AISD's (and other districts) Plans for Schools Starting August 18

[drt 647]

You can’t have one teacher alone in a room. Not being an ass but you obviously don’t know much about daycare. 

[Wulaw Horn 19599]

1 minute ago, BradInATX said:

The classrooms aren't big. The ones at mine are maybe 200 square feet per class which is 4-6 kids and my day care is boujie af. And we're talking toddlers who touch and climb everything, drool, yell and scream, and have no sense of social distance obviously.

Like I said, I’m ignorant on the daycare thing. And I wasn’t saying it was easy per se, just easy compared to the logistics of a school. 

200 square feet with 36 square feet of social distancing leaves room for 5.5 kids. When I taught I’d have 28 desks in a 400 square foot (I don’t know- maybe 500 or 600) classroom. Even at 600 feet (I don’t think it was that big but maybe) that leaves room for only 15 kids. It’s just not remotely workable without at least a 50% haircut (probably more like 60 or 65%) haircut in enrollment. 

[BradInATX 9208]

2 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

Like I said, I’m ignorant on the daycare thing. And I wasn’t saying it was easy per se, just easy compared to the logistics of a school. 

200 square feet with 36 square feet of social distancing leaves room for 5.5 kids. When I taught I’d have 28 desks in a 400 square foot (I don’t know- maybe 500 or 600) classroom. Even at 600 feet (I don’t think it was that big but maybe) that leaves room for only 15 kids. It’s just not remotely workable without at least a 50% haircut (probably more like 60 or 65%) haircut in enrollment. 

 

Haha I totally understand what you're saying but one toddler is going to germify space and objects at a rate probably 20x that of a five year old, so none of your geometry wizardry matters.

Edited July 12, 2020 by BradInATX

[Wulaw Horn 19599]

1 minute ago, BradInATX said:

 

You know how I know Wulaw has never had a two-year old?

I’ve had 3 man. If you are trying to convince me that daycare, too, is unworkable that’s fine. I’m just saying it’s easier solution than running any ISD. Way fewer stake holders, way fewer kids, way less demands on facility, comp for people running the program etc etc. 

If day care logistics are a 5 then school logistics for an ISD are about a 9.9. And we can’t get day care right and the feds have nothing to do with that. 
this was my main point. I don’t think there’s a solution. 

[MNLonghornFUKM 8985]

Any studies on NYC, Lombardy, Spain, South Korea or even China before the shutdown? The virus had to be traveling through some school buildings unbeknownst in those hard hit areas. Might be something to consider looking at

[Wulaw Horn 19599]

4 minutes ago, drt said:

You can’t have one teacher alone in a room. Not being an ass but you obviously don’t know much about daycare. 

Like I said- I don’t. Kids never went there. But you aren’t going to convince me it’s tougher logistics or more moving parts than Austin ISD

[BradInATX 9208]

3 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

I’ve had 3 man. If you are trying to convince me that daycare, too, is unworkable that’s fine. I’m just saying it’s easier solution than running any ISD. Way fewer stake holders, way fewer kids, way less demands on facility, comp for people running the program etc etc. 

If day care logistics are a 5 then school logistics for an ISD are about a 9.9. And we can’t get day care right and the feds have nothing to do with that. 
this was my main point. I don’t think there’s a solution. 

I'm not making any real point except that as the current parent of a two-year-old terrorist I can definitely attest to the fact that there is no way that day cares have easier logistics than elementary schools in terms of Covid. I actually have no idea which side of the Covid debate this puts me on. I'm not really even paying attention to what's being argued. I'm just saying if my kid had Covid and went to day care you might as well just spray the room down with Covid because he's going to get that shit everywhere in a matter of minutes.

Edited July 12, 2020 by BradInATX

[Wulaw Horn 19599]

6 minutes ago, BradInATX said:

I'm not making any real point except that as the current parent of a two-year-old terrorist I can definitely attest to the fact that there is no way that day cares have easier logistics than elementary schools in terms of Covid. I actually have no idea which side of the Covid debate this puts me on. I'm not really even paying attention to what's being argued. I'm just saying if my kid had Covid and went to day care you might as well just spray the room down with Covid because he's going to get that shit everywhere in a matter of minutes.

