Anyone watching the board meeting? I didn't realize so many but jobs live in RR.
Anyone concerned about RRISD re implementing mask mandates?
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Last: 3 yr ago by ReloadAg
Mule_lx said:
Anyone watching the board meeting? I didn't realize so many but jobs live in RR.
The east side and West side couldn't be more different than one another
Which is which? I don't go to the west side much.
Quote:
Starting Wednesday, Aug. 18, masks will temporarily be required at all Round Rock ISD schools and facilities, following approval by the Board of Trustees during their Aug. 16 called meeting.
The requirement expires on September 17, 2021. The Board's regular monthly meeting is scheduled for September 16, 2021, and the Trustees could vote to extend the requirement at that time if conditions warrant.
Under the District's new mask protocol, all students, teachers, staff members and adult visitors, including Trustees, must wear masks on buses and while inside school buildings when six feet of distance cannot be maintained. Students and staff have the option to remove their masks while seated in cafeterias and staff lunch rooms and while outdoors. The requirement is not effective during athletics, fine arts, and physical education classes unless deemed appropriate by the coach, director or instructor.
"My ultimate responsibility is the health and welfare of our students. We must look at the science, listen to the experts, and do what is right to protect them. As several other superintendents who have made the decision to require masks have said, if we're going to err, I want to err on the side of caution," Superintendent of Schools Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said. "As the public health climate continues to rapidly change, we must be willing to adapt and make decisions to protect our community as we know that masks are an essential tool in reducing the spread of COVID-19."
Parents will have the option to opt their students out of the requirement if they choose. A form will be provided on the District website by end of day Tuesday, Aug. 17.
That's awesome there's an opt out. We'll definitely be doing that.
LISD parent here, we've been in school since last Thursday. I asked my elementary school kid this morning how many in his class weren't wearing mask? He said 3.
Point is, I think this should be left to the parents. As it seems like everyone is doing what they feel is right anyway. Drop off also looks like at least 75% usage.
We don't need to "mandate" this, and get everyone riled up.
Point is, I think this should be left to the parents. As it seems like everyone is doing what they feel is right anyway. Drop off also looks like at least 75% usage.
We don't need to "mandate" this, and get everyone riled up.
Will opt my kid out of RRISD's policy... but I'll talk with him about it and let him choose. He's almost 7.
I bet he chooses to wear one. That's fine by me. It shouldn't be mandated.
I bet he chooses to wear one. That's fine by me. It shouldn't be mandated.
West side is in Austin. You decideMule_lx said:
Which is which? I don't go to the west side much.
This doesn't prove anything about masks being effective... is this really what "science" is nowadays? And people read it and that's the takeaway?SteveBott said:
Here is what looks like a good study about masks in schools.
Downsides:
Done before Delta
Focus just on transmission not other factors in quality of life
Upsides:
Great research institutions
Huge sample. Over 1 million participants
Here is the paper
https://abcsciencecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ABCs-Final-Report-June-2021.06-esig-DB-KZ-6-29-21.pdf
Here is the article it was cited in
https://today.duke.edu/2021/06/research-finds-masks-can-prevent-covid-19-transmission-schools
The study was essentially about distancing. All the schools studied had mask mandates. Some had distancing mandates.
So they compared "Mask with Distancing" to "Mask with Not Distancing".
And instead of their takeaway being "Distancing does not help"... they come away with "masking works great!"?
They'd have to compare non-masked schools to masked schools.
And by their own admission; they didn't do that:
"We don't have data from within North Carolina as to whether or not, in school in K-12, what happens when children are not masked."
TamuKid said:This doesn't prove anything about masks being effective... is this really what "science" is nowadays? And people read it and that's the takeaway?SteveBott said:
Here is what looks like a good study about masks in schools.
Downsides:
Done before Delta
Focus just on transmission not other factors in quality of life
Upsides:
Great research institutions
Huge sample. Over 1 million participants
Here is the paper
https://abcsciencecollaborative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ABCs-Final-Report-June-2021.06-esig-DB-KZ-6-29-21.pdf
Here is the article it was cited in
https://today.duke.edu/2021/06/research-finds-masks-can-prevent-covid-19-transmission-schools
The study was essentially about distancing. All the schools studied had mask mandates. Some had distancing mandates.
