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How many deaths is BSD willing to be responsible for?

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How many deaths is BSD willing to be responsible for?

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Because it won't be zero if we do this wrong. Value the lives of our staff and students.

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On I-90, the Washington State Dept. of Transportation has a message on their billboard: “Think Twice Before Traveling: Stay Safe”.  So according to the state, traveling is risky, but putting students and teachers back in the classroom now is NOT? Teachers will be having 100-200 and up contacts a day... how is that not risky without temperature taking at doors, contact tracing, and protocols for what happens when students won’t comply with mask wearing? There is not enough space to keep social distancing protocols...what happens WHEN teachers get sick? Why isn’t BSD training more subs on Teams? On One Note? Even the regular cold & flu season has the potential to wreak havoc on education this year...

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WHEN will BSD wake up to the facts of COVID and its impact on our entire school community? WHEN will BSD stop pandering to a small, select group of parents? WHAT will it take for BSD to stop abusing its employees during what is a major World wide healthpandemic with cases rising again across the country?

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WHEN will BSD wake up to the facts of COVID and its impact on our entire school community? WHEN will BSD stop pandering to a small, select group of parents? WHAT will it take for BSD to stop abusing its employees during what is a major World wide healthpandemic with cases rising again across the country?

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I went to visit my classroom today. I teach k-2. They have set up the desks that are not 6 feet apart. They only set up for 16 kids and there is no room for more...I have 19 students. There is no room at all for me to stand without being within 6 feet of a student at all times. I'm also still so confused as to why the district is praising the BOOST program for following safety protocols. Again, today I watched online as  a group of 6 students (none which were wearing masks) played inside shoulder to shoulder on the floor for over 20 minutes. Also, the teacher sat touching shoulders with my student for the duration of the online meeting. My student did not have a mask on either. This is so unsafe.

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Cases are rising in places school is in session. Moving to Hybrid will Result in a Poorer Educational Experience for Students

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Cases are rising in places school is in session. Moving to Hybrid will Result in a Poorer Educational Experience for Students

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Our community WILL get sick when we send kids back. It's happening in our region. It's happening across the United States.  Calling all virtual for the first semester will keep us all safer.

It will also give time for staff to form stronger relationships with students and families and improve their virtual instruction, and will allow for a better educational experience than a disruptive move to hybrid learning. When we move to hybrid, it will be starting at SQUARE ONE for teachers on the learning curve as to how to deliver lessons. It won't be the same as pre-COVID schooling and it won't be the same as virtual learning. Dynamic pedagogical methods won't be possible in the same way, social learning won't be possible in the same way, individualized and small group learning won't be possible.  When teachers need to start over, this WILL result in a loss of learning time and educational quality for students. Calling the whole semester virtual will allow for teachers to improve virtual learning and for there to be more time to plan for quality hybrid instruction if it's safe to do so in 2021.

Also -- Families have only committed to a semester of virtual and are in classes with a teacher who has been told they are teaching virtually all year long. It will be disruptive ANYWAY after this semester when families want to change, when we have to re-adjust staffing -- if we are not all all virtual.  Moving to hybrid in October/November and causing disruption, and then moving again in January when families are able to opt into hybrid again (presumably?) will cause further disruption. This extra disruption can be avoided by keeping us all virtual until the first semester and then re-evaluating.

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I looked at my elementary classroom today, where the desks had been distributed by custodial staff to try and meet CDC requirements. There is under 3 feet between desks, and students can easily touch their arms together with the people behind and next to them. ALL the space in the room is taken up (and they are short one desk). I can't walk around my room safely in a non-COVD way, without bumping into desks or furniture. We also can't walk around in a COVID safe way -- kids can't stay distanced from others because there is no safe pathway through the room. We can't get to the bathroom or out the door safely. There is no safe fire exit.

