We were asked by UTW/AFT to share our thoughts on schools opening. READ MY REPLY

[demtenjeep]

Schools can not even control head lice, how are they supposed to control a virus?
I teach PBS students, they are the hitters, spitters, throwers, flop on the floor tantrums, fighters, biters, pants pooping when mad and a whole host
of issues. We often have to restrain them (NCI) and remove them. There is a lot of contact that MUST happen to control this room. They will not wear masks and they will not social distance.

I myself will turn 54 this year. I am a rock star teacher. Even have a Golden Apple to prove it. I have roughly estimated I have taught close to 3000 here in wichita alone and 99% of them would tell you I was their favorite teacher ever. Once in my classroom, always my baby. I have Crohn’s disease and have had it the entire 20 years I have been a teacher in Wichita. I have been hospitalized for complications on average once a school year. I love teaching, I was born to do it, however, I do not want to die.

I am also a type 2 diabetic since last year. I am still learning this one, but I understand it makes me a greater risk.

Parents send their children to school sick and once there, even if the nurse advises them to go home, parents don’t come and get them so the nurse sends them back to class. How do we know they are wearing masks at home or when they go out? How do we know they aren’t sending their kids to school with the virus? Who is going to temperature check every student when they come inside the building? Or check teachers who come to school sick because they are afraid of losing their job by deduct.?

In the last 5 years, I have had C Diff, Campy Bactor (which is such a rare disease that the CDC called me to contact trace) Last year I had Bells Palsey although at first they thought it was a stroke. All of these are because I caught a virus from a student but my immunodeficiency caused that virus to manifest itself differently with me. Stress is also a huge issue for Crohnies. If my GI doctor had his way, I would retire but I love my job, I was born to teach and I have 5 years left. I want to leave on my terms not a crippled sick woman.

I have been in deduct about half of my Wichita teaching career and I am fighting on that front as well. When a teacher is in deduct, we are already punished almost $400 each day we miss. I don’t want to have to worry about getting fired because I am sick from a student on top of that. I don’t take days off just because, I have to save them because of illness and doctor appointments. All of this just doesn’t seem fair to someone like me.
Also, I spend a LOT of money on supplies including lysol wipes and sanitizer. The big jugs we got are not effective, there wasn’t even any alcohol in it. I want a sanitizer stand outside my room but when I looked at the price, my husband said no. I would need my desks and seats cleaned every hour. Last year I had a 12 year old crap his pants every time he got upset and by the time we knew it, his seat was caked. I cleaned it up, but that is another risk. We need to think this all through and PBS teachers MUST be consulted because aside from Mixed Abilities, we are at the worst risk for exposure.

RESTROOMS are another issue. As a Crohnnie, I use the restroom a lot. Will they get cleaned more than once a day? Will they be cleaned properly? In my area with PBS and Mixed Abilities, the restroom is usually a wreck by the end of the first hour.

Lastly, I am worried that we will lose our jobs because of this and with only 5 years left, I can not afford nor want to lose my job. I am good at what I do. It is not my fault that I have Crohn’s and the virus is not my fault either. I could actually buy 2 years I taught in Arkansas go in 3, but I really do not want to as I am still paying on stupid student loans. I really don’t think the district cares about that. Years ago (05) I was talked into getting my Masters in sped by an assistant principal at West when I taught there. They needed sped teachers that cared about their students and was willing to go the extra mile which I always did. I entered into an agreement that they would pay for it, but when I moved schools I was required to pay it back. I did. Last year I was moved to PBS (the principal wanted my empathic nature with them and I have to agree) but I did not get my money back when I moved back to special education. I can not afford to lose my job now. I want to teach, I love to teach, It is my calling in life, I am already buying things for my classroom. However, I don’t want to die either. I am only almost 54. My job shouldn’t kill me.

[mcar]

1. "My job shouldn't kill me"

This +1000!

Thank you demtenjeep. SO is a HS math teacher. He's 62, on the deferred retirement program and wanted to teach one more year (maybe more since health insurance is an issue).

