Schools closed April 21

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

This reminds me so much of people trying to come up with alternative solutions during COVID and just being told that nothing was possible, there are no solutions other than schools remaining closed.

At my kids’ school (elementary), voting is done in the cafeteria in the front of the school and voters use the main front entrance. There is no real reason why they couldn’t use the gym toward the rear of the school, which has its own entrance/exit (an emergency exit, so would have to be disabled but I know this is possible as events are sometimes set up in the gym and can be loaded directly from the blacktop outside). Close the doors from the gym to the school hallway. People come in to the gym directly from school grounds and leave out the same door. Cancel PE classes for that one day, or have them meet outside, weather permitting, or have them do health activities in the classroom. Kids can still eat in the cafeteria which I know is important as we have about a 20% FARMS rate. An elections official can monitor the entrance and exit, and elections officials could use dividers and signs to point the way as it will be different than usual.

There are solutions - they just don’t want to do the work to do them because it’s far easier to close the schools. With most people voting early these days, turnout at these special elections is quite low anyway. I checked and for the 2025 general election - obviously a much larger election than the one coming up in April - we had less than 1000 votes cast on Election Day. The ballot measure will probably have half that.

Parking is also an issue. We cannot fit our full staff in our lot when school is in session. Many need to park on the street. Parking to vote would be a nightmare.

Sure if it was a regular election, but we’re closed for those. Which makes sense. With this election there will probably be 500-600 people showing up on Election Day, ALL DAY from 7-7 or whenever it is. I always vote on ED and ever since early voting started in Virginia in 2016 or whenever it was, it’s always very slow. They could reserve a few spots in the parking lot for voters, or direct them to the bus loop between certain hours when no one is coming or going and after school. Or people or teachers might have to park in the neighborhoods. But I think they could make it work for an off-year, last minute midterm election on a ballot issue. This is not something that is going to attract huge crowds of voters.

Actually it is. It’s a pretty contentious issue. The crazies will come out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

This reminds me so much of people trying to come up with alternative solutions during COVID and just being told that nothing was possible, there are no solutions other than schools remaining closed.

At my kids’ school (elementary), voting is done in the cafeteria in the front of the school and voters use the main front entrance. There is no real reason why they couldn’t use the gym toward the rear of the school, which has its own entrance/exit (an emergency exit, so would have to be disabled but I know this is possible as events are sometimes set up in the gym and can be loaded directly from the blacktop outside). Close the doors from the gym to the school hallway. People come in to the gym directly from school grounds and leave out the same door. Cancel PE classes for that one day, or have them meet outside, weather permitting, or have them do health activities in the classroom. Kids can still eat in the cafeteria which I know is important as we have about a 20% FARMS rate. An elections official can monitor the entrance and exit, and elections officials could use dividers and signs to point the way as it will be different than usual.

There are solutions - they just don’t want to do the work to do them because it’s far easier to close the schools. With most people voting early these days, turnout at these special elections is quite low anyway. I checked and for the 2025 general election - obviously a much larger election than the one coming up in April - we had less than 1000 votes cast on Election Day. The ballot measure will probably have half that.

Parking is also an issue. We cannot fit our full staff in our lot when school is in session. Many need to park on the street. Parking to vote would be a nightmare.

Sure if it was a regular election, but we’re closed for those. Which makes sense. With this election there will probably be 500-600 people showing up on Election Day, ALL DAY from 7-7 or whenever it is. I always vote on ED and ever since early voting started in Virginia in 2016 or whenever it was, it’s always very slow. They could reserve a few spots in the parking lot for voters, or direct them to the bus loop between certain hours when no one is coming or going and after school. Or people or teachers might have to park in the neighborhoods. But I think they could make it work for an off-year, last minute midterm election on a ballot issue. This is not something that is going to attract huge crowds of voters.

Actually it is. It’s a pretty contentious issue. The crazies will come out.

Most people vote early. And you can look up the results of even the Gov. election last year - less than 60% turnout. This election will probably be in the low 50s for turnout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

This reminds me so much of people trying to come up with alternative solutions during COVID and just being told that nothing was possible, there are no solutions other than schools remaining closed.

At my kids’ school (elementary), voting is done in the cafeteria in the front of the school and voters use the main front entrance. There is no real reason why they couldn’t use the gym toward the rear of the school, which has its own entrance/exit (an emergency exit, so would have to be disabled but I know this is possible as events are sometimes set up in the gym and can be loaded directly from the blacktop outside). Close the doors from the gym to the school hallway. People come in to the gym directly from school grounds and leave out the same door. Cancel PE classes for that one day, or have them meet outside, weather permitting, or have them do health activities in the classroom. Kids can still eat in the cafeteria which I know is important as we have about a 20% FARMS rate. An elections official can monitor the entrance and exit, and elections officials could use dividers and signs to point the way as it will be different than usual.

