Broward schools eye reopening on Oct. 5
Teachers, parents are still worried
Broward schools are proposing to reopen their campuses Oct. 5, despite fears among parents and teachers that COVID-19 could still be a risk.
Superintendent Robert Runcie said a decline in coronavirus rates in the state — as well as expectations from Gov. Ron DeSantis and other state leaders — makes it time for a return to face-to-face learning.
The final decision is up to the School Board, which will discuss the matter Sept. 22.
“The state requires public schools to open,” Runcie said. “At the same time, we recognize there’s a population that wants to come back to our schools and those families should have that option.”
Many parents have complained that online learning, while improved since last spring, is still inferior to face-to-face instruction. They also say it creates hardship for working par
ents who must stay home to supervise their children.
But online learning will still be the norm. While parents will have the choice to keep their kids at home or send them to school, the curriculum will be the same. Teachers will teach simultaneously to students at home and those with their laptops in the classroom, district officials said.
Teachers are being surveyed this week about their plans. A survey in July found that only 30% felt comfortable returning. But the new survey says their other option besides returning is to go on leave.
“In addition to providing instruction, [teachers] provide appropriate supervision to students within our classroom,” Runcie said. “It is clear that in order to open our schools, we must have teachers to educate and to provide supervision.”
Many teachers hoped to continue working at home teaching students who were also staying home. They were angered by what they see as ultimatum from the district to come to class or take what would likely be an unpaid
leave of absence, without much information about how safe schools will be. Initially, they were told they must respond by Friday.
“Teachers feel sucker punched,” Board member Robin Bartleman said.
TracyMerlin, a teacher at Silver Ridge Elementary in Davie, told the School Board this was a life or death decision for teachers.
“Teacher morale is at an alltime low,” she said. “The internet is ablaze with people talking about walking away from this profession in droves. More time is needed for teachers to make a decision that will be best for their health and their family’s safety.”
Runcie agreed to extend the survey deadline until Sept. 23 to give teachers a chance to hear the board workshop. He also suggested there may be some flexibility for teachers.
“We recognize not all our educators can return to the classroom. Requests for accommodations or appropriate leaves will be considered,’ he said.
Parents have also expressed mixed views. While most would prefer their children in school, some worry whether it’s safe and what the education experience
will be like.
Jessica Valenzuela, PTA president at Peters Elementary in Plantation, sent a letter to the School Board asking if schools are truly prepared.
‘Would you trust the ventilation? Would you trust that there’s enough square footage to keep kids six feet apart? Is there enough square footage to keep them 4 feet apart?” Valenzuela asked. “When the bell rings, and an ocean of teens flood into a hallway, are you willing to stand and monitor that hallway?”
Runcie said the district is taking safety protocols, including enhanced cleaning, requiring students to wear masks and turn in assignments electronically, and delaying any science labs.
Some parents have voiced concerns about what the education environment will be like. Coral Springs parent Courtenay Wilson Russo said on Facebook that she believes recess and physical education and other parts of the school day will suffer in the new environment.
“Oh and if the kids desks can’t all be 6 feet apart, there will be an overflow room that an adult will be there to monitor the kids,” she said. “There is no normalcy about any of that. I’ll keep my kid at home.”