Before I cast my vote, I have some things to say and some really kind of statements more than questions. There are four former teachers at this table. There are seven parents at this table. So we understand the perspective from all sides.

TEACHERS' CONCERNS

I'm first going to address teacher concerns….

First of all, they're concerned about child care. If they're going to be in the building, we suggest that other employees be assigned to small groups to provide child care for staff children.

The second concern has been inconsistent expectations. Some children are on computers four hours a day, others logging in and out multiple times. There's no consistency and teachers are desperate for some consistent expectations.

The third concern is the schedule. A high-school schedule was developed that we had some objections to, but at least there was a consistent schedule sent out to all the high schools. I have not seen such a schedule for elementary teachers who are desperate to have some consistency. Again, that has been a resounding concern. And we need that schedule pretty quickly, like now.

Number four: multiple log-ins. I understand that we… had a platform that would be a one-stop shop for all places that students had to go and this expectation is not being met. I hear from teachers that their Broadband is not sufficient, that it's kicking people in and out. It's bad.

Number five: Teachers are concerned because staff are not following protocols for masks. As we stated before, this is not an option. We expected everybody to wear masks and that's not happening.

Number six: Working from school was preferred by many, but not if they are being placed at risk. They need to be where their materials are and where their principals can help them but with no masks… people are severely concerned.

Number seven: There aren’t enough teachers. So we suggest, as (board member Ronald) Johnson suggested at the last meeting, that Central Office (staff) and coaches be temporarily assigned to teach until this pandemic is over. It will take everyone working together to survive for the children, and the children are our concern.

Number eight: disruptions. There must be a way for teachers to mute students who talk over them during instruction. Here at Campbell (University, where Dr. Smith is employed), our system allows me to mute everybody as… you ask to speak by raising your hand or chatting. It's a simple fix…. Teachers must have some support for that issue....

PARENTS' CONCERNS

Now I'd like to address, just briefly, parent concerns.

Number one: Not everybody has a hotspot. Parents are being denied because they have Internet, but most parents are at home. Both parents working… and the child cannot access without creating screen and multiple sound problems. We need to accommodate those parents.

Number two: There's no social time for children. We suggest that teachers bring small groups of five to 10 online at a time, varying them so that the whole (group) gets to talk to each other. We also need that social time for children's mental health.They need to see their friends.

Number three: Guidance from the district would set protocols to allow students to talk with each other.

Number four: A hundred or more students online at a time in middle and high school. This is the very antithesis of meeting…. Small groups… with some student talk time is critical to me (for) meeting both academic and social needs…. They're craving being back face to face with their friends. And if that can't happen, that can be face to face virtually.

Many students, as parents, say they are spending too much time on computers. They need some break time.

I also hear that lessons are not able to be accessed. They are live lessons and we need to videotape so that parents can access them when they have to work all day. And most importantly, they need materials. Where are the books that they would have had if they were in the school?...

VIEW the school system's archived video of last Thursday's meeting>