1/ OK... here goes! Sharing some thoughts from watching SFUSD’s Educator Town Hall last Monday. This is a loooong one so buckle up!
2/ First off, let’s talk process. I really liked the ThoughtExchange platform to share thoughts/questions and “like” others thoughts/questions. I’m wondering how to make public the list of staff thoughts/questions when it closes. FYI: the District is still collecting input.
3/ I did wonder how participants used the ThoughtExchange if they were watching the Town Hall via YouTube on their phones. Folks were told to use the camera phones to view the QR codes and follow prompts. I’m not sure how to concurrently watch a video on the same phone...
4/ Now for the content. At the beginning of the presentation, educators were asked to share lessons learned from spring distance learning. (Or Emergency Remote Teaching as it should have been called.)
5/ I am VERY proud of our district for getting so many devices and hotspots out to so many students. (I believe at last count, SFUSD distributed 13k+ Chromebooks!) THANK YOU to @SFUSDdot staff and thank you to all the generous donors who made it possible. 🙏🏽💕🙌🏽
6/ That said, getting connected is just ONE STEP in a long line of steps to getting get kids learning online. Just as getting kids in the classroom door is the a small part of actual teaching.
7/ While I’m SERIOUSLY IMPRESSED with our district’s ability to get kids connected, I have to say I am really frustrated that @SFUnified keeps touting the fact that “most students were engaged.” We simply must stop saying that.
8/ Just because students can log in, doesn’t mean they are “engaged”. They could log in and go to the bathroom, take a nap, play videos on their phone... any number of things.
9/ Parents of younger kids said they needed help getting online. They could have logged in and then been frustrated fiddling around trying to figure out what to do. THATS NOT LEARNING.
10/ Dear @SFUSDsupe, and @SFUSDdot staff please stop saying that “most kids were engaged.” Logging on only means logging on. I am a teacher and I know, logging on or even sitting in a classroom chair IS NOT ENGAGEMENT.
11/ Moving into the discussion, I did appreciate the fact that many educators lifted up the issue of students and families having trouble getting online and using learning apps. This was esp. true for parents of younger kids.
12/ Teachers and para educators spent a lot of time doing tech support. I saw this when I visited a 3rd grade classroom last spring. No matter what our plans are next fall, we need to ensure our district has a solid plan to address this issue.
13/ I really appreciated the fact that Commissioner @MarkSanchezSF (who is himself a classroom teacher) addressed the fact that our District need to do better. While @SFUSD_Supe agreed with this comment, I was dismayed to hear him suggest this was a NEW concern related to COVID.
14/ I am not the only parent to have raised concerns that SFUSD needs to do more to help parents get “connected”.
15/ Remember when we first got ParentVue and any parent w/ multiple kids got separate accounts? It took months to fix and many parents gave up. Elementary parents were never encouraged to get on ParentVue. Still others forgot login passwords and there was nowhere to go for help.
16/ So, to reiterate: This is NOT new. It’s an old problem exacerbated by COVID.
17/ When I initially got on the Board I raised questions many times about parents getting tech support. As the Budget and Business Services Committee chair I got so frustrated w/ the lack of response from staff that I started putting it on my agenda as a “business service”.
18/ I was even told by central office staff that this was inappropriate(!) I put it in the agenda anyway. Finally, after making multiple requests, staff became more responsive. This was WELL BEFORE COVID-19!!!
19/ I will continue to say that fact that we use GoogleClassroom and have NEVER made it standard practice to show parents how to access their children’s accounts is a violation of the CA Ed Code to be involved in their children’s learning leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_di… 
20/ We can’t fix a problem if we don’t acknowledge it. Families consistently say overall SFUSD staff culture does not seem to value or prioritize communication or partnership with families. This was clearly evident in the lack of planning to educate families on technology use.
21/ No matter what happens next fall, I think we all agree we will need to find a better way to ensure all kids are connected. We can’t just pass out computers and consider them engaged.
