From the field reports as we start back to school in the era of COVID-19

[bbodb1]

I know we already have a thread (or two) discussing COVID-19, but I would like to dedicate this thread to actual reports from the field from those TUG'gers who directly interact with a school. In reading the Lounge around here for awhile, I know a good number of TUG'gers still work in school districts (teachers, librarians/media specialists, nurses, support staff, etc) and there may be some substitute teachers and / or administration TUG'gers as well.

I am requesting this thread to be used for 1st person reports from the field. I'll certainly add observations from my school.

Most of all, I hope this school year is a safe (and complete) year!

Remember, please 1st person accounts only!

 

[missyrcrews]

I'm in. My first day of professional development isn't until 8/27. The kids don't come back until after Labor Day. I'm in a middle school resource room setting...I am an educational technician, attached to a house/pod of 4 teachers for 7th grade this year. I'll loop with the same kiddos/teachers to 8th grade.

The plan as of now: We'll have one group of kids M/Th, and a separate group of kids Tues/Fri. About 35 children each day. Wednesday is for online help/planning/meetings and such. Families can opt to keep their kids in full distance learning. I shouldn't (read SHOULDN'T) be dealing with that group, as it is planned that high-risk teachers will take care of those kids rather than be in the classroom in person. The list of regulations/requirements is huge, and feels a little like we think we're dealing with cattle rather than children. No water fountains, no lunchroom, no lockers, teacher walking kids everywhere. Oh, how these kids will HATE that last one! I will not have a duty-free lunch, which I'm a little upset about. As a support (hourly) employee, I don't get a prep period. I'm with kids every hour of every day EXCEPT my lunch. On a good day, that's fine. On a challenging day, 30 minutes with a Diet Pepsi and some chocolate can be life-changing! We shall see how that works out.

I'm going to earn every penny they are paying me. But it will be worth it if we can get back to some sort of inperson learning. Looking forward to seeing how things work out in other districts!

 

[dayooper]

My district gave families the choice to go either virtual or 5 day a week full face to face. We were set to start August 31st. The district announced yesterday (August 5th) that were are going to start the year remote. School will start Sept 1 and are expecting to assess the situation by October 1.

 

[Cornell]

I love this thread! Thank you for starting it and @missyrcrews @dayooper - love the info.

I have a favor to ask of those posting - perhaps mention where you are reporting from (I don't need your home address or anything ) but some general info could really help add some context.

I am anxiously reading the reports from you all. Most of all - good luck and godspeed to our educators.

 

[missyrcrews]

I love this thread! Thank you for starting it and @missyrcrews @dayooper - love the info.

I have a favor to ask of those posting - perhaps mention where you are reporting from (I don't need your home address or anything ) but some general info could really help add some context.

I am anxiously reading the reports from you all. Most of all - good luck and godspeed to our educators.

I'm in RSU1 in Maine, which is Bath, Arrowsic, Phippsburg, Woolwich. A smallish district in the grand scheme of things.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I am San Jose Ca. Our local is district San Jose Unified, starts August 12. The students will attend from home for at least the first six weeks. There is no option for in person attendance. For some reason the district is requiring the teachers to conduct the instruction from their empty classrooms.

Most of major employers in the area are keeping their employees home, not sure why the School District is forcing the teachers back on campus.

 

[dayooper]

I love this thread! Thank you for starting it and @missyrcrews @dayooper - love the info.

I have a favor to ask of those posting - perhaps mention where you are reporting from (I don't need your home address or anything ) but some general info could really help add some context.

I am anxiously reading the reports from you all. Most of all - good luck and godspeed to our educators.

I work in an affluent suburban district in Metro Detroit (Oakland County). We have 4 high schools (including an alternative education high school), 4 middle schools ranging from 800 - 1200 students and numerous elementary schools. Our district is setting up a virtual campus they will keep after the pandemic has past. The face to face students going remote will not be part of the virtual campus.

 

[bbodb1]

We will be starting some in person PD this week (selected staff only and currently scheduled for the entire day) and hope to hear more about policies and procedures for the upcoming school year. Masks are required during this PD (although it was not clear if other facial coverings would suffice) and we are supposed to observe the 6 foot social distance rule.

 

[1Kflyerguy]

I just read that our local district changed plans, and decided that teachers can be trusted to work from home after all. School starts tomorrow,, they made the decision today.

