What do you think school will be like in the fall? UPDATE page 29 for Mass.

[Colleen27]

Well, it's not like the school districts or the state directors of education, for that matter, are soliciting suggestions from parents or even teachers. I spoke to my son's special ed teacher last week at length about this and she was frustrated that the district has essentially enacted radio silence and has STOPPED communicating with even the teachers on this matter. They don't want to hear suggestions. They want to draft a plan that ignores any input from either teachers or parents.

That's unfortunate. I'm not sure how well parents are represented on our state's planning committee for school reopening, but teachers and administrators are. And local schools have been reaching out to families to get their input - I've received survey requests from both the private school DD11 attends and the local public district, which surprised me since I don't have a student in public school any more but I guess since our school contracts shared-time teachers, busing and food service from the district, they included us in the survey group as well. I can't speak to what the public schools are doing with the results, but our private school is taking it seriously as we try to plan for fall. Not all of the input we're getting is helpful - some parents aren't going to feel safe in the fall no matter what and some aren't going to be happy with any restrictions at all, and we have at least one staff member who is very resistant to many of the possible changes - but we want everyone to feel heard and included in the reopening process, even those whose ideas turn out to be less than viable.

 

[DLgal]

That's unfortunate. I'm not sure how well parents are represented on our state's planning committee for school reopening, but teachers and administrators are. And local schools have been reaching out to families to get their input - I've received survey requests from both the private school DD11 attends and the local public district, which surprised me since I don't have a student in public school any more but I guess since our school contracts shared-time teachers, busing and food service from the district, they included us in the survey group as well. I can't speak to what the public schools are doing with the results, but our private school is taking it seriously as we try to plan for fall. Not all of the input we're getting is helpful - some parents aren't going to feel safe in the fall no matter what and some aren't going to be happy with any restrictions at all, and we have at least one staff member who is very resistant to many of the possible changes - but we want everyone to feel heard and included in the reopening process, even those whose ideas turn out to be less than viable.

We got ONE survey about 4 weeks into distance learning about what was working and what was not. I also got surveys created in Google Forms directly from 3 teachers, but those were for their own feedback. The district sends surveys out ALL the time for various issues. I've filled out many over the years.

However, I have not seen one yet regarding a fall reopening plan. They have already sent out a letter that they are "currently drafting a plan" and will present it by the end of June. My son's teacher said they haven't asked her a thing and the principal had expressed his frustration that even HE had not been asked for input as an administrator.

 

[monsterkitty]

Well, it's not like the school districts or the state directors of education, for that matter, are soliciting suggestions from parents or even teachers. I spoke to my son's special ed teacher last week at length about this and she was frustrated that the district has essentially enacted radio silence and has STOPPED communicating with even the teachers on this matter. They don't want to hear suggestions. They want to draft a plan that ignores any input from either teachers or parents.

The district I worked in is 100% asking for input and feedback from teachers, staff, parents, and the community.

The district I live in is not answering any questions and asking for zero input or feedback from anyone.

 

[HeatherC]

Rhode Island’s Governor announced today that school there will be in person and open on August 31. All she said was classes will be smaller and desks spaced further apart. No guidelines were given. Will be curious to see what changes they will be making.

 

[Darcy03231]

This spring we stopped school in early April. We just couldn't balance the demands of working from home (actually working) and trying to enforce and educate four kids.

I don't think you're alone. I read an article about parents who had given up on trying to work (either from home or still going into to work) and educate their children. While some were doing some stuff daily, they found it was impossible to get everything done. Many didn't have the tools necessary (i.e. electronic devices, internet access, printers, etc.). Others had multiple children all in different school systems with a variety of work.

I have to admit that I got annoyed with the kindergarten teacher for assuming that everyone had all the tools she had in her classroom. One lesson started with get your white board out. I didn't have one so we ended up just using a piece of paper. There were quite a few activities that we didn't have what was needed and I had to substitute. Luckily I'm computer literate enough that I was able to find stuff on-line to tie into the lesson plans. If it were just DH by himself he would have been lost.

