Are any teachers/admins hearing anything off the record about their districts?
Public schools reopened on May 4?
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Last: 5 yr ago by nai06
We have been told our local school will not reopen until August.
Yeah, officially we're still planning on opening May 4th. Will that happen? I'd bet good money that we won't. I'm a teacher in Cy-Fair for reference.
First day back everyone gives each other big hugs
The liability (primarily to staff) and likelihood of wholly ineffective resumption of teaching in person for basically the last two weeks of school in Texas would make this just preposterous.
We have created lesson plans for the next 7 weeks, so I am assuming no.
For now we are slated to back back May 4th. Knowing our community there's a good chance we will unless the governor decides otherwise.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
Teachers in BCS are not expecting to resume physical classes this year.
Lots of teachers in the family at varies levels, and they would love a week or two back with their students before summer. To check in, give them a chance to "wrap up the year" and make sure they are in a good place.
I think you may see some smaller districts attempt something like this. Allow them to have a graduation type experience and definitely check in on their at-risk kids.
It will allows allow those local economies get rolling faster as well.
But my gut says they are done for the year unfortunately.
I think you may see some smaller districts attempt something like this. Allow them to have a graduation type experience and definitely check in on their at-risk kids.
It will allows allow those local economies get rolling faster as well.
But my gut says they are done for the year unfortunately.
We've arranged for day care in the event that schools don't open on May 4th. The wife and I are in essential jobs and it's too hard to work with the kids at home. We will see how things look over the next 4 weeks and make an educated risk / reward decision at that time.
Public schools in Texas aren't going to be open again until August barring something unforeseen. Abbott will step in if local districts try and reopen this school year.
And if nothing else restarting in May with 2-4 weeks left is just impractical and largely pointless, and the teachers unions won't allow the districts to extend classes much beyond the normal scheduled end of year dates.
And if nothing else restarting in May with 2-4 weeks left is just impractical and largely pointless, and the teachers unions won't allow the districts to extend classes much beyond the normal scheduled end of year dates.
No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See full Medical Disclaimer.
nortex97 said:
The liability (primarily to staff) and likelihood of wholly ineffective resumption of teaching in person for basically the last two weeks of school in Texas would make this just preposterous.
I have a feeling there will be parents that will refuse to send their kids back for risk of exposure
I'd be shocked if we go back this school year.
"If you run into an ******* in the morning, you ran into an *******. If you run into *******s all day, you're the *******." – Raylan Givens, "Justified."
Related, but unrelated question given the number of teachers on this thread. Our kids are in Richardson public schools. The teachers have been sending work to our kids with the occasional zoom session. Just curious, but does anyone know why the teachers are unable to teach a live or taped session each day for the kids? I would imagine they could do a pre-taped series of lectures that are released each day so the kids get some "live" instruction. I know this is still early and everyone is trying to adapt, but up to this point, all we've really received is a stack of homework each day without much teaching.
Then make it optional. Would probably create some nice social distancing.pasquale said:nortex97 said:
The liability (primarily to staff) and likelihood of wholly ineffective resumption of teaching in person for basically the last two weeks of school in Texas would make this just preposterous.
I have a feeling there will be parents that will refuse to send their kids back for risk of exposure
Dicky Longstocking said:
Related, but unrelated question given the number of teachers on this thread. Our kids are in Richardson public schools. The teachers have been sending work to our kids with the occasional zoom session. Just curious, but does anyone know why the teachers are unable to teach a live or taped session each day for the kids? I would imagine they could do a pre-taped series of lectures that are released each day so the kids get some "live" instruction. I know this is still early and everyone is trying to adapt, but up to this point, all we've really received is a stack of homework each day without much teaching.
I think it has to do with teacher's being uncomfortable with the tech. I've created quite a few videos for my kids, some instruction based and some for directions/workflow. The thing to worry about is how long the videos would be. They need to be very short, no more than 10 minutes. When I've seen some teachers create the videos, they have made them 30 minutes long. Those are awful.