I recognize this set up from when we do state testing and spread the desks out each year. I have the experience of having kids sit at their desk for 6 hours a day and not being allowed to move in the way we would typically move (from carpet to desk, to the different stations in the classroom, etc). It's not developmentally appropriate to sit in one spot all day. When we do this with state testing, it is SO HARD for so many kids to stay at their desk for that long. It is NOT developmentally appropriate or effective schooling, the way we will have to teach young kids during hybrid instruction.  In many ways, the things we can do virtually will promote stronger social connection, will allow students freedom of movement, etc. Virtual learning isn't ideal, but it is SAFE, and the current realities of our classrooms is that it is not SAFE and will not be a developmentally appropriate setting for students.

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Feedback: an on-going list that changes daily

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Feedback: an on-going list that changes daily

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District Feedback

-  Every child should have received high quality headphones with an effective microphone

-  What are we doing to make sure we’re meeting the needs of each and every child? Children with special services? A half hour meeting with a SPED adult is not enough.

-  I would love PD on ways I can differentiate my whole group lessons during synchronous learning because currently, some of my whole group lessons are not appropriate for all of the students in my class.

-  I need further clarification on how students are being held accountable for the work that should be completed during the asynchronous time/skipping or failing to meet during small groups in the afternoon

-  Our computers (both staff and student) fail on a daily basis. My students and I are constantly restarting. Is the district willing to provide us with higher quality technology to get us through the year? Especially for virtual teachers and students?

-  Mandatory technology PD for all paras. This includes the functions of our district used apps as well as resources for them to refer to in order to help students.

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One substitute per building? Are they serious??? How will all our teachers make doctor appointments, let alone mental health days off? Ask your co-workers to cover? Some have 37 students in classes and are  teaching 6 classes! I have been putting in at least 10 hour days for weeks and working weekends, too, and I'm supposed to be part-time. At August PD, they told us not to throw too many programs at students, and then they do exactly that with us! Synergy looks and functions differently, videos for curriculum night, new Teams features, we have to invite students to meetings, One Note sync problems, NearPod, FlipGrid, on & on...it's TOO much...

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One substitute per building? Are they serious??? How will all our teachers make doctor appointments, let alone mental health days off? Ask your co-workers to cover? Some have 37 students in classes and are  teaching 6 classes! I have been putting in at least 10 hour days for weeks and working weekends, too, and I'm supposed to be part-time. At August PD, they told us not to throw too many programs at students, and then they do exactly that with us! Synergy looks and functions differently, videos for curriculum night, new Teams features, we have to invite students to meetings, One Note sync problems, NearPod, FlipGrid, on & on...it's TOO much...

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Too many roster changes for year long online classes. How fair is that the kids to keep changing rooms? How fair is that to teachers to have to start over each day explaining expectations and how a classroom is set up online. So much time wasted with beginning of school year type information having to be repeated.

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Too many roster changes for year long online classes. How fair is that the kids to keep changing rooms? How fair is that to teachers to have to start over each day explaining expectations and how a classroom is set up online. So much time wasted with beginning of school year type information having to be repeated.

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In my personal experience, BSD has largely been:

- "Do as I say, not as I do" (hypocrisy)
- Default kow-towing to parent pressure over the well-being of students / teachers, every time
- Performative allyship with BIPOC
- Virtue-signaling (equity this, equity that - but actions are the opposite of equity)

I do NOT trust the district to do what is RIGHT over what is fast or easy. The preponderance of evidence shows the district's lack of integrity, period.

Best-case scenario - the district declares 1st semester stay virtual, and continue working on equity within that framework. This is what we fight for.

Worst-case scenario - if hybrid becomes a reality, we need to start the BEA discussion of STRIKING, teachers taking massive leave, or other measures to make the impact of this REAL for the district.

My fellow union members: unless the district's REPUTATION with the community is at risk, they really don't give a flying __ about what they ask of teachers/students.

We've seen this over and over again. None of the trauma, transitions, fears, risks, or the reality of the daily grind of the work we do is EVER any sweat off the district's backs.

We know what is RIGHT for ourselves and our STUDENTS.

