What is NTI?

nti = non-traditional schooling. KInd of interesting, it started well before covid. Here's more info: https://education.ky.gov/school/innov/Pages/Non-Traditional-Instruction.aspx

Ours, like so many distrticts. went to at-home learning in the spring of 2020. It still spread.

Seems like everywhere is a bus driver shortage. In Chicago, many resigned just before school started, I’m not sure if it had to do with vaccine mandates (want/don’t want) or what. Bus companies are desparate. I saw some people standing on a street corner before school started, with a school bus behind them, holding signs to recruit and advertising the benefits.

We also apparently have a shortage of crossing guards in our town. I suggested it to DH: it works with his hours, he can walk to work, and he doesn’t mind the cold and snow.

Children don't return to class here until tomorrow. But the neighboring town has already cancelled their multi-city football jamboree for this coming weekend - players on that team have become ill just meeting for practices. I know only two children attending that school and they both had their second Pfizer shots yesterday. The youngest of the two girls just made the age eligibility 3 1/2 weeks ago.

Thanks for that, nickel. I was wondering too.

And I wonder about the same thing as Kathsgrdn here in FL.

I'm sure this has been stated elsewhere, but which state are you in Kath?

Things are not so good here. The city in which I live has apparently been sending kids home if they have been exposed in school, while close by schools are keeping them in classes unless they become symptomatic. I was all for opening the schools but once Delta took hold I think they should have gone back to virtual learning. This variant is causing such a high rise in pediatric hospitalizations.

We didn't have buses, you either walked, biked, car-pooled or rode with a friend. Lack of buses isn't a reason to close schools. The lousy teaching in many schools is a good reason for parents to turn to alternative teaching such a home or pod schooling.

Few parents have the time or ability to home school and many private schools are worse.

This isn't an "only a problem we face" issue. All countries, all societies, need capable public schools. Ones that can adapt to changing conditions (and do so without political interference, as is happening now in some places). If the people so employed are not capable of doing what's needed, we should hire better ones. We need to pay higher salaries to improve the talent pool.

I'm willing to pay higher taxes to improve public schools. Are you, raye?

Carol, I'm in Kentucky. I told the kids I would just pick them up today. It's raining again. They were already given laptops from the school and do a lot of their work on them, so it wouldn't be too hard to keep them home for a couple weeks. I know at least one high schooler out sick right now. My two are vaccinated. I was vaccinated back in January so not sure how protected I am right now against this new variant. I've sent quite a few to the ER who were fully vaccinated. I also know a lot of the students here aren't vaccinated.

And just who do you think is going to watch the kids when the parents are working if the schools close? Many parents have lost their jobs this past year and had to start with new companies. They don't have the vacation time to stay at home. There is a lot of jobs where employees need to be on site and can't work from home Most daycares have waiting lists. Day camps are over till next summer. University students who babysit are back in school. Stay at home moms (if there is many) have enough being mom and teacher to their own kids let alone someone else's kids 40 + hours a week. That leaves the most vulnerable population left to watch and home school the kids..............grandma and grandpa..

Shouldnt they mandate that all bus drivers have their vaccine/booster?

Might solve the problem.

@Kathsgrdn - if i recall correctly, you have exchange students I’m curious why this program has continued in the midst of a global pandemic? What is the point of having the students in your home doing NTI Vs in their own home?

I just listened to the Chicago Commissioner of the Department of Public Health (who, by the way, is an absolute rock star). She does not back away from exprssing the need to be safe, but today she said that kids in Chicago Public Schools is not the danger that some perceive it to be, as long as the protocols are followed. There may in fact be cases in school, but it is in places where people let their guard down, such as outdoor and indoor gatherings and of course at home (who wears a mask at home? and she wasn’t suggesting that we necessarily should) that cases spread.

Hertaged07, I wonder that too but if people would vaccinate and mask, this wouldn't be happening. I had thought maybe things were getting better but there are too many ignorant, selfish people in this country. My exchange student from France thinks we are backwards in this country, having to bribe people with Crispy creme donuts and lotteries to save their own lives. And she is right.

"if people would vaccinate and mask, this wouldn't be happening"

A factual message, as simple as could be.

