The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We’re on a COVID-19 coaster with schools
Lurch of reopening, closing, quarantine traumatic.
Among the arguments to reopen schools was the mental health of children, some of whom were experiencing trauma from losing a critical stabilizer in their lives, their classroom and teacher. But are we returning children to stability in this COVID-19 coaster of school reopenings, closings and quarantines? Are we replacing one trauma with another?
Children are ending up in 14-day quarantines because they were exposed to a classmate or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19. In Paulding and Cherokee counties, among the earliest districts to open in the country, parents received quarantine notices after the first day of classes. So did parents at an elementary school in Floyd County at the end of last week. Today, an entire elementary school in Jackson County begins a two-week quarantine after a member of the school’s leadership team tested positive.
In some other cases across Georgia, it’s only students who have “close contact” with positive classmates who must quarantine.
It is quickly adding up to thousands of students, teachers and staff under quarantine.
So, children are now sitting in classes where a quarter or half of their classmates disappear one day or they themselves go home for two weeks where anxious parents look for warning signs of COVID-19. After two weeks of classes in the districts, four high schools have shut down.
North Paulding High School closed last week due to infections and reopened Monday with a mix of online and in-person classes. North Paulding students will be in the building on alternating days based on their last name. The intent is to reduce the hallway congestion, photos of which went viral on social media.
Etowah, Creekview and Woodstock High Schools in Cherokee County are shuttered through the end of the month because of the number of students now under quarantine due to exposures. The schools are providing remote instruction.
So far, there’s been little discussion of the impact of this roller coaster on teachers, many of whom are entering their classrooms fearful over contracting the coronavirus and bringing it home to pregnant partners, elderly parents or immune-compromised children.
Teachers are being asked to provide content in multiple formats, sometimes on the same day when they have students under quarantine.
I’ve heard from teachers who are moving into their basements or in with friends to protect someone in their family at high risk of serious complications or death from the virus. One educator is moving into a rental house to protect her child who has an auto-immune disorder.
The Professional Association of Georgia Educators says it’s experiencing an unprecedented jump in Georgia educators reaching out; calls to the legal department have increased 98% over this time last year, and more than 41,000 Georgia educators have responded to PAGE pandemic-related surveys, said executive director Craig Harper.
“Although Georgia educators long to return to schools to serve students, most PAGE members who have reached out to us since March have deep concerns about providing face-to-face instruction — particularly if spread of the virus is high in their communities or if their district plans don’t contain safety measures that adequately mitigate risks to students and staff,” said Harper.
“Keeping schools open throughout this year will be even more difficult. PAGE strongly recommends improved reporting of virus transmission and contact tracing in school environments and a reexamination of educator leave policies — allowing educators to take leave necessary for quarantine, without penalty, if repeated exposures occur in school settings.”
We have turned our schools into a virus minefield, but are sending in troops of teachers and kids without adequate protection.
At the very least, we ought to mandate masks, something districts have the power to do but are reluctant because of parental resistance.
A few hours before the decision was made to close Etowah High School in Woodstock, 27 parents in Cherokee rallied in support of keeping schools open and masks optional.
At the Paulding County school board meeting last week, teacher Meredith Hanft said she was speaking on behalf of other teachers with concerns about the lack of a mask mandate.
“Our goal is to be in class with our students without fears for our own personal safety and safety of our families. It’s been repeated more times than I can count that everyone had a choice. Let me tell you teachers were not given a choice. First of all, we were never surveyed. We were not asked to participate in planning,” she said. “No one asked the concerns for someone who would be enclosed in a poorly ventilated room with 30-plus bodies. These decisions were made by people other than teachers.”
Hanft said only six out of her 80 high school students were wearing masks in her classes.
“I had students making fun of the fact that I choose to wear a mask,” she said.
She said students were not educated on the vital importance of wearing masks as promised, entreating the board, “You should be protecting your teachers.”
While Hanft’s emotional appeal drew light clapping, strong applause and screams followed a parent’s contention, “We don’t have enough evidence for children wearing masks.”
To be clear, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends teachers, staff and students wear cloth face coverings in public settings, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says in its guidance:
■ Children (in elementary schools) should wear face coverings when harms (e.g., increasing hand-mouth/nose contact) do not outweigh benefits (potential COVID19 risk reduction).
■ Universal face coverings in middle and high schools when not able to maintain a 6-foot distance (students and adults).
Some parents urged Paulding leaders to promote mask wearing.
With some school board members not wearing masks, parent Rachel Adamus said, “When you say you recommend masks and then you come to a board meeting without masks, that sends a very clear message.”
As uncomfortable as they may be for some students and staff, masks are a key defense against virus spread and a smarter alternative than quarantining classrooms and closing schools.
Yes, there will be ups and downs and twists and turns on this COVID19 coaster of reopenings, but we need to make sure everyone leaves this wild and unpredictable ride alive and well.