Baba Booey said:

---

tysker said:

---

If schools arent open in September its going to be really hard for School Board Trustees to ask for more money from taxpayers next go around. From what I've heard our ISD is already concerned with future budget shortages outlooks. Hard to justify spending money on buildings, classrooms and teachers when none are being used to their fullest capabilities.

---

This is correct. There are several posters here (including OP) that are having a hard time seeing the forest through the trees.

If kids are not going to school for another 8 months, we will have a lot more to worry about than school buildings. America as we know it will be no more.

Good thing this isn't the case. I can't wait for next month for the first wave of "normalcy" to get people out of this doomsday line of thinking.

---

I think schools will be in session next year as well, but you are just as much a doom and gloomer as cone. Just the opposite.

OMG if kids aren't going to physical schools for a year and a half, AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT IS OVER!!!!

Baba Booey said:

---

AggieOO said:

---

so you don't think that even is schools aren't open, we won't find a way to pivot and get pieces of the economy back open? Or are you assuming/answering the question under the assumption that we will be exactly where we are today (or worse) in august?

I believe that even if schools aren't open, we, as a society, will continue to adjust things and find ways to move forward. I'm not saying the economy will be booming if that is the case, but we aren't just going to sit on our hands either.

---

I've already answered this question. People who have enough money to afford an internet subscription to a sports recruiting website like TexAgs are not really privy to the inner-workings of the lower and true middle class.

There is no remote working for hourly laborers, and the government isn't going to keep handing out money to them so they can make ends meet.

Those who are employed at a company that itself can "pivot", already can withstand the ebbs and flows of the economy.

That's not really who is being affected the worst. Jen just posted an article from the Washington Post that echoes this sentiment.

People like cone and cityboy might WANT to believe we are going back to the stone age for years to come, but it's simply not happening.

---

based on your response, we mostly agree.

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Baba Booey said:

---

tysker said:

---

If schools arent open in September its going to be really hard for School Board Trustees to ask for more money from taxpayers next go around. From what I've heard our ISD is already concerned with future budget shortages outlooks. Hard to justify spending money on buildings, classrooms and teachers when none are being used to their fullest capabilities.

---

This is correct. There are several posters here (including OP) that are having a hard time seeing the forest through the trees.

If kids are not going to school for another 8 months, we will have a lot more to worry about than school buildings. America as we know it will be no more.

Good thing this isn't the case. I can't wait for next month for the first wave of "normalcy" to get people out of this doomsday line of thinking.

---

I think schools will be in session next year as well, but you are just as much a doom and gloomer as cone. Just the opposite.

OMG if kids aren't going to physical schools for a year and a half, AMERICA AS WE KNOW IT IS OVER!!!!

---

How can you be a doom and gloomer "but the opposite"? That is idiotic.

Show me how I'm wrong instead of posting in hyperbole....

Kids physically going to school is a litmus test for the status of our society. I already said that. It's not about kids going to school.

If kids aren't going to physical schools all day, then where will they be?

And if they are at home, how are the parents going to work?

OldCamp said:

---

Quote:

---

I do not trust my neighborhood to be able to do that

---

This obviously depends on where you live.
I trust my neighborhood far more than my bureaucratic, liberal school district.
In any event, many of us simply dont have an option. Parents are having to choose between caring for their kids at home or going to work.

---

I agree we are all in a rough situation. Single parents or families where both parents work are in a hard place. People who have been furloughed are in a hard place. Many private schools are in a hard place as a lot of parents stopped payments.

Our current state is not sustainable. We have to get back to normal for the kids, parents, private schools, small businesses, etc. But if we open up too soon our healthcare system will be overrun fast. While some crimes have gone up many others have gone down. Car accidents are down, flu a and b are down and non-covid ICU patients are down. If we open up the hospitals will get their normal load plus an increased covid load. It would be really bad.

***sorry for kinda going off-topic

Keegan99 said:

---

If kids aren't going to physical schools all day, then where will they be?

And if they are at home, how are the parents going to work?

---

i don't have the answer, but this is part of what some of my customers are attempting to figure out. Maybe there is a good answer, maybe not.

