Going Remote

[mrs. magoo]

Our district gave us 1 N95 mask per teacher, but we do have a basically unlimited supply of surgical masks that we can use and can give out to the kids. I would say about 25% of our kids come in every day without a mask, so we hand them out at the door. Also they play with them so much that they break the elastics non-stop all day, so every teacher has boxes in their rooms for replacements, but luckily, we weren't expected to buy those ourselves.

It is great that your district is providing masks for you and your students. We ran out in September and there has been no masks available for teachers since October. Like I said they gave us 3 kn95 masks with no plan for anymore to be handed out. I teach in a high school in an extremely poor urban setting. Our parents simply do not have the money for disposable masks so the kids come with fabric ones. If they at least wore those correctly that would make a difference but I spend my day saying - Please pull up your mask or please put on your mask.

 

[DisneyHardin]

If they at least wore those correctly that would make a difference but I spend my day saying - Please pull up your mask or please put on your mask.

I could just make a recording of myself saying "Pull Up Your Mask" and play it on repeat.

 

[mrs. magoo]

We just got word that 21 of our school out of 55 schools will stay remote until next Tuesday. Those affected are mostly the high schools and 8 elementary schools. So I will be remote teaching until then.

 

[Kestryl]

Oh since we are now on remote learning for at least today but the teachers have to report to the building the district turned the heat off. It was 52 degrees in my room on Friday and it is currently 55 this morning. I fully expect it to be freezing as the day goes on.

THEY TURNED YOUR HEAT OFF?! Freaking heck, you should not have to be dealing with that on top of everything…

 

[kymom99]

I could just make a recording of myself saying "Pull Up Your Mask" and play it on repeat.

I tap my nose

 

[lifesavacation]

I don’t know if this has been shared yet, but it’s a good laugh. Because if we don’t laugh, we cry, right?

3 of the 6 of us are now close contacts. 3 different schools

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles...strict-regarding-our-updated-omicron-policies

That was funny. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I tap my nose

I also tell them (jokingly) that I am going to super glue them to their noses.

 

[monsterkitty]

I find this so interesting that the districts tell students and teachers what kind of mask to wear. Do the districts provide these masks? All the reputable kn95s have doubled in price and I am not paying $50 or more to buy them. I wear a surgical mask and usually a cloth mask over the top. My district gave me 3 kn95 masks for the rest of the school year. What am I doing with that?? My students do not even have surgical masks as they come everyday without masks and then expect us to provide them with one. I have bought 1 box so far this year but I am not buying them anymore. If the district wants me to wear a certain kind of mask they can provide it otherwise I will wear what I deem to be safe. By the way in my district teachers are not close contacts at any time and as long as you are fully vaccinated and have no symptoms you are to report to school. You do not even have to test unless you have symptoms.

My county has adopted the CDC 5 day rule so the district will only cover the 5 days now so if you have symptoms still you need to use your own sick time.

Oh since we are now on remote learning for at least today but the teachers have to report to the building the district turned the heat off. It was 52 degrees in my room on Friday and it is currently 55 this morning. I fully expect it to be freezing as the day goes on.

I taught in a similar district as well. Last year staff was given 2 KN95 masks/week, which the district bought using money from the COVID relief. This year the staff still receive two/week as the district used the same monies and stocked up on the masks.

The district also bought surgical masks for us to give to students. Students were not allowed to enter a building without a mask, so an adult was at each door to hand them out to those who needed them before they walked in the school.

Students are given one warning about their masks each day. If they are warned again about not wearing it properly or not at all they are sent home for the day. DH still teaches in the district (I retired) and at our school not one student has been sent home for failing to comply with the mask rules.

Now to your heat comment, I may have gotten in trouble one year for posting the temp in my room on Facebook with the caption, "Heat wave in room 112 - it finally reached 55 degrees today!" I'm sorry you're dealing with the heating issues. The extreme heat in my room, as in over 95 when it's hot outside, and the cold, which I could tolerate because I just wore more layers, is the number 1 reason I retired.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I taught in a similar district as well. Last year staff was given 2 KN95 masks/week, which the district bought using money from the COVID relief. This year the staff still receive two/week as the district used the same monies and stocked up on the masks.

The district also bought surgical masks for us to give to students. Students were not allowed to enter a building without a mask, so an adult was at each door to hand them out to those who needed them before they walked in the school.

Students are given one warning about their masks each day. If they are warned again about not wearing it properly or not at all they are sent home for the day. DH still teaches in the district (I retired) and at our school not one student has been sent home for failing to comply with the mask rules.

Now to your heat comment, I may have gotten in trouble one year for posting the temp in my room on Facebook with the caption, "Heat wave in room 112 - it finally reached 55 degrees today!" I'm sorry you're dealing with the heating issues. The extreme heat in my room, as in over 95 when it's hot outside, and the cold, which I could tolerate because I just wore more layers, is the number 1 reason I retired.

