Re-opening Schools in the era of COVID

[El OchoCinco]

It’s gotta be a case by case. A school may be in a hot spot area. It would be worse to open to then have to close again...at what point do you eject? What is the exit strategy if it flairs up? Etc.

On a teachers salary it might be hard to sign many up.

That is why this is a local decision by the Governor, Mayors, County School Boards and Districts to decide based on their resources available and actual cases in their area.

Our school system has a detailed plan where parents chose either virtual or hybrid. both plans were laid out with how they will work. Cleaning and health guidelines were discussed in several town hall virtual meetings. The principal of the school held a Q&A and got feed back from teachers and parents. They are reviewing plans for cleaning, class changes and already separated desks in classes. Lunch room rules have been changed. Crowded hallways have been minimized significantly. IT etc is being worked on to ensure no breakdowns. Plans are being discussed for what happens when a kid tests positive, when 50 kids test positive etc.. I give them a lot of credit for all the work they put in the last4 weeks after "school" ended in June. But this is local politics and leaders in action the way it should be on this subject in conjunction with state health officials and CDC guidelines (not Trump's ass gut feeling).

Trump should stay out of it and not order any schools to do anything because there are thousands of school districts from hot spots to never touched spots and each has to work within their own framework. DeVos and trump shoud keep their hands out of it except to promise federal aid to those areas affected that need to adapt with partial virtual or hybrid scenerios.

 

[gwb-trading]

Rural areas have an easier time opening and using social distancing and safe practices because school sizes and class sizes are smaller. As I said, schools in my district are doing a hybrid of 2 days in and 2 days off to work at home and class sizes tend towards 30.

Many rural counties can spread students out easier in existing rooms and make use of cafeterias and other spaces. In elementary schools the kids don't change classes so they can stay in one room and safer with teachers. Wearing masks helps with kids who tend to sneeze and talk at the same time.

Rural counties can get more support from the State to work a system that shares the space while keeping students safe. There are a lot of solutions out there to be applied by county based on population density and school class size in each area.. Rural areas have smaller risks than more densely populated city areas.

There are numerous non political ways to approach this with State and federal support as no one plan fits all counties.

Actually in North Carolina are underfunded from the state compared to suburban school districts. In 19974 five rural counties; Hoke, Halifax, Robeson, Vance and Cumberland brought the Leandro court case demanding more funding for rural schools. Since then there have been follow-up court cases which expanded the plaintiffs to disadvantaged children.

The class sizes in North Carolina are supposed to be capped at 20 students -- which is regularly ignored. Many rural counties in North Carolina have older, smaller school buildings - they are actually more cramped than new suburban school buildings in our state. On a sq foot per student basis - rural students have less space in their schools in N.C. -- so social distancing is actually harder (typically).

I agree from a county population density basis rural counties have less issues with COVID than our cities -- and this probably translates into less infected children showing up to school. However our rural schools will have more issues in affording protective gear, hand sanitizer, increasing buses for social distancing with 11 students max, and a host of other monetary issues to address to make schools safe.

One should keep in mind the historic mindset of public K-12 schools in North Carolina. For decades most politicians in our state believed that K-12 public schools were only for poor people and minorities; (to quote a politician) "Decent people go to private schools". It was only when all the Yankees moved down to Raleigh (RTP) , Charlotte, and other cities demanding good public schools did things start improving. However many rural school systems are still stuck in the legacy of backward thinking regarding K-12 public schools; this is coupled with their problems in funding improvements for their school systems.

 

[gwb-trading]

Texas Teachers Writing Their Wills as State Promises to Open Schools in Fall
https://www.newsweek.com/texas-teachers-writing-their-wills-state-promises-open-schools-fall-1517493

 

[El OchoCinco]

Actually in North Carolina are underfunded from the state compared to suburban school districts. In 19974 five rural counties; Hoke, Halifax, Robeson, Vance and Cumberland brought the Leandro court case demanding more funding for rural schools. Since then there have been follow-up court cases which expanded the plaintiffs to disadvantaged children.

The class sizes in North Carolina are supposed to be capped at 20 students -- which is regularly ignored. Many rural counties in North Carolina have older, smaller school buildings - they are actually more cramped than new suburban school buildings in our state. On a sq foot per student basis - rural students have less space in their schools in N.C. -- so social distancing is actually harder (typically).

