2 days a week school in the fall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about:

Provide homeschooling materials for families that want their kids to use complete DL. Not the thrown together system of completely classes in progress the was done this year, an actual option to complete the content on a home school basis.

2 day a week of in school learning for middle and high school with homework (not virtual classes) for the remaining portion of the week to cover complete content. Roughly 10 students in a classroom at a time, depending on room size.


Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week. facilitate alternative locations with childcare, technology and homework help for kids that need it staffed with paraprofessionals for the times they are not in school. accommodate social distancing.

Once there is a vaccine or execution of other elimination plan (isolation and tracing) go back to normal.

I also thought of this as an option- Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week- but this means that we will all have to work from home, otherwise how do you manage the logistics? Also, they will need to deep clean classes between 12-1pm and then again after 4pm. And if they only are in school for 3 hours, kids will probably be getting assignments to finish at home. So again, you will not be able to work much. Especially if you have more than one kid at the same school.....

How many staff does it take to thoroughly clean an entire school in one hour?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it doesn't make any sense. the point is to have fewer kids in the mix at school. But then those kids will be sent to daycare the other two days mixing with all kinds of kids and not social distancing so....there is no point to doing this unless ALL school aged childcare is also closed..

THIS. We can’t close everything down until there is a widely distributed vaccine. There are no good options here.

The option is mitigation - masks, UV lights, testing weekly, hand sanitizer, kids stay in classoom. The 6 foot nonsense is for sneezes, but if they are wearing masks that takes care of sneezes. This is all much better mitigation than having these kids congregate out in the world without these protections. This is an equity issue. There is a reason you see a difference across wards - some families can afford to stay home with their kdis and some can't.

Can you imagine this happening in lower ES? Instead of teaching, teacher will be pre-occupied with telling kids keep their masks on, not to go close to other kid, wash your hands, etc etc etc. No P.E. class, no Library? No science experiments?

Well, that is all happening now, just with 10 kids in the class and on 1-2 days a week. It's overkill. The 6 foot (10 really) is WITHOUT masks.

Why do you think that it is without masks? On the diagram posted by the news that shows the 6 foot radius around students, there is the note: "Current planning assumption: students and staff will wear face coverings".

Science doesn't support it. The 6 foot thing was because it was assumed peopel in the west wouldn't wer masks - that was the trajectory of large droplets of a sneeze. This was CDC suggested 6 feet when it didn't recomend masks. Now they do reccomend masks, which stops sneezes. Turns out not only big droplets but arosals are an issue. 6 feet won't help with this. UV lights and ventilation will. The six feet myth hangs around though so now we have masks AND 6 feet. Not touching is important. washing hands is important. Keeping windows open is important. 6 feet - nah.

Ok. I thought you mean that school would be 6 feet and without masks. Can you provide some research/links for the science? I have commonly heard the 6 feet and masks.

The article linked below states that both masks and distancing should be done.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/is-6-feet-far-enough-for-social-distancing-heres-what-science-says

[Anonymous]

You have to have 6 feet AND masks because humans are ping pong balls and incapable of perfectly respecting 6 feet of distance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about:

Provide homeschooling materials for families that want their kids to use complete DL. Not the thrown together system of completely classes in progress the was done this year, an actual option to complete the content on a home school basis.

2 day a week of in school learning for middle and high school with homework (not virtual classes) for the remaining portion of the week to cover complete content. Roughly 10 students in a classroom at a time, depending on room size.


Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week. facilitate alternative locations with childcare, technology and homework help for kids that need it staffed with paraprofessionals for the times they are not in school. accommodate social distancing.

Once there is a vaccine or execution of other elimination plan (isolation and tracing) go back to normal.

I also thought of this as an option- Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week- but this means that we will all have to work from home, otherwise how do you manage the logistics? Also, they will need to deep clean classes between 12-1pm and then again after 4pm. And if they only are in school for 3 hours, kids will probably be getting assignments to finish at home. So again, you will not be able to work much. Especially if you have more than one kid at the same school.....

How many staff does it take to thoroughly clean an entire school in one hour?

"deep clean"? Why not have each student take a clorox wipe and clean his/her area/desk at the end of the day (teacher watches to make sure it gets done) - 5 minutes - boom!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about:

Provide homeschooling materials for families that want their kids to use complete DL. Not the thrown together system of completely classes in progress the was done this year, an actual option to complete the content on a home school basis.

2 day a week of in school learning for middle and high school with homework (not virtual classes) for the remaining portion of the week to cover complete content. Roughly 10 students in a classroom at a time, depending on room size.


Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week. facilitate alternative locations with childcare, technology and homework help for kids that need it staffed with paraprofessionals for the times they are not in school. accommodate social distancing.

Once there is a vaccine or execution of other elimination plan (isolation and tracing) go back to normal.

I also thought of this as an option- Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week- but this means that we will all have to work from home, otherwise how do you manage the logistics? Also, they will need to deep clean classes between 12-1pm and then again after 4pm. And if they only are in school for 3 hours, kids will probably be getting assignments to finish at home. So again, you will not be able to work much. Especially if you have more than one kid at the same school.....