One way is "we are doomed because of coronavirus" the other "we are doomed because of our response to coronavirus".

I think America has gone through tougher times than 2 years of kids not being in school physically.

Sure it sucks, sure it may be overkill, but it's not the end of this nation as we know it. Eventually things will get back to normal.

Texaggie7nine said:

---

One way is "we are doomed because of coronavirus" the other "we are doomed because of our response to coronavirus".

I think America has gone through tougher times than 2 years of kids not being in school physically.

Sure it sucks, sure it may be overkill, but it's not the end of this nation as we know it. Eventually things will get back to normal.

---

you're stuck on kids being in school physically.. can you not see how it was a symbol for everything that comes with it?

I mean, if you think America has gone through worse in the last two years, than I doubt you can.

Keegan99 said:

---

If kids aren't going to physical schools all day, then where will they be?

And if they are at home, how are the parents going to work?

---

Don't know about where you are at, but in Texas, many daycares are still open.

In Houston alone they have the one's in the below article, plus a city funded daycare for essential workers.

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/03/26/list-these-daycares-will-be-open-for-kids-of-essential-employees-during-houston-area-stay-home-orders/

rojo_ag said:

---

tysker said:

---

jkcpow said:

---

tysker said:

---

If schools arent open in September its going to be really hard for School Board Trustees to ask for more money from taxpayers next go around. From what I've heard our ISD is already concerned with future budget shortages outlooks. Hard to justify spending money on buildings, classrooms and teachers when none are being used to their fullest capabilities.

---

Hard to justify paying expensive tuition for virtual classes, colleges are underestimating how many people will sit out a semester. Incoming freshman will delay a year or semester

---

Hard to justify teacher's salaries who are spending at most a couple hours per day in front of a camera teaching a class. No need for secretarial staff, lunch ladies or janitors. And all the kids with special needs will be provided their services last... Maybe its not a bug but instead a feature

---

You speak with a severe case of ignorance about how much time I am spending working with my students during this time of uncertainty and upheaval. Obviously, I want to be in the classroom with my students, but my district is doing the best to provide meaningful instruction and emotional stability at this time.

In attempt to enlightened you, I want to describe what our district's distance learning response has been.

One week before we begin district learning, each campus at the secondary level had one representative from each core class meet for a design informational meeting. After the meeting we were tasked to meet with our core subject grade level design teams to develop a distance learning plan. Using our district wide learning platform, my design team developed learning opportunities with a focus on quality over quantity. The district also provided guidance regarding consistency. Every teacher's distance learning folder should look the same across campuses for every core class. Students are to spend no more than 3 hours a week on every core subject Monday - Thursday. Teachers also hold office hours twice daily for an hour to meet with students who need assistance or just want to drop in and chat. On Fridays, we share with all of our core subject teachers the plan for next week's assignments. Afterwards, the design team meets again on Friday and then on Mondays to plan for the following week's lessons. I monitor student progress, evaluate, and contact parents daily. We also have team meetings, ARDs, leadership meetings, and faculty meetings.

Do I spend as much time with my students as I did before school closures? Of course not. Am I taking an extended spring break? F you.

---

I didnt even suggest that you were taking an extended break so feel free to take you're insolence elsewhere

Teachers are working even harder behind the scenes maybe then ever before. But a lack of real life, hands on, face-to-face time with students is real and now parents and taxpayers notice what goes on in the classroom (or sometimes doesnt). That can only hurt teachers imo (and students!!) and will make it hard for to justify salaries and raises when most of the work is remotely and the work of three teachers can now be done by one teacher.

I am actually on you're side but maybe I shouldnt be ...

edit to tone it down

If kids can be at daycares, then why can't they be at schools?

You really want to stick every kid under the age of, say, 12 in a daycare?

Quote:

---

I mean, if you think America has gone through worse in the last two years, than I doubt you can.

---

I don't know what you mean with this wording, but I would take these past 2 years over many 2 year periods of this nations existence. WW2 for one.