There are solutions - they just don’t want to do the work to do them because it’s far easier to close the schools. With most people voting early these days, turnout at these special elections is quite low anyway. I checked and for the 2025 general election - obviously a much larger election than the one coming up in April - we had less than 1000 votes cast on Election Day. The ballot measure will probably have half that.

Parking is also an issue. We cannot fit our full staff in our lot when school is in session. Many need to park on the street. Parking to vote would be a nightmare.

That’s on the voters and they make it work. Our middle school had voting a few weeks ago and a plan was made and it worked fine. I don’t know. As a teacher I’m incredibly frustrated with this calendar and getting done so late in June.

I am a teacher too and am not a fan of this calendar. But the whole election piece, I actually blame Board of Elections. Why are we still using schools as polling places? Why not libraries and other community centers? Why not empty commercial real estate? If they need to use schools then with the exception of Election Day in November, these types of votes should be in summer.

[Anonymous]

Why haven't they told families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

This reminds me so much of people trying to come up with alternative solutions during COVID and just being told that nothing was possible, there are no solutions other than schools remaining closed.

At my kids’ school (elementary), voting is done in the cafeteria in the front of the school and voters use the main front entrance. There is no real reason why they couldn’t use the gym toward the rear of the school, which has its own entrance/exit (an emergency exit, so would have to be disabled but I know this is possible as events are sometimes set up in the gym and can be loaded directly from the blacktop outside). Close the doors from the gym to the school hallway. People come in to the gym directly from school grounds and leave out the same door. Cancel PE classes for that one day, or have them meet outside, weather permitting, or have them do health activities in the classroom. Kids can still eat in the cafeteria which I know is important as we have about a 20% FARMS rate. An elections official can monitor the entrance and exit, and elections officials could use dividers and signs to point the way as it will be different than usual.

There are solutions - they just don’t want to do the work to do them because it’s far easier to close the schools. With most people voting early these days, turnout at these special elections is quite low anyway. I checked and for the 2025 general election - obviously a much larger election than the one coming up in April - we had less than 1000 votes cast on Election Day. The ballot measure will probably have half that.

Parking is also an issue. We cannot fit our full staff in our lot when school is in session. Many need to park on the street. Parking to vote would be a nightmare.

That’s on the voters and they make it work. Our middle school had voting a few weeks ago and a plan was made and it worked fine. I don’t know. As a teacher I’m incredibly frustrated with this calendar and getting done so late in June.

I am a teacher too and am not a fan of this calendar. But the whole election piece, I actually blame Board of Elections. Why are we still using schools as polling places? Why not libraries and other community centers? Why not empty commercial real estate? If they need to use schools then with the exception of Election Day in November, these types of votes should be in summer.

State code has requirements that polling places be put in public buildings first (or something to that effect). With ~250 polling places, there aren’t enough public buildings that aren’t schools to accommodate that. Institutional sites (houses of worship, colleges, etc) are also preferred.

Part of the reasoning is that public buildings hardly ever go away, unlike commercial buildings that change owners, get redeveloped, etc. This is designed to limit changing polling places and confusing voters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

Seriously?? Yes.

Especially right now thanks to MAGA and their dumpy president

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why haven't they told families?

Because it was just announced the other day. Reid met with principals on Thursday to discuss what type of workday it would be for teachers. There are IEPs and other meetings that principals need teachers to attend. On the already scheduled teacher workdays, principals cannot require teachers to attend.

They’re crafting the language that is in line with the new collective bargaining agreement but still meets principals’ needs.

[Anonymous]

Of course there’s a 3 hour early release scheduled for April 22.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course there’s a 3 hour early release scheduled for April 22.

My kid has a field trip scheduled for April 21. I guess it will be cancelled?

[Anonymous]

Teachers do not need any more planning or workdays. This is really getting out of hand. For elementary schools they need to cancel all upcoming 3 hour early release days if they intend to close on 4/21.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

Seriously?? Yes.

Especially right now thanks to MAGA and their dumpy president

Hey now! That guy is the dumpy president of all Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers do not need any more planning or workdays. This is really getting out of hand. For elementary schools they need to cancel all upcoming 3 hour early release days if they intend to close on 4/21.

Teacher here. I think that is a good idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers do not need any more planning or workdays. This is really getting out of hand. For elementary schools they need to cancel all upcoming 3 hour early release days if they intend to close on 4/21.

Sorry not happening. The 3 day early release days have been set since the beginning of the year and are not changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers do not need any more planning or workdays. This is really getting out of hand. For elementary schools they need to cancel all upcoming 3 hour early release days if they intend to close on 4/21.

Teacher here. I think that is a good idea!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers do not need any more planning or workdays. This is really getting out of hand. For elementary schools they need to cancel all upcoming 3 hour early release days if they intend to close on 4/21.

What experience do you have in education that makes you so certain of this?