 

[bbodb1]

I just read that our local district changed plans, and decided that teachers can be trusted to work from home after all. School starts tomorrow,, they made the decision today.

I get that as COVID-19 plays out, there will be many decisions that have to be reevaluated multiple times and could be changed based on the circumstances at the moment. But school districts are among the absolute worst offenders when it comes to procrastinating when it suits their needs.

 

[bbodb1]

So we had PD yesterday and for the most part, no significant worries with respect to health concerns. There were about 40 or so attendees sitting two to a table that would have held three previously. Masks were required but after the start of the meeting, each table could do as they pleased with respect to facial coverings. Tables were over 6 feet apart and the presenter did NOT move around the room (confined to an area around her presentation workstation).
Temps were checked at entry and I have to question the accuracy of a thermometer that indicates a temp of 95 degrees but on we went.

 

[bbodb1]

So this week, parents and students attended orientation sessions for the portion of the student body that have opted for virtual education from the start this year. There was a controlled entry point where temps were taken, masks required and seating arranged in a cafeteria to encourage social distancing. There was also a portable filtration system being run in the entry hall of the building being used.

The small number of people in the cafeteria was manageable but when it becomes students only, and they are eating in the cafeteria (with no masks on) it will be harder to maintain this type of environment. On a positive side, our school has doubled the number of lunch periods while cutting by half the number of classes that eat concurrently. This has played havoc with the schedule, but this definitely needed to be done.

 

[jehb2]

My kids started Thursday 100% virtual for the first 3 weeks, and then our family has opted to remain virtual. All I hear in social media is that nothing can replace in person teaching and learning. I agree. However, I continue to be impressed with my kids’ teachers. They are actually doing a really good job. Band class was really something to watch. They started planning for this scenario back in May.

My kids are in middle and high school. I do think it would be really tough if they were in elementary school.

 

[SteelerGal]

SoCal. We start officially 8/31. We start virtually w/ half day schedule for elementary school. Our SD is the first in our County to apply for State elementary waiver so it approved, we will switch to hybrid model(AM/PM shifts). Once hybrid, we have set drop off points as well as times. Separate entry points for entering and leaving. Pick up is even staggered. Kinders May have their own entry and departure schedule similarly to SDC classes. Daycare will be limited because teachers children take priority.
Masks are mandatory 3-5 grades however my children will be masked. Daily temperature checks. There will be a quarantine room if a child becomes sick.
Each classroom is outfitted w/ tables that seat 2. There are 2 plexiglass separators. Left seating for AM while Right is for PM. It will still be half day schedule.
5 days/wk w/ synchronous and asynchronous learning.

 

[bbodb1]

My kids started Thursday 100% virtual for the first 3 weeks, and then our family has opted to remain virtual. All I hear in social media is that nothing can replace in person teaching and learning. I agree. However, I continue to be impressed with my kids’ teachers. They are actually doing a really good job. Band class was really something to watch. They started planning for this scenario back in May.

High marks to those schools that actually started planning as last year's school year was being scrubbed.
A lot of schools sat back and wait for some department or government to tell them what they could (and could not) do.

My kids are in middle and high school. I do think it would be really tough if they were in elementary school.

That's what I will be hip deep into starting 8/24. I suspect I'll have some interesting stories.

@jehb2 - Are there any other specifics you can share that you found impressive?

 

[bbodb1]

So today was the end of open house week - an event which is usually held on one day over four hours and sees a lot of people coming and going in our building. In this era of COVID 19, this event was spilt into a grade per day and stretched to six hours. Parents had to make an appointment (in 15 minute blocks) and enter the building at a controlled point to verify mask compliance and have their temperature taken. The halls were definitely much less crowded so this small part of school was definitely much more successful in terms of minimizing contact and maintaining social distance.

All of this hits the fan come Monday...day one!

 

[jabberwocky]

Tomorrow is the deadline for us to choose what we want to do for the first quarter (Sept. 3-Nov 10). Our choice was either all online or all in-person.

We live on an acreage just outside of a large metro area in Canada. Our school is actually in the city about 7 mins from my normal worksite (25 mins from home). Our metro area has the distinction of being the current Canadian covid hotspot with about 57 new cases per day (the metro area is a bit over 1 million people). High by Canadian standards but extremely low relative to most US states.

