Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 11:06     Subject: Re:APS concurrent for grades 3-5
APS should just shoot for Monday April 5th, the first day after Spring Break. Teachers and staff should have shots and be mostly at least a few weeks after 2nd dose by then and average outdoor temperature high is 65F so windows can be open in wherever kids eat lunch.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 09:09     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look - this isn't that hard. Teachers get the vaccine, double-mask it, add the face shield and get everyone back in the classroom. This nonsense with remote learning just has to STOP.

I'm so tired of seeing how others are finding a way with this "new normal". Teachers are getting vaccinated. Enough already, get back in the classroom!


The issue is teachers are not getting vaccinated in large numbers very quickly. It has largely been a complete cluster in districts. In mine they are openly telling us it may quite a few weeks until all can even have gotten their first shot.


Double-mask, wear a face shield. Teachers are not even getting close to students and everyone will be wearing masks. This is going on all over the country, we need to just make it happen.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 09:06     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
and open whatever windows can be opened!! What about everyone living in small apartments that need to take an elevator all the time. People are finding a way and dealing with this.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 09:04     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Going half the day either AM or PM with neither group eating AT school would be good except for the childcare issue it creates which is why it won’t happen.
I'd love this plan, but I think APS has already passed on it because of transportation issues. They're already struggling with bussing issues.


APS struggled from the very beginning with the logistical side of this. I've said for six months that they need to hire either a permanent employee with significant planning and logistical skill, for example a retired military officer who handled large scale logistics and operations, or hire an outside firm. Things like the details of bussing, the singular focus on food distribution last spring, issues with distributing iPads, all of these things that the APS staff simply don't have the experience to manage and so couldn't figure it out.
It is absolutely clear that APS can't handle logistical planning whatsoever. Even at a recent PTA meet our elementary principal couldn't answer basic questions, like where they would have students go after getting off the bus or how they would have specials with both DL and in person students. APS can't go back because there is still no plan. They have no idea how to do this.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 08:56     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Look - this isn't that hard. Teachers get the vaccine, double-mask it, add the face shield and get everyone back in the classroom. This nonsense with remote learning just has to STOP.

I'm so tired of seeing how others are finding a way with this "new normal". Teachers are getting vaccinated. Enough already, get back in the classroom!


So you have no concerns about student safety? Do you think ventilation issues in the buildings and indoor lunches are okay? Just because teachers will be protected by the vaccine (and again, we are nowhere near having all teachers even having their first shot of the vaccine in APS, and it is a 6 week process from shot 1- full protection).

My children need and want to return in-person. But I continue to have concerns about APS's plan for student safety. Covid does not transmit via surfaces, this has been resolved. How will we keep students safe at school. Indoor lunch unmasked in classrooms is a ridiculous plan when indoor unmasked eating has been shown to be a high risk activity.


I think if students keep their distance, wear a mask, and are smart about hand-washing, the risk is minimal. The reasons to not return will go on forever otherwise.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 08:56     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:Look - this isn't that hard. Teachers get the vaccine, double-mask it, add the face shield and get everyone back in the classroom. This nonsense with remote learning just has to STOP.

I'm so tired of seeing how others are finding a way with this "new normal". Teachers are getting vaccinated. Enough already, get back in the classroom!


The issue is teachers are not getting vaccinated in large numbers very quickly. It has largely been a complete cluster in districts. In mine they are openly telling us it may quite a few weeks until all can even have gotten their first shot.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 08:53     Subject: Re:APS concurrent for grades 3-5
One more note about ventilation issues: APS' data on air exchanges and air quality does NOT come from direct classroom testing. They are going from the data provided by the HVAC manufacturers of each installed system. They have not actually tested any of the rooms they are planning on using.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 08:52     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:Look - this isn't that hard. Teachers get the vaccine, double-mask it, add the face shield and get everyone back in the classroom. This nonsense with remote learning just has to STOP.

I'm so tired of seeing how others are finding a way with this "new normal". Teachers are getting vaccinated. Enough already, get back in the classroom!


So you have no concerns about student safety? Do you think ventilation issues in the buildings and indoor lunches are okay? Just because teachers will be protected by the vaccine (and again, we are nowhere near having all teachers even having their first shot of the vaccine in APS, and it is a 6 week process from shot 1- full protection).

My children need and want to return in-person. But I continue to have concerns about APS's plan for student safety. Covid does not transmit via surfaces, this has been resolved. How will we keep students safe at school. Indoor lunch unmasked in classrooms is a ridiculous plan when indoor unmasked eating has been shown to be a high risk activity.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 08:33     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Look - this isn't that hard. Teachers get the vaccine, double-mask it, add the face shield and get everyone back in the classroom. This nonsense with remote learning just has to STOP.

I'm so tired of seeing how others are finding a way with this "new normal". Teachers are getting vaccinated. Enough already, get back in the classroom!
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 08:12     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Going half the day either AM or PM with neither group eating AT school would be good except for the childcare issue it creates which is why it won’t happen.
I'd love this plan, but I think APS has already passed on it because of transportation issues. They're already struggling with bussing issues.


If APS would commit to elementary and keep middle and high home like science suggests is safer for them (both because of age and lack of cohorting) they could pull off half days. That doesn’t seem to be in the cards though.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 07:58     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Going half the day either AM or PM with neither group eating AT school would be good except for the childcare issue it creates which is why it won’t happen.
I'd love this plan, but I think APS has already passed on it because of transportation issues. They're already struggling with bussing issues.


APS struggled from the very beginning with the logistical side of this. I've said for six months that they need to hire either a permanent employee with significant planning and logistical skill, for example a retired military officer who handled large scale logistics and operations, or hire an outside firm. Things like the details of bussing, the singular focus on food distribution last spring, issues with distributing iPads, all of these things that the APS staff simply don't have the experience to manage and so couldn't figure it out.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 07:49     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:Going half the day either AM or PM with neither group eating AT school would be good except for the childcare issue it creates which is why it won’t happen.
I'd love this plan, but I think APS has already passed on it because of transportation issues. They're already struggling with bussing issues.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 07:48     Subject: Re:APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:There are many many fewer people authorized virtual. I am an APS teacher and many educators are discussing this on our private discussion group. Not a single person so far has said they were authorized this time around. No one who is pregnant, breastfeeding, has an at risk family member in their home.


My pregnant teacher got an ADA waiver, and she told me if she didn’t, she’d quit.


Wow- I’m an APS teacher and that is the first pregnant waiver I’ve heard of. Most have been given a short term accommodation to not have to show up until students actually return. But once that starts they must show up.


Someone told me that the vaccine destroys placental tissue. Have no idea if that is true but if it is, might be the explanation.

That someone is a crackpot.
As is the idiot who repeats made up crap. 🙄
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 07:46     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Going half the day either AM or PM with neither group eating AT school would be good except for the childcare issue it creates which is why it won’t happen.
Anonymous
Post 01/21/2021 07:42     Subject: APS concurrent for grades 3-5
Anonymous wrote:Instead of concurrent for elementary at least I wish they would just have kids go for two hours a day every day. No eating lunch in school. Just math and reading/writing in person. Then teacher gets a break and the other group comes in. Specials via DL at home. That is what they have been doing in my hometown. It has worked great. Kids who are DL the entire time have a different teacher (but there are fewer of them since the risk is less if you are only in school two hours a day).


My friend's school in IL does this. They go half the day, it is more than 2 hours though. Then they go home and eat lunch and then resume online/virtual school after lunch.