Our FL district is still offering an online component and I'm really trying hard to get him to take it. He just loves teaching, like you, and loves interacting with students. He sponsors several of the service clubs and is the school's IB service coordinator.

None of this is fair. None of this is right. No school employee should be put at risk because a bunch of know-nothing legislators, like our idiot governor deer in the headlights, think a 6-8 hour school day is just like a 20-minute trip to Home Depot.

[demtenjeep]

3. thank you

I hope I didn't come off as a whiner.

I just expressed my thoughts and fears

[mcar]

5. You didn't come off that way at all

Honest and heartfelt, that's what I read.

[demtenjeep]

6. Thank you

I am trying to convince UTW to adopt the slogan "Our Jobs Shouldn't Kill Us"

[MLAA]

2. Well said, demtenjeep.

If you are interested. Dr McDougall has been working with Crohns patients with amazing results. I’ve gone to his 3 day workshop and read his book.


https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/health-science/stars/stars-written/christine/

[demtenjeep]

4. Thank you

and I will check out Dr. McDougall

[demtenjeep]

7. UPDATE FROM KSDE-THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T CARE ABOUT TEACHERS

Here is the text: TOPEKA
COVID-19 precautions may alter nearly every aspect of life for Kansas schoolchildren, according to draft safety guidelines from the Kansas State Department of Education, obtained by The Kansas City Star and The Wichita Eagle.
The recommendations, provided to district superintendents this week, say students, teachers and staff should wear masks, but that students up to fifth or sixth grade shouldn’t be required to wear them unless local officials mandate it.
Everyone should wash their hands after arriving at school and then repeat once an hour. Extra furniture should be removed from classrooms to maximize social distancing and students should use the restroom during instructional time to cut down on hallway interactions.
Students should have assigned seats on buses and members of the same household should sit together. Windows should be open when possible and routes should minimize the time students spend on buses.
In the event of a COVID-19 case, school officials may close buildings for several days, or section off rooms where the infected individual studies or works for thorough cleanings. In communities with moderate to high levels of restrictions, districts should consider staggered attendance, with groups of students taking turns receiving in-person instruction.
Education officials are expected to formally present the guidance to the State Board of Education next week. But KSDE provided a draft to superintendents on Thursday and the document quickly began to circulate within the educational community.
The agency declined to discuss the document on Friday afternoon.
“There have been several things that have been altered since that draft was released and we expect to receive additional changes right up to the board meeting. It would be irresponsible for me to comment on any portion of a document that is still in flux,” KSDE spokeswoman Denise Kahler said in an email.
The guidance is voluntary. Local districts, along with local health officials, will ultimately decide what changes to make.
As the coronavirus tightened its grip on Kansas this spring, nearly half a million K-12 students were abruptly sent home for the rest of the school year, sending teachers scrambling to find ways to remotely provide some semblance of learning.
“I’m quite certain that whatever the local school boards will choose to adopt will not be business as usual,” Lee Norman, the state health officer, said Wednesday.
Some districts have already begun public discussions about how they plan to reopen. The Shawnee Mission school district on Wednesday published a draft of its reopening plan, and asked the community for feedback.
The district is considering three scenarios when it reopens schools on Aug. 17: Students returning to in-person classes, students staying home and learning online, or a mix of the two.
The plan highlights the difficulties of requiring students to social distance while maximizing in-person classroom time. If the majority of students return to class, district officials wrote that social distancing cannot be guaranteed. At least half of students would need to learn from home in order to ensure safety measures are adequately followed.
Other districts have been waiting to receive the statewide guidelines before announcing their own plans. But many have said they will give parents options during enrollment. Both the Olathe and Blue Valley districts, which start the school year on Aug. 13, will allow parents to choose whether to send their students back to the classroom or stick with virtual learning.
“This year will be the most unique school year in history,” Olathe Superintendent John Allison said in a statement. “But our attitudes and resolve will help bring a sense of calm to our students. Together, we’ll make this work.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.