Schools reopening or not

[Monykalyn]

This might be one of the most absurd / maddening examples of the school ridiculousness that I have seen. Local park district here in suburban Chicago charging $1000 / month / child for supervised remote learning. But what's incredible is that the remote learning sites are IN THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE CLOSED.
Students will be physically seated in common areas supervised by park district staff. The teachers in these schools are teaching from empty classrooms in the same building.

Isn't this awfully confusing to little Johnnie when he sees his Teacher X in the hallway or walking into the school, but he can't be physically near Teacher X who will be teaching him in a few mins? But the other adults are ok to be physically near? How does 6 year old Johnnie reconcile this in his brain?
It is honestly just the most absurd thing .

Even though my daughter is not enrolled in public school any more (thank God) I will continue to go to school board meetings to go on the public record pressing them about these arrangements. I am still a concerned citizen.

View attachment 25536

What ? you mean a financial incentive to NOT have classes back?? hmmm our "task force" to determine the school plan for fall (largest school district in state) was made up of CEO of the 2 hospitals, health commissioner, mayor, infectious disease doctors and supposedly teachers. (Teachers actually got handed the "plan" 2 weeks prior to school starting). District wide polling of parents, who overwhelmingly wanted 5 days of seated classes. We got a STUPID hybrid instead. Oh-and a CEO of one of the hospitals is converting the employee rec center (which had been losing money for years) into a "school care center" for parents who work on days their elementary kid is doing their part of online classes. OF COURSE the employees will be charged for this "extraordinary effort the hospital is providing" to these parents. Same CEO who jumped onto opportunity to finish out a floor in a new tower for the "surge" of covid patients using "free" state money and very large business donations. A 51 bed unit that now IS being used due to "record numbers" of covid patients being admitted.(yeah "record number because we've had so very few until now). Total of 90 patients between two major hospitals that serve a community with surrounding areas of nearly a million people. SO OVERWHELMED!!
Teacher friends (in my state and others) are exhausted already trying to do basically TWO FT jobs at once-preparing the online and grading online portion, while ALSO conducting in person classes 4 days a week and grading those PLUS being available to conferences as needed daily (one day is ALL virtual to allow for "deep cleaning"-because THAT is primary avenue of spread).
My son has been done with his online assignments each day within an 1.5 hours. It is the first week. It has GOT to get better. IF this community is waiting until ZERO cases ever again then they are all complete and utter idiots. We've actually got little community spread, hospitals are easily handling any "surges", we have a mask ordinance that seems to be working-why on EARTH can kids not go back 5 days a week?? oh-ALL the surrounding school districts are seated 5 days a week too. Zero common practical sense at all being displayed.

 

[Cornell]

On a Friday night, our high school district FINALLY released the metrics which would be used to open up the schools (even though we are two weeks into the school year). For school to be fully opened there has to be less than 7 weekly cases per 100,000 people in Cook Co., which has 5.5 million people. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
I don't see this happening even with a vaccine. So in other words, schools are not reopening, ever?

 

[DannyTS]

On a Friday night, our high school district FINALLY released the metrics which would be used to open up the schools (even though we are two weeks into the school year). For school to be fully opened there has to be less than 7 weekly cases per 100,000 people in Cook Co., which has 5.5 million people. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
I don't see this happening even with a vaccine. So in other words, schools are not reopening, ever?

they are nuts

 

[Cornell]

they are nuts

It's a sham. This entire thing. And they are basing there reco on the "Covid Act Now" model, which was one of those wildly inaccurate doomsday models.

This is a district of 12,000 students.

 

[TravelTime]

How about plastic bubbles in the classroom for teachers? Like the Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

 

[Cornell]

How about plastic bubbles in the classroom for teachers? Like the Boy in the Plastic Bubble.

The union would find some issue with that. BPA plastics or something.

 

[DeniseM]

Getting ugly again - maybe time for another timeout?

 

[Ken555]

7 per 100k is not out of line in certain circumstances. For example, today in California it was announced:

Newsom unveils sweeping new coronavirus reopening rules for businesses in California

Newsom takes a more cautious and stringent four-tier approach than his first reopening effort. 'We're going to be more stubborn this time,' he says.

www.latimes.com

The criteria for each tier will be uniform for all 58 counties in California and a Newsom advisor said the new system takes effect on Monday. The vast majority of counties — including all those in Southern California except San Diego — will begin in the first and most restrictive tier.

• Tier 1, widespread transmission: Most nonessential businesses must be closed. Counties in this tier have more than seven new COVID cases per 100,000 people per day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of more than 8%.
• Tier 2, substantial transmission: Some nonessential indoor businesses remain closed. Counties in this tier have between four to seven COVID cases per 100,000 people per day and a coronavirus test positivity rate of between 5%-8%.
• Tier 3, moderate transmission: Some businesses can open with modifications. Counties in this tier have 1-3.9 new COVID cases per 100,000 people per day and a coronavirus positivity rate of 2-4.9%.
• Tier 4, minimal transmission: Most businesses can reopen, with modifications. Counties in this tier have less than one new COVID case per 100,000 people per day and a coronavirus positivity rate of less than 2%.

For example, restaurants in counties in Tier 1 will be allowed only to serve customers outdoors. Once a county moves into Tier 2, restaurants can serve customers indoors, but only at 25% capacity. At Tier 3, 50% capacity and at Tier 4 full capacity, as long as social distancing and other safeguards are in place.

 

[DannyTS]

Sure Denise, we are getting used to it.

 

[TravelTime]

Getting ugly again - maybe time for another timeout?

Jokes are not allowed?

 

[DeniseM]

How do you think that Tuggers who are teachers or other school staff feel about this thread? It seems like some people are determined to make "others" the scapegoat. I don't find that helpful.

 

[DannyTS]

Jokes are not allowed?

They have to be approved.

 

[Cornell]

They have to be approved.

by me.

 

[TravelTime]

Some people are showing their politics by putting this thread on time outs for no real reason other than not liking the content.

 

[DeniseM]

Thanks for confirming my concerns - this thread is now closed. Have a good evening!