If you simply mean by the statement of "America as we know it will be no more", that America will look different in that time period, then everything will return to normal, then I apologize. You made it seem like the nation will no longer be able to be what it once was, ever again.

tysker said:

---

rojo_ag said:

---

tysker said:

---

jkcpow said:

---

tysker said:

---

If schools arent open in September its going to be really hard for School Board Trustees to ask for more money from taxpayers next go around. From what I've heard our ISD is already concerned with future budget shortages outlooks. Hard to justify spending money on buildings, classrooms and teachers when none are being used to their fullest capabilities.

---

Hard to justify paying expensive tuition for virtual classes, colleges are underestimating how many people will sit out a semester. Incoming freshman will delay a year or semester

---

Hard to justify teacher's salaries who are spending at most a couple hours per day in front of a camera teaching a class. No need for secretarial staff, lunch ladies or janitors. And all the kids with special needs will be provided their services last... Maybe its not a bug but instead a feature

---

You speak with a severe case of ignorance about how much time I am spending working with my students during this time of uncertainty and upheaval. Obviously, I want to be in the classroom with my students, but my district is doing the best to provide meaningful instruction and emotional stability at this time.

In attempt to enlightened you, I want to describe what our district's distance learning response has been.

One week before we begin district learning, each campus at the secondary level had one representative from each core class meet for a design informational meeting. After the meeting we were tasked to meet with our core subject grade level design teams to develop a distance learning plan. Using our district wide learning platform, my design team developed learning opportunities with a focus on quality over quantity. The district also provided guidance regarding consistency. Every teacher's distance learning folder should look the same across campuses for every core class. Students are to spend no more than 3 hours a week on every core subject Monday - Thursday. Teachers also hold office hours twice daily for an hour to meet with students who need assistance or just want to drop in and chat. On Fridays, we share with all of our core subject teachers the plan for next week's assignments. Afterwards, the design team meets again on Friday and then on Mondays to plan for the following week's lessons. I monitor student progress, evaluate, and contact parents daily. We also have team meetings, ARDs, leadership meetings, and faculty meetings.

Do I spend as much time with my students as I did before school closures? Of course not. Am I taking an extended spring break? F you.

---

I didnt even suggest that you were taking an extended break so feel free to take you're insolence elsewhere

Teachers are working even harder behind the scenes maybe then ever before. But a lack of real life, hands on, face-to-face time with students is real and now parents and taxpayers notice what goes on in the classroom (or sometimes doesnt). That can only hurt teachers imo (and students!!) and will make it hard for to justify salaries and raises when most of the work is remotely and the work of three teachers can now be done by one teacher.

I am actually on you're side but maybe I shouldnt be ...

edit to tone it down

---

I'm not taking a side here but lowering salaries will only hurt the problem. If you want higher quality teachers and administrators in public schools you need to raise the pay.

I do not know about the details of how hard/ or not hard teachers did/ or are not working

Keegan99 said:

---

If kids can be at daycares, then why can't they be at schools?

You really want to stick every kid under the age of, say, 12 in a daycare?

---

It makes sense logistically. It isn't a "great" solution but smaller groups of kids seems better than hundreds of kids sharing the same buildings as they do in public schools.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

AggieOO said:
At this point, I believe it is less likely than likely, but there is a possibility that school starts remote in the fall as well. There are already universities out there preparing for this possibility, and I've talked to school district IT departments that are at least having internal discussions about "what if."

Don't be surprised at anything at this point.

---

No chance this happens

---

Yeah. Yeah there is a fairly significant chance. The possibility is already being prepared for.

i don't think it's reasonable to expect medium-term economic and productivity drag within the first couple of waves of a 100-year pandemic

so yes, someone who would otherwise be in the work force would likely be watching the kids

it's in category with (but not the same as) questions about all the lost revenue and jobs related to large gatherings being shut down. yes, this sucks. the quicker they get a therapeutic that takes CFR (and hospitalization) associated with the bug to bad-flu levels for those under 65, the faster this subsides.

but what's a greater risk to economic recovery - triggering another multi-week regional shutdown due to re-opening schools or limping along over the next year having to accommodate home schooling and the related loss of jobs/available human productivity

Keegan99 said:

---

If kids can be at daycares, then why can't they be at schools?

You really want to stick every kid under the age of, say, 12 in a daycare?

