Coronavirus outbreak

[BPA]

2 hours ago, stawns said:

Let's put aside the risk factor and focus on the details.

 

First and foremost, teachers are still working full days (and more) through distance learning, so where are these planning/prep hours going to come from?  

 

My district isn't even polling parents to see who is returning until May 22, so we won't even know who is coming back until later next week.  You can't plan until you know who is back.

 

We have no idea which students are going to be there or what their individual needs are going to be.  My guess is the most at risk, high needs students will be the most likely to return.  They are also the hardest students to keep focused and under control.  What's our strategy for trying to keep these kids apart and focused through this when they can't do it in normal circumstances?  What's the protocol for when they don't comply?  What's the protocol for multiple students not complying all at once?  We only have one full time administrator and one part-part time for a school of 500 kids.  

 

There's going to have to be a bathroom schedule and though that might not seem like much, that's going to be very complicated.  Again, not something that can really be done until we know which kids are returning.  The bathroom situation is going to be a big hurdle.

 

How are breaks going to work?  How do we keep them apart during lunch/recess?  Do we stagger breaks?  Do we have to develop a schedule breaks, are teachers giving up their recess/lunch breaks? 

 

Obviously the biggie is lesson planning.  It takes about 4 hours to plan and prep for a 6 hour day, when we actually have a template for a normal day.  Now, we have to start from scratch and plan for days with absolutely no idea of what we are going to be able to do.  Again, the makeup of returning students will largely dictate that and we won't know who is returning until mid-late next week.  With no template for our days, it'll be a 1:1 hour ratio for planning to implementation.  We still have to plan and teach online this week and next week.  People don't understand how much planning goes into teaching children.

 

Finally, we have to plan and implement two seperate days for every day.  The kids that return will need a plan and the kids staying home and distance learning will need a seperate plan..........every single day.  Right now teachers are struggling just to plan the distance learning day.  

 

So, no, 60 hours isn't even close to being enough.  You can't wing it for 6 hours with kids, it takes a ton of planning and prep at the best of times.  Now, we have to find ways to keep these kids busy for 6 hours a day because if they lose focus, the sh!t is going to hit the fan.

 

I get we'll have to return to face to face learning, but that is going to take a well thought out, detailed plan.  Were getting close to the date and there's still no plan given to the people expected to manage this return.  I get that the average person doesn't understand what goes into making schools function, but it takes hours and hours of planning and preparation at the best of times

 

Ultimately, I don't see the point when distance learning is bridging the gap for the time being.  It's 4 weeks, why not stick with the status quo and spend the summer putting together a detailed, well thought out, comprehensive plan that allows educators and administration the time needed to implement it properly.  On short notice it's going to be a train wreck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To be fair. 

 

The administration (not teachers) at the schools had about 2 months to come up with a plan for when schools starts in September.   And should have made plans for an early return (just in case).

 

[kingofsurrey]

1 minute ago, RonMexico said:

 

They are making an educated decision. They have much more data and experts who are making calculated decisions with the data they have at hand. Just because you don't agree with it, doesn't mean it's the wrong way to go. So far BC and Alberta have taken different approaches and both have been successful. Why question what their leaders are doing now? It's not like they don't care about the potential risks like you seem to think.

 

Contrary to your worry, plenty of businesses stayed open the whole time up to today with little incidence of wild spread. In fact, it's been contained quite well due to the effort of everyone involved. Have some faith that this continues instead of being CDC's Chicken Little.

So you are saying lots of businesses are sending in hundreds of small kids all day to work at desks...

 

Wow - you are really out of touch. 

[lmm]

53 minutes ago, stawns said:

i work in an elementary school, yes.

 

we don't have enough teachers for to cover both distance and face to face, not even close.  During normal times, there at least two days a week where there aren't enough TOC's to cover classes for sick teachers.  I don't see how this makes it better as 60% of the TOC's in my district are retired teachers, many of them over 65.  

