Gov. Press Conf. today: Vaccines ARE NOT the metric to use for getting kids back to school

[Anonymous]

I understand why teachers and staff want to be vaccinated. I have attended all of the meetings for my kids and think opening can be done safely in the classroom. I can’t get over cafeterias. Both of the schools are planning lunch in cafeterias. How can he say schools are relatively safe, as I just heard on the press conference, when all of those unmasked kids are eating together? Is indoor dining in restaurants now safe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand why teachers and staff want to be vaccinated. I have attended all of the meetings for my kids and think opening can be done safely in the classroom. I can’t get over cafeterias. Both of the schools are planning lunch in cafeterias. How can he say schools are relatively safe, as I just heard on the press conference, when all of those unmasked kids are eating together? Is indoor dining in restaurants now safe?

Eat in the classroom where kids are 6ft apart and kids are staying in place. Face shield to offer at least some protection.

Use the cafeteria as extra space for the overcrowded classrooms to spread out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand why teachers and staff want to be vaccinated. I have attended all of the meetings for my kids and think opening can be done safely in the classroom. I can’t get over cafeterias. Both of the schools are planning lunch in cafeterias. How can he say schools are relatively safe, as I just heard on the press conference, when all of those unmasked kids are eating together? Is indoor dining in restaurants now safe?

Eat in the classroom where kids are 6ft apart and kids are staying in place. Face shield to offer at least some protection.

Use the cafeteria as extra space for the overcrowded classrooms to spread out.

Yep, this is what our kid's private has been doing since October. So far, no cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand why teachers and staff want to be vaccinated. I have attended all of the meetings for my kids and think opening can be done safely in the classroom. I can’t get over cafeterias. Both of the schools are planning lunch in cafeterias. How can he say schools are relatively safe, as I just heard on the press conference, when all of those unmasked kids are eating together? Is indoor dining in restaurants now safe?

Interesting. Are they putting all of the student in the cafeteria? I teach for FCPS and my ES we are using the cafeteria, gym, and other spaces.

As far as eating in a restaurant, what is your definition of safe? I mean, when I eat on a restaurant that isn’t busy, people are spaces, employees wear masks, I feel safe. I can’t eliminate all risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand why teachers and staff want to be vaccinated. I have attended all of the meetings for my kids and think opening can be done safely in the classroom. I can’t get over cafeterias. Both of the schools are planning lunch in cafeterias. How can he say schools are relatively safe, as I just heard on the press conference, when all of those unmasked kids are eating together? Is indoor dining in restaurants now safe?

Eat in the classroom where kids are 6ft apart and kids are staying in place. Face shield to offer at least some protection.

Use the cafeteria as extra space for the overcrowded classrooms to spread out.

Yep, this is what our kid's private has been doing since October. So far, no cases.

Our ES plans on using a mix of the cafeteria if there are just a few grades in and classrooms when more hybrid kids are in to maximize distancing during lunch. Only one class would be in the cafeteria at a time and all very spread out, with tables rotating.

[Anonymous]

You cannot, if you're a kid, go to public school. My kids' district has set a mid-February target for younger kids who choose to return to the classroom. Schools have been completely closed since March. The number of children failing classes, particularly Black and brown kids, has skyrocketed.

I am all for schools reopening and giving families an option to come back, but I hate it when people make this argument. Black and Hispanic families have chosen hybrid at a much lower rate than white families. Presumably, they know what is best for themselves better than you do.

[Anonymous]

Please. Vaccinating your employees to ensure employee health, safety and continuity of instruction isn’t a priority? He’s a piece of work! VA has let business open because of the economic pressures. Not because it’s safe. Indoor dining is available. It’s not safe. It doesn’t make schools safe. But no one wants to hear this. Schools can open just like restaurants. Doesn’t make them safe when you have them indoor dining without masks. My employer (a federal agency) just issues new Biden admin COVID guidance. Guess what is says: Stay home unless you absolutely must do something mission essential in the office that you can’t do at home. And if you are eating in a room with any other person, distance 10 feet. That is not happening in schools. Ever.

