Rapid testing
No sick kids at school (no coughing and fevers and major sniffles)
Cleaning supplies
Ppe for teachers and extra disposable masks for all the kids that will forget them
Working ac and fans (some classrooms are too hot or too cold or already have mold issues)

There is a lot of disagreement among staff —not just teachers, about what feel safe for our return. I am friends with many subs and paras. Most are older and are even more reluctant to return than the teachers I know. One of the cafeteria workers lost her adult daughter to COVID and is struggling to help raise her grandchildren. It’s a huge gamble for her to return. If she dies, the kids go into foster care.

VACCINATION.

I am not a teacher, but I'm a geneticist, and in the absence of rapid testing and a nationwide contact tracing system, and *intelligent, science-literate* people, we are forced to wait for the vaccine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a different district so I don't know what MCPS has laid out.

1. A defined plan for if a student or staff member tests positive
2. Easy availability for testing (I'm in VA) with a shorter turnaround for results. As we saw with the FCCPS update parents waiting for results send their kids to camp. That's not acceptable
3. To be allowed to use air purifier/fan in my classroom. I don't mind supplying

These are all good.

I know that last year we were told we could not run air purifiers/HEPA filters. Why? Is it the electric bill? A fire risk?

With people waiting up to 11 days for results, faster turn around times are critical to being able to return to the classroom. MCPS does not have enough subs to fill in for teachers who are exposed and waiting.

I think that the majority of teachers who are uncomfortable going back right now want similar things, they just aren't the most vocal. I am an ECE teacher (in an elementary school) I would have additional concerns if I was working with older kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents cleaning classrooms instead of professionals is going to result in potential liability for schools.

The first two of your suggestions are great for people who have resources. They are not things that can be expected from parents who have to work and who don't have extra money to buy masks. So, if you are relying on parental donations, that only works where there are enough parents to actually pitch in. The school system is going to open as a whole or stay distance learning as a whole.
This means that your suggestions do not fall within the reasonable category.

Teachers aren’t professional cleaners. Neither are my 11 year old students.

DP
Who supervises the parent? Does the teacher tell them, if they were not thorough enough? And you'll retain enough volunteers with that?

It should not be the job of the teacher to supervise cleaners. Secondary teachers have only a few minutes between classes in which to run to the bathroom or jot down a note to call a parent about something that needs follow up.

Maybe parents could have training by a building service worker and only those that pass would be selected to clean?

First of all, don't start by suggesting parents come in and clean. That would multiply the Covid risk for any other adults working in the building. The whole premise that reopening schools is somehow safe is that children don't spread the disease, adults do. No adult volunteers will be entering any buildings for quite a while.

1. We would need parents to provide all staff with as much PPE as necessary, across the entire school system, not just to the schools that can afford it.
2. Obtain canopies so classes can be held outside as much as possible.
3. A signed pledge that no sick kids would ever be sent to school, and any sick child would be picked up immediately, tested for Covid, and quarantined for 2 weeks with no attempt to send the child back to school sooner. Same goes if any student's immediate family members become ill.
4. Teach your child how to wear a mask and make sure they can wear one for the duration of a school day without fuss. Do not send your child to school if you can't get them to wear a mask for hours on end.
5. Teachers have been told that we cannot discipline children who won't wear masks, just encourage them. Parents must discipline them, and keep them home if they will not listen to the teacher.
6. For God's sake, teach your child to cover coughs and sneezes, even with a mask on. A mask reduces, but does not eliminate airborne droplets. Same goes for nose picking.

And even with all of this, I'm more afraid of catching something from a coworker than I am from a child. Most schools bring anywhere from 50-150 adults together on a daily basis. Many teachers travel from school to school. We all use the same 4-5 bathrooms, and the same 1-3 copy machines. Teaching is a collaborative profession, and we come together to plan, share resources, and provide services to our students. A school won't function with everyone working in isolated pods.

The main thing we really need is something no parent can give us: a vaccine.

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a different district so I don't know what MCPS has laid out.

1. A defined plan for if a student or staff member tests positive
2. Easy availability for testing (I'm in VA) with a shorter turnaround for results. As we saw with the FCCPS update parents waiting for results send their kids to camp. That's not acceptable
3. To be allowed to use air purifier/fan in my classroom. I don't mind supplying

These are all good.