22/ The digital divide is REAL— we can’t continue to stick our heads in the sand. I suggest we estestablish individualized tech check-ins (for each and every student to go over connectivity and the use of applications so teachers don’t have to juggle tech support while teaching.
23/ So... getting back to the presentation.
Despite my previous frustrations, I did appreciate that family tech needs were being acknowledged. So at this point, I was still feeling fairly optimistic.
Despite my previous frustrations, I did appreciate that family tech needs were being acknowledged. So at this point, I was still feeling fairly optimistic.
24/ I also really appreciated the accessibility of both the YouTube livestream and the ThoughtExchange platform as a means to share and elevate ideas of participants. (This is something we should definitely keep doing!)
25/ Next up, came a presentation by Dr. Jeanne Lee a pediatrician with the Dept of Public Health. It is at this point where the presentation took a nosedive.
26/ The good doctor immediately stated, “Children haven’t been drivers” of COVID and even said that it’s safer to be with kids than adults. (Guess what? It’s even safer for everyone to STAY HOME!)
27/ Things got confusing when she then showed a picture of her own kid playing with another kid in childcare with a mask on and NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING BY A LONGSHOT and said the CDC recommendations were meant to be flexible and “Layered, coordinated and age appropriate.”
28/ This felt really manipulative. Like, “Hey, I’m a pediatrician and am comfortable with my kid NOT being socially distanced at all so you should be OK with it too.”
29/ Like... What if you are a parent and didn’t sign up for your kinder to being home COVID to their infirm grandma with a medical condition who lives with you...
30/ Or what if you are a teacher over 60 and didn’t sign up to play COVID-Russian-roulette when you decided to become be a para-educator being paid poverty wages...
31/ Needless to say, this part of the presentation got even more confusing when she talked about socially-distanced classroom seating in a 9’ square grid of kids separates by only 3’.
32/ At this point, the presentation felt insulting. Educators are smart enough to see when we are being gaslighted. I’ve read the CDC guidelines and I know the difference between 6’ and 3’ is 3’ which is HALF the recommended guidance for safe social distancing.
33/ The fact that the good old’ doc just slid by this FAIRLY MAJOR CHANGE in social distancing guidelines that we’ve all been hearing since the beginning of Shelter-In-Place was seriously troubling.
34/ In case you want to read the CA Dept of Public Health Guidance for Schools and School-Based Programs it’s here: files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-s…
35/ It was apparent we were supposed to believe it was about “layering” of safety measures. She rapidly moved on to talk of “ventilation” being another layer of protection.
36/ At this point, I thought, “I had to wait a YEAR to get a leaky roof fixed in my classroom years ago.” If the district is so understaffed we can’t even fix leaky roofs, does anyone who actually teaches think that ALL CLASSROOMS can be ventilated?
37/ Then the idea of checking kids temperatures came up. Questions about full-time nurses got raised.
38/ At some point the head of Students, Families, Communities, Support Division (SFCSD) says she’s not sure but thinks maybe there are 60 full-time nurses for 100 schools. Now I’m wondering: Why doesn’t she know the answer to this VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION?)
39/ Moving on from ventilation, the issue of cleaning comes up. The good doc says “Physical distancing is way more important than cleaning.”
“Wait!” I thought, “Let’s get back to the 9’ square. Didn’t she just cut physical distance recommendations in half?!?”
“Wait!” I thought, “Let’s get back to the 9’ square. Didn’t she just cut physical distance recommendations in half?!?”
40/ When questions came up about physical-distancing the doc acknowledged that it wasn’t feasible for younger students and said it’s OK to “relax” distancing requirements by half because “younger students have lower risk of severe disease and transmission”.
41/ Again... What about the adults? And, heck, what about the kids? According to recent data COVID cases are in the rise for children and young people.
42/ And I don’t care what they say, we are dealing with a new disease. Just because children are less likely to DIE doesn’t mean they won’t have long-lasting health impacts. And no one can tell me these don’t exist. mprnews.org/story/2020/07/…
43/ We haven’t been watching #COVID19 long enough to even know what the long-term effects are. Remember when they said X-rays and DDT were safe?!? I’m not signing up my kids as guinea pigs. How can I as a Board Commissioner, educator and parent do that to other people’s children?
