Our school was able to staff supervising lunch I’m the classroom using EL, SPED, coaches, and some monitors in the spring. We are a pretty big title one school though. More organization would be need for outside since all the kids would be back, but I think we would have the staffing.

Our elementary principal in LCPS sent an email indicating they will split the classes between cafeteria and classroom, so half of each class eats in each for spacing. The teachers will rotate so all kids get to eat in both locations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not easy to hire people to work a few hours in the middle of the day.

This. With covid it’s an even less appealing job. They used extended day staff last year but they are needed back in extended day now.

I honestly think PTA could staff it with volunteer parents. Many of us are still working remotely and don’t mind running over to monitor lunch for an hour once a week if it means safer lunches, which increases the chance of school staying open.

Anonymous wrote:Not easy to hire people to work a few hours in the middle of the day.

This. With covid it’s an even less appealing job. They used extended day staff last year but they are needed back in extended day now.

Anonymous wrote:Somehow there is tons of Covid funding for Social emotional / racism training but not for unskilled adults to simply keep an eye on kids eating outside….

Probably because whatever program you think is so expensive actually costs about as much as one support staff employee

APS our school will do outdoor lunch when possible. My kid said they only ate inside once during hybrid because it was pouring. Our school purchased chairs, picnic tables and umbrellas and were advised outdoor tents were an APS not PTA purchase

Not easy to hire people to work a few hours in the middle of the day.

Somehow there is tons of Covid funding for Social emotional / racism training but not for unskilled adults to simply keep an eye on kids eating outside….

Anonymous wrote:FCCPS did last year, and it was basically parent-staffed. No tents, no tables. Kids sat on the ground and were outside even if it was sprinkling (per my kids - take that with a grain of salt). The kids were miserable eating on the ground in the heat, and depending on where they were assigned, some seating areas were muddy and wet, so they had to squat to eat. All in all, good intent but bad execution.

I taught summer school in APS and eating outside sucked so much. I was with K students and it was hard for some of them to manage and SO SO hot and unpleasant. It was great with older kids in the spring though. We won't have the staff for it this year though

FCCPS did last year, and it was basically parent-staffed. No tents, no tables. Kids sat on the ground and were outside even if it was sprinkling (per my kids - take that with a grain of salt). The kids were miserable eating on the ground in the heat, and depending on where they were assigned, some seating areas were muddy and wet, so they had to squat to eat. All in all, good intent but bad execution.

Anonymous wrote:We are in Loudoun and I haven’t heard anything like that from the school I teach at, the two my kids go to, or my colleagues at other schools. I do not think it’s going to be the norm.

+1. LCPS is standard cafeteria lunch with masks on the way in and out and when not actually eating. Superintendent just sent an email.

Anonymous wrote:APS will be doing outdoor lunch and spacing “as feasible” my school did outdoor lunch every day of hybrid except one but we had a dedicated extended day staff person as a monitor. That won’t be available.

DP. At our school, our principal would love to do outdoor lunch, but it has become a staffing issue. Monitoring lunch is outside teacher contract hours, and staff is lean.

We are in Loudoun and I haven’t heard anything like that from the school I teach at, the two my kids go to, or my colleagues at other schools. I do not think it’s going to be the norm.

APS will be doing outdoor lunch and spacing “as feasible” my school did outdoor lunch every day of hybrid except one but we had a dedicated extended day staff person as a monitor. That won’t be available.

Stunned that ACPS has essentially said “no” to outdoor lunch given all we know about the transmission of COVID-19 at this point.

If your district or school will be having outdoor lunches, could you please share? Would love to know the district, as well as any protocols or measures taken to facilitate lunch outside (eg. purchase of tents or picnic tables, use of parks and rec spaces, hiring lunch monitors or volunteer roles for PTA, weather policies, etc). Alternatively, will your school allow lunch in classrooms instead of the cafeteria?

Hoping to convince our ACPS elementary and middle school that we can make this happen!