I know that last year we were told we could not run air purifiers/HEPA filters. Why? Is it the electric bill? A fire risk?

With people waiting up to 11 days for results, faster turn around times are critical to being able to return to the classroom. MCPS does not have enough subs to fill in for teachers who are exposed and waiting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents cleaning classrooms instead of professionals is going to result in potential liability for schools.

The first two of your suggestions are great for people who have resources. They are not things that can be expected from parents who have to work and who don't have extra money to buy masks. So, if you are relying on parental donations, that only works where there are enough parents to actually pitch in. The school system is going to open as a whole or stay distance learning as a whole.
This means that your suggestions do not fall within the reasonable category.

Teachers aren’t professional cleaners. Neither are my 11 year old students.

DP
Who supervises the parent? Does the teacher tell them, if they were not thorough enough? And you'll retain enough volunteers with that?

Anonymous wrote:I'm in a different district so I don't know what MCPS has laid out.

1. A defined plan for if a student or staff member tests positive
2. Easy availability for testing (I'm in VA) with a shorter turnaround for results. As we saw with the FCCPS update parents waiting for results send their kids to camp. That's not acceptable
3. To be allowed to use air purifier/fan in my classroom. I don't mind supplying

Adding contact tracing.

I'm in a different district so I don't know what MCPS has laid out.

1. A defined plan for if a student or staff member tests positive
2. Easy availability for testing (I'm in VA) with a shorter turnaround for results. As we saw with the FCCPS update parents waiting for results send their kids to camp. That's not acceptable
3. To be allowed to use air purifier/fan in my classroom. I don't mind supplying

Anonymous wrote:Parents cleaning classrooms instead of professionals is going to result in potential liability for schools.

The first two of your suggestions are great for people who have resources. They are not things that can be expected from parents who have to work and who don't have extra money to buy masks. So, if you are relying on parental donations, that only works where there are enough parents to actually pitch in. The school system is going to open as a whole or stay distance learning as a whole.
This means that your suggestions do not fall within the reasonable category.

Teachers aren’t professional cleaners. Neither are my 11 year old students.

Anonymous wrote:This is an exercise in futility. They never want t to go back. Under any conditions.

I want to go back. I do have conditions.

[quote=Anonymous]Let's start a civil list of obtainable accommodations that parents can help with to get our kids in school in person (whether hybrid or full time) anytime between now and next year. (Aside from basic cdc guidelines which seem to not be enough to all)

I'll start.

Reasonable


parents sending in extra masks with kids
parent volunteer list to clean between classes/ on off days where there may not be custodial help.
Be NICE to teachers- we need you!

Unreasonable

New ventilation system

For any proponents of 100% DL/ families of high risk or immunocompromised persons etc. This thread is not for you.

Please lets stick to the topic and not run this thread down. I think we can make some great suggestions!

How can we help? Can we help?

~signed mcps 5 and 8 y.o mom
[/quote]

I like all of these. (Really the ventilation issue is one that impacts health beyond COVID. Last year, a 6th grade student developed chronic sinus issues and the parents were furious.)

I would also want N95 masks for all staff (not just teachers), robust contract tracing if there’s a positive among school connections (such as a parent or sibling), and COVID-specific medical leave so teachers do not have to use their own leave or the sick bank while quarantined or recovering.

Parents cleaning classrooms instead of professionals is going to result in potential liability for schools.

The first two of your suggestions are great for people who have resources. They are not things that can be expected from parents who have to work and who don't have extra money to buy masks. So, if you are relying on parental donations, that only works where there are enough parents to actually pitch in. The school system is going to open as a whole or stay distance learning as a whole.
This means that your suggestions do not fall within the reasonable category.

Let's start a civil list of obtainable accommodations that parents can help with to get our kids in school in person (whether hybrid or full time) anytime between now and next year. (Aside from basic cdc guidelines which seem to not be enough to all)

I'll start.

Reasonable


parents sending in extra masks with kids
parent volunteer list to clean between classes/ on off days where there may not be custodial help.
Be NICE to teachers- we need you!

Unreasonable

New ventilation system

For any proponents of 100% DL/ families of high risk or immunocompromised persons etc. This thread is not for you.

Please lets stick to the topic and not run this thread down. I think we can make some great suggestions!

How can we help? Can we help?

~signed mcps 5 and 8 y.o mom