Yeah- kids are gross and disgusting and nasty. 
I just got yelled at by my 5 year old to have me help her wipe her ass. It takes a long while until they aren’t super disgusting. My 7 year old son wipes his ass about 10% of the time he takes a shit. I know this because he flushed the toilet about once in a blue moon, so I have ample opportunity to see that nastiness in action 

Even my 9 year old daughter does a piss poor job of washing herself, brushing her teeth etc. 

They didn’t get that from me. I’m not an ocd clean freak or anything but I shower every day, brush twice a day, wash my hands, all that shit you are supposed to do. But they look at me like I’m suggesting they  take out a WW1 era machine gun pillbox on the western front whenever I suggest, perhaps, they should do something to clean themselves from their typical filth. 

Edited July 12, 2020 by Wulaw Horn

[CooterBrown 18289]

Any studies on NYC, Lombardy, Spain, South Korea or even China before the shutdown? The virus had to be traveling through some school buildings unbeknownst in those hard hit areas. Might be something to consider looking at

That would require leaders with intellectual curiosity. Do you see that in any elected official at any level?

[RDCanecutter 26921]

2 hours ago, MNLonghornFUKM said:

Any studies on NYC, Lombardy, Spain, South Korea or even China before the shutdown? The virus had to be traveling through some school buildings unbeknownst in those hard hit areas. Might be something to consider looking at

Crazy talk.

[MNLonghornFUKM 8985]

That would require leaders with intellectual curiosity. Do you see that in any elected official at any level?

In the end it’ll be like the analogy I’ve been using since day one...

 

TEA, higher ups, Feds are Lt. Dike

 

Local health officials, superintendents, teachers are captain spiers

[atomheartbevo 90673]

2 hours ago, MNLonghornFUKM said:

In the end it’ll be like the analogy I’ve been using since day one...

TEA, higher ups, Feds are Lt. Dike

Local health officials, superintendents, teachers are captain spiers

And I really like it.

[CooterBrown 18289]

Got an email from our elementary principal this morning that said AISD will be sharing the final reopening plan with administrators on WED.  So, we should all get to see the exact shit sandwich very soon. 

[usmc0331horn 1001]

44 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

Got an email from our elementary principal this morning that said AISD will be sharing the final reopening plan with administrators on WED.  So, we should all get to see the exact shit sandwich very soon. 

My antibodies are ready for the shitshow.

[HenryJames 67464]

 

[Samson's Wig 3230]

It's sad that whether or not teachers, staff, and kids will be put in harms way this fall is entirely dependent on whether or not you live in a blue state or a red one.  I can't even really wrap my head around how pathetic we've become as a nation.

[Wulaw Horn 19599]

22 minutes ago, Samson's Wig said:

It's sad that whether or not teachers, staff, and kids will be put in harms way this fall is entirely dependent on whether or not you live in a blue state or a red one.  I can't even really wrap my head around how pathetic we've become as a nation.

In person instruction is really really really important. My cousin is a counselor in San Fran area. He’s not at all a conservative. He’s of the opinion that they absolutely have to go back to school in person because of nutrition, child abuse, 504’s, IEP’s and in general the idea that the lowest 30 or 40% on the social economic scale are getting left way behind and he’s worried that if they take another semester or year out there’s no good that comes from it. 
There’s not a good answer. Period. Red or blue. 
 

[smoky 842]

The risk of not teaching children face-to-face seems like a known quantity that doesn't seem discussed enough.

The children of the well-off and the education-minded will be alright.  There's all sorts of talk currently on NextDoor and FB on forming pods, small groups, hiring tutors / private teachers, etc. 

The children of the poor will not be as lucky.  We'll be trying to teach 5th graders how to read in a few years. 

We really need to spend our energy on getting students and teachers in a face-to-face setting, safely while looking closely at how covid affects children.  From my armchair, kids aren't as affected by the virus short term.  But take an education away from a kid, that'll screw him for life.

[mdmost 44110]

Sure but if their teachers, even a fraction, get sick, they will get just as shitty or worse of an education than at home. You will need a shitload of subs who actually are fine with signing up for possibly getting Covid. How many times does a sub come in and give your kid instruction at the level of their teacher? Or they have to shut the school down for 5 days at a time each time there's a positive case. It's not just parents who are worried about returning to school. 

[Js1 87286]

32 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

In person instruction is really really really important. My cousin is a counselor in San Fran area. He’s not at all a conservative. He’s of the opinion that they absolutely have to go back to school in person because of nutrition, child abuse, 504’s, IEP’s and in general the idea that the lowest 30 or 40% on the social economic scale are getting left way behind and he’s worried that if they take another semester or year out there’s no good that comes from it. 
There’s not a good answer. Period. Red or blue. 
 