What age are the kids? I don’t think I’d have a single student left in my class if they got sent home after the first warning. But I teach K/1. I know my high schoolers’ teachers kick kids out of class & mark them absent for incorrect masks wearing.

 

[tcufrog]

I wish my kids' schools enforced the mask rules.

 

[mrs. magoo]

I taught in a similar district as well. Last year staff was given 2 KN95 masks/week, which the district bought using money from the COVID relief. This year the staff still receive two/week as the district used the same monies and stocked up on the masks.

The district also bought surgical masks for us to give to students. Students were not allowed to enter a building without a mask, so an adult was at each door to hand them out to those who needed them before they walked in the school.

Students are given one warning about their masks each day. If they are warned again about not wearing it properly or not at all they are sent home for the day. DH still teaches in the district (I retired) and at our school not one student has been sent home for failing to comply with the mask rules.

Now to your heat comment, I may have gotten in trouble one year for posting the temp in my room on Facebook with the caption, "Heat wave in room 112 - it finally reached 55 degrees today!" I'm sorry you're dealing with the heating issues. The extreme heat in my room, as in over 95 when it's hot outside, and the cold, which I could tolerate because I just wore more layers, is the number 1 reason I retired.

The heat issues are something that I have dealt with all 27 years in this building. I love the building I mean it was opened in 1905 all the arch ways, cornice details and the staircases are amazing but I am in a classroom they carved out of an old hallway - no windows and this air exchanger that literally blows in outside air. It is 6 degrees this morning and the room is a whopping 52. I keep the door open to get the heat from the hallway. In May and June this room will be pushing 80 degrees. It is what it is.

The district got so much money from the government but I will be honest I have no idea what it has been spent on. I have not gotten a box of masks all year and no clorox wipes at all. I am on building committee and have asked about the supplies multiple times about these much needed supplies. I have to purchase my own tissues as well. Oh and the water fountains are turned off so I had to buy cups so kids can get water from the bottle filler or else they put their mouths under it. So much fun every year. I have 5 years until retirement but who is counting.

On a personal note - my girls are out of quarantine - really had nothing more than a bad cold but my 79 year old father who lives with us is positive. He is vaxed and boosted and currently has cold symptoms. He does have a call into his doctor about possibly getting the Pfizer pills due to his age and his high blood pressure. He should find out today. My girls are beside themselves with guilt but as I told them he goes to the YMCA and out to other places. They stayed in their rooms and wore masks whenever they came out during quarantine. It is no ones fault. Stay safe and healthy all.

 

[mrs. magoo]

What age are the kids? I don’t think I’d have a single student left in my class if they got sent home after the first warning. But I teach K/1. I know my high schoolers’ teachers kick kids out of class & mark them absent for incorrect masks wearing.

I teach High School and we tried this for 2 days. The admins sent home so many kids and the parents were besides themselves that central office said we needed to put them in ISS. We then had 50 kids in ISS so that was unstainable. We have basically given up on the mask wearing and I spend my day asking them to pull up their masks. It is a losing battle that is for sure.

 

[monsterkitty]

What age are the kids? I don’t think I’d have a single student left in my class if they got sent home after the first warning. But I teach K/1. I know my high schoolers’ teachers kick kids out of class & mark them absent for incorrect masks wearing.

I taught in the same middle school for 32 years. DH has been there for 28 years.

The sending kids home is a district mandate. I'm sure there is some leniency for the younger grades for slipping masks, but not in the upper grades. My niece teaches in one of the k-8 schools in the district and they are strict with kids grades 2 and over.

The heat issues are something that I have dealt with all 27 years in this building. I love the building I mean it was opened in 1905 all the arch ways, cornice details and the staircases are amazing but I am in a classroom they carved out of an old hallway - no windows and this air exchanger that literally blows in outside air. It is 6 degrees this morning and the room is a whopping 52. I keep the door open to get the heat from the hallway. In May and June this room will be pushing 80 degrees. It is what it is.

The district got so much money from the government but I will be honest I have no idea what it has been spent on. I have not gotten a box of masks all year and no clorox wipes at all. I am on building committee and have asked about the supplies multiple times about these much needed supplies. I have to purchase my own tissues as well. Oh and the water fountains are turned off so I had to buy cups so kids can get water from the bottle filler or else they put their mouths under it. So much fun every year. I have 5 years until retirement but who is counting.

On a personal note - my girls are out of quarantine - really had nothing more than a bad cold but my 79 year old father who lives with us is positive. He is vaxed and boosted and currently has cold symptoms. He does have a call into his doctor about possibly getting the Pfizer pills due to his age and his high blood pressure. He should find out today. My girls are beside themselves with guilt but as I told them he goes to the YMCA and out to other places. They stayed in their rooms and wore masks whenever they came out during quarantine. It is no ones fault. Stay safe and healthy all.