After reviewing the protocol documents and what the online learning would look like, coupled with our experience in the spring, we decided to opt for the in-person option. The online just won’t work for us with four kids (grades 2,3,7 and 9) given that one is a special needs student.

My spouse is an RN and has worked with occasional covid cases in the OR. We’ve been using masks with our kids since mid-March (at the time WHO and the Canadian medical authorities were recommending against the use of masks - I called BS on that). My wife has a good protocol after work ensuring she takes a shower and her clothes from work are immediately put into the wash. Having an OR nurse for a mom, our kids all know how to properly wash their hands, and to be honest, put me to shame. Our kids know the drill and will hopefully be good role models for their peers.

Overall risk for the kids is low. I have a risk factor and my mother has an autoimmune issue so that does concern us - but we can manage around that By going back to FaceTime visits with my parents rather than in-person. It’s not an easy decision to make and I don’t expect everyone to understand, but I’ll try to post some of our learnings and observations as we go through the process starting Sept 3.

 

[SteelerGal]

It’s official. 9/8 will be our first day back in person. Hybrid half days.

 

[beejaybeeohio]

The credit recoery charter school for 15-22 year olds where I am employed 7 hours weekly is on the following schedule atarting 8/24:
M & Tu: New enrollees Discovery Lab/ 4 students in situ
W & Th: New enrollees Discovery Lab/ 4 students in situ
After Discovery Lab is completed students will take classes on line, but can make appointments for in-person instruction with 1:1 teacher:student ratio.
Students are encouraged to contact teachers via phone or internet prn.
I interview all new enrollees and make appointments for individual sped evaluations, meet weekly with all staff and separately with the sped team.
Masks are required for all and temperatures checked daily for all entering the building.
The goal of our school is for students to earn their h.s. diploma. Our teachers have been amazing in doing everything possible to help our students earn required credits ever since our state was "shut down" and schools closed in mid-March. School hours don't apply as our teachers make themselves available beyond the working day.
Everyone is waiting for the day when full in-person classes can resume!

 

[jackio]

Our staff report back full time on 9/1, students start on 9/8. Hybrid learning, half in on Mon-Tues, the other half on Thurs-Fri, with Wed. off for deep cleaning and for teachers to create their videos for the 3 days of virtual learning. The district also offered a full time virtual option. It seems that around 20% have chosen that route, so far. Special ed students are in 5 days a week.
The plan for the nurses' offices are still fluid. We have isolation rooms in all but one building; there is no extra room in that building so they are cordoning off a section of the clinic and encasing it in plastic.
The big question is - who is going to staff the room where we isolate the ill students? The nurses must be in the clinic for medications, first aid, and assessment of all students. The administration will have tons of contract grievances if they try to assign teachers/assistants/paraprofessionals in a room with sick kids. They are looking into hiring agency nurses to staff them.
As per NYS guidelines, any student who displays any of the symptoms of Covid will be isolated, sent home immediately and not admitted back without a negative Covid test.
I am expecting pushback from the parents on this, but it is from the state and it is in writing.
We are waiting on the mask waiver requests to come. Our school medical director has given the buildings to okay for asthma, cystic fribrosis, sickle cell, diabetes, autism. All other requests will be referred to him for approval/denial/consultation with the healthcare provider.
Parents must follow through with their choice for the first quarter (beginning of November). After that, they can re-evaluate their decision and choose the other option if they wish.

 

[tschwa2]

DS starting high school grade 9 this year. 100% virtual until at least January. Classes start Sept 7. Orientation this week. I am hoping they will take this time to plan a way for at least part time safe in class room opportunities rather than just hope that things will be better. I am glad they are not rushing back without a real plan but it is time for that real plan.

 

[bogey21]

My Daughter's kids (ages aprx 13, 10 and 7) all attend a Christian School in Texas. Kids went back to school about 2 weeks ago. All instruction is in class rooms and on campus. They have sets of rules/protocols, etc which are different for PreK & Elementary, Middle School and High School. So far all appears to be going well...

George

 

[MULTIZ321]

LA GRANGE COLLEGE FRESHMAN MICHAEL LANG, 18, DIES FROM COVID-19.

La Grange college freshman Michael Lang, 18, dies from COVID-19

A college freshman from La Grange has died after a lengthy battle with COVID-19 at 18 years old.

abc7chicago.com

Richard