1/ More than 500 teachers, staff, students and parents from across the state have shared w/us their thoughts on schools reopening during #covid19colorado. It's a complicated conversation.
As the school year approaches, we'll keep adding to this thread. Here's what you've told us
As the school year approaches, we'll keep adding to this thread. Here's what you've told us
2/
"I think Mesa County D51 is making a huge mistake. I'm a teacher there & have 3 kids in 3 schools. We'll be doing online for them bc our rate has been climbing and I don't feel they have an actual plan in place. There's nothing at all in their plan concerning SPED kids."
"I think Mesa County D51 is making a huge mistake. I'm a teacher there & have 3 kids in 3 schools. We'll be doing online for them bc our rate has been climbing and I don't feel they have an actual plan in place. There's nothing at all in their plan concerning SPED kids."
3/
"As a teacher, I want to be back in my classroom so badly. I didn't enjoy remote learning. I missed being with my students. I'm also really afraid to return to school. Many don't realize how difficult it will be to follow all the protocols. I feel I'm in a no-win situation."
"As a teacher, I want to be back in my classroom so badly. I didn't enjoy remote learning. I missed being with my students. I'm also really afraid to return to school. Many don't realize how difficult it will be to follow all the protocols. I feel I'm in a no-win situation."
4/
"I'm worried for everyone. I'm scared I will lose my job. I work as a bus assistant — I work with special needs kids and help the drivers focus on the road and not the kids.
With no one to take to school, there's no need for my job so there's no need for me."
"I'm worried for everyone. I'm scared I will lose my job. I work as a bus assistant — I work with special needs kids and help the drivers focus on the road and not the kids.
With no one to take to school, there's no need for my job so there's no need for me."
5/
"Being face-to-face means people will get sick. No one should be going into a school building. I am ready to strike, and then to quit my job that I love, rather than be sacrificed for no reason or to be complicit in one of my students being sacrificed."
"Being face-to-face means people will get sick. No one should be going into a school building. I am ready to strike, and then to quit my job that I love, rather than be sacrificed for no reason or to be complicit in one of my students being sacrificed."
6/
"I have two boys — a 2 yr old and a 7 yr old. Remote learning was a failure for us all. We are two working parents and it was incredibly stressful trying to find time in the day to 'teach' him. Balancing risk, we want our son back in school."
"I have two boys — a 2 yr old and a 7 yr old. Remote learning was a failure for us all. We are two working parents and it was incredibly stressful trying to find time in the day to 'teach' him. Balancing risk, we want our son back in school."
7/
"My wife is a teacher in Jeffco. She feels like being asked to return is a death sentence. She feels as though the community did not embrace common-sense social distancing and mask wearing, and so did not earn the privilege of being able to send their kids back to school."
"My wife is a teacher in Jeffco. She feels like being asked to return is a death sentence. She feels as though the community did not embrace common-sense social distancing and mask wearing, and so did not earn the privilege of being able to send their kids back to school."
8/
"I am scared. The district is not prepared, my school is not prepared. There are so many unanswered questions. I'm being asked to do the work of 2 teachers, and have been given minimal time to prep and plan. We are being criticized for wanting to have a safe work environment"
"I am scared. The district is not prepared, my school is not prepared. There are so many unanswered questions. I'm being asked to do the work of 2 teachers, and have been given minimal time to prep and plan. We are being criticized for wanting to have a safe work environment"
9/
I've been a teacher since 1997. I love everything about teaching. I'm nervous though, but I can't fall on one side or the other. Everyone — teachers, parents, kids, administration, and businesses are going to have to take one on the chin. We should all walk as one."
I've been a teacher since 1997. I love everything about teaching. I'm nervous though, but I can't fall on one side or the other. Everyone — teachers, parents, kids, administration, and businesses are going to have to take one on the chin. We should all walk as one."
10/
"I am a product of the SVVSD and I am ashamed at how the community is being treated. I am currently obtaining a Masters online and will continue to be an online student for as long as is necessary. To put children and teachers in jeopardy is unacceptable."
