Thread by @HISDParents

.@HumbleISD Board meeting watch party starts now.

Inspiring moments video, followed by the annual report from the Humble ISD Education Foundation.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but that first speaker I couldn’t hear all of because my power blinked…

Speaker #2: Online education isn’t working from her kids. Pleading for the Board to let her kids go back F2F.

Speaker #3: Asking for HISD to make science/data-based decisions on going back to school. “Please keep the A/B schedule…”

#4: Points out Board is 6 ft apart w/ plexiglass. Says students won’t have that luxury.

(That was last in-person speaker, moving to online speakers)

#5: Not against F2F, but has questions. What data are we using, and will we stick with it? Why haven’t we seen the data? Wants more transparency.

#6: HS English teacher. No way to enforce social distancing with “a hasty return” to full F2F class sizes. Says Board is selectively choosing data based on if the numbers are “rosier.” And wow she spoke 100 words per minute. I’m impressed.

#7: Strongly urges the Board not to get rid of the A/B schedule. Says it is foolish and unwise. Says there will be too many students in each classroom now and will be way too many with full F2F. “Don’t be fools.”

#8: Concerned with disparity between online/F2F education. Wants this to be addressed before going 100% F2F. Is worried going full time F2F it won’t allow asynchronous learning causing greater disparity.

#9: Says pattern shows growth in cases in the district. Wants Board to wait until next meeting before going 100% F2F. Repeats that online students aren’t a priority to the district. References the district’s tweets.

#10: Says Fagen talked about air filtration systems. Says he emailed Mr. Sitton, who forwarded him to another district employee. Says that employee indicated UV systems only in place in 10 elem schools. Wants to know why we opened before work completed.

#11: 4 students at her kids’ school had tested positive for COVID. Uncovered 17 exposures. Some families quarantined/tested. Some went back to school today. Calls putting kids back as “science experiment.” Questions doubling the attendance on a daily basis.

Twitter restricted me again… becoming a monthly thing. Just finished verifying I’m not a robot.

Board comments now:

Lapeze: Welcome back to in-person learning.

Morrison: I’m alive. Thank you for the balloons.

Scarfo: I appreciate the emails from parents…

…He likes to shake hands/hug. “It really sucks” that he can’t do that right now.

Lemond Dixon: Thank you to HISD Education Foundation. Also thanked somebody for getting to see something happen at AHS.

Twomey: One of the themes is questioning the data that we are using. Studied data herself and eventually it didn’t make sense. Spoke with public health authorities and other experts trying to understand landscape and challenges. Learned reasonable experts can disagree…

…What we should NOT disagree on is our desire to use best data available. What isn’t honest is using manipulated data, and this is what she fears is happening right now. Prior to 8/1, data could not keep up with testing, causing a backlog of test results. This caused…

…underreporting at the time. 8/1, TX got system upgrade, allowing to catch up on backlog of 1MM+ cases. Reporting was based on date cases were received, not tested, causing over reporting of cases. This was partially fixed, but says data is still inaccurate.

On 9/2, got email from Lina Hidalgo stating we had to stay at red threat level based on daily cases. But a large chunk of those cases were over 30 days old. In perspective, that’s less than 6 cases per day, and it is decreasing. Has seen similar issues with positivity rates…

…”We are basing our decision on data, but we have to make sure we are basing our decision on good data.”

Sitton: Welcome back to in-person learning. Thanks everybody for emails. Says he responded to every one he received over the weekend. “Engagement is what makes us do what we do… helps us strive for excellence.”

Acknowledges frustration, and that teachers are on the front lines and are appreciated.

The first speaker that I missed…

https://twitter.com/jojodoozy/status/1303489262852231168

Fagen: Repeats that they use data as quickly as it’s available. Correa competing with the entire nation for PPE and other equipment to help with COVID-19. Air scrubbers, 34, delivered to a list of schools (I don’t type that fast). Bottle fillers. Air filters installed at 30…

…campuses. Proud of work the Operations Team has done.

Scarfo: 73% of employees have selected new Cigna plan rather than TRS plan.

Getting FEMA payments for Kingwood HS. I’m assuming this is from Harvey? Also rebuilding Ag Barn. Can use those funds back in bond funds for another project. Looking at creating ongoing disaster fund.

This is the Asynchronous Learning Plan that’s being discussed at the moment. go.boarddocs.com/tx/hisd/Board.…

Lemond Dixon is concerned about the impact of going 100% F2F (a later vote) on asynchronous learning.

Scarfo is concerned about the experience for online learners. Interested in seeing “fail rates” for online learners. Concerned “they’re not getting what they need to get.”

Lapeze says we can table this item for after the discussion on the fireworks… I mean agenda item 6D.

Motion to adopt tax rate of $1.38405 per $100K in value.

Somebody speaking off camera to explain that the verbiage makes it look like a tax increase, but it’s actually a tax decrease of 3.4 cents.

Y’all my power is blinking like crazy. I’m pushing through for you all. Please send tacos.

Oh boy… here we go…

Here’s the Harris County Roadmap to Reopening Schools that Dr. Fagen is discussing. readyharris.org/Portals/60/doc…

This is what Humble ISD prefers to use as red/yellow/green instead.

