e.g. Germany, the Nordic Countries, Taiwan.

DC, MD and VA political leaders, work with public health officials to innovate to figure out how to re-open schools. Make that you top priority. Tweak regulations on how schools should run and serve students to make this happen. Don't be stuck in the past, with hide-bound dept. of ed official calling the shots as the economy crashes out.

No, I'm not a Republican. I'm a flaming liberal. But I'm also a small business owner whose getting crushed financially, who can't home school effectively who worries about the low SES kids in my neighborhood who clearly aren't learning much right now, or eating enough either.

[Anonymous]

Hi small business owner! Are you also demanding invitation from your government- that gave small business loans to the NBA? And Nordic countries are your goal post? I’ll take it. See how America’s $2400 stimulus checks rank next to how other country workers were supported.
Americans relationship with their government is abusive. Instead of asking why our government & employers don’t support us- we ask everyone else (teachers, grocery store workers, nurses) to pick up the slack.

[Anonymous]

I think teachers just want to feel heard. We are never part of any decision making and are never asked our opinions. I want to feel like decisions were made with our safety in mind as well it’s scary to think that I will be back in a class of 30 within inches of kids who don’t cover their mouth with they cough or sneeze. The last week we were in school I had a student in class who spent the night in the emergency room for a high fever, cough and chills. This is in Upper NW. Her parents dropped her off at school and told her to try and make it through the day. That type of behavior scares me when we go back. I understand parents are frustrated. I have kids too and it is so hard. I don’t know what the right decision is but at least acknowledging that we need to change something would help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Send half the kids in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. All wear masks, wash hands often and sit far apart.
Everybody eats lunch at home. I'd rather DC go to school 3-3.5 hours than try to learn online in elementary school.

Agree. Or stagger days. It’s going to be tough no matter what, but I think keeping kids totally out of school long term is doing more damage than good. We need to figure out a way forward even if it’s not ideal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think teachers just want to feel heard. We are never part of any decision making and are never asked our opinions. I want to feel like decisions were made with our safety in mind as well it’s scary to think that I will be back in a class of 30 within inches of kids who don’t cover their mouth with they cough or sneeze. The last week we were in school I had a student in class who spent the night in the emergency room for a high fever, cough and chills. This is in Upper NW. Her parents dropped her off at school and told her to try and make it through the day. That type of behavior scares me when we go back. I understand parents are frustrated. I have kids too and it is so hard. I don’t know what the right decision is but at least acknowledging that we need to change something would help.

+1

I want to go back to the classroom but there need to be serious changes to school policies and enforcement to make this work. That is across the board- discipline (if a high schooler refuses to wear a mask they must school from home the following week), parent cooperation (if your child shows up sick they school from home for a week), etc. will they actually do these thins or enforce them? No. That’s why teachers want to be a part of this conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think teachers just want to feel heard. We are never part of any decision making and are never asked our opinions. I want to feel like decisions were made with our safety in mind as well it’s scary to think that I will be back in a class of 30 within inches of kids who don’t cover their mouth with they cough or sneeze. The last week we were in school I had a student in class who spent the night in the emergency room for a high fever, cough and chills. This is in Upper NW. Her parents dropped her off at school and told her to try and make it through the day. That type of behavior scares me when we go back. I understand parents are frustrated. I have kids too and it is so hard. I don’t know what the right decision is but at least acknowledging that we need to change something would help.

+1

I want to go back to the classroom but there need to be serious changes to school policies and enforcement to make this work. That is across the board- discipline (if a high schooler refuses to wear a mask they must school from home the following week), parent cooperation (if your child shows up sick they school from home for a week), etc. will they actually do these thins or enforce them? No. That’s why teachers want to be a part of this conversation.

I’m tired of arguing with parents about sending sick kids to school. You just can’t do it. You need to come up with an arrangement for you, your spouse, a grandparent, a neighbor etc to care for your child in the event they can’t go to school. That’s part of your responsibility as a parent. If you don’t think you can do that then you have no business having kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right, but if we don't adapt as a society, we're handing victory in the pandemic to our economic competitors, and overseas trade partners, who do to re-oopen schools safely, e.g. Germany, the Nordic Countries, Taiwan.

DC, MD and VA political leaders, work with public health officials to innovate to figure out how to re-open schools. Make that you top priority. Tweak regulations on how schools should run and serve students to make this happen. Don't be stuck in the past, with hide-bound dept. of ed official calling the shots as the economy crashes out.

No, I'm not a Republican. I'm a flaming liberal. But I'm also a small business owner whose getting crushed financially, who can't home school effectively who worries about the low SES kids in my neighborhood who clearly aren't learning much right now, or eating enough either.