More tomorrow.
"I am a product of the SVVSD and I am ashamed at how the community is being treated. I am currently obtaining a Masters online and will continue to be an online student for as long as is necessary. To put children and teachers in jeopardy is unacceptable."
More tomorrow.
11/
"My spouse and I WFH so we manage our hours so that one of us is always available for our kids. I'm sad they'll miss social/group learning with in-person schooling but it's not worth the risk during a pandemic. I don't think the measures our schools are taking are enough."
"My spouse and I WFH so we manage our hours so that one of us is always available for our kids. I'm sad they'll miss social/group learning with in-person schooling but it's not worth the risk during a pandemic. I don't think the measures our schools are taking are enough."
12/
"My daughter participated in a summer camp that had to be shut down within three days because of a COVID exposure. The camp had way fewer kids than any public school in Colorado. I think schools are going to go exactly like this. "
"My daughter participated in a summer camp that had to be shut down within three days because of a COVID exposure. The camp had way fewer kids than any public school in Colorado. I think schools are going to go exactly like this. "
13/
"I am terrified to go back. I have upwards of 28 students in a class and can not fit that many in with social distancing guidelines. There are several staff and parents that think COVID is not an issue and refuse to wear masks. I am just waiting for a teacher to die."
"I am terrified to go back. I have upwards of 28 students in a class and can not fit that many in with social distancing guidelines. There are several staff and parents that think COVID is not an issue and refuse to wear masks. I am just waiting for a teacher to die."
14/
"Sending my kids back to school is essential for their health and well-being, growth and development, their happiness and for our society to function."
"Sending my kids back to school is essential for their health and well-being, growth and development, their happiness and for our society to function."
15/
"Without schools operating, everyone is suffering and the impacts will be long-term, especially on the kids, who cannot get this time in their lives back. Remote learning was not education and that story needs to be told."
"Without schools operating, everyone is suffering and the impacts will be long-term, especially on the kids, who cannot get this time in their lives back. Remote learning was not education and that story needs to be told."
16/
"Words don't really express how frustrated, concerned and upset I am about schools returning this fall. I am fortunate enough to teach choir in a large high school. At this time, there is no empirical research that shows singing in groups to be safe."
"Words don't really express how frustrated, concerned and upset I am about schools returning this fall. I am fortunate enough to teach choir in a large high school. At this time, there is no empirical research that shows singing in groups to be safe."
17/
"I think that it's crazy we closed the school when there were hardly any cases. Now that they're jumping by 20+ a week we find it safe to go back? My 7 yr old is afraid to go back because he doesn't want to get sick or get grandma sick. "
"I think that it's crazy we closed the school when there were hardly any cases. Now that they're jumping by 20+ a week we find it safe to go back? My 7 yr old is afraid to go back because he doesn't want to get sick or get grandma sick. "
18/
"I know there are concerns with starting either way online or in person. However I don't feel our schools or students are equipped to hold to the precautions."
"I know there are concerns with starting either way online or in person. However I don't feel our schools or students are equipped to hold to the precautions."
19/
"I want my child in the classroom 100% with safety precautions in place. The harm of online learning is irreversible. I understand teacher's concerns about exposure, but the rest of us who have returned to work face the same risks every day. "
"I want my child in the classroom 100% with safety precautions in place. The harm of online learning is irreversible. I understand teacher's concerns about exposure, but the rest of us who have returned to work face the same risks every day. "
20/
"As teacher I have never been more torn. I love my job and watching my young students learn, yet I am terrified of contracting COVID. My students and parents want and in some cases need school to open but my own children need and want a healthy mom alive."
More tomorrow.
"As teacher I have never been more torn. I love my job and watching my young students learn, yet I am terrified of contracting COVID. My students and parents want and in some cases need school to open but my own children need and want a healthy mom alive."
More tomorrow.
21/
"I am a parent and a teacher in Colorado Springs. Our school year begins 8/17 and they are only offering full-time in person or full-time online. The former is clearly destined to fail, and the latter is so sad for my second grader. I am furious and terrified for myself."