My building opened in 1962. Up until about 10 years ago, the newest building opened in 1970. They are now replacing buildings as it's cheaper to replace than repair. Despite no A/C in the building, our building is in pretty good shape so it will be one of the last to be replaced. My room was in the center of the building with no outside air source, so they had to pull air from outside. The kids learned that if it was going to be 80 outside it was going to be above 90 in my room and they knew that they weren't allowed to wear their security blankets, I mean hoodies.

The district used the COVID money to rent water coolers for each room. Students brought their own bottles to refill but we did have paper cups if they forgot. For the most part last year, it was the first time I didn't have to buy Clorox wipes for my room. The 5 years will fly by!

Hope your father does well.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I taught in the same middle school for 32 years. DH has been there for 28 years.

The sending kids home is a district mandate. I'm sure there is some leniency for the younger grades for slipping masks, but not in the upper grades. My niece teaches in one of the k-8 schools in the district and they are strict with kids grades 2 and over.

I would love a policy like this. Then maybe I could actually teach instead of patrolling mask wearing!

 

[fab1976]

We flip flopped today. We were supposed to go in person, and now we are virtual.
Not surprised.

And now back in person Monday. Maybe. Because we know that could change up to the night before! West of Toronto here, and am a newly hired occasional teacher returning to it after over a decade off! Will see how the next weeks go….

 

[Disneylover99]

And now back in person Monday. Maybe. Because we know that could change up to the night before! West of Toronto here, and am a newly hired occasional teacher returning to it after over a decade off! Will see how the next weeks go….

Yes. Definitely maybe. I’ll have my remote plans in place for Monday. That’s for sure.

 

[neverlandsky]

Youngest is still on Q. The school district just announced and went to contingency plan for a 5 days pause and has cancelled all school this Friday & next Tuesday. So when Youngest returns on the 18th it will be when everyone else also returns for in-person.

That's if they keep in-person. Rumor has it that remote/virtual is definitely on the table.

According to Youngest friends, students and staff aren't at school. It's empty. The staff that's there hasn't even been assigning work or teaching due to the lack of staff and students. At least Youngest will only be missing 7 school days vs. the 9 original days on Q.

The bad news, this will cause the panic buying to explode with kids home. Definitely going to hunker down even more now. If we need anything, I'll just have DH pick it up from work.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Apparently the state Board of Education declared a state of emergency due to staffing shortages. This basically reduces certain qualification for someone to qualify for a substitute teacher. Sounds like this one is in effect until rescinded.

"substitute teachers will now only need to be at least 18 years old with a high school diploma, pending a finger-printing and background check. Those with only a GED are not eligible. Those getting cleared to substitute teach who do not meet the previous standards will be given at Temporary Emergency Authorized License. These licenses are set to expire on June 1, after which the individual would need to meet the previous requirements, if the emergency declaration is lifted by then, according to the state Department of Education."


Along this lines last week our governor declared a state of emergency for two (I think that was it) things which is designed to alleviate staffing issues. This one was considered a reactivation because she did this in 2020 as well. These are "One executive order would relax licensing requirements for nurses and other staff members, as well as allowing National Guard and military personnel to volunteer in hospitals. The second is aimed at helping the 500 or so state-licensed adult care homes adequately staff up." The governor's emergency declaration was only for 15 days at this point and is already nearly the halfway point.

 

[Mango7100]

Resurrecting this thread to see how it’s going…DDs Catholic school (Pk-8) started virtual yesterday for the rest of the week due to high absences. 9 kids were out in her class Tuesday and about 25% of the schools was out. First time they have ever closed for illness—the county schools usually close for a week every year for flu. 16 of our surrounding county school systems are closed for the week for illness! The state of TN passed a bill that public school systems are not allowed to go virtual or do at home assignments due to illness closure So instead of even providing some work for kids to do at home, they think it’s better to just close. At least our school sent home textbooks and emailed assignments so we can finish the week of school work at our own pace at home.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

So instead of even providing some work for kids to do at home, they think it’s better to just close.

I think it depends on if it's an individual student's illness or a combo of staff and students.

Here the district my house is in and the main school district in the neighboring county cancelled classes Tuesday and Wednesday due to a combo of staffing shortages due to covid or exposure or other illnesses and student's out either due to covid or exposure or other illnesses. Even if you remove the state law that only allows 40 hours of virtual learning if you have enough teachers out without adequate amount of subs (which is part of the reason they closed they were short on that) and students out not much learning is being done.

This time they were able to utilize MLK Jr day because the shortages and students out were listed as of the Friday before so the extra 2 days would allow for at least some of the isolation periods and quarantines to expire.

The cancelled days are being counted as part of inclement weather days which isn't a big issue at this point.

The answer to just switching to remote largely worked when it was community spread that was the main issue with not as much spreading going on in schools (aside from extracurricular activities) but with kids and teens getting sick a lot more with this variant in play and the really young ones not eligible for vaccinations just flipping to remote won't work for learning purposes if the students themselves are the ones getting sick a lot and the teachers who teach the remote are the ones getting sick a lot. So remote is probably going to be more heavily individual area-specific rather than a more sweeping attitude that we had in 2020 and into spring 2021.