Now let's have the COURAGE to take real action on it.

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Logistical Headaches for Certified Teaching Support Staff

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Logistical Headaches for Certified Teaching Support Staff

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Remote learning created some logistical scheduling headaches for serving students for certified teaching support staff (Counselors, ITCLS, MLL Facilitators, Resource Room etc.). Hybrid will create even more logistical issues with our students being both virtual and in hybrid settings. How are we expected to serve both virtual and hybrid students while being safe, maintaining social distancing, and staying with one cohort of students for contact tracing purposes?

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Since remote is going so well, let’s push to hybrid now 🙄

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Since remote is going so well, let’s push to hybrid now 🙄

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Remote scheduling and assignments have been a disaster - instead of fixing THAT, BSD’s plan is to push us back to hybrid before it’s safe. No confidence in the district to pull this off and the suggestions are to fill out forms and wait. Maybe more committees? Come on! District’s values are clearly lip service - we can’t even get time to clean up the mess of September before we get to head back and risk exposure. I know this is hard - it’s hard for us all - but we need to hold BSD accountable and push for better for kids and teachers.

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The lack of consistency that would be a result of in-person too-soon would be more detrimental than a remote model that at least demonstrates consistent practice.

Please check with Eastern Washington districts. In my own personal family I have a substitute, a paraeducator, two teachers, and multiple students. All at one point have BEEN quarantined due to exposure, once was confirmed as COVID+ EVEN with district precautions in place, forced to take different types of leave, and had classrooms and certain buildings close and open sporadically. Kids walk in to substitutes for a different teacher every day, teachers are asked to cover others, and substitutes are put in exposed classrooms of teachers quarantining.

SO much work has gone into developing a remote model, and SO much work goes in daily by the teachers in this district to create a consistent habit and structure for our students. If we go in person, we can count on inconsistency being something we face daily. Having routines be adjusted or disrupted because were not ready to return creates an atmosphere of anxiety for both staff and students alike. Remote learning may not be the ideal model, but at least it is CONSISTENT and reliable in a world that is not. For so many of our students, SAFETY and COMFORT mean knowing what to expect. Students require a stable peace of mind to be able to access learning, and staff require a stable atmosphere to deliver it.

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Wasn’t that something BSD said they would use?

I think we can agree that most of us want to return to classrooms and work with students in person; however, not like this.

Why is it so hard for BSD to understand that we want everyone to be safe and healthy? We acknowledge that remote/virtual learning is hard for both students and teachers, but it’ll be equally as challenging to transition to hybrid without the attention and planning we all know it needs.

Wait until the semester is over. Take time to methodically plan and test-drive schedules and scenarios.

If we go back prematurely and are asked to hustle and figure it out (not abnormal), not only will we be sacrificing our mental health, we may be compromising the physical health of so many. Can you imagine having to go back to remote/virtual if there is a breakout because BSD didn’t plan well enough? That is going to be SO disorienting for everyone involved and guess what - our kids will suffer the most.

Virtual teaching is hard as a sped teacher.
Do I like being under a parent microscope while I teach my resource room students? No.

Do I like making ALL my materials because there aren’t any digital Sped curriculum materials? No.

Do I like trying to collect data on 10+ SEL/Study Skills goals that don’t make sense in the home context? No.

Do I like teaching my paras how to use technology on top of everything else? No.

But I like breathing and being healthy. I like that my parents have a healthy daughter and my siblings, a healthy sister.

Figure it out BSD. I am willing to walk away for good if BSD continues to fold under parent pressure and placate teachers with empty words of encouragement.

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I served on an implementation team this summer and while some of our input was considered, at the end it feels like all of our time was wasted as significant concerns we (teacher representatives) brought forward were ignored and now we hear at the town hall that they "did not expect" the chaos scheduling Virtual students inside their home schools would cause.

Looking at timelines - at a bare minimum there is no chance of secondary returning prior to December, at which point we should be watching for a Thanksgiving spike - and then a Winter break spike - and then it's second semester. WHY can we not just admit that secondary will not be back prior to 2nd semester and take the pressure off staff and building administrators?