Aren't you keeping your kids out of school to play RV road warrior around the country?

So it’s “really really really” important for everyone else’s kids to go back, but not yours? 

[drt 647]

You're not wrong about a poor kid not having an education and being screwed, but those poorer children are more likely to be overweight and have other health issues.  So it stands to reason that in 10-20 years they have more health issues with the virus and it's secondary effects than their well-off peers.  They absolutely do have a higher likelihood of living with grandma and grandpa and other family members, who also are more likely to have health issues. You might be robbing Peter to pay Paul

8 minutes ago, smoky said:

The risk of not teaching children face-to-face seems like a known quantity that doesn't seem discussed enough.

The children of the well-off and the education-minded will be alright.  There's all sorts of talk currently on NextDoor and FB on forming pods, small groups, hiring tutors / private teachers, etc. 

The children of the poor will not be as lucky.  We'll be trying to teach 5th graders how to read in a few years. 

We really need to spend our energy on getting students and teachers in a face-to-face setting, safely while looking closely at how covid affects children.  From my armchair, kids aren't as affected by the virus short term.  But take an education away from a kid, that'll screw him for life.

.

[smoky 842]

5 minutes ago, drt said:

You're not wrong about a poor kid not having an education and being screwed, but those poorer children are more likely to be overweight and have other health issues.  So it stands to reason that in 10-20 years they have more health issues with the virus and it's secondary effects than their well-off peers.  They absolutely do have a higher likelihood of living with grandma and grandpa and other family members, who also are more likely to have health issues. You might be robbing Peter to pay Paul

.

Yeah, for the kids that live with grandma, they'll unfortunately need to stay home.  But then they can get paired virtually with the teacher that needs to stay home.

Also, let's just say for argument's sake, the virus sweeps through a school.  If everybody's antibody test is all good, teachers and kids alike, shouldn't they be able to go unencumbered? 

[Wulaw Horn 19599]

10 minutes ago, Js1 said:

Aren't you keeping your kids out of school to play RV road warrior around the country?

So it’s “really really really” important for everyone else’s kids to go back, but not yours? 

You are such a fucking beat down. Go back and read what I wrote about HIS reasons for why in person instruction is so important. 
my kids are well fed, not abused, don’t come from lower economic class, and have one full time parent devoted to their education (my wife) and another one that spends a lot of time on big picture education and enrichment. This is pretty much ideal. Is any of that happening with the people I’m talking about that will be so greviously harmed by missing out on in person, face to face education?  
It’s a really tired and stupid act for you, being intentionally obtuse and trying. To play gotcha with what’s said, that clearly militates toward 180 degree opposite point than what you try to make when you are being obtuse. 
Be better, you are smarter than that. 

[Wulaw Horn 19599]

13 minutes ago, drt said:

You're not wrong about a poor kid not having an education and being screwed, but those poorer children are more likely to be overweight and have other health issues.  So it stands to reason that in 10-20 years they have more health issues with the virus and it's secondary effects than their well-off peers.  They absolutely do have a higher likelihood of living with grandma and grandpa and other family members, who also are more likely to have health issues. You might be robbing Peter to pay Paul

.

This is also true. Like I said, it’s a real motherfucker. 

[Larry T. Spider 1748]

I’ve worked at rich schools and poor schools in the Austin area. The poor kids are much more likely to live with a family member that is over 55. Many times it’s multiple family members over 55. My prediction is that those people are going to be in serious danger next month. 

[RDCanecutter 26921]

13 minutes ago, smoky said:

The risk of not teaching children face-to-face seems like a known quantity that doesn't seem discussed enough.

The children of the well-off and the education-minded will be alright.  There's all sorts of talk currently on NextDoor and FB on forming pods, small groups, hiring tutors / private teachers, etc.

Just this morning I turned down this type of work. I used to stop into a homeschool consortium once a week to teach language classes that their parents couldn't do. It wasn't much money-- you could easily make more pushing a lawn mower-- but the people were nice and it was good for me to step out of my hermit studio,

When the Covid hit, we made do on Zoom because the classes were tiny, and mainly, I already knew the kids well enough that I could tailor something meaningful to them from online sources. It wasn't a complete loss.

If I had to do that from scratch, in a larger class, not knowing the people in the class? It'd be a total waste of all our time.