So they compared "Mask with Distancing" to "Mask with Not Distancing".
And instead of their takeaway being "Distancing does not help"... they come away with "masking works great!"?
They'd have to compare non-masked schools to masked schools.
And by their own admission; they didn't do that:
"We don't have data from within North Carolina as to whether or not, in school in K-12, what happens when children are not masked."
Seems like they're saying that masks definitely work, and if the alternative is no in-person school then kids should wear masks so they can be in-person, but the true alternative COULD be school without masks but they didn't study schools without masks so they can't confirm that masks did any good.
And when asked directly if older kids should wear masks he throws out that comment, which muddies the water, and then moves to talking about vaccines.
ON WHETHER KIDS 12 AND OLDER SHOULD WEAR MASKS IN SCHOOL
Danny Benjamin
"We don't have data from within North Carolina as to whether or not, in school in K-12, what happens when children are not masked. In other environments, however, if people are vaccinated, they are safe indoors. The vaccine brings the transmission down dramatically. For people who get infected, the rate of severe disease is reduced 90 to 95 percent. To give some context to this, a vaccinated child or adult it's safer for them indoors than it is for them to be around someone who has influenza. The vaccine is extraordinarily effective and makes life extraordinarily safe as it relates to COVID."
Right. So being in school with masks is safe.
But not necessarily safer than school with no masks. Because it hasn't been studied.
So the study conclusion and article title shouldn't be that masks are effective and prevent transmission. That wasn't studied at all.
It's like saying walking on carpet is safe while wearing shoes. Sure. But did we try walking on it barefooted?
But not necessarily safer than school with no masks. Because it hasn't been studied.
So the study conclusion and article title shouldn't be that masks are effective and prevent transmission. That wasn't studied at all.
It's like saying walking on carpet is safe while wearing shoes. Sure. But did we try walking on it barefooted?
My wife listened to a lot of the town hall meeting last night. IMHO, the meetings are absolutely useless. In my experience, it never matters what is said...they've already made up their mind. At the beginning, there was a pretty funny/heated discussion about procedure (letting people in or not). A couple of the board members didnt care, and just wanted to get this thing over with.
Probably a dozen or more people, who were against masks, quoted studies, and repeatedly asked those in favor of masks to cite studies...not just provide an emotional opinion. I didnt see one provide any data or a study that proved mask wearing is effective. I dont know if they help or not, but the data sure doesnt support them (when outside of a clean environment).
Then this morning, I read this:
I'll let my boys decide. I talked with them about it. They hate the masks, but do they want to get on the bad side of a teacher who is passionate about this? But according to the policy, it sounds like most kids will remove them once they're seated anyway.
Probably a dozen or more people, who were against masks, quoted studies, and repeatedly asked those in favor of masks to cite studies...not just provide an emotional opinion. I didnt see one provide any data or a study that proved mask wearing is effective. I dont know if they help or not, but the data sure doesnt support them (when outside of a clean environment).
Then this morning, I read this:
Kinda made me chuckle when I read it, given the citations at the meeting 8 hours before.Quote:
"My ultimate responsibility is the health and welfare of our students. We must look at the science, listen to the experts, and do what is right to protect them.
I'll let my boys decide. I talked with them about it. They hate the masks, but do they want to get on the bad side of a teacher who is passionate about this? But according to the policy, it sounds like most kids will remove them once they're seated anyway.
Then you and I must have been listening to a different meeting.
My favorite speaker was a lady who got up there, and eloquently talked to the board, for 85% of her time. She stuck to facts, and how it affected the kids, etc.Mule_lx said:
Anyone watching the board meeting? I didn't realize so many but jobs live in RR.
But then out of nowhere, she gets impassioned and says....'My husband also hates masks. It's hard for him to breath in them. He's 300 lbs!!! Think ABOUT THAT!!!!"
It was so random, it made me laugh out loud.
okCharpie said:
Then you and I must have been listening to a different meeting.
Counter point: I was watching the same one.
That one made me LOL. I mean, who cares about your adult husband. Is he a student?AgGrad99 said:My favorite speaker was a lady who got up there, and eloquently talked to the board, for 85% of her time. She stuck to facts, and how it affected the kids, etc.Mule_lx said:
Anyone watching the board meeting? I didn't realize so many but jobs live in RR.