Children dying from virus. Children dying from guns. I think we pretty much decided in America that we don't truly give a tiny rat's patootie about kids when we ignored Sandy Hook and did nothing about guns. It's all phony baloney in America. People care more about their right to be maskless, unvaccinated, and packing heat.

Here I can tell you the parents anti-mask, anti-close is the strongest voice. Until or unless the State Dept. of Ed., or the Governor forces it we will be open. They had their 'research' to refute the doctors on the School Board or any other information people offered. Vaccinated people get it, masks do not protect anyone...on and on it went. PAGES of "proof". It got very heated, everyone talks their talk no one listens. We don't even have a clue how many of our high school students are vaccinated.

Kathsgrdn, Ask your student why all the trouble over the Pass Sanitaire in France, a country with a 59 percent jab rate, after their president imposed a jabbing req. for going to restaurants and clubs, hospitals and taking trains. So here there are carrots, over there, and here there are sticks.

Mind you, I applaud Macron's leadership, but France has a high anti jab population compared to Germany and the UK for example.

PS If France was the bastion on enlightenment your student would have you think, then perhaps this would not be happening:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/09/france-extends-covid-health-pass-weekend-protests-pass-sanitaire

Our governor just issued a mask mandate requirement in all schools. Some GOP moron candidate for governor had a rally at the state capitol saying we need 20 strong men to remove school board members, not data. I have no idea what country I live in anymore. The idiots have taken over.

One last thing, prior to Covid France was an outlier on jab hesitancey for normal childhood jabs.

https://i.redd.it/axpqxdrtld531.png

Apologies for the clumsy photo which cut off the bottom image and needed a second screenshot.

It's starting to hurt everyone. I am still in touch and sub for the school district I retired from. This year the teachers were told if they needed to take off to quarantine, or had covid they had to use their own 10 days of vacation/sick leave/dr. apt times. The district said they could not pay teachers to be home sick or quarantined this year. Do you realize how fast you would use up your 10 days with covid /quarantine?????

If you are jabbed, the risk is low for a breakthrough infection. Cost benefit analysis is obvious here.

Zalco, I think she only was speaking for her group of friends/relatives. Her mom is a nurse.

While I see great value in international exchanges during normal times, my point is that people are not masking and vaccinating and haven’t been. It seems irresponsible and dangerous to your own health to be hosting international students.

My exchange student from France thinks we are backwards in this country, having to bribe people with Crispy creme donuts and lotteries to save their own lives. And she is right.

I guess I misinterpreted these words, Kathsgrdn.

heritagehd07, all of us are vaccinated.

I’d be tempted to put them on a plane now instead of waiting. With the way things are going right now, I’d be worried that by the time school ends, the doors into Europe will be shut down completely, like they were earlier. Then what? I don’t know much, if anything about International programs like this (and I think it’s amazing that you are a participant) but if it were me, I’d be looking into getting them on a plane and home now as opposed to seeing it through.

The problem is not caused by the school,,or covid, or lack or immunizations. It is a lack of school bus drivers. This has been a problem for years pre-covid. I have a friend who started driving school bus when her son was young for extra money and the hours fit her schedule.. She is past retirement age now and is still driving. Bus drivers have to go through all kind of testing,physicals, certifications and training. Some on a yearly basis. . For some it isn't worth the trouble for a part time job. Then depending on the district you have to deal with unruly kids or crazed parents.

"The problem is not caused by the school,,or covid, or lack or immunizations. It is a lack of school bus drivers. This has been a problem for years pre-covid."

The problem is exacerbated by covid and lack of immunizations.

In Oklahoma, our gov'ner declared the schools to be mask free. Classes started 2 weeks ago. The 2nd week, the entire 5th grade at the school my grandson attends was in quarantine. Then another grade after that, and then the whole school. Just one of many throughout the state.

They NEED to return to non-traditional and put the damn masks back on.

We have got to protect our children!

Anyone else see or hear the news out of Chicago yesterday? I think they said 10% of school bus drivers quit over the district's vaccine mandate and they had to cancel all bus services - just before the first day back at school.