And if the Nextdoor (red flag) parents were to suggest I meet their exhaling darlings in person?

Not no but hell no.

[gsoda3 3362]

From what my wife's been telling me as she plans with other admin about reopening here in centex, even if kids are in school the amount of actual teaching is going to be a lot lower than people think.  There's going to be strict protocol for everything you can imagine.  From loading/unloading buses, to temp checks, to water fountain usage, bathroom breaks, lunchroom spacing, even in-class instruction and who gets to talk when and where the teacher can be standing at any given time, to what needs to be sanitized when and how often, etc.  And that's just if no one gets sick.  If someone, anyone, on campus gets sick it kicks off a whole other system of protocol.  

 

This spring/summer I was part of a group that came up with these protocols for the org I volunteer with.  1,000+ kids in Austin.  We had to turn one staff member into a full-time CoVID tracker/responder.  When someone in the family of one of our kids even tested for the virus the kid had to be quarantined for our program and we had to contact trace their previous 2 weeks of activity with us.  Then families had to be alerted and we had to keep track of THEIR responses and test results.  One child testing positive amounted to 15 minutes of paperwork that day.  Multiply that times the number of people they had been in contact with which we discovered through contact tracing and you can see how that starts to have an exponential effect on time.  

 

Somehow, our schools are going to have to deal with this.  All while teaching to STAAR and the TEKS.  OR... we could have spent the summer figuring out how to teach to the STAAR and TEKS online while figuring out a way to serve those who can't manage.  

[Js1 87286]

 

[Js1 87286]

 

[CleverNickname 1346]

Good. Let the folks in Fort Bend and Tarrant be the test cases.

[clapclapclap 9000]

Soooo, how strong are the local teachers' unions?  Because in LA:

https://laist.com/2020/07/11/utla-teachers-union-schools-reopening-poll.php

["Journalist" Math/Spelling Alert]  UPDATE: In a poll taken on Friday, 83% of UTLA members said LAUSD should not physically reopen schools on Aug. 18.

More than 18,000 of the union's 30,000-plus members responded to the informal poll. The poll inidcates the rank-and-file members of the union agrees with the position of the UTLA Board of Directors and the team that is bargaining with the school district over reopening.  (snip)

 

Because it's totally about safety.

 

[Wulaw Horn 19599]

4 minutes ago, clapclapclap said:

Soooo, how strong are the local teachers' unions?  Because in LA:

https://laist.com/2020/07/11/utla-teachers-union-schools-reopening-poll.php

["Journalist" Math/Spelling Alert]  UPDATE: In a poll taken on Friday, 83% of UTLA members said LAUSD should not physically reopen schools on Aug. 18.

More than 18,000 of the union's 30,000-plus members responded to the informal poll. The poll inidcates the rank-and-file members of the union agrees with the position of the UTLA Board of Directors and the team that is bargaining with the school district over reopening.  (snip)

 

Because it's totally about safety.

 

Sweet. I’m sure them sitting out to the end of time won’t at all have a terrible effect on the people they profess to care about. 
*im assuming this summary of their sambas is truthful and this isn’t some fake news... quite frankly because I don’t care enough to look into it so I’m accepting it at face value. 

[Js1 87286]

Like you ever let anything pass without having an opinion before you look into it. 

[clapclapclap 9000]

18 minutes ago, Wulaw Horn said:

*im assuming this summary of their sambas is truthful and this isn’t some fake news... quite frankly because I don’t care enough to look into it so I’m accepting it at face value. 

Well at the moment the document he linked to is also on the union's website, and the claims I checked are in the doc (including defund the police):

https://www.utla.net/sites/default/files/samestormdiffboats_final.pdf

[atomheartbevo 90673]

29 minutes ago, clapclapclap said:

Soooo, how strong are the local teachers' unions?

They are not.  No strikes, no contract negotiation.

[GHOSTUSER 361]

Thank God we don’t have teachers unions in Texas to be able to pull that type of crap 

Edited July 14, 2020 by Iconoclast Texan

[Redpuma 146]

Ft. Bend says F Abbot

 

[tx 3 putt 78741]

ill guess, houston and dallas ISD's soon to follow 

[Anastasis 23717]

Why is the gov and TEA so fucking dead set on defunding virtual options?

[Guest Lobo]

Remember when a lot of these same public officials had hard-ons when it came to switching college to virtual instruction?  