Why would you think your post makes you sound like a Republican?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think teachers just want to feel heard. We are never part of any decision making and are never asked our opinions. I want to feel like decisions were made with our safety in mind as well it’s scary to think that I will be back in a class of 30 within inches of kids who don’t cover their mouth with they cough or sneeze. The last week we were in school I had a student in class who spent the night in the emergency room for a high fever, cough and chills. This is in Upper NW. Her parents dropped her off at school and told her to try and make it through the day. That type of behavior scares me when we go back. I understand parents are frustrated. I have kids too and it is so hard. I don’t know what the right decision is but at least acknowledging that we need to change something would help.

+1

I want to go back to the classroom but there need to be serious changes to school policies and enforcement to make this work. That is across the board- discipline (if a high schooler refuses to wear a mask they must school from home the following week), parent cooperation (if your child shows up sick they school from home for a week), etc. will they actually do these thins or enforce them? No. That’s why teachers want to be a part of this conversation.

Our elementary does not Enforce the "do not drop your child off before school opens" rule. How will they enforce anything moving forward?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think teachers just want to feel heard. We are never part of any decision making and are never asked our opinions. I want to feel like decisions were made with our safety in mind as well it’s scary to think that I will be back in a class of 30 within inches of kids who don’t cover their mouth with they cough or sneeze. The last week we were in school I had a student in class who spent the night in the emergency room for a high fever, cough and chills. This is in Upper NW. Her parents dropped her off at school and told her to try and make it through the day. That type of behavior scares me when we go back. I understand parents are frustrated. I have kids too and it is so hard. I don’t know what the right decision is but at least acknowledging that we need to change something would help.

+1

I want to go back to the classroom but there need to be serious changes to school policies and enforcement to make this work. That is across the board- discipline (if a high schooler refuses to wear a mask they must school from home the following week), parent cooperation (if your child shows up sick they school from home for a week), etc. will they actually do these thins or enforce them? No. That’s why teachers want to be a part of this conversation.

Our elementary does not Enforce the "do not drop your child off before school opens" rule. How will they enforce anything moving forward?

My school has already purchased “no touch” thermometers and trained staff on takinG temperatures as part of daily temperature screening. The plan is to seclude anyone with symptoms and have immediate pickup. My concern is what happens if the parent refuses or sends the kid back the next day? Can you report it? What happens? There have to be more than school consequences. Seems to me that even if a school is trying to prepare and keep everyone safe, unless DC has rules that back schools up, we are in trouble.

[Anonymous]

It's unfair to compare the American system to Nordic or other countries in Europe. They have free and accessible healthcare and significant financial support from their governments. Their countries are small and they have much more control over their people who in some cases have less freedom.

[Anonymous]

Opening school is stupid. The end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send half the kids in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. All wear masks, wash hands often and sit far apart.
Everybody eats lunch at home. I'd rather DC go to school 3-3.5 hours than try to learn online in elementary school.

You must have never worked in a school. Let me start
1. Kids will not get picked up after a half a day, parents will leave them there because they will be at work or hanging out at home.
2. Kids are entitled to free and reduced lunches and at some schools breakfasts too that by law must be eaten on the premise (schools got a waiver for food to be taken off campus).
3. Not all kids are going to be willing to wear masks and there is nothing a school can do to force a child to wear a mask.

Also, when are you going to clean??? This virus is living on surfaces...

Will they make sure Public Transportation is running more often so kids can get to and from school mid day??

What if any enforcement will happen for kids that are not picked up?

Alternating days might work. But, again how do you enforce rules if parents drop and run on a day the kid is not supposed to be there?

[Anonymous]

I don't want to send my child back to a classroom with 20-30 kids. I also don't want to lose our seat at our charter hoping that 2021-2022 might be more normal-ish. I do not know. And I am unsure what we will do if they are just going to try and start back like normal.
Nor do I know what to do if I have no clue what his class room experience looks like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send half the kids in the morning and the other half in the afternoon. All wear masks, wash hands often and sit far apart.
Everybody eats lunch at home. I'd rather DC go to school 3-3.5 hours than try to learn online in elementary school.

You must have never worked in a school. Let me start
1. Kids will not get picked up after a half a day, parents will leave them there because they will be at work or hanging out at home.
2. Kids are entitled to free and reduced lunches and at some schools breakfasts too that by law must be eaten on the premise (schools got a waiver for food to be taken off campus).
3. Not all kids are going to be willing to wear masks and there is nothing a school can do to force a child to wear a mask.

Also, when are you going to clean??? This virus is living on surfaces...

Will they make sure Public Transportation is running more often so kids can get to and from school mid day??

What if any enforcement will happen for kids that are not picked up?

Alternating days might work. But, again how do you enforce rules if parents drop and run on a day the kid is not supposed to be there?

Not only the parents who drop and run, but those who cannot remember what day their kid is supposed to be there. Or the ones who drop sick kids off. I volunteered in my kid's classroom this year in the afternoons and it was shocking how many kids had to go home after lunch and would say things like, "oh yeah, I vomited at breakfast, but mommy said I was fine" or kids who would tell that their mom gave them tylenol that morning, but by 1p.m. they have a 102 fever again.