Anonymous wrote:MD at 3.9%, MoCo at 2.4

OPEN THE SCHOOLS

But not everybody has returned from the beach or their home in Jackson Hole. Let them travel home before they open so they can share with everyone their summer break experiences!

Wow.

They never learn, do they?

Anonymous wrote:I'm a NYC teacher. We are talking about striking. Teachers are willing to teach under safe conditions only. The current plans that the city submitted to the state are not acceptable. There were parent and teacher protests at DOE headquarters this week.
The conditions that we stayed open under in March were horrific-the city claimed that there were twice weekly "deep cleanings" happening (no) and that there were cleaning supplies delivered to all schools (never materialized) and that we were amping up hand washing (we had no soap or hot water). When teachers were calling the health department to report positive COVID cases, the department refused to shut the schools down (as they had promised to do) and questioned the validity of the tests. Teachers were standing outside schools telling parents that their children were not safe and turning them away, risking their own jobs. We will not go back to that.

First, thank you for the very important work you do as a teacher. I imagine that this fall will be the most challenging year any teacher has ever faced in managing all the uncertainties, the logistical challenges, and the anxiety of managing the risks of exposure. I would hope that they have had time since March to better plan to put in safer protocols in the school to reduce the risks. I agree with you on the childcare issues for teachers. I hope the school district is addressing that, and allowing teachers more flexibility in terms of what they are able to do. I

I think if at a possible, school districts should do everything possible to protect the most vulnerable staff and children by providing alternative options to them. And to address the childcare issues. However, I also really believe that a school district should do everything possible to do their number one priority job - to educate the children. For many children, especially younger children, I don't believe that education is possible in an all virtual platform.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a NYC teacher. We are talking about striking. Teachers are willing to teach under safe conditions only. The current plans that the city submitted to the state are not acceptable. There were parent and teacher protests at DOE headquarters this week.
The conditions that we stayed open under in March were horrific-the city claimed that there were twice weekly "deep cleanings" happening (no) and that there were cleaning supplies delivered to all schools (never materialized) and that we were amping up hand washing (we had no soap or hot water). When teachers were calling the health department to report positive COVID cases, the department refused to shut the schools down (as they had promised to do) and questioned the validity of the tests. Teachers were standing outside schools telling parents that their children were not safe and turning them away, risking their own jobs. We will not go back to that.

What specific safety-related things are you asking for so that we as parents can advocate too?

Intermittent testing of school communities to identify asymptomatic cases (you would identify a statistically representative percentage of the population and test that %), a school nurse in every school (currently there are 400 vacancies), contract tracing, a comprehensive procedure for shutting down schools for known positive cases, and evidence that procedures (social distancing, mask wearing, reporting and tracing of positive cases) are being followed. For example, the Department of Education and the city initially promised us that ventilation systems would be upgraded, but have since said that a window that opens even an inch would be considered acceptable and adequate ventilation to reopen. That's not good enough.

DP- are there nurse position vacancies because NYS is unwilling to hire, or because not enough nurses want the job?

I grew up in NYS and always remember having a nurse at school but when I mentioned this to my DH he said he never had one at his schools in a different state.

The Governor of VA also announced something similar. But as you see, several counties in VA are not reopening. Unfortunately, I think the teachers will not allow them to reopen either.

Anonymous wrote:NYC teacher again-I'll also add that we are going back to "blended" learning, where kids will be at school between one and three days a week (not four or five days). They will be remote the rest of the time. At some schools the day(s) they are going in are not consistent, so good luck finding childcare on that schedule. The kids have to sit at their desks from 8:30-2, eating lunch in their seat while we continue to teach (I guess to prevent the kids from trying to talk to each other). They can't share materials. There is no recess.

One of the biggest concerns I’ve heard from folks (families and teachers) is the childcare gaps associated with the hybrid schedule. My friend and her DH are both teachers and their 2nd grader is returning to their previous in home daycare for the other three days. Maybe it will all work out fine but she was like, if we have to do this other families are too, if they can even find such an option. In a lot of cases it may be grandparents filling the gap.

This is great news because a big important and trusted governor is giving actual stat guidance. Hopefully it should allow other leaders to follow suit. I am fine with DL provided they give us metrics as to when it is safe and not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are willing to teach because the risk of infection is considerably lower.

Solve the virus spread and you solve the problems of schools (and work, and travel, and just about everything else). But most people here would rather just argue about the everything else rather than solve the real problem.

Many NOVA jurisdictions positivity rate is below 5%. Honest question, what number are you okay with? NYC’s metric to reopen is 5%— although they are lower.