"If you run into an ******* in the morning, you ran into an *******. If you run into *******s all day, you're the *******." – Raylan Givens, "Justified."
REMEMBER THIS!!!!!
Any educational material via video or conference call can only hold someone's attention for 23 minutes.
If you ever are in charge of teaching via these methods, don't ever go longer than 23 minutes.
Any educational material via video or conference call can only hold someone's attention for 23 minutes.
If you ever are in charge of teaching via these methods, don't ever go longer than 23 minutes.
Infection_Ag11 said:
Public schools in Texas aren't going to be open again until August barring something unforeseen. Abbott will step in if local districts try and reopen this school year.
And if nothing else restarting in May with 2-4 weeks left is just impractical and largely pointless, and the teachers unions won't allow the districts to extend classes much beyond the normal scheduled end of year dates.
Many people can't get back to work if schools remain closed. They go hand in hand.
Gig'Em and God Bless,
JB'91
JB'91
Dicky Longstocking said:
Related, but unrelated question given the number of teachers on this thread. Our kids are in Richardson public schools. The teachers have been sending work to our kids with the occasional zoom session. Just curious, but does anyone know why the teachers are unable to teach a live or taped session each day for the kids? I would imagine they could do a pre-taped series of lectures that are released each day so the kids get some "live" instruction. I know this is still early and everyone is trying to adapt, but up to this point, all we've really received is a stack of homework each day without much teaching.
Some schools aren't allowed to do that bc the kids who can't access them don't get to see them.
Short answer: everyone has checked out. This year is over. The only reason you get an occasional zoom or random email assignment is so schools can justify receiving their federal funding for the year. School year is over.Dicky Longstocking said:
Related, but unrelated question given the number of teachers on this thread. Our kids are in Richardson public schools. The teachers have been sending work to our kids with the occasional zoom session. Just curious, but does anyone know why the teachers are unable to teach a live or taped session each day for the kids? I would imagine they could do a pre-taped series of lectures that are released each day so the kids get some "live" instruction. I know this is still early and everyone is trying to adapt, but up to this point, all we've really received is a stack of homework each day without much teaching.
Houston ISD's unofficial start of summer school has been pushed back to after July 4th. You don't bring back kids in May and then bring back some of them a month later.
They also sent out an email last week saying any grades taken after March 12th can't hurt the final grade...it can only help it.
School year is over...and I am 50/50 on whether their July summer school even happens.
They also sent out an email last week saying any grades taken after March 12th can't hurt the final grade...it can only help it.
School year is over...and I am 50/50 on whether their July summer school even happens.
There are no teacher unions in the state of Texas.Infection_Ag11 said:
... and the teachers unions won't allow the districts to extend classes much beyond the normal scheduled end of year dates.
My guess is announcements will be made by April 17-23 for cancellations for the remainder of the year. Some larger ISD's will get the ball rolling after one/two more Superintendent conference calls and other districts will follow suit, possibly Abbott making the call. Just too many risks to overcome. Really hate that for senior classes across the country but most districts will do some special stuff along with virtual graduations and maybe July proms/graduations...maybe.
I was told from someone who talked to a very high up in Texas government that schools will be shut down for the rest of the year. Not sure when it will be announced though. Pointless to go back for 2-2 1/2 weeks anyway.
BrandoC said:
I was told from someone who talked to a very high up in the government that schools will be shut down for the rest of the year. Not sure when it will be announced though.
School or calendar?
School as of now.
Infection_Ag11 said:
Public schools in Texas aren't going to be open again until August barring something unforeseen. Abbott will step in if local districts try and reopen this school year.
And if nothing else restarting in May with 2-4 weeks left is just impractical and largely pointless, and the teachers unions won't allow the districts to extend classes much beyond the normal scheduled end of year dates.
First as someone else mentioned:
Texas doesn't have teacher unions. They have some Professional Organizations that carry little to no weight. They will not extend the school year because of Teacher contracts being fulfilled by online learning. But there is value in salvaging a few weeks based on the feedback I get from teachers working now (including my wife). The value may not be strictly instructional, but social and wellbeing.
