Teachers, Senior Leaders Say Opening Imminent, But School System Is Not Ready
Mask Policy Makes “No Sense”
BY: ANDREW COLTON | EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — “Parents should keep their kids home if possible.”
That comment was made repeatedly to BocaNewsNow.com by teachers and multiple high level Palm Beach County School District officials over the past several days. All anticipate Palm Beach County moving to “phase 2” of Florida’s reopening plan within a week — triggering a seven day countdown to the reopening of “brick and mortar” education.
“We’re not ready. We’re pretending we’re ready, but we’re not ready,” said a teacher. “The school district doesn’t know how many kids to expect. They have no idea how many teachers are coming back. There is no plan.”
The concern isn’t just from teachers. Administrators and other employees contacting BocaNewsNow.com say what plans exist are weak and largely unworkable.
“Nothing has changed in four months,” said a high-level school district employee. “Classrooms haven’t gotten bigger. Cafeterias haven’t been fitted with plexiglass. Air conditioning systems haven’t been upgraded with COVID-catching filters. They still break down. Toilets still back up. Our 30 and 40 year old public school buildings are still 30 and 40 year old public school buildings. Parents are kidding themselves if they think they’re sending their kids back to a different place.”
A Palm Beach County School District administrator pointed to a completely illogical mask policy that tells kids to remove masks for lunch which they’re eating at the same desks they’re using for school.
“Look at lunch,” said the administrator who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “We’re telling kids to wear masks all day but then say it’s completely fine to take them off during lunch. This makes no sense. They’re sitting in the same place! Is COVID only transmissible while learning but not eating?”
“Look at lunch,” said the administrator who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “We’re telling kids to wear masks all day but then say it’s completely fine to take them off during lunch. This makes no sense. They’re sitting in the same place! Is COVID only transmissible while learning but not eating?”
There is so much concern about the school district’s reopening plan that the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners — a completely separate governmental body — is meeting with selected school board and administrative personnel today (Monday, August 24, 2020) in an effort to devise a workable reopening plan.
Commissioners, including Palm Beach County Mayor David Kerner, have repeatedly expressed concern that the school district is rushing to reopen in a manner that runs counter to Palm Beach County’s methodical approach. The School Board has tied its brick-and-mortar reopening to Palm Beach County moving to “Phase 2.”
Commissioners want the school district to use a different metric so businesses can reopen in Palm Beach County without the 180,000 student school district starting in-person education at the same time.
The original school district plan, which called for a phased-in approach prioritizing students with special needs, was rejected by the Florida Department of Education.
Of Course every parents should keep their children in their own home and room. Because of corona, every man has the life risk. Everyone should be safe by keep themselves at home. Stay home, stay safe.
Teaching and learning should continue outside of brick and mortar buildings; it is too soon to go back into schools. The virus is not conquered, so to avoid cases and deaths, virtual schooling should be continued in Palm Beach County. As demonstrated by multiple colleges and other area schools, the virus is being spread contributing to disruption of routine.
It is not safe enough, and it is not worth the serious risks.
Glenda
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