 

[CarolAnn856]

Well, it's not like the school districts or the state directors of education, for that matter, are soliciting suggestions from parents or even teachers. I spoke to my son's special ed teacher last week at length about this and she was frustrated that the district has essentially enacted radio silence and has STOPPED communicating with even the teachers on this matter. They don't want to hear suggestions. They want to draft a plan that ignores any input from either teachers or parents.

While I’m sure that’s the case in some areas, it isn’t true everywhere.

 

[Snowysmom]

Thankfully I no longer have kids in the public schools but I do have grandchildren. The MA plan does not seem to even consider the kids and what they have been going through. My granddaughter was in preschool and will be in kindergarten in the fall. She is a very social and outgoing child. However, since she hasn't been able to be with her friends and learning in school I sometimes see that she is a bit withdrawn and quiet. Kids have been affected emotionally by this. I believe school needs to be as normal as possible in the Fall. You can't expect 5 year olds to understand that they have to keep on their masks and stay 6 feet away from everyone. Schools should be getting input from teachers and parents to do the best for the children. Unfortunately the MA Governor has not handled things well and looks like a deer in the headlights when he speaks. He is more about control rather than what is best for the people. It may be that each town and city should have different ways of getting back into school. What will work for Boston may not be what will work for a small town in central MA or a middle sized city or town. Hopefully the teachers, parents, school committees, and superintendents can get together and talk some sense into the people who enacted this

 

[disindec]

Thankfully I no longer have kids in the public schools but I do have grandchildren. The MA plan does not seem to even consider the kids and what they have been going through. My granddaughter was in preschool and will be in kindergarten in the fall. She is a very social and outgoing child. However, since she hasn't been able to be with her friends and learning in school I sometimes see that she is a bit withdrawn and quiet. Kids have been affected emotionally by this. I believe school needs to be as normal as possible in the Fall. You can't expect 5 year olds to understand that they have to keep on their masks and stay 6 feet away from everyone. Schools should be getting input from teachers and parents to do the best for the children. Unfortunately the MA Governor has not handled things well and looks like a deer in the headlights when he speaks. He is more about control rather than what is best for the people. It may be that each town and city should have different ways of getting back into school. What will work for Boston may not be what will work for a small town in central MA or a middle sized city or town. Hopefully the teachers, parents, school committees, and superintendents can get together and talk some sense into the people who enacted this

It’s kind of funny you say Baker hasn’t handled things well considering he has like an 85% approval rating here in MA for his response. I don’t know anyone who isn’t happy with what he’s done.
The districts still get to come up with their own plans and submit them. They are guidelines. A lot can change by the time school actually starts.

I am glad my kids are too young for school though. I have 3 sisters in law who are teachers and they are dreading it. I have one sister in law who is probably going to resign because she is supposed to have a student next year who’s mom is already planning on suing the school district because the student (with an IEP) has a hard time understanding people without reading lips and my sister in law is absolutely not going to be told she can’t wear a mask.

 

[HeatherC]

Thankfully I no longer have kids in the public schools but I do have grandchildren. The MA plan does not seem to even consider the kids and what they have been going through. My granddaughter was in preschool and will be in kindergarten in the fall. She is a very social and outgoing child. However, since she hasn't been able to be with her friends and learning in school I sometimes see that she is a bit withdrawn and quiet. Kids have been affected emotionally by this. I believe school needs to be as normal as possible in the Fall. You can't expect 5 year olds to understand that they have to keep on their masks and stay 6 feet away from everyone. Schools should be getting input from teachers and parents to do the best for the children. Unfortunately the MA Governor has not handled things well and looks like a deer in the headlights when he speaks. He is more about control rather than what is best for the people. It may be that each town and city should have different ways of getting back into school. What will work for Boston may not be what will work for a small town in central MA or a middle sized city or town. Hopefully the teachers, parents, school committees, and superintendents can get together and talk some sense into the people who enacted this

I wholeheartedly disagree with you on Governor Bakers handling of this virus. He has followed the advice of the scientists and the data and as a result, cases are continuing to decline as well as deaths and hospitalizations. Today we were down to 267 new cases. Back in April we were much much higher.

As far as the schools, the recommendations come from the Department of Education not the Governor.

I know districts are doing everything they can to get kids back to school. Springfield just announced they will be doing a mix of online and in class splitting the days kids go. While there, masks must be worn as well as on buses along with other protocols. I am guessing many other districts will follow suit and wind up doing a mix like this. They did, however, state clearly that this could very well change based on the continuing data over the next couple months.