How many staff does it take to thoroughly clean an entire school in one hour?

"deep clean"? Why not have each student take a clorox wipe and clean his/her area/desk at the end of the day (teacher watches to make sure it gets done) - 5 minutes - boom!

Where are you getting these Clorox wipes? I vent been able to get more than one container in months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to have 6 feet AND masks because humans are ping pong balls and incapable of perfectly respecting 6 feet of distance.

Asia does masks, no touching, and no 6 feet stuff. Has good outcomes. They wrote the playbook during SARS. Pretty sure our CDC said no masks and 6 feet at first because, amoung other reasons, they didn't think we would wear masks (and they were right in some states), but we've largely adopted them. This accident is how we ended up with BOTH recs (6 feet AND masks). Masks stop the coughs and sneezes and large droplets the same way 6 feet would (with the 6 feet rule, those droplets fall to the ground and table-tops and not on a person). Masks have the exact same function since they make the droplets stay on the sneezer's face. The new problem is that it lingers in the air in miniscule droplets - masks offer a little protection for this but not great protection. The 6 feet rule offers no protection for this. No one wants to take away the 6 foot rule, but this rule doesn't exists in Asia; I think they say 3 feet there, but that is to avoid touching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about:

Provide homeschooling materials for families that want their kids to use complete DL. Not the thrown together system of completely classes in progress the was done this year, an actual option to complete the content on a home school basis.

2 day a week of in school learning for middle and high school with homework (not virtual classes) for the remaining portion of the week to cover complete content. Roughly 10 students in a classroom at a time, depending on room size.


Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week. facilitate alternative locations with childcare, technology and homework help for kids that need it staffed with paraprofessionals for the times they are not in school. accommodate social distancing.

Once there is a vaccine or execution of other elimination plan (isolation and tracing) go back to normal.

I also thought of this as an option- Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week- but this means that we will all have to work from home, otherwise how do you manage the logistics? Also, they will need to deep clean classes between 12-1pm and then again after 4pm. And if they only are in school for 3 hours, kids will probably be getting assignments to finish at home. So again, you will not be able to work much. Especially if you have more than one kid at the same school.....

How many staff does it take to thoroughly clean an entire school in one hour?

"deep clean"? Why not have each student take a clorox wipe and clean his/her area/desk at the end of the day (teacher watches to make sure it gets done) - 5 minutes - boom!

And the bathrooms? Lockers? Walls? Shelves? How long are you proposing kids clean for? How many parents want their kids using Clorox wipes? And how many kids listen when I say “don’t keep wiping until it’s dry, it needs to stay wet for 4 minutes!” (Spoiler alert: none)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about:

Provide homeschooling materials for families that want their kids to use complete DL. Not the thrown together system of completely classes in progress the was done this year, an actual option to complete the content on a home school basis.

2 day a week of in school learning for middle and high school with homework (not virtual classes) for the remaining portion of the week to cover complete content. Roughly 10 students in a classroom at a time, depending on room size.


Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week. facilitate alternative locations with childcare, technology and homework help for kids that need it staffed with paraprofessionals for the times they are not in school. accommodate social distancing.

Once there is a vaccine or execution of other elimination plan (isolation and tracing) go back to normal.

I also thought of this as an option- Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week- but this means that we will all have to work from home, otherwise how do you manage the logistics? Also, they will need to deep clean classes between 12-1pm and then again after 4pm. And if they only are in school for 3 hours, kids will probably be getting assignments to finish at home. So again, you will not be able to work much. Especially if you have more than one kid at the same school.....

How many staff does it take to thoroughly clean an entire school in one hour?

"deep clean"? Why not have each student take a clorox wipe and clean his/her area/desk at the end of the day (teacher watches to make sure it gets done) - 5 minutes - boom!

And the bathrooms? Lockers? Walls? Shelves? How long are you proposing kids clean for? How many parents want their kids using Clorox wipes? And how many kids listen when I say “don’t keep wiping until it’s dry, it needs to stay wet for 4 minutes!” (Spoiler alert: none)

Wait, why don’t parents want their kids to use Clorox wipes? My toddler uses them to clean...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does the alternating days affect the health of the educators? Seems they will be exposed to everyone and therefore everyone will be exposed to them.

exactly! so teachers will be able to infect the other kids on the alternate days, right? So it does not really make a difference.

It really depends on the structure. We can't assume that the faculty will be at school everyday. For example if the rotations are grade specific, K to 3 coming the first two days of the week and 4 to 5 the last two days of the week, the teachers for those grade would be home doing virtual learning for the days they aren't teaching in person. We need a lot more information on the options being reviewed.

I think staff will be there 4 days a week. Two days with half of the class and two days with the other half with a work from home day as the fifth day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about:

Provide homeschooling materials for families that want their kids to use complete DL. Not the thrown together system of completely classes in progress the was done this year, an actual option to complete the content on a home school basis.

2 day a week of in school learning for middle and high school with homework (not virtual classes) for the remaining portion of the week to cover complete content. Roughly 10 students in a classroom at a time, depending on room size.


Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week. facilitate alternative locations with childcare, technology and homework help for kids that need it staffed with paraprofessionals for the times they are not in school. accommodate social distancing.

Once there is a vaccine or execution of other elimination plan (isolation and tracing) go back to normal.

I also thought of this as an option- Divide elementary schools into morning and afternoon groups, 9-noon and 1 to 4, four days a week- but this means that we will all have to work from home, otherwise how do you manage the logistics? Also, they will need to deep clean classes between 12-1pm and then again after 4pm. And if they only are in school for 3 hours, kids will probably be getting assignments to finish at home. So again, you will not be able to work much. Especially if you have more than one kid at the same school.....

How many staff does it take to thoroughly clean an entire school in one hour?

"deep clean"? Why not have each student take a clorox wipe and clean his/her area/desk at the end of the day (teacher watches to make sure it gets done) - 5 minutes - boom!

And the bathrooms? Lockers? Walls? Shelves? How long are you proposing kids clean for? How many parents want their kids using Clorox wipes? And how many kids listen when I say “don’t keep wiping until it’s dry, it needs to stay wet for 4 minutes!” (Spoiler alert: none)

Wait, why don’t parents want their kids to use Clorox wipes? My toddler uses them to clean...

https://www.simplemost.com/consumer-reports-warns-against-disinfectant-wipes/

https://www.healthvermont.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pdf/ENV_HS_DisinfectingWipesTeachers.pdf

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/05/22/lynnfield-schools-warned-to-stop-making-kids-clean-with-disinfectant-wipes/

[Anonymous]

Here are my worries

1. If there is a rotational schedule, what happens when kids show up on the wrong day (accident or on purpose). We can’t even get parents to pick up very sick kids. They are not coming back to get kids on the “wrong” day. How many kids can we accept on the wrong day until we are over capacity?

2. Currently DC has very strict rules about suspension and isolation. What happens when a kid won’t stay seated, touches other people’s items, coughs loudly in class freaking other kids out, will there be consequences? Kid having a melt down and ripping things off the walls so I need to move my class to another space - where is that space now? The stakes are much higher now for kids listening to adults about safety, and many of us have experienced kids who won’t or don’t or can’t. What happens then?

3. Many schools don’t have windows that open. So there is no additional ventilation. Most things seem to indicate that confined spaces with poor ventilation is the prime condition for spreading. How do we combat that?

4. Frequent and quality hand washing needs to occur. Almost no classrooms have sinks. . How many kids can leave the room at a time to wash? Who is cleaning the bathroom after each kid? What happens if a kid is supposed to wipe things down and does not - kids can’t even bring their jacket home from school every day. We are going to make them in charge of cleaning????

5. The opening in other places will give us data but right now all the information about kids as vectors and how much they transmit is based on places closing school for many months. It will be hard to extrapolate the impact on kids once they are all together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are my worries

1. If there is a rotational schedule, what happens when kids show up on the wrong day (accident or on purpose). We can’t even get parents to pick up very sick kids. They are not coming back to get kids on the “wrong” day. How many kids can we accept on the wrong day until we are over capacity?

2. Currently DC has very strict rules about suspension and isolation. What happens when a kid won’t stay seated, touches other people’s items, coughs loudly in class freaking other kids out, will there be consequences? Kid having a melt down and ripping things off the walls so I need to move my class to another space - where is that space now? The stakes are much higher now for kids listening to adults about safety, and many of us have experienced kids who won’t or don’t or can’t. What happens then?

3. Many schools don’t have windows that open. So there is no additional ventilation. Most things seem to indicate that confined spaces with poor ventilation is the prime condition for spreading. How do we combat that?

4. Frequent and quality hand washing needs to occur. Almost no classrooms have sinks. . How many kids can leave the room at a time to wash? Who is cleaning the bathroom after each kid? What happens if a kid is supposed to wipe things down and does not - kids can’t even bring their jacket home from school every day. We are going to make them in charge of cleaning????

5. The opening in other places will give us data but right now all the information about kids as vectors and how much they transmit is based on places closing school for many months. It will be hard to extrapolate the impact on kids once they are all together.

And how do we best serve students with significant needs? I've got a middle schooler with autism who frequently tried to grab my face, a preschooler who tries to rub against my cheek, the students who need physical assistance, and forget about mucus during flu season...I just don't know how realistic it is to distance with these students. I'm young and low-risk, but what about the other students I come into contact with, or older teachers?

[Anonymous]

Also how to teachers do centers or stations in this environment? You can’t have three kids at a kidney table working with the teacher. So is all instruction going to be lecture from the front of the room? How is that better than small group calls, 1:1 check in meetings, and videos / teacher instruction?
I would much rather teachers do virtual small groups than lecture from the front

[Anonymous]

Wasn’t there news today that they think the virus doesn’t live or stay virulent on surfaces much at all? All our lysoling was a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

I’m in favor of slowly opening up, but the logistical / planning needed here is not insignificant. No one is even talking about how you handle social distancing when you still need to practice lockdown, tornado and fire drills. Those threats don’t go away.