Fagen: On 8/28, we moved to ‘green.’ On top of that, per Mrs. Twomey’s research, these numbers are inflated.

Lapeze asks about HS capacity and social distancing if we go back 100% F2F. Asks if we will still require masks even if the gov says that’s not required.

Fagen says if we had a spike that drove us back to the yellow zone (she has doubt because the numbers are inflated) we would go back to A/B.

Lapeze if counselors can do that.

Fagen says A/B doesn’t change schedules, so it shouldn’t create that issue.

Lemond Dixon talking about alternative ways to ensure social distancing. Mentions split days, where A/B students would attend half in the morning and the other half of the students in the afternoon.

Lemond Dixon: “We do have an issue with the online teaching model.”

Fagen says split days would double the workload for teachers.

Lemond Dixon says that block scheduling could address it. “We have to allow equitable experiences for all students.” Again says that online learners could be disadvantaged.

Fagen: There are many issues with synchronous learning, but one is that it virtually eliminates the online + UIL option. Gave an example of a 4th period synchronous online class followed by 5th period football… wouldn’t be possible.

Scarfo: Either way we vote people aren’t going to be happy. Seems really concerned with the decision.

Scarfo: We care so much about our staff and our students. Jokes that the NYT is liberal. I mean…

Repeats idea that numbers/data are bad and overinflated.

… “It’s gotta be our goal” to improve the online learner experience. This is “a tough call.” He’d like to see A/B removed so kids can be at school. He’s “not that concerned because kids are pretty resilient to this thing.”

Lapeze’s turn. “We all knew we were going to get rid of A/B” unless there was a spike at least on 10/12. “Getting rid of social distancing…does increase the risk.” Says we have enough information on how current setup is affecting learning. “Is it working?”

Fagen: We have some students that are struggling but it’s because it’s the beginning of the year and they are starting slow. We are seeing some improvement efforts (i.e. bilingual IT help line approved tonight). We also have to consider that these students haven’t been in…

…structured school for 5 months. But there is no question that for some students the A/B schedule is a challenge. This is why we want to end it when it’s appropriate. Feels strongly that masks are the answer to the fact that social distancing may be a challenge in some cases.

Students are being compliant with wearing masks. They want to be at school with their friends.

“We are innovative and we are outside the box.” Says they have explored every option and every circumstance. As we stay in green, we need to open to more students soon.

Lori Twomey’s turn…

Encourages admin to do “constant re-evaluation” during this first semester. Says the A/B schedule becomes a logistical nightmare. Wants to look at how to incorporate synchronous portions in to learning to assist with online learning.

Morrison: Online will get better and better, but It’s going to take time. Adds, “Yes, I know it’s been since last March.” More professional development is coming. All of her granddaughters need to be in class.

Engelage: Thanks Fagen for report and plans to vote to approve it. Says this is why they hired Dr. Fagen.

Lemond Dixon: Elem students have low risk, don’t even need to wear a mask. Talks about transportation, wonders if social distancing would be possible.

Fagen: We have the buses we have. Will work toward social distancing when possible, but there will be more students on buses.

Scarfo: Students moving from online/in-person is a huge time burden for teachers. Wonders if we can require students to make a commitment for 9 weeks rather than allowing parents to choose at will. Asks if this is an issue.

Fagen: This has been an issue at some campuses. Would have a difficult time telling a parent they can’t make a change considering this is a health issue. We need to settle first, and then we can look at saying parents have limited changes available.

Scarfo: How much autonomy is given to teachers at secondary schools on approaches to synchronous/asynchronous styles? Would it be helpful to have district-wide mandates?

Lapeze: We get rid of A/B schedule and we have parents that aren’t comfortable with that, are we going to allow that?

Fagen: We’ve never limited the amount of times parents can change that option and don’t intend to.

Sitton points out the poor guy that’s been standing at the podium this whole time. He’s the real MVP.

Woah, camera guy found the zoom switch…

Sitton: We have kids in the district. Says people have the gall to say they don’t care about kids. “Gimme a break.”

Looking out for 45K students is giving parents the choice of in-person/online. Board’s job is to develop direction, set goals, pass budget, hold Fagen accountable.

Sitton (cont’d): We are not the experts. But we have hired Dr. Fagen for this purpose. We’re here tonight to determine 100% F2F for families that want it on 10/21. Data presented, he believes, supports that position. We aren’t gonna make everybody happy.

Sitton (cont’d): Reads letter from parent quoting a coach. “If you want to make everybody happy, don’t be a leader, sell ice cream.”

Tries to start the vote… interruption.

Lapeze: We need to make sure the motion indicates that this will happen as long as we meet the criteria, be “in the green.” Wants transparency in the numbers that people can pull.

Lemond Dixon: I understand urgency, but since it’s a pandemic, this decision needs to go to the Board, not strictly superintendent decision.

Sitton called somebody up to ask how emergency meetings would work in this situation.

She says it depends on the circumstances.

Just told I made a typo earlier… the vote is to start this on September 21. From the agenda…

Motion passes 6-1. 100% F2F starts Sept 21 assuming Humble ISD stays in the green.

Voting on Asynchronous Learning Plan from earlier passes 6-0 with 1 abstaining.

@threadreaderapp unroll