But then out of nowhere, she gets impassioned and says....'My husband also hates masks. It's hard for him to breath in them. He's 300 lbs!!! Think ABOUT THAT!!!!"
It was so random, it made me laugh out loud.
How late did you watch?
I thought about it later, and I think maybe she was talking about him visiting the campus for events, etc.
But she didnt connect those dots, and it was really funny.
But she didnt connect those dots, and it was really funny.
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My kids preschool said masks starting next week for 3 and up. They get state funding for early childcare so I will be interested in if it holds up. They specifically worded the announcement as "practice wearing masks"
No input from the parents was solicited, luckily my kid has a few months before he has to wear one.
No input from the parents was solicited, luckily my kid has a few months before he has to wear one.
RRISD Opt Out Link. Pretty easy actually.
https://roundrockisd.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a2EFGnkTb3oJw2y
https://roundrockisd.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a2EFGnkTb3oJw2y
Danielle Weston is a savage!! Love that she is on this board.
Welp, looks like I jinxed myself....just got notification that LISD has fallen.Aust Ag said:
LISD parent here, we've been in school since last Thursday. I asked my elementary school kid this morning how many in his class weren't wearing mask? He said 3.
Point is, I think this should be left to the parents. As it seems like everyone is doing what they feel is right anyway. Drop off also looks like at least 75% usage.
We don't need to "mandate" this, and get everyone riled up.
Sorry son, put the mask back on.
Expect this to change. With Abbott being positive this is going to make the left yell louder.
**** Leander ISD. No public comment, no hearing, nothing. What a bunch of bull*****
The guy in a wheelchair is going to beat this, and maybe the "I could die!" perception will change.Charpie said:
Expect this to change. With Abbott being positive this is going to make the left yell louder.
He's also getting monoclonal antibodies. For someone who doesn't have symptoms, that seems a bit extreme, no?
There is no order giving Wilco or Leander ISD relief from the Abbott EO, this isn't legal.
Nope. I just read where Paxton is trying to get one for the ISD'sPedroJack07 said:
There is no order giving Wilco or Leander ISD relief from the Abbott EO, this isn't legal.
Of course it's not legal. They don't ****ing care about law. They care about control. They sure as **** don't care about hearing from parents.
I really enjoyed the constable that pointed out that these homemade Tshirt masks stop the virus about as well as: "...Your underwear stops a fart!" Once he said that, I was so busy rolling on the floor laughing that I missed the rest of his speech. His point, which is 100% valid, was about if you are going to mandate masks, they better be N95 masks or why bother? It made sense, but not a single blockhead in the room, on the internet, or for that matter on the board, heard his argument.
I agree that this board could give two ****s about what any parent, teacher, administrator, or anyone else has to say. They have proved that over and over. I love that they have to sit there and listen to over 100 parents ***** each board meeting for 2 minutes each. The deserve every last minute of every Karen they have to hear. At least they get some pain for our tax dollars that they recklessly abandon.
And another thing I noticed. If you used even an iota of modern technology like an electronic list (holy cow that's high tech), to show the folks that were slated to speak next, and on deck, etc, it would make the virtual part go about 20 times faster. But then again, I only expect complete ignorance of anything resembling logical assembly from these morons. Whoever voted for them deserves exactly what they are getting. I cannot stress that enough!!!!!
There is basically no way for a teacher or admin to police this ridiculous crap. It is so wishy-washy in approach that again, it is a colossal waste of time. How do you know who opted out? Do they need to wear a 5 pointed star on their shirt or something? Maybe an armband? ( I jest....well kind of).
I agree that this board could give two ****s about what any parent, teacher, administrator, or anyone else has to say. They have proved that over and over. I love that they have to sit there and listen to over 100 parents ***** each board meeting for 2 minutes each. The deserve every last minute of every Karen they have to hear. At least they get some pain for our tax dollars that they recklessly abandon.
And another thing I noticed. If you used even an iota of modern technology like an electronic list (holy cow that's high tech), to show the folks that were slated to speak next, and on deck, etc, it would make the virtual part go about 20 times faster. But then again, I only expect complete ignorance of anything resembling logical assembly from these morons. Whoever voted for them deserves exactly what they are getting. I cannot stress that enough!!!!!
