Can Lafayette with 1,000 kids re-open in the Fall?

[Anonymous]

I think people are free to enroll in empty schools if they want to. But they don’t. So instead, wouldn’t it be a great idea if not-my-kids were transferred elsewhere for “safety?”

[Anonymous]

Of course they don’t. Why would anyone want to put their kid on public transportation across town in a pandemic when that kid could walk ten minutes to school? Which is better for flattening the curve?

[Anonymous]

DCPS is not opening up in “normal” fashion this Fall. Maybe it’s a staggered start or something other. Stay tuned for the Mayor’s 5/15 announcement.

[Anonymous]

9-1 pm and 2 to 6 pm. 4 hours of school is plenty.

[Anonymous]

I would rather do one day on, one day off.

[Anonymous]

Umm, unless they’re spraying disinfectant every night, or in between shifts this alternating group scenario seems to be for show.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps. But wouldn’t it be great to skip the crowded bedlam of MS lunch? And no MS PE! That would be awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm, unless they’re spraying disinfectant every night, or in between shifts this alternating group scenario seems to be for show.

Having half the class there means desks can be pushed further apart. So the chances of getting sneezed/coughed in decrease.

[Anonymous]

I think one group M-T, W clean, Th F next group makes most sense. People can develop small childcare coops or other providers will fill the need.

Would give some regularity and allow for better SD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Umm, unless they’re spraying disinfectant every night, or in between shifts this alternating group scenario seems to be for show.

I'm less worried about surfaces than about breathing near an infected person. Kids can wipe off their desks and a parent volunteer can come and wipe down other surfaces a few times a week. If that's not good enough for a kid they should be free to stay home. DCPS can figure out a district-wide distance learning program and allow any kids who want to to enroll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think one group M-T, W clean, Th F next group makes most sense. People can develop small childcare coops or other providers will fill the need.

Would give some regularity and allow for better SD.

This is kind of the problem though...if you have a class of 24 kids, yes it sounds nice that 12 go M-T and 12 T-F. But of those 12, they are going to be going to so many different caretakers, relatives, etc. that honestly they might be in contact with more people than if they were just in a 24-kid class M-F. So by splitting the class you may slightly reduce the likelihood that kids breathe in each others' germs but majorly increase the likelihood that a kid will be infected. There may be no public health benefit from splitting the class up, and major negative economic/educational consequences. It would be different if we could guarantee that kids would stay home with only their parents on non-school days but that's not going to happen for most kids.

[Anonymous]

My issue is trusting the kids family households. Who knows if they are having company or practicing social distance? I’d rather keep my child at home instead of exposing them to the unknowns.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it’s a matter of trust. Parents will be going back to work, kids will be in care before and after school, families will be on public transportation to get to school and work. If schools open, social distancing to the degree we are doing now won’t be possible.

[Anonymous]

It is not a matter of trust, we just have to try to re-start life with some social distancing. But have rotating groups might be the only way because a class of 25 kids can’t possibly be 6feet apart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not a matter of trust, we just have to try to re-start life with some social distancing. But have rotating groups might be the only way because a class of 25 kids can’t possibly be 6feet apart.

Absolutely! Of course different families will make different decisions. With an elementary school as large as Lafayette you would have to be crazy to think otherwise. This is the reality of the situation. We should re-open in the smartest way possible. If that means kids going to school on different days or different times, so be it. We NEED some type of in person learning and have to take that scary step.