[atomheartbevo 90673]

8 minutes ago, Lobo said:

Remember when a lot of these same public officials had hard-ons when it came to switching college to virtual instruction?  

Because Aggy can make buckets of money off that.

[atomheartbevo 90673]

38 minutes ago, Anastasis said:

Why is the gov and TEA so fucking dead set on defunding virtual options?

If you want to know the truth, look at the makeup of the State Board of Education that oversees TEA.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Education_Agency#State_Board_of_Education

Anything more, and that's for the CR.

[atomheartbevo 90673]

46 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:

ill guess, houston and dallas ISD's soon to follow 

It's funny how multiple districts with varying political makeups (RR being RR, etc.), are all starting to align on this.  I'm hoping AISD hangs back a little and lets Houston and Dallas join in before Austin does, because we are a favorite whipping boy of certain folks, and it would be nice to let Houston and Dallas take some flak before our district goes over the target.

This is turning into a big game of chicken, and this is not a fight that I think the state leadership wants.   

[GRHorn 105]

I’m sharing this in a few threads because there is some pertinent info. It’s from an infectious disease specialist for a large hospital system that’s been charged with compiling relevant Covid studies on a regular basis. I think his commentaries are reasonable.

Spoiler

VII editorial: Part of the theme of today’s Daily Briefing revolves around the controversy how and when to reopen schools. One thing is clear, truly little is clear and there is no roadmap. The dilemma is how to minimize the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in schools while making sure students are prepared for the future. The UK’s Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health has warned that leaving schools closed “risks scarring the life chances of a generation of young people.” The organization’s American counterpart, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has urged administrators to begin from “a goal of having students physically present in school.” Keeping schools closed for prolonged periods of time has serious implications for social, academic, and child development. For many students, school serves more than just a place for academics, but also serves as a place where they can receive reliable meals and health care as well as physical and mental development. As the article below (and comment) suggests most evidence to date suggests that even if children under 12 are infected at the same rates as the adults around them, they are less likely to spread it. The experience from abroad has indicated that measures such as social distancing, masking, increasing cleaning, daily screening, hand washing, installation of physical barriers, repurposing gyms and cafeteria to increase space, and using available outdoor space can make a difference. Students with underlying medical problems should be offered full distance learning. Superintendents must also consider the safety of their teachers some who may be older and/or have underlying medial conditions. Teachers should be given necessary appropriate equipment and physical barriers in their classroom and in other common areas. Since the pandemic is unpredictable, schools need to be flexible and have several alternative plans for the coming year: traditional classroom learning, full distance learning, and a hybrid of inclassroom learning and distance learning. School may need to have staggered schedules depending on the number of students and ability to maintain social distancing at school. Implementing appropriate measures, however, will be costly and districts will need both financial and technical support. Parents need schools too. They need school to help raise their children and many parents also need to work and depend on children being in school as a safe place for them while they are at work. I agree with IDSA/HIVMA(see below) that local officials should have the discretion to tailor actions based on local conditions on the ground. This should not be political-we should adopt reasonable measures so we can open schools as safely as possible so we can meet the educational and social needs of our children. As the AAP acknowledges, the best interventions can reduce risk, but not entirely eliminate risk. Also included the today’s COVID-19 Daily Briefing an article on hold long taste and smell return after SARS-CoV-2 infection, an article on risk of PPIs and SARS-CoV-2 infection, a study on the incidence of stillbirth and preterm delivery during the pandemic, and lastly the measurement of airborne particle exposure during simulated tracheal intubation using various proposed aerosol containment devices(e.g. intubation box) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 in Children and the Dynamics of Infection in Families, Journal of Pediatrics published online July 2020 Unlike with other viral respiratory infections, children do not seem to be a major vector of severe acute SARS-CoV-2 transmission, with most pediatric cases described inside familial clusters and no documentation of child-to-child or child-to-adult transmission. The aim of this work was to describe the clinical presentation of the first 40 pediatric cases of COVID-19 in Geneva and the dynamics of their familial clusters. From March 10 to April 10, 2020, all patients <16 years old with SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified by means of the Geneva University Hospital’s surveillance network. The network notifies the institution’s pediatric infectious diseases specialists about results of nasopharyngeal specimens tested for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR. Among a total of 4310 patients with SARS-CoV-2, 40 were <16 years old (0.9%). All but one was available for evaluation. 29 (74%) patients were previously healthy; the most frequently reported comorbidities were asthma (10%), diabetes (8%), obesity (5%), premature birth (5%), and hypertension (3%). Seven patients (18%) were hospitalized to the ward, for a median duration of 3 days (IQR: 2–4) No patient required ICU admission or SARS-CoV-2–specific therapies. The others 32 patients were managed as outpatients. All patients had a complete resolution of symptoms by day 7 after diagnosis. In 79% of households, ≥1 adult family member was suspected or confirmed for COVID-19 before symptom onset in the study child, confirming that children are infected mainly inside familial clusters. Surprisingly, in 33% of households, symptomatic household contacts (HHCs) tested negative despite belonging to a familial cluster with confirmed SARSCoV-2 cases, suggesting an underreporting of cases. In only 8% of households did a child develop symptoms before any other HHC, which is in line with previous data in which it is shown that children are index cases in <10% of SARS-CoV-2 familial clusters. Comment: The study sample may not represent the total number of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 cases during this time period since patients with milder or atypical presentation might not have sought medical attention. In addition, the recall of symptom onset among HHCs might be inaccurate, although this seems less likely because of the confinement measures and anxiety in the community. These findings are consistent with other recently published HHC investigations in China. Similarly, transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by children outside household settings seems uncommon, although information is limited. In a study from France, a 9-year-old boy with respiratory symptoms associated with picornavirus, influenza A, and SARS-CoV-2 coinfection was found to have exposed over 80 classmates at 3 schools; no secondary contacts became infected, despite numerous influenza infections within the schools, suggesting an environment conducive to respiratory virus transmission. (Clin Infect Dis published online April 11, 2020). In a publication from Australia, 9 students and 9 staff infected with SARS-CoV-2 across 15 schools had close contact with a total of 735 students and 128 staff. Only 2 secondary infections were identified, none in adult staff; 1 student in primary school was potentially infected by a staff member, and 1 student in high school was potentially infected via exposure to 2 infected schoolmates. (National Centre for Immunization Research and Surveillance; 2020) On the basis of these data, SARS-CoV-2 transmission in schools may be less important in community transmission than initially feared. This would be another manner by which SARS-CoV-2 differs drastically from influenza, for which school-based transmission is well recognized as a significant driver of epidemic disease and forms the basis for most evidence regarding school closures as public health strategy. Accumulating evidence and collective experience argue that children, particularly school-aged children, are far less important drivers of SARS-CoV-2 transmission than adults. This information should be considered in allowing schools to remain open, even during periods of COVID-19 spread.