 

My understanding is that we have to juggle distance and face to face, but we honestly haven't gotten any information that the general public hasn't gotten.  I know no more than you do about how this plan is going to be implemented, and we're 7 school days from re-opening.

 

Class sizes will be smaller, even in September, and that is one positive to come out of this, for sure.  They have been transparent that this is a dry run for September, but I don't feel, at all, like this is a thoughtful, well organized, detailed plan for re-opening schools.  Educators are planners and planning is the key to successful schools.  Why rush this?  Why not use the summer to put a real plan in place and give educators the time they need to do it right.  Additionally, we will know much more about this virus by September and will be more able to manage the risk.

 

 

 

 

yes, I knew when I suggested it that you would not have enough staff.

Juggling makes no sense, you (not you personally) put kids back in school, and give them a  bunch of new rules, and you the teacher will not have a second to look at a distance kid. 

Grocery stores are likely the closest comparison, they have doormen, and cart cleaners that hey never had before, and tape arrows on the floor.

You probably have 1 janitor, or is they a .5? you will need 1 per bathroom. It will be like travelling to Mexico.

Hall monitors, door knob wipers, temperature takers....

I realize that it is a different Ministrey, but this sounds so far from Bonny's world

 

I will go on FB later and check with my Principal friend and see what she thinks

 

 

Edited May 20, 2020 by lmm

[stawns]

3 minutes ago, BPA said:

To be fair. 

 

The administration (not teachers) at the schools had about 2 months to come up with a plan for when schools starts in September.   And should have made plans for an early return (just in case).

 

the plan for september is started in february and we work on it right up until the last day of school.  The whole staff, guided by admin.  there is tinkering in late summer, but very minimal.

[lmm]

5 minutes ago, stawns said:

no ppe will be available, other than sanitizer.  Rumour had it that it was a hard no on masks, so we didn't scare kids, but now I'm hearing theyve softened on that. 

I was out with a 10 year old the other day, He won't pet dogs, ( he love dogs) because he is worried about Covid

Some of the kids are  already scared, as I am sure some want to take up guns and protest their American rights

[Me_]

19 minutes ago, BPA said:

PPE should be provided to staff.

Kids PPE should be the responsibility of the parents. 

I think masks should be the responsibility of the parents until the school doors; beyond the doors it should be the responsibility of the school. 

[kingofsurrey]

Just now, lmm said:

I was out with a 10 year old the other day, He won't pet dogs, ( he love dogs) because he is worried about Covid

Some of the kids are  already scared, as I am sure some want to take up guns and protest their American rights

My neighbourhood kids play all together  most days... Zero social distancing going on.

[higgyfan]

1 minute ago, kingofsurrey said:

My neighbourhood kids play all together  most days... Zero social distancing going on.

Sounds like they would be safer going to school.

[Me_]

8 minutes ago, stawns said:

no ppe will be available, other than sanitizer.  Rumour had it that it was a hard no on masks, so we didn't scare kids, but now I'm hearing theyve softened on that. 

Kids aren’t scared of masks. Adults are.

Clowns, Islam and Robbery.

 

Kids can make wearing masks fun if they’re led to it.

 

I wonder sometimes what goes on in these decision rooms...

[Chicken.]

2 minutes ago, kingofsurrey said:

My neighbourhood kids play all together  most days... Zero social distancing going on.

I hope you are outside yelling at them... and their parents,,, grumble grumble...darn kids these days

[BPA]

8 minutes ago, stawns said:

no ppe will be available, other than sanitizer.  Rumour had it that it was a hard no on masks, so we didn't scare kids, but now I'm hearing theyve softened on that. 

That's a ridiculous stance by the school board. 

 

You don't think that kids already know what's going on?

 

Masks are becoming more and more available.  No reason why schools can't buy them for the teachers. 

 

At most, disposable masks are costing $50 / 50 masks.  Probably less if bulk order.  Buy enough for June.  Then pre buy for September.   Maybe buy cloth masks for teachers.

