Reply to Smart Restart APS- ventilation studies

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Reply to "Smart Restart APS- ventilation studies"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]APS needed a push from both APE and Smart Restart.

APS would never reopen if they kept relying on how teachers "feel" about safety rather than actual data.  The pressure from APE gave APS a necessary kick in the butt.

APS also had vastly underprepared for how they were going to keep kids safe.  APS's temperature scans and hand washing are fine, but only help at the margins.   Better ventilation and outdoor lunch materially reduce risk.  Smart Restart is only off the deep end in that they think that perfect ventilation is necessary for reopening (and that they are off-puttingly zealous in how they present themselves).   I appreciate that we'll now have good air filters in the classroom for reopening and I support the notion that we should keep working to improve ventilation for a full reopening in the fall.

I also strongly disagree with people on this thread that APS is now suddenly an expert in pandemic safety mitigation.  APS is run by educators, not scientists.  The CDC and other government guidelines were basically useless for most of the pandemic.  There is also a significant proportion of APS administration who don't believe that kids catch and transmit Covid, and another portion who are more focused on social issues than getting kids an education.  APS needed all of the help they could get, and probably more.[/quote]

Careful now, you're about to bring reason into this conversation.  :D  But I couldn't agree more.[/quote]

+2. I really wish I could switch places with one of those Smart Restart parents for just a day. Of my three children, two are doing fine, one has even elected to remain DL. But one of my children is failing everything. His/her life will be forever impacted by this pause in education at a crucial time in life. Those SR parents obviously aren't facing this situation and have no empathy for those of us who are.  [/quote]

Honestly.  People are in difficult circumstances. Everyone knows that.  Unfortunately, empathy won’t keep my kids safe from the virus. I’d like them to go to school.  But 300-400 kids in a middle and a high school at one time requires a lot of safety planning APS isn’t doing.  I can be empathetic but that doesn’t change the need for best safety practices.  APE and the like have never understood this.  They or their kids need to go to school NOW so anyone advOcating for safety measures is a crazy person getting in their way.  Insert anecdotal story about cousin in GA or FL or TX. Nope. It doesn’t work that way. We have CDC guidance and best practices. Serious people take that seriously.  [b]Decision makers responsible fir the health and safety of 30,000 need to take that seriously.  Even if you don’t. Safety trumps empathy. So very tired of people advocating for their current individual need vs. actual best practices.  Thank gid for Smart Restart.[/b]  [/quote]

x1000  We are other parents who feel exactly the same way.[/quote]

In some situations safety trumps empathy.  But unattainable safety and absolute zero risk do not.[/quote]

Exactly. Everyone knows that there is some risk, but it isn't nearly as bad as Smart Restart indicates -- AND THEY CAN KEEP THEIR KIDS AT HOME.[/quote]

Maybe not, but they are highlighting some risks, like indoor lunch, that parents may not have focused on before. I'm grateful for whatever safety changes they can help make happen.[/quote]

Exactly. And they are pushing APS to be transparent about ventilation, etc. 
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