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BSD only cared about equity in the spring. 

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BSD only cared about equity in the spring. 

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BSD, do not ever tell me you care about equity again. You don't walk the walk anymore. You only cared in the spring. Now that it's fall all you care about is budgets and what the money thinks. We, teachers, are expendable meat to you now. How dare you try to send us back before it is actually safe because you are getting pressure from a group of wealthy parents. I would take a bullet for my students and you know it. I refuse to catch a preventable, invisible disease in my 1960s HVAC classroom. It is not safe to start the hybrid schedule, you just think we need to go back. I am willing to strike and I am willing to quit a job I love if it requires putting myself in harms way. I would like to see my 6 year old grow up to be an adult. Oh, by the way, I cannot support my own child's education because of your ridiculous schedule. My daughter is doing remote first grade in childcare. Her school district is also in King County and they have no plans to return anytime soon because it is NOT SAFE. I have always felt cared for in the Bellevue School District, since new employee orientation in August 2013. I haven't felt that way during Covid. I do not feel like a priority and I do not feel loved and cared for. I miss my lovely school district that is the envy of my friends in poorly run districts. Districts I might seek employment in next year because they are handling Covid better than you.

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I am very concerned that parents do not have complete and accurate information. I have heard of a petition signed by some pushing for face to face school. Has it been made clear what that will look like? Has it been explained what will happen when we experience a rise in cases? So many questions and so few answers. I wish we as teachers could be better positioned as allies with families - we are parents too!

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I’m feeling terrified as a kindergarten teacher. The district applauded the daycare and BOOST program at the Town Hall meeting for providing a safe environment for kids and staff. I know the daycare and BOOST staff are working so hard! But every day I watch one of my students online at the BOOST program with his mask pulled down below his chin the entire time. I’m not comfortable with what the district considers a “safe environment.”

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It’s terrifying to be a kindergarten teacher right now. We can start and then “see how it goes” for the next grades to come back? Totally uncool to have to go back while everyone else is safe at home.

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As soon as we go back to the buildings, I will no longer be able to spend time with my family for fear of making them sick. We are all struggling, but having to join my family for Thanksgiving and Christmas over Zoom Is about the most depressing thing I can think of—even more depressing than my mother calling me to ask if I’m angry with her for something because I have not had time to even respond to her messages. I have not had a day off since Labor Day. I am consistently working 70-80 hours a week. I have headaches and nausea from staring at my computer all day. Now that I am finally getting the hang of all this technology and am developing marginally effective lessons, the district wants to pull the rug out and force us to adapt again. I am regularly going to pieces over my workload and the anxiety about returning to the building. Please compensate us for the work we’ve been doing and allow us to teach the first semester remotely so we don’t have to fear for our lives and the lives of our families while sorting out yet another instructional change.

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I am concern with the lack of answers to logistical questions. How will kids move through the building while distances? How will we walk in a distanced line? How will 16 desks and room to teach with 6 feet of distance actually fit in our rooms? If specialists are on a cart and staff break rooms are closed where will I find the quiet space I need to plan, make phone calls, meet with my PLC, and complete my duties? How will I get a duty free lunch if they eat in the classroom and there is no where for me to go? I don’t trust my building leadership to plan affective for these things or to follow through with procedures. When I see photos of Boost with teachers right next to kids and I see and hear about staff members not wearing masks it reduces my confidence in our ability to have a safe work environment.

I’m also concerned with the upcoming holidays. I won’t be spending it with my family so that I don’t spread anything to or from school but my students will likely visit friends and families and being that back to me.

Waiting until second semester would give us time to plan these things, enjoy the holidays, and get good at the systems we are using so planning for two groups will be less overwhelming come hybrid.

