Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

This reminds me so much of people trying to come up with alternative solutions during COVID and just being told that nothing was possible, there are no solutions other than schools remaining closed.

At my kids’ school (elementary), voting is done in the cafeteria in the front of the school and voters use the main front entrance. There is no real reason why they couldn’t use the gym toward the rear of the school, which has its own entrance/exit (an emergency exit, so would have to be disabled but I know this is possible as events are sometimes set up in the gym and can be loaded directly from the blacktop outside). Close the doors from the gym to the school hallway. People come in to the gym directly from school grounds and leave out the same door. Cancel PE classes for that one day, or have them meet outside, weather permitting, or have them do health activities in the classroom. Kids can still eat in the cafeteria which I know is important as we have about a 20% FARMS rate. An elections official can monitor the entrance and exit, and elections officials could use dividers and signs to point the way as it will be different than usual.

There are solutions - they just don’t want to do the work to do them because it’s far easier to close the schools. With most people voting early these days, turnout at these special elections is quite low anyway. I checked and for the 2025 general election - obviously a much larger election than the one coming up in April - we had less than 1000 votes cast on Election Day. The ballot measure will probably have half that.

Parking is also an issue. We cannot fit our full staff in our lot when school is in session. Many need to park on the street. Parking to vote would be a nightmare.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

This reminds me so much of people trying to come up with alternative solutions during COVID and just being told that nothing was possible, there are no solutions other than schools remaining closed.

At my kids’ school (elementary), voting is done in the cafeteria in the front of the school and voters use the main front entrance. There is no real reason why they couldn’t use the gym toward the rear of the school, which has its own entrance/exit (an emergency exit, so would have to be disabled but I know this is possible as events are sometimes set up in the gym and can be loaded directly from the blacktop outside). Close the doors from the gym to the school hallway. People come in to the gym directly from school grounds and leave out the same door. Cancel PE classes for that one day, or have them meet outside, weather permitting, or have them do health activities in the classroom. Kids can still eat in the cafeteria which I know is important as we have about a 20% FARMS rate. An elections official can monitor the entrance and exit, and elections officials could use dividers and signs to point the way as it will be different than usual.

There are solutions - they just don’t want to do the work to do them because it’s far easier to close the schools. With most people voting early these days, turnout at these special elections is quite low anyway. I checked and for the 2025 general election - obviously a much larger election than the one coming up in April - we had less than 1000 votes cast on Election Day. The ballot measure will probably have half that.

Parking is also an issue. We cannot fit our full staff in our lot when school is in session. Many need to park on the street. Parking to vote would be a nightmare.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

This reminds me so much of people trying to come up with alternative solutions during COVID and just being told that nothing was possible, there are no solutions other than schools remaining closed.

At my kids’ school (elementary), voting is done in the cafeteria in the front of the school and voters use the main front entrance. There is no real reason why they couldn’t use the gym toward the rear of the school, which has its own entrance/exit (an emergency exit, so would have to be disabled but I know this is possible as events are sometimes set up in the gym and can be loaded directly from the blacktop outside). Close the doors from the gym to the school hallway. People come in to the gym directly from school grounds and leave out the same door. Cancel PE classes for that one day, or have them meet outside, weather permitting, or have them do health activities in the classroom. Kids can still eat in the cafeteria which I know is important as we have about a 20% FARMS rate. An elections official can monitor the entrance and exit, and elections officials could use dividers and signs to point the way as it will be different than usual.

There are solutions - they just don’t want to do the work to do them because it’s far easier to close the schools. With most people voting early these days, turnout at these special elections is quite low anyway. I checked and for the 2025 general election - obviously a much larger election than the one coming up in April - we had less than 1000 votes cast on Election Day. The ballot measure will probably have half that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We came from out of state with supposedly lower standard public schools. Then I realized no one actually goes to school here. We were fortunate enough for them to get into a private school next year.

BYE!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this DCUM hysteria or is school actually closed on 4/21? I don’t see anything online and didn’t get an email.

DD has an appointment on 4/20 and I can easily move it to 4/21 so she doesn’t miss school if they are closed! I’m more concerned with adjusting my work schedule and would like to know.

It was confirmed internally in the superintendent/teacher advisory council meeting this past week. Move the appointment!

Quote:

Dr. Reid: “Last Thursday, we got a note from the elections board that there WILL be an election on April 21 on a constitutional amendment. The primary scheduled for June has been moved to August 4. April 21 will become a teacher workday, working from an alternate location is acceptable.”

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this DCUM hysteria or is school actually closed on 4/21? I don’t see anything online and didn’t get an email.

DD has an appointment on 4/20 and I can easily move it to 4/21 so she doesn’t miss school if they are closed! I’m more concerned with adjusting my work schedule and would like to know.

It was confirmed internally in the superintendent/teacher advisory council meeting this past week. Move the appointment!

Quote:

Dr. Reid: “Last Thursday, we got a note from the elections board that there WILL be an election on April 21 on a constitutional amendment. The primary scheduled for June has been moved to August 4. April 21 will become a teacher workday, working from an alternate location is acceptable.”

Anonymous wrote:This is ridiculous. Is it really unsafe to go forward with the voting while schools in session?
-teacher

Anonymous wrote:Is this DCUM hysteria or is school actually closed on 4/21? I don’t see anything online and didn’t get an email.

DD has an appointment on 4/20 and I can easily move it to 4/21 so she doesn’t miss school if they are closed! I’m more concerned with adjusting my work schedule and would like to know.

Anonymous wrote:Isn’t that right before ap testing starts?

Anonymous wrote:We came from out of state with supposedly lower standard public schools. Then I realized no one actually goes to school here. We were fortunate enough for them to get into a private school next year.