[Anonymous]

VA continues to ignore CDC recommendations on cohosting middle and high school students. I’ll take my northern VA school administrator’s judgment over “Dr. “ Northam’s political calculations any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please. Vaccinating your employees to ensure employee health, safety and continuity of instruction isn’t a priority? He’s a piece of work! VA has let business open because of the economic pressures. Not because it’s safe. Indoor dining is available. It’s not safe. It doesn’t make schools safe. But no one wants to hear this. Schools can open just like restaurants. Doesn’t make them safe when you have them indoor dining without masks. My employer (a federal agency) just issues new Biden admin COVID guidance. Guess what is says: Stay home unless you absolutely must do something mission essential in the office that you can’t do at home. And if you are eating in a room with any other person, distance 10 feet. That is not happening in schools. Ever.

Educating students is the essential mission of schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand why teachers and staff want to be vaccinated. I have attended all of the meetings for my kids and think opening can be done safely in the classroom. I can’t get over cafeterias. Both of the schools are planning lunch in cafeterias. How can he say schools are relatively safe, as I just heard on the press conference, when all of those unmasked kids are eating together? Is indoor dining in restaurants now safe?

Eat in the classroom where kids are 6ft apart and kids are staying in place. Face shield to offer at least some protection.

Use the cafeteria as extra space for the overcrowded classrooms to spread out.

Yep, this is what our kid's private has been doing since October. So far, no cases.

Our ES plans on using a mix of the cafeteria if there are just a few grades in and classrooms when more hybrid kids are in to maximize distancing during lunch. Only one class would be in the cafeteria at a time and all very spread out, with tables rotating.

My daughter's private K has everyone eat lunch outside, period. If it is rainy, then they go under the overhang. Freezing weather = warmer clothes. There are solutions to the lunch issue if we are creative enough.

[Anonymous]

How does social distancing work with kids going to the bathroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand why teachers and staff want to be vaccinated. I have attended all of the meetings for my kids and think opening can be done safely in the classroom. I can’t get over cafeterias. Both of the schools are planning lunch in cafeterias. How can he say schools are relatively safe, as I just heard on the press conference, when all of those unmasked kids are eating together? Is indoor dining in restaurants now safe?

Eat in the classroom where kids are 6ft apart and kids are staying in place. Face shield to offer at least some protection.

Use the cafeteria as extra space for the overcrowded classrooms to spread out.

Yep, this is what our kid's private has been doing since October. So far, no cases.

Our ES plans on using a mix of the cafeteria if there are just a few grades in and classrooms when more hybrid kids are in to maximize distancing during lunch. Only one class would be in the cafeteria at a time and all very spread out, with tables rotating.

My daughter's private K has everyone eat lunch outside, period. If it is rainy, then they go under the overhang. Freezing weather = warmer clothes. There are solutions to the lunch issue if we are creative enough.

I like that idea. I really do. But knowing parents, there will be so many complaints that their child is too cold that there is no way that there will be any consistency with this class to class let alone school to school.
When the weather improves, I hope more schools can take advantage of outdoor space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You cannot, if you're a kid, go to public school. My kids' district has set a mid-February target for younger kids who choose to return to the classroom. Schools have been completely closed since March. The number of children failing classes, particularly Black and brown kids, has skyrocketed.

I am all for schools reopening and giving families an option to come back, but I hate it when people make this argument. Black and Hispanic families have chosen hybrid at a much lower rate than white families. Presumably, they know what is best for themselves better than you do.

I hate when people make this argument because no one is taking virtual away from anyone including black and Hispanic families. They are just asking that those who want IN PERSON aren’t forced to do virtual. Presumably some, if not all, black and Hispanic families will also choose the in person option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does social distancing work with kids going to the bathroom?

Who knows?

I guess kids can't go to school. It's impossible. Public schools are different than all the open private schools. Somehow.

[Anonymous]

^ I meant to say “though not all”