CDC officially changed guidance to 3 feet in schools

[Anonymous]

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/19/978608714/cdc-says-schools-can-now-space-students-3-feet-apart-rather-than-6

LCPS was clearly banking on this with the announcement of 4 days hybrid. Will other counties follow now?

[Anonymous]

I hope so. It's time for kids to go back to school.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps for elementary, but if you read the guidance carefully it's 3 feet when masked. This does not apply to cafeteria/unmasked, which will be near impossible in middle school and high school to get all kids in at 6 feet apart. The guidance also still calls for cohorts for the secondary level which again, isn't possible with some schools at 75% in person rates/crowding.

[Anonymous]

I still don’t think we can fit everyone at 3 feet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still don’t think we can fit everyone at 3 feet.

It’s going to be hard in the schools with 75% plus hybrid.

[Anonymous]

It’s elementary only. Not middle or high. And lunch will be tricky for K-5. Combo of classrooms, outdoors and cafeteria might work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s elementary only. Not middle or high. And lunch will be tricky for K-5. Combo of classrooms, outdoors and cafeteria might work.

You’re right about elementary, I wasn’t thinking about the fact that 6 feet is still required for lunch or when they don’t have a mask. You can’t fit 15 to 18 kids 6 feet apart unless you’re using other common areas as well.

[Anonymous]

And it’s only 15-18 in high FRL schools. My kids N Arl 5th grade had 27 kids in it last year. Good luck with that.

[Anonymous]

For elementary - they can break up recess. Half the kids eat in the classroom the other half go outside, then switch. They can figure this out, it just seem they don't want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For elementary - they can break up recess. Half the kids eat in the classroom the other half go outside, then switch. They can figure this out, it just seem they don't want to.

That’s what our school is already doing but the classes are kept separate so it wouldn’t really work space wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For elementary - they can break up recess. Half the kids eat in the classroom the other half go outside, then switch. They can figure this out, it just seem they don't want to.

Why, one year into the pandemic, is ACPS still just figuring out some of the most basic logistics? I’m really losing confidence about plans for the fall. We cannot have another year of this mess. And they’ve announced another “mandatory” online summer school. They’re just going to keep doing the same thing over and over again, including providing families with useless, wasteful educational packets that sit around unused. At least put that money into HEPA filters for classrooms!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For elementary - they can break up recess. Half the kids eat in the classroom the other half go outside, then switch. They can figure this out, it just seem they don't want to.

That’s what our school is already doing but the classes are kept separate so it wouldn’t really work space wise.

Or everyone outside more generally, to eat and play! Releases these kids from their desks and laptops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For elementary - they can break up recess. Half the kids eat in the classroom the other half go outside, then switch. They can figure this out, it just seem they don't want to.

Why, one year into the pandemic, is ACPS still just figuring out some of the most basic logistics? I’m really losing confidence about plans for the fall. We cannot have another year of this mess. And they’ve announced another “mandatory” online summer school. They’re just going to keep doing the same thing over and over again, including providing families with useless, wasteful educational packets that sit around unused. At least put that money into HEPA filters for classrooms!

Completely agree with this with respect to ACPS. The district should stop spending money on consultants and online apps that most students are not using and just add a HEPA filter to each room as so many other school districts are doing. This just makes sense since it is a district-wide policy that windows cannot be opened because of mold (even if the building is brand new). I think Chicago Public Schools was able to put one in each classroom for $8.5 million.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't this also depend on community transmission rates? Loudoun is in the CDC's red zone, and so is PWC.

If parents want every kid in school every day, would they be willing to have kids come in half days only, then get a lunch to go, thus avoiding the issue of eating in the cafeteria? Or requiring lunch outside, so no school on rainy days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't this also depend on community transmission rates? Loudoun is in the CDC's red zone, and so is PWC.

If parents want every kid in school every day, would they be willing to have kids come in half days only, then get a lunch to go, thus avoiding the issue of eating in the cafeteria? Or requiring lunch outside, so no school on rainy days?

I’m pretty sure Loudoun is in yellow for PPR. Plus LCPS is no longer using community metrics, just school spread. Loudoun will be 5 days/all kids in fall w/masks, they have already said.