44/ Again, what about the 6’ recommendation? How did it get off the table? Apparently there was to be no discussion of this. I am probably not alone in getting the message that some unnamed person at the state has already decided this “for the economy.”
45/ But I won’t let this go. If we do open schools, I want to know: How do we fit kids into a room with 6’ apart? How much does class size have to be reduced? With 20 kids? With 34 kids?
46/ Back to the presentation. Next, up the doc talked about screening...
I love the way folks talk about screening as if it just magically happens. What I want to know is WHO will conduct screening? Will schools get additional staffing to do this?
I love the way folks talk about screening as if it just magically happens. What I want to know is WHO will conduct screening? Will schools get additional staffing to do this?
47/ After kids are screened, who determines when and if to send kids home? Where do we put identified kids after their families have left?
Guidelines say each school should have an isolation room. Where? How do we fit this in with all the socially distant classrooms?
Guidelines say each school should have an isolation room. Where? How do we fit this in with all the socially distant classrooms?
48/ You will also notice from the screenshot above that guidelines also say kids and staff who present symptoms for COVID need to be taken to a hospital. Who takes them? Do we call 911? How is all this supposed to happen, do we have emergency busses? Who is doing all this?
49/ Still no questions were answered...
Moving on, the doc talked about the fact that schools need to discourage visitors. Meaning, parents will be discouraged from coming in. How does that impact parents rights to be involved in their children’s learning?
Moving on, the doc talked about the fact that schools need to discourage visitors. Meaning, parents will be discouraged from coming in. How does that impact parents rights to be involved in their children’s learning?
50/ How will lack of volunteers impact programming? How will that impede a parents ability to monitor the way their child is being taught or the way teachers manage classes?
51/ The presentation made its way to talking about PPE. The Superintendant already said the state will be providing PPE, specifically masks for all students sand staff.
Finally some good news!
Finally some good news!
52/ These positive feeling died when the doc went on to say masks for students wouldn’t have to be mandatory. She said it was “OK” if only 80-90% of students wear masks. And I started thinking again, this woman is obviously NOT an educator.
53/ When Dr. Lee brought up face shields, I wondered, “Will CDE provide them for all staff?” She already said you get COVID-19 Vis your nose, mouth or eyes.
Also, will state provided PPE include higher grade masks that protect staff better than homemade masks?
Also, will state provided PPE include higher grade masks that protect staff better than homemade masks?
54/ At this time in the presentation staff got to ask multiple questions and share thoughts. It was obvious, I was not alone in my feelings of dismay.
Top comments from staff included:
“We need you to stop acting like you are listening to us.”
#Truth
Top comments from staff included:
“We need you to stop acting like you are listening to us.”
#Truth
55/ “What happens if a teacher or student tests positive for COVID?” (Concern about sick days.)
“It sounds to me like the majority of preventative measures (social distancing, ventilation) are impossible at a district scale .”
“Proper PPE, ventilation, nurse full time.”
“It sounds to me like the majority of preventative measures (social distancing, ventilation) are impossible at a district scale .”
“Proper PPE, ventilation, nurse full time.”
56/ The questions then jumped to asking staff what supports they felt students would need to learn in a hybrid model. I wondered... are we not even considering a distance only model?
57/ And the disconnect I felt was also evident in staff comments which ALL focused on concerns around distance learning. None focused on in-person teaching.
58/ The fact that there was no discussion of what students would need in an in person COVID-19 pandemic environment are major. Including, how do we feed kids in schools? How do we ensure littles wear masks? How do kids learn without “manipulatives?”
59/ What happens to PBL and group learning in an in-person COVID environment? How do we deal with rebellious teens who won’t socially distance or wear masks?
