South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Why are schools allowing vented masks?
to school, few of us have thought about crossing guards, so I was so glad to hear from this contingent.
The Coral Springs Police Department, which supervises crossing guards for schools in the city, hires them through a staffing company. Officials at the company, Staffing Connection/Action Labor, say they will be in touch with the crossing guards before school starts in Broward next month, but here’s wh a t t h e y s a i d a b o u t COVID-19 procedures, conveyed to me through Coral Springs Police Capt. George Soberon:
“Crossing guards are to have no physical contact with students. Crossing guards must keep a social distance and communicate the distance with the children as they approach the post. Crossing guards should explain the importance of social distancing to the students.
“Crossing guards are instructed to wear masks while conducting their crossing. We have given masks to our field supervisors to give to any guards who may need them. There is time (10-15 minutes typically) on all posts when no students are present and we have instructed our guards to pull their masks down if they need a break from the mask for breathing.”
Soberon told me the guards can take off their masks to blow their whistles and then put the masks back on.
It all sounds reasonable to me. Crossing guards are such an important link in the chain of school safety. I’m glad they’re getting detailed instructions on how to protect themselves and the kids they escort.
What’s Broward’s mask policy?
“Has the Broward School Board updated its mask policy? They had said kids didn’t have to wear them if they could maintain six-feet distance, but now I’m hearing they do have to wear them all the time except if they’re eating.”
It’s official: Students and teachers will have to wear masks during school hours, with just a few exceptions, according to a new policy the school board approved on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The policy says: “Facial coverings must be worn at all times while on campus and school buses.”
This is an update to the August reopening plan, which said students had to wear masks “whenever 6’ of physical distancing cannot be observed.” The change is another example of how advice about preventing the spread of COVID-19 changes quickly, even over the span of just a few weeks.
The new policy details how to wear the mask, which “should cover both the nose and mouth of the person and should fit snugly against the sides of the person’s face with no gaps,” and offers several exceptions, including infants, people who are outdoors and can maintain six-feet distance, people who are eating or performing in theater and certain employees who get their bosses’ approval.
Each school will get about 500 masks for employees and 500 for students in need. Teachers and staff who work with special education students are being given transparent face coverings so their students can better understand their words.
Palm Beach County schools, which opened on Monday, have similar face covering rules. Masks have to be worn at all times, with some exceptions, and fit snugly, with no holes or gaps, or offensive wording.
Do new teachers have to be certified?
“Is the Broward school district hiring licensed professionals to teach who don’t have full teacher certifications? So many teachers are not willing to go back to the classrooms.” — Jeffrey Levy, Fort Lauderdale
Local school districts are definitely hiring. Although it seems like teachers are quitting left and right, the districts say there isn’t a bigger shortage of educators than there usually is. S t i l l , t h e y a r e a l way s searching for teachers, especially in critical shortage areas such as math, science and special education.
For years, there have been several non-traditional routes to becoming a Florida certified teacher. You can be licensed by another state or country, or decide to change careers after trying another profession. Either way, you have to send over your college transcripts and the state will do an extensive background check to make sure you’re not a criminal.
If approved, you can get a temporary certificate to teach that lasts for three years as you work toward your full certification. It looks like they are making s o me exc e p t i o n s for COVID-19: The state website says all certificates that were set to expire June 30 have been automatically renewed to Dec. 31.
“We encourage candidates interested in teaching t o a p p l y,” a B rowa rd schools spokeswoman told me. “Our Talent Acquisition and Operations team will review the application and respond with information. The candidate should review the Florida Department of Education’s website for specific requirements.”
Yo u c a n a l s o g o t o b rowa rd s c h o o l s.co m/ teacher. Broward is going to host an information session for teacher candidates looking at alternative routes to the profession, “possibly as early as November,” according to the school district.