There is basically no way for a teacher or admin to police this ridiculous crap. It is so wishy-washy in approach that again, it is a colossal waste of time. How do you know who opted out? Do they need to wear a 5 pointed star on their shirt or something? Maybe an armband? ( I jest....well kind of).
Quote:
I really enjoyed the constable that pointed out that these homemade Tshirt masks stop the virus about as well as: "...Your underwear stops a fart!" Once he said that, I was so busy rolling on the floor laughing that I missed the rest of his speech. His point, which is 100% valid, was about if you are going to mandate masks, they better be N95 masks or why bother? It made sense, but not a single blockhead in the room, on the internet, or for that matter on the board, heard his argument.
That's Paul Leal. I worked with him for a few years. He's one of the nicest and most genuine people I've ever met.
I watched a good majority of the 8 hour marathon today (skipped some of the community testimony).
Bone, Weston, Feller, Weir, and Harrison seem capable and professional.
Bone and Weston being the ones that actually seem to be logical, practical, well-spoken, data driven, and capable of thinking about both the big picture and details.
I was impressed by the two of them (Feller not far behind).
Dr. Xiao was pathetic. Personal attacks, off-topic rants, interrupting, condescending, etc. He admitted to not understanding Texas state laws, county laws, etc. He's a self-important narcissist who just likes saying his piece. Just a pitiful showing from him. If there's a way to remove a member from the board; he needs it.
Vessa is too emotional and acts like she's in some hugely important position with huge burden.
In the end; extremely disappointed at the board and superintendent... what a waste of time and resources. 24 hours before school starts. And what a ridiculous final outcome; which is essentially, in their own words, a strongly worded mask recommendation.
The other thing that surprised me was the lack of focus on Williamson County. They all discussed the Governor's EO and Travis County's Mask Order, multiple times. The MAJORITY of the schools are in Williamson... but that seemed an afterthought. Sad how much influence the City of Austin and Travis County are having on Round Rock/Williamson County.
Bone, Weston, Feller, Weir, and Harrison seem capable and professional.
Bone and Weston being the ones that actually seem to be logical, practical, well-spoken, data driven, and capable of thinking about both the big picture and details.
I was impressed by the two of them (Feller not far behind).
Dr. Xiao was pathetic. Personal attacks, off-topic rants, interrupting, condescending, etc. He admitted to not understanding Texas state laws, county laws, etc. He's a self-important narcissist who just likes saying his piece. Just a pitiful showing from him. If there's a way to remove a member from the board; he needs it.
Vessa is too emotional and acts like she's in some hugely important position with huge burden.
In the end; extremely disappointed at the board and superintendent... what a waste of time and resources. 24 hours before school starts. And what a ridiculous final outcome; which is essentially, in their own words, a strongly worded mask recommendation.
The other thing that surprised me was the lack of focus on Williamson County. They all discussed the Governor's EO and Travis County's Mask Order, multiple times. The MAJORITY of the schools are in Williamson... but that seemed an afterthought. Sad how much influence the City of Austin and Travis County are having on Round Rock/Williamson County.
LISD apparently does have a mask opt out, although they are definitely not advertising that. I got this from another parent, who got it from a principal.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKn6n-xLQa8CKqfSMeAbJKwhxdcH_wFvhHkb2slRFujxpycg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2_W_XPzjcdkGCZbahFqAb619z-IIWXmTaBvkcHZPanMGiz3DR9ONMKJeI
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKn6n-xLQa8CKqfSMeAbJKwhxdcH_wFvhHkb2slRFujxpycg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2_W_XPzjcdkGCZbahFqAb619z-IIWXmTaBvkcHZPanMGiz3DR9ONMKJeI
Yah.. is this legit? I've seen it circulating a few places but can't find a link directly from a Leander ISD website.
Interesting, I heard this was legit.maverick2076 said:
LISD apparently does have a mask opt out, although they are definitely not advertising that. I got this from another parent, who got it from a principal.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKn6n-xLQa8CKqfSMeAbJKwhxdcH_wFvhHkb2slRFujxpycg/viewform?fbclid=IwAR2_W_XPzjcdkGCZbahFqAb619z-IIWXmTaBvkcHZPanMGiz3DR9ONMKJeI
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