During the July 30th Talbot County Board of Education meeting, the School Board passed a reopening plan. The plan would begin bringing students back into schools in a phase-in model, starting the second week of school. The plan, according to the Talbot County Education Association (TCEA), does not take into account the health and safety of teachers and instructional assistants.
The county’s plan goes against what a majority of parents and teachers want, which is virtual instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we acknowledge the challenges of online learning, we insist that our educators health must be paramount in any reopening plan. We also note that most of the other Eastern Shore counties are beginning the first semester virtually.
This week, TCEA sent a letter opposing the plan to the Talbot County School Board, highlighting the concern that several Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations were not being followed. Specifically, the plan did not ensure a minimum of 6 ft. of social distancing and said that spacing would be dependent on how many students would need to be in a classroom.
The CDC also recommends plexiglass for when social distancing cannot be maintained, which the schools will not provide in all workspaces. The plan did not address how classroom desks or bathrooms will be cleaned between student groups, another recommendation by the CDC. Some special education students with physical disabilities will not be able to physically distance or wear masks, putting their teachers and support staff at risk.
Andrew J Burke
TCEA President
Carol Voyles says
The CDC finding that fewer than 40 percent of those testing positive for Covid-19 have a fever could also concern us. The National Academy of Sciences has also found that we are infected over 50 percent of the time by someone who doesn’t have a fever.
Schools will not reopen in Los Angeles until testing is available for all students and staff. Epidemiologists and public health officials are coming to the conclusion that access to rapid testing is the only way to reopen schools safely at this time.
Kelly L Griffith, Ed.D. says
7 Eastern Shore county school systems also have a plan to introduce phasing in small groups of students after assessing health and safety of staff and students daily with Dr.Fredia Wadley. The final Recovery Plan will be presented Wednesday evening which clarifies all questions. This was presumptuous.
All parents will have a choice to remain virtual for the semester or attend small group face to face instruction.
I appreciate everyone tuning in on Wednesday night to learn more.
Diana Turner says
I disagree with kid’s going back right now. We , Talbot county wide open alone with daily outbreaks of the virus. You will be putting the kids and staff members lives in danger. Stop this madness, we are suffering lost of love ones as it is. If it was up to me a choice I would not allow my children to go back. Stop this mess