[lmm]

2 minutes ago, kingofsurrey said:

My neighbourhood kids play all together  most days... Zero social distancing going on.

yes I know, the school staff are going to have to face the gammut of emotions whn those 2 groups and all the kids in the middle get back together

 

I doubt my friend goes back as he has a immuno-compromized brother

[stawns]

Just now, BPA said:

That's a ridiculous stance by the school board. 

 

You don't think that kids already know what's going on?

 

Masks are becoming more and more available.  No reason why schools can't buy them for the teachers. 

 

At most, disposable masks are costing $50 / 50 masks.  Probably less if bulk order.  Buy enough for June.  Then pre buy for September.   Maybe buy cloth masks for teachers.

I'd say most elementary kids don't really get what's happening, not truly.  Grade 3 and under at least.

 

I just want the plan, one way or another so we can prepare.....physically, mentally and emotionally.

[BPA]

8 minutes ago, stawns said:

the plan for september is started in february and we work on it right up until the last day of school.  The whole staff, guided by admin.  there is tinkering in late summer, but very minimal.

I'm not talking about a learning plan.

 

When school was officially closed during to Covid-19,  the administration had 2 months to figure out how to re-open under Covid-19 rules/recommendations. 

 

All the companies I know had Covid-19 rules in place with guidelines/policies.  Purchased PPE and Sanitizers.  All done in 2 weeks.  So that they can keep operating. 

 

The school administration had 2 months to figure this out.  So it can't be "short notice" to get everything ready.

[BPA]

12 minutes ago, Me_ said:

I think masks should be the responsibility of the parents until the school doors; beyond the doors it should be the responsibility of the school. 

I guess.

 

I would think parents would send kids to schools wearing masks.

[RonMexico]

3 minutes ago, BPA said:

I'm not talking about a learning plan.

 

When school was officially closed during to Covid-19,  the administration had 2 months to figure out how to re-open under Covid-19 rules/recommendations. 

 

All the companies I know had Covid-19 rules in place with guidelines/policies.  Purchased PPE and Sanitizers.  All done in 2 weeks.  So that they can keep operating. 

 

The school administration had 2 months to figure this out.  So it can't be "short notice" to get everything ready.

 

At the same time they go distance learning figured out in a decent time frame all things considered.

[stawns]

3 minutes ago, BPA said:

I'm not talking about a learning plan.

 

When school was officially closed during to Covid-19,  the administration had 2 months to figure out how to re-open under Covid-19 rules/recommendations. 

 

All the companies I know had Covid-19 rules in place with guidelines/policies.  Purchased PPE and Sanitizers.  All done in 2 weeks.  So that they can keep operating. 

 

The school administration had 2 months to figure this out.  So it can't be "short notice" to get everything ready.

up until about 2 weeks ago, the word from admin was we wouldn't be going back this year and that we should settle into distance learning.  There was no plan then

[stawns]

1 minute ago, RonMexico said:

 

At the same time they go distance learning figured out in a decent time frame all things considered.

we did, but it wasn't easy and there wasn't a risk/safety/behaviour issue to factor into it all.  I don't think going back is bad, I miss my kids terribly.  I think going back now, for four weeks, is a terrible idea and un-necessary risk when distance learning is working well enough to get us to the end of the year.

[BPA]

1 minute ago, stawns said:

up until about 2 weeks ago, the word from admin was we wouldn't be going back this year and that we should settle into distance learning.  There was no plan then

That's pretty poor planning. 

 

As management, you need to prepare (plans) for likely scenarios.  If no plans put forth by Friday, then the administration really dropped the ball on this one.

[stawns]

Just now, BPA said:

That's pretty poor planning. 

 

As management, you need to prepare (plans) for likely scenarios.  If no plans put forth by Friday, then the administration really dropped the ball on this one.

it's not admin, it's at the ministry level.  Admin doesn't know more than I do right now.

 

that's why i don't get why we don't just get to to the finish line with DL and move fwd with a solid, well thought out plan for September.  teachers busted their butts to get DL set up, why not just make the best of it?