There was a spirited discussion Wednesday night among the members of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board, including the defeat of a motion to allow high school students the option of returning in-person 4 days per week beginning February 17. The vote was 5-2 with Suzanne Thomas and Brad Boyer the only yes votes.
Most board members opted to wait for data from a survey of high school students, plus more numbers would be available by the February 10th board meeting on COVID positive tests and contact tracing, then a decision can be made by the board at that time. Contract tracing has resulted in more students being absent after exposure to someone testing positive for COVID. There continues to be some positive tests among school staff.
Administrators say, so far, substitute teachers have mostly covered classrooms where the teacher must be absent.
Superintendent Allen Bourff says the e-learning Fridays have been working well, with adjustments being made by the teaching and administrative staff as needed.
The board voted unanimously to support the teachers’ associations in Hamilton County that have each written letters to the governor asking that teachers be prioritized for COVID vaccinations. The board authorized Dr. Bourff to write a letter supporting the teachers’ associations, with input from board members.
Yeah, text messages were flying between teachers, many of whom were watching the meeting live. It is pretty grim.
Corporation teachers have a lot of thoughts and concerns that they’re afraid to voice openly. They do NOT feel as if they are being supported by the administration; it’s frankly more hostile and frustrated than an extended contract negotiation (for those of you that remember when the union could actually negotiate for anything; thanks Mike). The fact that tonight’s discussion even happened…wow. Glad it was tabled, but worried that, like the zombie it is, it will soon get up and shamble around some more, threatening lives in our community.
Regarding a couple points from Larry’s post:
1. The claim that there is sufficient coverage by substitute teachers is a bald-faced lie. Every building administrator knows how many subs they are short every day, how many classes are grouped in the library. It’s been 3-7 per school per day for schools that I’m in contact with. Conservative estimate, it’s probably 50-75 uncovered classrooms per day across the district? Better than in November and December, but barely below breaking point. And in no way effective for the students.
2. Teachers that get sick are largely expected to work remotely while sick, rather than recovering. At some schools, teachers exposed to positive-test students are brow-beaten by their principals into not quarantining (i.e. “were you really that close, did he really cough in your room?”). Very dangerous. Classes with positive-test students are NOT being quarantined, only individuals deemed “nearby enough”, trying to minimize the impact and the numbers. And central administration is twisting arms of teachers seeking accommodations for health issues, trying to force them to stay in their classrooms.
4. Furthermore, some parents with students still involved in sports (and HOW is this even a thing? OMG) refuse to have their student tested because a positive test might disrupt the team. We have a culture of individual irresponsibility and entitlement here in Fishers that is, quite literally, toxic (pestilent?). Teachers are afraid of students still active in sports.
4. For eLearning, student activities are limited to 15 minutes per class. That’s in lieu of a 40-50 minute lesson. If that’s “working well”, the goalposts have been moved to the 50-yard line. Is there any imaginable state of affairs that would not be working well?
In many ways, 2021 in HSE Schools is gearing up to be far worse than 2020, especially if you’re a teacher or have students in K-12.
This is grim news.
Teachers absolutely should be prioritized for vaccination.