60/ How do we handle discipline for students (e.g. the times when students who need to be restrained so they don’t hurt or maybe even intentionally “breathe” on other students?) Which students are more likely to get disciplined for not wearing masks?
61/ As I mentioned, I was not alone in my frustration that the hybrid model was the only one presented. Whether or not we open schools, we must be prepared for a distance-learning component.
62/ There may be times kids get sick and classrooms or schools will have to quarantine. Cases may rise in the fall and all schools may have to close.
63/ We still have many concerns related to connectivity.
One good question: Can city provide free Internet? Maybe we should refuse to open until the City can make this happen. Even so, SFUSD must be able to provide tech support to families. It must be built into our curriculum.
One good question: Can city provide free Internet? Maybe we should refuse to open until the City can make this happen. Even so, SFUSD must be able to provide tech support to families. It must be built into our curriculum.
64/ There must be clear mechanisms for families to get help. Ones that place increased burdens on teachers already overloaded with rewriting/creating curriculum in this new environment.
65/ Closing out the presentation were more general questions. Most focused on timelines and time to plan.
REMINDER: We are only SIX WEEKS AWAY from school start in the fall.
REMINDER: We are only SIX WEEKS AWAY from school start in the fall.
66/ At this point, Superintendent Matthews said the plan hasn’t been developed. We are still drafting it over the next several weeks...
67/ And again, I’m wondering at this late in the game why we aren’t just planning to START with distance learning and scale up from there. In which case... why aren’t we getting more feedback on planning for a better distance-learning only plan?
68/ The idea that we will have a safe and solid plan in two to three weeks is frankly ridiculous. How are we going to figure out which schools have proper ventilation (read windows that open) enough school nurses and teachers that are willing to teach, in two weeks?
69/ And apparently, we don’t even have the resources to get enough soap!
70/ Nonetheless, we are being forced by the state to present a plan, while COVID-19 cases continue to surge. If we don’t, we will lose millions of dollars.
The state should be supporting us NOT threatening us.
The state should be supporting us NOT threatening us.
71/ As you can see from the slide above, one commenter asked why isnt teacher health taken more seriously?
Based on the position the Governor is putting educators in, I’d say the answer, is: He doesn’t really care about teachers. (Do his kids even go to public school?)
Based on the position the Governor is putting educators in, I’d say the answer, is: He doesn’t really care about teachers. (Do his kids even go to public school?)
72/ At this point I’m wondering why any staff member would sign up for in person teaching. I have had trouble getting a frigging 3-whole punch, why would I count on our ability to figure out how to safely teach during an unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.
73/ This is not the time to “build the airplane, while flying it.” And YES, I’ve already taught in one of these schools and it led me to have to leave teaching. For my health. And this was BEFORE COVID.
74/ So, I know I’m not alone. We have many teaching staff who may be considering early retirement if we can’t answer these questions.
At the very least , I’m wondering how many educators are high risk: over 50, or with a health condition (or living with someone high risk.)
At the very least , I’m wondering how many educators are high risk: over 50, or with a health condition (or living with someone high risk.)
75/ Note to self: 1) Get demography of staff in various high-risk groups; 2) Survey staff to see who will refuse to do any in-person teaching until they are assured they are safe.
76/ At this point there were lots of anxious questions about
- Getting sub coverage.
- Will teachers get fires if they don’t want to go to schools.
- Concerns for staff who are considered exposed.
- Getting sub coverage.
- Will teachers get fires if they don’t want to go to schools.
- Concerns for staff who are considered exposed.
77/ I’ve been tweeting for hours and now my battery is dying. I’ll have to pick up on the my final thoughts in an hour or so. If you are still with me, thanks for reading. Please add additional comments and share with other folks who may be interested.
78/ OK... I and my phone are recharged and ready to take it home! I’m continuing to share a tweet thread on my reactions to an educator Fall Learning Town Hall last Monday. again, here’s the link to watch for yourself.
79/ As you can see from some reactions to this thread, we were nearing the end of the presentation. It became more and more apparent that teachers and paraeducators were feeling growing more and more frustrated.