I feel like there's this stubborn clinging to the idea that things can get back to normal somehow, when the reality just doesn't support that.

Parents aren't schooling their children at home. They sign off on work the kids didn't do.....I'm told by a parent. We need education and socialization. Schools provide THIS. Home schooling isn't a solution....it's causing an illiteracy problem.

I have thought about backing out but I thought things were getting better, and they were.

Yes, I remember Kath and seeing our young go through this nightmare is painful; it really is a no win situation for them. My heart breaks for those kids who have parents who are putting a higher premium on their agenda over the safety of their kids. They are failing them. In addition to all the obvious problems, what kind of message are these parents sending to their kids? That it’s only about ”me me me”?

I know your kids situation NOW has to do with busing, but anyone who doesn’t think this is going to keep on morphing into more mutations and problems moving forward isn’t being realistic. I think it’s important to prepare for the worst and pray for the best.

Even today, just found out he is fine-we are remodeling a house for a couple and the husband is a bored retiree and drives the school bus. He is double vaccinated and just got over Covid now. The risk for breakthrough is NOT low for those who are vaccinated! Whoever believes that is totally not paying attention and lives in a bubble. How many people do you know of that have had these breakthroughs?

Just last night, we had dinner with my dad and his wife last night. His wife said her cousin's husband (77 years old) double vaccinated, got Covid and died last week. I know many so far!

In saying that, it's good they got the vaccine, due to what it "seems" right now is keeping many (not all apparently) out of the hospital, but to say it is low risk of breakthroughs, is just not true.

I hate to say this, but it is just common sense, if your child is overweight, has diabetes, any other comorbidies, they probably do need to stay home. A mask has very little protection and probably isn't going to keep them from getting it.

Week one, done. No one teachers or students in the entire Dist. out due to COVID. We'll get a weekly update we are told.

4 teachers in the same FL county died within 24 hours of covid. Multiple teachers from the same school in TX died this week from covid. There are jobs that require risking your life to perform them and teaching shouldn't be one of them.

It's not just teachers that are "at risk", the construction industry is considered essential....and they work unmasked. ie: Collin's wife was pregnant when he tested positive for covid. He slept and lived in another area of the house until he got a clean test.

Working construction, like teachers, does not get "at-risk" pay. It is, what it is.....and it's a pandemic. I don't see a solution...until they have better, longer lasting vaccinations. ♥

Ha, they (construction) work unmasked even before covid, when they should have masks - like drywall installers.

I noticed during the peak last year that city and utility workers workers weren't wearing masks when sitting in the truck together or hanging out next to each other on breaks - true no need to wear a mask outdoors UNLESS you are going to be in close proximity, which they were. I think they kind of interpreted being "essential" to mean "don't need masks".

When I go into the grocery store, it's always men who aren't masking or who are wearing the masks under their chins.

Yes, only men catch and then spread the virus. Men account for all the hospitalizations and deaths too.

Around here it's women.

If it wasn't for men and women this damn pamdenic would be over by now and we'd be OK.

A few anecdotal stories about someone who was vaccinated and still contracted Covid (even died from it) do not contradict huge amounts of data from all over the world showing that this is RARE. The data shows that vaccinated people can contract Covid, but that most have few to no symptoms, and that even fewer vaccinated individuals requiring hospitalization die of Covid. (A prime reason for masking is because vaccinated people DO get the virus without knowing it -- because they have no symptoms. These people become unwitting spreaders of the virus. Everyone needs to mask.)

BTW, people do not get 'double vaccinated'. Most vaccines are administered in two doses over a one month time frame. The vaccines DO protect people from serious illness and death from Covid. It isn't surprising that boosters will be needed to continue the protection. Vaccines can't be overly strong if they are to be safe for the general public. This virus is being fought even as it develops. Anti-vaxxers are providing Covid plenty of host bodies, allowing it to mutate --refining and improving its ability to infect and kill.

And, now..let's have all the High School and College Football games and pack them right

in, and "suggest" that people wear masks...while they are dancing and hugging each other,

and yelling and singing, and drinking . Yesterday was free-for-all day almost everywhere. How about

those virus numbers in two weeks? Boy...can't do away with those football games can we?