Hope ACPS proposes to funnel some American Rescue Act funds into testing
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Anonymous
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I failed to take the survey to comment on how ACPS should spend the 11.4 million that was allocated to the district from the American Rescue Plan.
https://care-acps.org/take-action/opportunity-to-comment-survey-from-acps-about-american-rescue-plan-funds/ Had I taken the survey, I would have commented that most of the 6.8 million to support academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs should go toward additional staff to reduce class size. I also would have noted that efforts under prevention and mitigation strategies should include funding for on-site routine rapid testing of a percentage of the student and staff population. And the purchase of higher quality masks for students and staff. It is so frustrating that with all of this money that there isn't any focus on testing. |
Anonymous
| Why are they setting aside funds for “fully virtual school”? The allocations on the chart in that link don’t seem to be sufficient for COVID mitigation. There’s still no plan for outdoor lunch, which will inevitably become a source of exposure and community spread. Sigh, as always ACPS waits until the last possible minute to come up with “plans.” |
Anonymous
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This is OP. I put in the wrong link. That is to a survey at a different school district.
The School Board met yesterday to discuss. https://alexandriapublic.ic-board.com/public_itemview.aspx?ItemId=15323&mtgId=1907 55% proposed for SEAL (mostly social and emotional). 15% on Covid-19 mitigation, primarily ventilation and building updates. I think there is opportunity for public comment on the proposed spending. With an extra 34.8 million in funding, it would be great if tents could be purchased to provide for outdoor lunch. I can't imagine the outlay would be that great compared to what is being proposed for SEAL. |
Anonymous
| SEAL stuff will be meaningless if they can’t properly mitigate COVID to keep schools open. I don’t see many signs that they are prepared yet for the first day to welcome all these students back into buildings amid substantial community transmission. I hope I’m wrong but not feeling too confident at the moment. |
Anonymous
Although I would say "outdoor breakfast and lunch." I am really quite concerned about community transmission rates skyrocketing if kids are eating breakfast and lunch indoors. |
Anonymous
| For the testing, isn't the city already have tests available? You mean you'd test kids and staff everyday? How effective or accurate are the rapid tests? I do think it is a good use of money, but I have no idea the daily cost. Or if it is scientifically sound to test each day. I think that breakfast and lunch should be outdoors. Dr. H mentioned that he was not going to move school lunches outdoors. I think it is a super practical solution. Why not? |
Anonymous
Yeah, I don't get that either. I am a strong supporter of his (I know, I'm standing pretty much alone) but I don't get this decision. It seems very reasonable and practical given what we know about the virus and the variant(s) to have breakfasts and lunches outdoors. Outdoor breakfasts and lunches definitely aligns with the advice we are getting from Dr. Fauci and the CDC so it is weird that ACPS isn't doing it. |
Anonymous
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Not sure if it will make a difference but I plan to tell my kids to not talk and ear as quickly as possible during breakfast and lunch. And if they do talk, to put their masks back on.
The fall reopening playbook mentions that Covid screening testing will take place and will require parent and staff consent. No more specifics on how this will be implemented but other school districts do baseline testing followed by weekly testing of 10 percent of the school population so it could be something like that. |
Anonymous
| ACPS was so vague in its spending plans for the Federal funding that I assume it’s mainly deferred maintenance on HVAC systems. Low low expectations of any progress made on children who fell behind. |
Anonymous
| All school districts are going to try and test as little as possible. Since once positive tests come in they have to quarantine and disrupt instruction and go to plan B continuously. |
Anonymous
Charles Barrett has been long overdue for a new HVAC system that was finally supposed to get replaced this summer and it was not done. ACPS is hopeless! |
Anonymous
| That's terrible. Anyhow, the governor announced a couple weeks ago matching funds for all school HVAC projects slated to occur. Wonder if any ACPS project made it to the list. |
Anonymous
| What has the school district done to prepare for reopening? Our elementary has announce lunch will be indoors in the cafeteria. ACPS has also decided not to require vaccines for staff or teachers. How long before the first outbreak and quarantine? |
Anonymous
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Have they announced that specifically about not requiring vaccine or weekly testing. Just saw APS and DCPS ate and I would like that to yo
My own safety as well As being safest for kids. Odd they wouldn’t do that as they have been so safety conscious in general. |
Anonymous
https://www.alxnow.com/2021/08/12/acps-is-not-requiring-staff-to-get-vaccinated-before-school-starts-systemwide-august-24/ |