I agree from a county population density basis rural counties have less issues with COVID than our cities -- and this probably translates into less infected children showing up to school. However our rural schools will have more issues in affording protective gear, hand sanitizer, increasing buses for social distancing with 11 students max, and a host of other monetary issues to address to make schools safe.

One should keep in mind the historic mindset of public K-12 schools in North Carolina. For decades most politicians in our state believed that K-12 public schools were only for poor people and minorities; (to quote a politician) "Decent people go to private schools". It was only when all the Yankees moved down to Raleigh (RTP) , Charlotte, and other cities demanding good public schools did things start improving. However many rural school systems are still stuck in the legacy of backward thinking regarding K-12 public schools; this is coupled with their problems in funding improvements for their school systems.

So just send them all back and jam them in to those old school buildings...should be fine...

 

[TreeFrogTrader]

There is already talk of hot spots being created for families without internet and many school systems are giving kids laptops or chromebooks to use for virtual classes. Many school districts are working on solutions to this problem and presidents have nothing to do with it except DoE could supply federal funding for backing these initiatives...but Trump and DeVos don't give a shit about the poor kid without internet or computers, they just want them back in school tomorrow so he can win the election.

It's a crazy world.

The lefties originally hated Devos because of her advocacy for school choice including home schooling.

Now she is the leader in trying to get people back into public schools, and the lefties are the leading advocates of supporting home options.

 

[ElCubano]

It's a crazy world.

The lefties originally hated Devos because of her advocacy for school choice including home schooling.

Now she is the leader in trying to get people back into public schools, and the lefties are the leading advocates of supporting home options.

She has zero game plan and should really stay out.

 

[gwb-trading]

Our governor is expected to announce the final plans for re-opening schools in our state at 3pm today. School systems, parents, student, and teachers in N.C. have been waiting for this announcement so school systems can put the appropriate plan in motion. Most people are expecting he will put in place - "Plan B would see a hybrid system in which students would have a mix of in-person and virtual learning".

Gov. Cooper to announce guidelines for reopening schools Tuesday
https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/go...lines-for-reopening-schools-tuesday/19187322/

 

[El OchoCinco]

It's a crazy world.

The lefties originally hated Devos because of her advocacy for school choice including home schooling.

Now she is the leader in trying to get people back into public schools, and the lefties are the leading advocates of supporting home options.

She is not a leader.....you are smarter than to give this dumb bitch any credibility just because she works for Trump. She is not trying to get kids back in schools....she is demanding kids go back to schools to help her boss for the election not because she gives a shit. She is not a leader when she ignores all CDC guideliens.

Also...LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS WORKING LONG HOURS EVERY DAY TO GET KIDS BACK TO SCHOOL IN A SAFE WAY USING COMBINATIONS OF VIRTUAL AND IN PERSON MEETINGS. De Vos aint doing shit from her perch in Washington collecting her checks.

 

[TreeFrogTrader]

.she is demanding kids go back to schools to help her boss for the election not because she gives a shit. She is not a leader when she ignores all CDC guideliens.

Well, that is the flip side of the argument that lefties are promoting the shutdown and non-reopening of schools to get Biden elected.

I suppose you see the truth of one side but think the other view is ridiculous.

And so it goes.

 

[El OchoCinco]

Well, that is the flip side of the argument that lefties are promoting the shutdown and non-reopening of schools to get Biden elected.

I suppose you see the truth of one side but think the other view is ridiculous.

And so it goes.

No that is just how you think.... the flip side is let the local districts make the plans they need for themselves. And most are considering hybrid solutions, not just cram them all back in school because it makes Trump feel good.

The other side is ridiculous when it relies on De Vos and Trump and NO MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE. De Vos is an empty vagina so I put little credibility in people who raise her on a pedastal.

You paint lefties as promting non reopening of schools because you are narrow minded in your narrative. There are numerous school districts from MASS to North Carolina working on plans to get kids back into schools but offering virtual for parents who do not feel comfortable yet.

That is not something to get Biden elected it is something to get schools going again safely and quickly. Take off the narrative blidners and let local schools do what they do......and for the record my and many school districts are deciding based on spekaing with LOCAL PARENTS AND TEACHERS!