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I am eager to get back to in person teaching, but not until my questions have been answered and I know who I will be teaching and how. Will I still be expected to teach my 700+ students a week? Will I get to use my own teaching space? Will I get to use my classroom materials? Will I have time to sanitize surfaces and materials in between classes? Will I be allowed to teach outside? Will I have to go classroom to classroom and bring all my supplies and materials on a cart? Will students be allowed to move, get exercise or sing? How will I teach both A/B sections of 3-5th grade? I have 30 classes a week right now but with the A/B splits it actually would be 40 contacts.  How long will my classes with students be?
I cannot prepare for hybrid teaching until these questions are answered.

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I agree with the idea of staying remote for the semester. Since March we've all been living week to week, wondering what will happen next. With a set date, far enough in the future I feel safer and more comfortable moving towards in-person instruction. One month into remote instruction, we are finding our groove. It's not the job I used to love, but my life and everyone else's is way more important. I'm at the point where I am seriously considering taking unpaid leave if I feel pushed into something unsafe. I'm sure many others are thinking the same.

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I am going to keep this brief since everyone's thoughts on here I understand completely. I will be pushing, writing and voicing my concern as a BEA rep that First Semester should for the sake of our students and staff be declared as remote learning. We need time to transition, training, etc. to go into a hybrid plan and why not just put us at ease by declaring first semester as remote. Brooke Weber

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Who are we trying to please going back so soon? Other districts, even in our state, are showing students and staff get COVID when returning to buildings - even if they take all safety precautions. Is there data from other districts or states that show returning to buildings has not resulted in increased COVID numbers? Are we just taking the stance now that school needs to start and oh well, some people will get sick?

The admin handbook says classrooms will only quarantine if 2 or more students have confirmed cases of COVID. So if 1 student has a confirmed case and another goes home, but either doesn’t get tested or the family doesn’t share the test results with school, is it business as usual in that classroom?

What happens if an educator dies due to COVID complications connected to working in their building? Is the district taking any measures to balance COVID inequities amongst their Black employees and employees of color? Data shows Black and Latinx individuals are more likely to die from COVID complications. Will the district create additional virtual work spaces for BIPOC employees?

I feel my safety mattered in March, but it doesn’t matter anymore.

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What is best for students and educators? 

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What is best for students and educators? 

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Is it best for students and educators - who are just settling into this new remote format - to upend that and throw them into a completely new learning format? Bringing students and educators back into buildings will put everyone at square one again. Everyone has put in so much time and energy to figure out current remote setting. Even if students are back in the building, school will not be as they remembered and there will be the same lack of socialization as felt in remote learning.

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Multiple students have shared stories of high risk behaviors that could spread Covid within our schools. Many students are participating in Club Sports to supplement Varsity/JV sports being postponed (as they should be since sports are not safe currently). A student even shared they would be missing class because they were traveling out of state to a National Sports Competition. What is to prevent this from happening during a reopening and put myself, other staff, and students at risk. We already know there are asymptomatic carriers of Covid.

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BSD has demonstrated that they do not care about transparent communication, teacher voice, or student experience. The remote roll out was beyond bumpy and teachers are still suffering with assignments and schedules out of alignment with contract. Instead of fixing these issues and focusing on remote learning that serves all - pushing towards a rushed and dangerous hybrid plan will increase the trauma in our community.

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I do not want to be thrown into hybrid as an experiment and then thrown back into virtual and then back to hybrid once its "safe". The disruption to families, especially my own where there are babies involved, will be extremely stressful and will probably cause more harm to mental health than good.

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I teach 2 on-line classes and 3 hybird classes. My on line classes have 37 and 39 students each! These are unacceptably large classes for a middle school Algebra I class!

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I've put in better than seventy hours each week since school started - and I haven't even started to grade tests. The workload with our current remote learning model is not sustainable. Moreover, from the "suggestions" I've seen for potential hybrid models, it looks to only get more extreme. Too much is being demanded of the teaching staff right now.

My schedule itself is reasonable (two preps, courses I know well, and reasonable class sizes). I can't fathom what some of colleagues must be suffering.