Second Abbott cannot do much to the Independent School Districts:
We had multiple ISDs in our part of Texas go a week to 10 days beyond when the major shutdowns occurred. It was ultimately the STARR test exemptions that shut things down.
Finally:
You cannot restart any major part of the economy without restarting school, day school, day care, or extracurricular organizations. Thankfully our daycare has remained open throughout all of this.
That would be the first thing he's done if that's the case.Infection_Ag11 said:
Public schools in Texas aren't going to be open again until August barring something unforeseen. Abbott will step in if local districts try and reopen this school year.
And if nothing else restarting in May with 2-4 weeks left is just impractical and largely pointless, and the teachers unions won't allow the districts to extend classes much beyond the normal scheduled end of year dates.
Why wouldn't they extend the school year by 4-6 weeks and go thru July 4 to make up the lost time so that they don't start next Fall in a huge hole and everyone learning the grade they were in last year. Or does what they missed in school not even matter?
Last chance for herd immunity and putting this behind us for good. It would be a wise decision to go back and get this behind us.
CDC didn't even think closing schools was the right way to go a few weeks ago unless the schools were in the middle of an enormous outbreak. I'm not sure where they stand now.
Last chance for herd immunity and putting this behind us for good. It would be a wise decision to go back and get this behind us.
CDC didn't even think closing schools was the right way to go a few weeks ago unless the schools were in the middle of an enormous outbreak. I'm not sure where they stand now.
While I agree with the idea, it is important to understand that by requiring teachers to provide online instructions fulfills their instruction hours of their contract (remember they are only under contract for 9 months, but most opt for the payment to be spread over 12 months). You would have to provide funding for them to be rehired for those additional weeks.
I know one local school district has teachers in "video classrooms" for 2-3 hours a day with rarely a student checking in. But administrators are periodically logging in to make sure the teacher is present, on camera, and professional dressed and ready for any students.
Additionally, they are doing professional development on future remote learning technologies in case of further issues.
It's a mess from the administrators, to teachers that have checked out, and down to parents that are nonexistent.
I know one local school district has teachers in "video classrooms" for 2-3 hours a day with rarely a student checking in. But administrators are periodically logging in to make sure the teacher is present, on camera, and professional dressed and ready for any students.
Additionally, they are doing professional development on future remote learning technologies in case of further issues.
It's a mess from the administrators, to teachers that have checked out, and down to parents that are nonexistent.
Agreed. In many districts, the teachers haven't been hardly heard from since the stay at home because it was unfair that not 100% of students would have access. The teachers are to be available via email between certain hours. I realize that isn't the case everywhere.
BrandoC said:
I was told from someone who talked to a very high up in Texas government that schools will be shut down for the rest of the year. Not sure when it will be announced though. Pointless to go back for 2-2 1/2 weeks anyway.
If we could go back safely, I'd love to go back even for just a few days to see the kids and "end the year". It won't happen but it sucks this is the way it ends.
"If you run into an ******* in the morning, you ran into an *******. If you run into *******s all day, you're the *******." – Raylan Givens, "Justified."
The teacher in my house just wants to go back for any short period of time to make sure her kids are OK and to see them one more time. She is of the mindset that 2 weeks would be invaluable to the kids and to the teachers. We can rationalize all of this, but the kids need some sense of normalcy and transition, her opinion.
This would only have worked right after spring break. The schools have not been closed, students have been distance learning. While this varies in success by district, the kids have been doing school work and the teachers have been teaching. If they open the schools in the summer then it would be summer school, not the continuation of an interrupted school year.Gap said:
Why wouldn't they extend the school year by 4-6 weeks and go thru July 4 to make up the lost time so that they don't start next Fall in a huge hole and everyone learning the grade they were in last year. Or does what they missed in school not even matter?
Last chance for herd immunity and putting this behind us for good. It would be a wise decision to go back and get this behind us.
CDC didn't even think closing schools was the right way to go a few weeks ago unless the schools were in the middle of an enormous outbreak. I'm not sure where they stand now.
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