80/ Dr. Lee jumped in to supposedly reassure staff & IMHO came off even more patronizing. She said, guidance applied to “staff as a group” and that individual staff would have to decide. Yes, apparently staff who go into a school may be taking their lives in their own hands.
81/ It didn’t help that she kept saying, “It’s normal to feel anxious” while ignoring many staff questions. She even added, “These are situations we’ve seen before,” and “You’d rather be around young kids than adults.”
This. Was. Not. Reassuring. 😑
This. Was. Not. Reassuring. 😑
82/ NO!
Unless you are over 100, YOU HAVE NOT “SEEN THIS BEFORE!”
Unless you are over 100, YOU HAVE NOT “SEEN THIS BEFORE!”
83/ Dr. Lee continued act like this situation was normal and didn’t have answer any concerns.
How will SF City make COVID testing available to all staff, students and families? No answer.
Another note to self: We will need set this up as a criteria for reopening schools.
How will SF City make COVID testing available to all staff, students and families? No answer.
Another note to self: We will need set this up as a criteria for reopening schools.
84/ Questions continued to be shared. Lack of answers raised even more anxiety for staff. And I don’t think telling participants you are “listening to feedback” made any of them feel safer. Doesn’t anyone know the District’s history of providing support?
85/ Here’s what I’m left with: The Governor and state legislatures have decided schools will open in the fall.
This is not based on science.
It’s based on them just wanting schools to open. (People need childcare... Goddammit!)
This is not based on science.
It’s based on them just wanting schools to open. (People need childcare... Goddammit!)
86/ This is true from the national to state and county levels. Departments of public health are feeling pressured to reopen despite cities having any concrete supports in place. It’s like we’re just over it and want to move on. politico.com/news/2020/07/0…
87/ Despite the lack of answers and the short time frame, it sounds like we are planning to do a hybrid model, even though I DON’T REMEMBER DECIDING THIS. As a Commissioner on the SF Board of Ed. I am one of 7 members who supposedly decides. I feel like we are getting pressured.
88/ Based on what I’m hearing, if we restart school with a hybrid model, we will have some teachers teaching in person and some remotely. Some schools will be open and some will not.
89/ This means, students who are prioritized first for in-person instruction may attend schools that are different from their originally assigned schools. I have no idea how all this is supposed to be work out, let alone get organized and implemented in 2-3 weeks.
90/ If we could even accomplish this, some teachers would have to switch up their grade levels or content areas based on last minute calculations for in-person vs. distance learning.
91/ This will invariably mean teachers and paras will get jammed last minute teaching new content, in new ways (in-person COVID vs. beg. of the year Distance Learning), to new grade levels, some in new schools w/ only a week’s worth of prep time.
All with a new group of students.
All with a new group of students.
92/ Please tell me I’m wrong on this. But, district staff couldn’t manage to do all the “wellness checks” in 4-6 weeks. I am not counting on this to be anything other than a mess.
Those were phone calls. Not in-person AND distance teaching with a fresh batch of students.
Those were phone calls. Not in-person AND distance teaching with a fresh batch of students.
93/ And let’s be fair, our district serves roughly 56K students. You try rolling huge initiatives out during a COVID pandemic with a majority of site staff on break.
94/ None of this makes sense. Why are we planning for crappy instruction when we could plan for mediocre distance learning and a SAFE phased on-boarding of schools once our state and counties get their acts together and actually makes it safe to resume in-person instruction?
95/ And, what happened to free and universal testing, contact tracing and quarantining individuals with COVID? When is that happening? Apparently we are just skipping to opening schools anyway.
96/ These are just my thoughts at the beginning of the week. Supposedly a rough draft will be presented for our consideration at the next Board meeting. (It will be uploaded to Boarddocs on Friday by noon.) go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board…
97/ I am open to changing my mind. But, that won’t happen until Public Health experts stop changing the guidelines here and there to suit the outcomes they want and start answering basic questions about how to keep kids and staff safe.