Infectious Diseases Society of America(IDSA) and the HIV Medicine Association(HIVMA) Call for Evidence based Decisions on School Reopenings published July 10, 2020 highlights IDSA/HIVMA recognize the need to balance concerns surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic with community concerns, including the benefits of reliable nutrition, physical activity and social development that are provided by onsite education of our children. While data indicate that children are less likely to develop serious illness due to COVID-19 and to transmit the disease, instances in which children have fallen seriously ill — including with multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) – and in which children have died, should raise concerns, given that much remains unknown about the dynamics of the new coronavirus. In addition, teachers, school administrators and other adults critical to school operation may be more vulnerable, due to age or conditions carrying higher risks to severe COVID-19 disease and death. Flexibility must be provided for students, teachers and staff with underlying health conditions that place them at risk for complications from COVID-19. Provisions for at-risk students should include distance learning only, and for their at-risk teachers, the option to provide only distance education. Policies for symptom screening of students and school staff, and responses in the event of student or staff member COVID-19 illness, must be in place prior to school reopening, with the understanding that those policies must be adapted to continued advances in our understanding of the virus. Recognizing that a substantial proportion of individuals who are asymptomatic may be capable of transmitting infection, adequate access to testing is also a concern. New funding for all school systems is essential, and it must be adequate to ensure safe conditions, including appropriate physical distancing, as well as sufficient quantities of masks and other personal protective equipment, hand sanitizer, and appropriate cleaning and disinfection of classrooms and surfaces in common areas, school buses and other community forms of transportation for students. In settings where remote learning remains necessary, funding is needed to support access to tablet or laptop computers and broadband in the home so that educational disruption is minimized. Sustained reductions in overall community transmission rates are critical to safe school reopening, and the use of face masks and appropriate distancing in all settings for all community members must remain paramount. No school should be forced to open in a situation that presents unacceptable risks.