I have also heard that the Board of Ed. will be releasing additional guidelines in the next two weeks. I am assuming that may be as a result of the backlash regarding the guidelines they released earlier this week. So things are pretty fluid and likely to remain so. I am confident, however, that those responsible for getting kids back to school and each individual distric is doing the very best they can to plan and make accommodations as best as possible. It certainly won’t be normal, but I do think they will do their best to get kids back to school as much as possible.

 

[Snowysmom]

We will have to agree to disagree on the governor and his handling of all this. I do hope the parents and teachers get a better solution than what is there now. Keep us posted.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Looks like they finally made some decisions for my state: https://fox4kc.com/news/kansas-schools-plan-to-reopen-in-august-with-changes-budget-cut-concerns/

"In the end, the decisions will be left up to the school districts, including the decision to close schools — should another wave of the coronavirus hit. The board’s recommendations will include detailed plans on how to transition back to remote learning if needed. Additionally, parents can choose to have their students continue at-home learning, even if the school buildings reopen."

The bolding is big because my state was the first to close all school buildings. In light of multiple things that have gone on in my state my assumption is the governor doesn't want to do too much at a state-wide level as far as mandates, at least she's being more picky in what she does that previously. I also know that our Governor does not want to cut funding to education and neither does many Kansans considering how a previous Governor in our not too distant past just took and took and took from the education system but I do think many of us assume something has to give in there we just hope it won't be much from the education system.

 

[Boopuff]

The district I work in sent out a survey. It had several different options: Opt. 1Students put into "tracks A, B, C etc.) each track would attend 2 days a week, supplemented by on-line learning, downfall to this option: kids could be on different tracks, Opt. 2: all on-line, Opt. 3 Attend X hours a day, limiting amount of kids in a room.
The district also plans to ban all parents from entering the school (in some respects this is a godsend!) Lunch and recess would be really crazy, not sure how they'll work that out. It's just crazy.

 

[billlaurie]

The state (MD) superintendent said yesterday that small group (10-15) summer programming will begin in school buildings for those who may have been the most impacted by the pandemic. Hopefully this goes well and bodes well for the fall. I don't know what the requirements are as far as social distancing/masks.

 

[godisney14]

The district I work in sent out a survey. It had several different options: Opt. 1Students put into "tracks A, B, C etc.) each track would attend 2 days a week, supplemented by on-line learning, downfall to this option: kids could be on different tracks, Opt. 2: all on-line, Opt. 3 Attend X hours a day, limiting amount of kids in a room.
The district also plans to ban all parents from entering the school (in some respects this is a godsend!) Lunch and recess would be really crazy, not sure how they'll work that out. It's just crazy.

Very similar to the school districts in my area. The district has been sending emails and making phone calls to ask which of the options similar to the ones you listed are preferred.

 

[jlwhitney]

Florida announced their school plans today. DeSantis wants schools open in august at full capacity and sent out guidelines and said its up to the counties to decide what is best for their district.

 

[HeatherC]

Florida announced their school plans today. DeSantis wants schools open in august at full capacity and sent out guidelines and said its up to the counties to decide what is best for their district.

Wonder what the guidelines were?

 

[jlwhitney]

Wonder what the guidelines were?

Here is what was put out:

http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse...6QCsjlsBX0K1bFAlXMkERGLjB4spaVatqkldjMi-nE0vc

 

[HeatherC]

Here is what was put out:

http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse...6QCsjlsBX0K1bFAlXMkERGLjB4spaVatqkldjMi-nE0vc

Thank you!

 

[KittyKitty]

my sister in law is absolutely not going to be told she can’t wear a mask.

You may already know this, but I saw an article about masks being made for deaf/hard of hearing. I found a website to check out.
https://www.hsdc.org/accessible-deaf-friendly-face-mask/
Hope this helps

 

[disindec]

You may already know this, but I saw an article about masks being made for deaf/hard of hearing. I found a website to check out.
https://www.hsdc.org/accessible-deaf-friendly-face-mask/
Hope this helps

Thank you I will definitely share this with my sister in law!