Big School Question

In Denver Metro most schools will be out until March 29.  Do not know what other states are doing but any of you think they should go back to school in two weeks?   I have asked for leave until next fall.  I don't think 2 weeks will do it. 

Thoughts on this from you guys.  How long should schools be closed?

our schools in Kansas are still open in some areas.  Do not think schools should open until fall again.  2 weeks is not enough to a pandemic.  The longer schools stay closed the flatter the curve will be.  We need to keep a lid on this thing until fall.   Give the health care system the best chance to beat this thing.  

I am an Arizona certified STEM instructor, grades 6-12, and do not presently teach full-time.  

From what I've read, there are many parents who are agitating for school closure, see this article about Phoenix, AZ:

https://kjzz.org/content/1483381/coronavirus-concerns-spur-some-arizona-schools-plan-closures

However, I live in a fairly rural area of the state (Sahuarita, AZ), and the school where I taught, Walden Grove HS, brings in students from a vast territory.  Some of our kids come up from close to the border with Mexico and ride on the bus as long as 2 hours each way!  

We cannot simply close schools and go to total online teaching as some wealthier/less rural areas can do.  Because of the "digital divide," many of our students have no access to Internet at their homes & must either use local libraries or do without at home.   Also, many are reliant upon our nutrition programs.  

What we need more than anything is MORE TESTING!!  We need a better idea of the numerator of the ratio = cases/population (called "prevalence rate") in order to make decisions.   Since this virus has so many inapparent infections and super-spreaders, I believe that closing schools will be prudent....however, for many kids, it will be a certain hardship. 

CRS, DrPH wrote: We cannot simply close schools and go to total online teaching as some wealthier/less rural areas can do.  Because of the "digital divide," many of our students have no access to Internet at their homes & must either use local libraries or do without at home.   Also, many are reliant upon our nutrition programs.

No child is going to suffer if they have to go without teaching for a few months, but the nutrition may well be a problem. One of the original tenets of our current eduction model was to keep children busy (at school) and out of trouble, and at the same time, free up parents to work. If one parent of every school age child is forced not to work because they need to stay at home and look after their child, then the work force will suffer. And this is the one time that grandparents or neighbours really can't be asked to step up and help. It's a tricky one.

Many, there is a HUGE list, of the paid sites for education are offering their sites for FREE now. Scholastic (the book company) just opened their site for the kiddos...but like I said, there is a huge list going around of sites open, lots were for homeschoolers. (not too relevant- but I homeschooled my son to college)

Also, many of our schools sent the kids home with Chromebooks for just this reason. And our big internet service provider is providing FREE wifi for anyone who has kids from K- and even college kids.

A few schools in our less economic advantaged areas are passing out bags of groceries and bag lunches for free in their parking lots on a reg. basis during this crisis.

One of the local restaurants is giving away lunches (in bags) on a reg. basis to anyone in need who contacts them.

What I see is a concerted effort by all to mitigate some of these issues. People are aware and doing something about it.

Many school districts are setting up grab and go lunches and snacks for kids at specific schools distributed throughout the different areas in the districts. So every child will have a lunch and snacks everyday.   There are ways to feed children without putting them in a large group.

A lot of the schools have summer feeding programs where kids under 18 can eat fo free

Right now our school system is out for the next week.  The students each have Chromebooks (given to them on Friday)  to do their lessons.  It will be determined on a weekly basis. 

JD I agree I put this question out there because I figure the kids will not go back until fall, I took my leave until then.  This is only going to get worse in the next 8 weeks.  This is just getting started if you look at Italy.  If people stay home it may not get too bad but people here will not stop doing their thing and getting together and going out.  

We have been prepping for years and looking out for this for so many years.  The government does not live in the real world and it is just now getting real for them and a huge majority of the public.    

Well our schools for the most part we have enough iPads and chrome books to give to all students in our schools.  So many already have devices at home.   I may be wrong but if we don’t keep kids home we will have a lot of very sick or dead teachers.  Many are over 60.