---

There would still be a large amount of kids that could continue working from home, just like not all kids are in daycares during the summer months.

My guess is what we see, if things are still requiring this level of shutdown, is some sort of program where schools are available for parents to drop their kids off if needed, but that the schools aren't operating at full capacity - mostly either staffers that have the antibodies or that are "low risk" with a bit more focus on trying to prevent spread amongst the people. Continued online lessons, but these kids would be able to do this from the school. Something that is a midway point between a full re-opening where all learning is done in person and our current situation.

I entirely agree.

In our current online classroom situation, most of the work is remote and done behind the scenes. The one-on-one and hands-on learning is essentially gone. My child just had a Zoom class with one teacher for the whole grade. One teacher, not three! This isnt easy for teachers either but the longer this online program exists, the more taxpayers and parents will look at alternatives, especially if budgets are crunched due to an economic downturn.

What was once out of sight, out of mind for parents is now quite literally at the dining room table...


eta: And what will be the talking point for compressed ISD budgets? Teacher salaries and the need for physical classrooms. (never the admin salaries!) If schools dont revert back to 'normal' I could see a sea-change in education within certain segments of society that, imo, will only dampen prospects for teachers (mostly the bad and unqualified teachers, but that's a different topic).

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Keegan99 said:

---

If kids aren't going to physical schools all day, then where will they be?

And if they are at home, how are the parents going to work?

---

Don't know about where you are at, but in Texas, many daycares are still open.

In Houston alone they have the one's in the below article, plus a city funded daycare for essential workers.

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/03/26/list-these-daycares-will-be-open-for-kids-of-essential-employees-during-houston-area-stay-home-orders/

---

A big part of the issue is the quality of their education as well. My kids are 7 and 10, and my son is Autistic and also receives other services like Speech Therapy through school. We are really happy with how both of them are doing and they're thriving at our school. Public school is "free" but we pay taxes and made the choice about where to live based on the schools our kids would be going to, and my career is predicated on them being in school most of the day.

Day care, on the other hand, even a good quality day care is going to basically be an activity camp. That'great for the summer but I don't wan them in activity camp for 6+ months with no academic instruction. And an hours-equivalent high quality school, with academics, is going to be very expensive - probably prohibitively for me. Even if I wanted to quit my job to focus on homeschooling (I don't), they would get a far inferior education from me than they would at a good school because I have no idea what I'm doing.

It's about a lot more than parking their bodies somewhere so I can work. Long-term, we may have lasting societal changes about how we educate our kids, but in the here and now we just can't turn on a dime.

So basically you're proposing building and opening a huge number of small schools?

Because current daycare facilities cannot hold every child under the age of 12.

If your kids get 1.5 years of sub par education, I think they will live.

I get that it's not a desirable scenario, and an unlikely one in my opinion, but if it happens, it happens.

Keegan99 said:

---

So basically you're proposing building and opening a huge number of small schools?

Because current daycare facilities cannot hold every child under the age of 12.

---

I'm not proposing any long term solutions like that. I'm just saying what our temporary solutions are while we ride this out.

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

Keegan99 said:

---

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

---

It's doubtful he understands.

When employers start making people physically come back to work, and schools are still closed, some folks are gonna be in a world of hurt.

Keegan99 said:

---

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

---

Why would daycares need to do that? Parents can watch their kids if they are home. The daycares are for essential workers who have to go to work and have no other options for leaving their kids with someone.

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Keegan99 said:

---

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

---

Why would daycares need to do that? Parents can watch their kids if they are home. The daycares are for essential workers who have to go to work and have no other options for leaving their kids with someone.

---

You clearly don't have kids or aren't employed. It's not cut and dry that parents can work full time from home and watch kids.

Texaggie7nine said:

---

If your kids get 1.5 years of sub par education, I think they will live.

I get that it's not a desirable scenario, and an unlikely one in my opinion, but if it happens, it happens.

---

And what about all of the kids in crappy schools that were already getting sub par educations? Hey what's another 1.5 years, right? I guess you dismiss them just as lightly.

If kids start getting 1.5 of sub par education, a lot more parents will start looking at, or creating, other options. And asking for their money back. There's already a school-choice/voucher system movement in Texas whereby people get a portion of your ISD taxes refunded if you're kids dont attend public school...