 

[Gardner Barnes 1579]

The main assertion in your article - that children under 12 don’t spread the disease as readily as adults and thus we should reopen schools completely ignores the fact that there are children over 12 that attend public school systems.

 

 

It also incorrectly assumes that at risk populations - such as SPED kids should stay at home and do remote learning. This is the opposite of what needs to happen.

 

I’m sure the author is an excellent physician and statistician. But his understanding of specific needs within an education system are weak.

[Samson's Wig 3230]

Glad to see some folks like the RR superintendent have the balls to stand up for what's right rather than pander to political decision making.  I don't have much faith that Cruz will do the same in Austin, as he's already out the door and likely doesn't want to rock any boats that might impact his future plans at UT and beyond.  Will be interesting to see.

I think just about everyone agrees that traditional face to face instruction is the best way to educate kids.  Anyone who thinks that is what's going to happen in schools forced to have kids on campus in August is living in la-la land.  It will be a shit-show of epic proportions resulting in kids getting very little of the value we hope out of it.  Consistency is key with kids.  The current plan will see kids bouncing back and forth between remote and on campus learning for at least the first semester.  That's just nuts.   Remote learning sucks, it sucks bad, and I was very much in the camp of getting them all back to school this fall a month or so ago.  Now that we're in a huge upswing of the spread of this virus, sending kids into a situation that endangers everyone involved, but perhaps more importantly can't possibly be a stable situation, is nothing short of politically driven madness. 

The results of this gamble may well be the implosion of public schools in Texas.  Parents who can do so will be disenrolling their kids in droves to home-school them, or if they're well enough off send them to private school with less political influence, and public schools will suffer.  Even a 5-10% disenrollment would cripple most districts.  And then the kids that some of you profess to care about (those with no options) will be left with an even more disastrous education system.  The rest of us will be left with an even more poorly educated populace to contend with in the future.

I agree that there are no good solutions to this mess.  My post from upthread was merely bemoaning the fact that politics has any place at all in what should be a reasoned decision making process starting first with a priority on the safety of all involved.  Instead, the November election has taken priority as the number one driving force for this decision - and that means everybody loses no matter what.

Edited July 14, 2020 by Samson's Wig

[smoky 842]

I think Denmark and Finland (?) opened up schools, but only for elementary kids

Middle and highschool kids stayed home, which makes sense for two reasons. Those kids can conceivably do distance learning well and they spread the virus.

I just don't get the sense that we're looking at all options, including those that other countries have tried and I supposed have been successful at.

I think Israel opened up schools and failed, so let's not do what they did.

[Samson's Wig 3230]

3 minutes ago, smoky said:

I think Denmark and Finland (?) opened up schools, but only for elementary kids

Middle and highschool kids stayed home, which makes sense for two reasons. Those kids can conceivably do distance learning well and they spread the virus.

I just don't get the sense that we're looking at all options, including those that other countries have tried and I supposed have been successful at.

I think Israel opened up schools and failed, so let's not do what they did.

I agree.  All options should be explored and there are valuable lessons to be learned from those who have already gone through this.  I'm not aware of any nation opening schools with numbers like we're dealing with in Texas, but would love to be pointed in that direction if it has happened.   From the top down, we've been handed a decree based on politics alone.  Land of the free indeed. 

Edited July 14, 2020 by Samson's Wig

[Gardner Barnes 1579]

I think Denmark and Finland (?) opened up schools, but only for elementary kids

Middle and highschool kids stayed home, which makes sense for two reasons. Those kids can conceivably do distance learning well and they spread the virus.

I just don't get the sense that we're looking at all options, including those that other countries have tried and I supposed have been successful at.

I think Israel opened up schools and failed, so let's not do what they did.

I think that opening up elementary schools and keeping older kids home is a very reasonable response and will help with staffing issues as well.

However it is not politically acceptable.

[Js1 87286]

4 minutes ago, smoky said:

I think Denmark and Finland (?) opened up schools, but only for elementary kids

Middle and highschool kids stayed home, which makes sense for two reasons. Those kids can conceivably do distance learning well and they spread the virus.

I just don't get the sense that we're looking at all options, including those that other countries have tried and I supposed have been successful at.

I think Israel opened up schools and failed, so let's not do what they did.

Considering our leadership, we will do exactly what Israel tried to do.  Emulating successful countries like Denmark and Finland is NOT the American way.