DP.. what's the 7 day rolling average? Is nova/VA seeing cases go up even as the rate is below 5%? Then that's a concern. NY's rate is flat or going down. That's why they feel it's ok to re-open.

Fairfax County is currently at 5.6 cases per 100,000 and steady if not slightly declining (we were at 6.1 at end of July).

So, on average, 99,994 healthy students/adults in Fairfax County out of 100,000. .

If we get to 99,996 heathy students/adults, can we reopen? This is ridiculous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a NYC teacher. We are talking about striking. Teachers are willing to teach under safe conditions only. The current plans that the city submitted to the state are not acceptable. There were parent and teacher protests at DOE headquarters this week.
The conditions that we stayed open under in March were horrific-the city claimed that there were twice weekly "deep cleanings" happening (no) and that there were cleaning supplies delivered to all schools (never materialized) and that we were amping up hand washing (we had no soap or hot water). When teachers were calling the health department to report positive COVID cases, the department refused to shut the schools down (as they had promised to do) and questioned the validity of the tests. Teachers were standing outside schools telling parents that their children were not safe and turning them away, risking their own jobs. We will not go back to that.

What specific safety-related things are you asking for so that we as parents can advocate too?

Intermittent testing of school communities to identify asymptomatic cases (you would identify a statistically representative percentage of the population and test that %), a school nurse in every school (currently there are 400 vacancies), contract tracing, a comprehensive procedure for shutting down schools for known positive cases, and evidence that procedures (social distancing, mask wearing, reporting and tracing of positive cases) are being followed. For example, the Department of Education and the city initially promised us that ventilation systems would be upgraded, but have since said that a window that opens even an inch would be considered acceptable and adequate ventilation to reopen. That's not good enough.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are willing to teach because the risk of infection is considerably lower.

Solve the virus spread and you solve the problems of schools (and work, and travel, and just about everything else). But most people here would rather just argue about the everything else rather than solve the real problem.

Many NOVA jurisdictions positivity rate is below 5%. Honest question, what number are you okay with? NYC’s metric to reopen is 5%— although they are lower.

DP.. what's the 7 day rolling average? Is nova/VA seeing cases go up even as the rate is below 5%? Then that's a concern. NY's rate is flat or going down. That's why they feel it's ok to re-open.

Fairfax County is currently at 5.6 cases per 100,000 and steady if not slightly declining (we were at 6.1 at end of July).

So, on average, 99,994 healthy students/adults in Fairfax County out of 100,000. .

Anonymous wrote:This gives me hope.

+100

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Their teachers are willing to teacher. So there that.


I wouldn't assume that. I know NY teachers who are really upset about the schools reopening. But they are afraid to speak out.

Of course there will be some who are upset. My friend is a teacher in NYC. She wants to go back in person, primarily because it was impossible for her to try to teach virtually out of her tiny apartment with her two little kids there. Other teachers may have different concerns, of course. There is no solution that will work for every single teacher.

+1. Most of the teachers I know in NY teach ES and wanted to go back. My best friend was surprised that this area had already given up on in-person.

I am a parent of ES kids in NY and I am so glad Cuomo okayed it. I know it's just a few days a week and will be different, but just those few days will be better than a week of DL. DL just doesn't work for that age. I feel for those who have to coordinate the logistics of hybrid for MS and HS, but for ES, I think hybrid is very doable.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a NYC teacher. We are talking about striking. Teachers are willing to teach under safe conditions only. The current plans that the city submitted to the state are not acceptable. There were parent and teacher protests at DOE headquarters this week.
The conditions that we stayed open under in March were horrific-the city claimed that there were twice weekly "deep cleanings" happening (no) and that there were cleaning supplies delivered to all schools (never materialized) and that we were amping up hand washing (we had no soap or hot water). When teachers were calling the health department to report positive COVID cases, the department refused to shut the schools down (as they had promised to do) and questioned the validity of the tests. Teachers were standing outside schools telling parents that their children were not safe and turning them away, risking their own jobs. We will not go back to that.

What specific safety-related things are you asking for so that we as parents can advocate too?

This gives me hope.

Anonymous wrote:

Their teachers are willing to teacher. So there that.


I wouldn't assume that. I know NY teachers who are really upset about the schools reopening. But they are afraid to speak out.

Of course there will be some who are upset. My friend is a teacher in NYC. She wants to go back in person, primarily because it was impossible for her to try to teach virtually out of her tiny apartment with her two little kids there. Other teachers may have different concerns, of course. There is no solution that will work for every single teacher.

+1. Most of the teachers I know in NY teach ES and wanted to go back. My best friend was surprised that this area had already given up on in-person.