Baba Booey said:

---

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Keegan99 said:

---

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

---

Why would daycares need to do that? Parents can watch their kids if they are home. The daycares are for essential workers who have to go to work and have no other options for leaving their kids with someone.

---

You clearly don't have kids or aren't employed. It's not cut and dry that parents can work full time from home and watch kids.

---

I don't but many of my coworkers do, and they are all prepared for them to be at home for the next year if need be. They certainly don't want that to be the case, but they understand it's a possibility.

Jet Black said:

---

When employers start making people physically come back to work, and schools are still closed, some folks are gonna be in a world of hurt.

---

it's not some folks... it's ALL folks. It will hurt the economy more than we have ever seen in our lifetimes.

tysker said:

---

Texaggie7nine said:

---

If your kids get 1.5 years of sub par education, I think they will live.

I get that it's not a desirable scenario, and an unlikely one in my opinion, but if it happens, it happens.

---

And what about all of the kids in crappy schools that were already getting sub par educations? Hey what's another 1.5 years, right? I guess you dismiss them just as lightly.

If kids start getting 1.5 of sub par education, a lot more parents will start looking at, or creating, other options. And asking for their money back. There's already a school-choice/voucher system movement in Texas whereby people get a portion of your ISD taxes refunded if you're kids dont attend public school...

---

I'm all for that. As a libertarian, I'm against public schools period.

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Baba Booey said:

---

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Keegan99 said:

---

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

---

Why would daycares need to do that? Parents can watch their kids if they are home. The daycares are for essential workers who have to go to work and have no other options for leaving their kids with someone.

---

You clearly don't have kids or aren't employed. It's not cut and dry that parents can work full time from home and watch kids.

---

I don't but many of my coworkers do, and they are all prepared for them to be at home for the next year if need be. They certainly don't want that to be the case, but they understand it's a possibility.

---

Good for them. They are an exception and not the norm. If what you claim is even true.

Most parents can't work a real job while home-schooling/parenting full time.

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Keegan99 said:

---

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

---

Why would daycares need to do that? Parents can watch their kids if they are home. The daycares are for essential workers who have to go to work and have no other options for leaving their kids with someone.

---

You really don't understand the the "essential workers" with kids under the age of 12 massively exceeds the capacity of current daycares?



Here is the problem, stated as plainly as possible:

If you want the millions of workers currently at home and unable to work to get back to work, you need a place to put their kids. You cannot use existing daycares for that purpose, as capacity is woefully inadequate.

Baba Booey said:

---

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Baba Booey said:

---

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Keegan99 said:

---

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

---

Why would daycares need to do that? Parents can watch their kids if they are home. The daycares are for essential workers who have to go to work and have no other options for leaving their kids with someone.

---

You clearly don't have kids or aren't employed. It's not cut and dry that parents can work full time from home and watch kids.

---

I don't but many of my coworkers do, and they are all prepared for them to be at home for the next year if need be. They certainly don't want that to be the case, but they understand it's a possibility.

---

Good for them. They are an exception and not the norm. If what you claim is even true.

Most parents can't work a real job while home-schooling/parenting full time.

---

Under 10 or so, that's understandable. But I think it's possible with older kids if the schools are doing online learning and there are time structures. I'll leave that up to the teachers to figure out.

Keegan99 said:

---

Texaggie7nine said:

---

Keegan99 said:

---

What facilities will you use for your "bunch of small daycares taking the place of schools"?

You understand the massive capacity problem with current daycares trying to house every child under 12, right?

---

Why would daycares need to do that? Parents can watch their kids if they are home. The daycares are for essential workers who have to go to work and have no other options for leaving their kids with someone.

---

You really don't understand the the "essential workers" with kids under the age of 12 massively exceeds the capacity of current daycares?



Here is the problem, stated as plainly as possible:

If you want the millions of workers currently at home and unable to work to get back to work, you need a place to put their kids. You cannot use existing daycares for that purpose, as capacity is woefully inadequate.

---

Show me data on these millions of parents who still have jobs but are not going to them because they can't find anywhere to stash their kids.