This letter from the NTA got stuck in my email vortex from a few weeks back but I think its all still pertinent today. (sorry for the delay)
Do you share any of the NTA concerns are there other Covid-school related concerns you have?
Newton Teacher Association concerns for the coming year
by Jerry Reilly | Aug 26, 2021 | Newton | 8 comments
So many pertinent and worthwhile points in this update. As just one example in support of one of their points, the Brookline schools medical advisory group’s meetings (and all other school advisory groups) are posted and available for video review by anyone in town. https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/2621 That kind of transparency builds confidence and trust. In contrast, while the Newton medical advisory committee issues minutes, its meetings are not public or recorded. When it comes to (re-)establishing public confidence, it’s not just WHAT decisions are made, but also HOW they are made.
Yes. The lack of transparency is appalling. The minutes are somewhat laughable in terms of documenting an actual discussion. There are broader concerns about how the medical advisory committee was selected and its constitution. While there’s a great deal of clinical experience, there is not a single epidemiologist on the committee which is concerning as this expertise is very distinct from that of a clinician.
I know first hand that Fleishman has rebuffed requests to open these meetings for public attendance or expand the committee to include someone with epidemiological expertise. “The committee is full.” Says who? Who sets that limit? Why does NPS continue to be so guarded, reactionary, and — I fear — flat-footed in their ongoing response and management to the pandemic.
I expected more for my children and my community when I moved to Newton. This was an investment that I feel is not showing the returns I hoped for, foremost because of the leadership of NPS over the past 1.5 years.
@Sam – I completely agree that the committee needs epidemiologic expertise. Clinicians are wonderful knowledgeable people, but they are not experts on the disease spread and control aspects of public health.
At this point, NTA should be more concerned with providing our children with a rich and effective education than with COVID. Surely a mask mandate is coming (even if not, all teachers know how to wear masks, yes?). Certainly all teachers who care about staying healthy will have been vaccinated. Done.
The next Roche-length letter should be to the parents of Newton school children explaining how NTA is working with the administration to address the stark and depressingly large knowledge and learning deficits that have accrued since March 2020.
My biggest concern right now is lunch, for a multitude of reasons. Three feet apart versus six, though I understand the space constraints. I’m worried about time constraints at the middle school level where some kids have a very early lunch, not enough time to finish, and no opportunity for snacktime or even quickly scarfing down a granola bar in between classes because of masks. I’m also disappointed that there will be no hot lunch. The bagged lunches last year were not great. Maybe this year they could at least do a better job with bagged lunches. For lower income families this is a big deal.
I’m glad masks are going to be mandatory in school but I could have done without Fuller patting herself on the back in yesterday’s email over it. We all know she’s been disinterested in anything school related unless it benefits her politically. Her incessant self-congratulatory tone is going to get more insufferable between now and November.
Curriculum and instruction are the purview of the central administration and are controlled at the state level through the state frameworks. All MA districts must comply with the K12 state frameworks which can be found here:
https://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html
IMO a vaccine mandate for all people who have contact with NPS students would be one more way to reassure parents that their children are as safe as possible at school. This would include educators, office staff, custodians, bus drivers, lunch personnel, etc.
I agree with Jane. Her suggestion is especially timely in light of the FDA’s full approval of a vaccine.