"I am a parent and a teacher in Colorado Springs. Our school year begins 8/17 and they are only offering full-time in person or full-time online. The former is clearly destined to fail, and the latter is so sad for my second grader. I am furious and terrified for myself."
22/
"As a parent, I know my kids want to school and I'm excited for them to do so. As a teacher, I'm terrified. As both, I don't want my family to be a part of some science experiment to see how many get sick and die before the state makes the right decision to learn from home."
"As a parent, I know my kids want to school and I'm excited for them to do so. As a teacher, I'm terrified. As both, I don't want my family to be a part of some science experiment to see how many get sick and die before the state makes the right decision to learn from home."
23/
"I DON'T want to go. I'm scared. Our district doesn't care. They are supportive of the string of Republican parents in the district."
"I DON'T want to go. I'm scared. Our district doesn't care. They are supportive of the string of Republican parents in the district."
24/
"There's no way in hell I'm sending my kids back in the fall. It's my prediction that they will open back up, everybody will get sick and they will close them again in Oct. I'm skipping all of that and just going with my own plan."
"There's no way in hell I'm sending my kids back in the fall. It's my prediction that they will open back up, everybody will get sick and they will close them again in Oct. I'm skipping all of that and just going with my own plan."
25/
"D60 plans lack clear guidance about mitigation. There is no threshold for test positivity that would close a schools.
Our school has no AC and poor ventilation. The superintendent laughed about this in the July 23 board meeting."
"D60 plans lack clear guidance about mitigation. There is no threshold for test positivity that would close a schools.
Our school has no AC and poor ventilation. The superintendent laughed about this in the July 23 board meeting."
26/
"As a parent and a teacher, I find it unconscionable that we'd consider opening our schools in the coming weeks, as my district is planning. The infection rate is rising in our community. It's negligent to knowingly expose students and educators to the increased risk."
"As a parent and a teacher, I find it unconscionable that we'd consider opening our schools in the coming weeks, as my district is planning. The infection rate is rising in our community. It's negligent to knowingly expose students and educators to the increased risk."
27/
"Though my senior would like to be in her school building learning with her friends, she recognizes that it is not safe. Even my 13 year old agrees that opening schools now is too dangerous. Why on earth should we risk it?!"
"Though my senior would like to be in her school building learning with her friends, she recognizes that it is not safe. Even my 13 year old agrees that opening schools now is too dangerous. Why on earth should we risk it?!"
28/
"Based on the "plan" just presented by our board, it feels like committing murder followed by suicide. We'll be flying by the seat of our pants while holding our breath & praying for positive results. It looks like business as usual with a few face masks thrown in for show."
"Based on the "plan" just presented by our board, it feels like committing murder followed by suicide. We'll be flying by the seat of our pants while holding our breath & praying for positive results. It looks like business as usual with a few face masks thrown in for show."
29/
"The challenge we face has no perfect solution. While we move to remote, students struggle w/social emotional aspects of development. While we meet in person, we take risks for a virus we don't have a hold on yet. I am at high risk and am nervous for what that means."
"The challenge we face has no perfect solution. While we move to remote, students struggle w/social emotional aspects of development. While we meet in person, we take risks for a virus we don't have a hold on yet. I am at high risk and am nervous for what that means."
30/
"I'm a HS teacher and am very concerned about going back. Among my many concerns is that my 82 yr old father has dementia. He isn't able to communicate well so if he gets COVID he won't be able to tell anyone before it it's too late. I have to choose b/w my dad and my job."
"I'm a HS teacher and am very concerned about going back. Among my many concerns is that my 82 yr old father has dementia. He isn't able to communicate well so if he gets COVID he won't be able to tell anyone before it it's too late. I have to choose b/w my dad and my job."
31/
"Districts should focus on training teachers to teach online well. Instead, they are spending their energies toward a hybrid model that will end soon enough."
More tomorrow.
"Districts should focus on training teachers to teach online well. Instead, they are spending their energies toward a hybrid model that will end soon enough."
More tomorrow.
