SJSD Teacher Concerns (7-24-20)

SJSD Teacher Concerns (7-24-20)

Will head back to school one month from now... and in between now and then -- teachers have a lot of questions about the st.

Joseph school district's re-opening plans.

Kq2's madeline mcclain found out what they are most concerned about.

Students return to school in late august.áánatsááá teachers haven't heard school bells ring in months but alarm bells -- go off daily.j.

Eric simmons, teacher, st.

Joseph nea president: "we need real clear guidance and support."with case numbers and positivity rates increasing -- so are teachers' anxiety and fears about returning to the classroom.j.

Eric simmons is a high school art teacher and teachers association president.

J.

Eric simmons, teacher, st.

Joseph nea president: "many of our educators are in that critical age bracket and it's understandable why they are concerned."teachers say the plan released by the district this week is good -- they appreciate the district installing 500 hand sanitizing stations and buying each teacher a reusable mask.j.

Eric simmons, teacher, st.

Joseph nea president: our district has done a good job, i believe, of really looking at the data to determine what is the safest, most effective and appropriate for our students and our staff to remain safe.but there's still too many unknowns.like how does social distancing work in classrooms with 20-30 students...j.

Eric simmons, teacher, st.

Joseph nea president: all of our high school teachers see six different groups of students every single day and those classes can range anywhere from 20 to 30 or more students and that's a lot of contact.in elementary school there's a whole other list of concerns.

But topping the list -- how do you stop kids being kids.j.

Eric simmons, teacher, st.

Joseph nea president: children are messy.

Children touch themselves, their face, their mouth.

They sneeze, they rub their nose on their arms. everything is everywhere."in all grade levels -- teachers have no idea how many different starting places students will be in.j.

Eric simmons, teacher, st.

Joseph nea president: we are going to have to look at all of our students as they come in and essentially get a gauge at where they are because of the dysfunction we experienced in the spring after the closures of the schools and that abrupt move to distanced learning.or how they are going to give one-on-one attention in a socially distanced class doctors say it can be done.dr. dana hawkinson, ku med.

Infection prevention can reduce that time that you are with them and if the both wearing masks, you can your risk of getting the disease.as of now -- the district expects but does not require masks to 75 percent of the association's teachers and staff surveyed -- want masks to be required.j.

Eric simmons, teacher, st.

Joseph nea president: "many of our staff have voiced concerns about whether students will be required to wear these masks.

And while there's still so many unknowns -- doctors say we have to stop making the like masks -- hard.dr. greg nawalanic, psychologist: first responders but now it's teachers that need our support."helping teachers and students get back to school.j.

Eric simmons, teacher, st.

Joseph nea president: please work with your children as we get to the beginning of this school year to educate them on the importance of keeping their hands to themselves, and from their teachers, because these are the things, the we can do to mitigate the spread of this awful virus.reporting in st.

Joseph, madeline mcclain kq2 news.

School district officials say that the plan they released this week is preliminary and more the will provide more complete details when they know how many students plan to return to in- person class.