Special Board Meeting COVID-19 Update in PISD - Summary Report
The recent Special Board Meeting on Monday, December 7, 2020, highlighted the impact of COVID-19 in PISD and the wider community. Key points include challenges with remote learning, efforts to support students without internet access, concerns about social and emotional wellness, and issues regarding health and safety, especially with regard to the impact on students and teachers. The meeting also discussed the strain on healthcare resources due to the ongoing pandemic, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and support within the community.
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Special Board Meeting Monday, December 7, 2020 COVID 19 Update Summary of the current impact of COVID 19 in PISD and larger community Presented to the PISD Board of Education
Education Remote Learning is not as effective as in-person learning. PISD teaching staff have done an exemplary job within the remote framework. Students may experience learning loss in accordance with national trends, but our data shows that most students are progressing. Remote Learning is inequitable if students don t have access to the internet. PISD has done considerable research to determine which students lack access and has worked to provide service to them. The number has reduced has been reduced to 2. With the new GEER funds, we will be able to support families that seek to transfer from Hughes Net to Kit Carson. Social and Emotional Wellness Students are experiencing anxiety about the pandemic Students are feeling isolated, but we have created opportunities for students to connect. Students wellness is ideally evaluated and supported in person, but PISD staff have made social and emotional wellness a priority everyday. Go Guardian, recently added to students Chromebooks, flags student activity and reports it to administrators in real-time. Health and Safety Children can contract COVID The vast majority of children dying from COVID-19 are Hispanic, Black or Native American, according to a new reportfrom the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . (NPR) They can also spread it to family and members of the community. Multi-generational homes are very common in the district. Endangering the elderly. COVID 19 impacts - Students
Social and Emotional Wellness A recent article Despite Safety Assurances, School Reopenings Are Taking a Serious Toll on Teachers indicated that staff that work in schools that are open have severe anxiety. Many have left the profession or are planning to. COVID 19 impacts - An Illinois Education Association poll of over 1,300 members in October found that one- third had considered a career change this year. Sixty-nine percent feel it is not very or not likely at all that schools could safely reopen for full in-person learning in the spring. That s despite most of the respondents reporting their schools have policies on safety measures like face coverings, social distancing and cleaning schedules. Teachers PISD staff have expressed concerns about re-entry. Essential Workers are concerned about their safety even with 4-1 services. Health and Safety Teachers have contracted COVID and several have died in New Mexico and nationwide.
Health and Safety The healthcare resources may become so scarce that re- allocation decisions are needed, staff may have to practice outside of their normal scope of practice, and the focus of patient care may need to switch to promoting benefits to the population over benefits to individuals. In such an event, hospitals would shift from amedical surgemodel to aCrisis Standards of Care (CSC) model. (NMDOH) Latest restrictions are focused on reducing the number of positive cases COVID 19 impacts Currently many New Mexico hospitals are experiencing a medical surge The term medical surge describes the ability of hospitals to provide adequate medical evaluation and care to the community during events that exceed the limits of the normal medical infrastructure. (NMDOH) Community
Statewide COVID 19 Cases by month
Cases by Day
PISD is in 2 Red Status Counties Channel 4 reported that it will that 20-30 weeks to get out of the red category
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) Under the governor s new order, schools that are already using a hybrid learning model and allowing students into schools, can keep doing so. However, schools doing all remote learning cannot switch to hybrid for the time being. The hybrid schools, which bring students in for in- person learning two days a week may see heightened restrictions on activities. Remote is the currently the only option for PISD From All Remote School Not Allowed to Switch to Hybrid Learning
National Trend Back to Remote Only
6. Face coverings are required for all students and staff except while eating and drinking. Exceptions for students or staff will be provided by a healthcare provider. 1. All districts and schools across the state are permitted to operate strictly according to the hybrid model and COVID-Safe Practices if the county meets NMPED and DOH established public health criteria. 7. All staff must be screened on a daily basis, including a temperature check and review of COVID-19 symptoms. While not required, this is also recommended for students. 2. Schools must participate in a surveillance and rapid response testing program for all staff. As of 12/7/2020 districts will need to meet the testing requirement for two consecutive weeks prior to return, even for 4-1 special education and at-risk services. Minimum Requirements for Reentry 8. All sites must work with state and local health officials to create a plan for contact tracing. 9. Bus transportation requirements: All staff and students must wear face masks. 3. Schools must adhere to the social distancing requirements and large group of their designated category. A maximum of two students may sit together on a bus seat. 5. All PreK and elementary schools must cohort or pod students into distinct small groups that stay together throughout an entire school day during in-person learning. All middle and high school students may return at a 10:1 or lower ratio. (if they are already hybrid) Schools in the yellow category must take all reasonable steps to limit bus seats to one student to the best of their ability. 10. Meals must be provided to students during in-person instruction and remote learning.
Made elements in hybrid and full reentry models requirements and not considerations Included requirements for mandatory online options Requirements for students to re- enroll in the school they attended at the onset of the pandemic Asked districts to skip rows on buses where possible Asked districts to assign bus seats Required face masks on buses Requirements for serving meals in cafeteria Requirements for maintaining cohorts for all students Requirement for contact tracing and rapid response Eliminate face shields as a stand- alone option for face coverings Changed requirement for allowable number of students in an elementary building in hybrid Added requirements around maintaining cohorts Updated ventilation/air filtration requirements Changes to Reentry Guidance as of 11/24/20
Currently athletics are scheduled to begin February 1, 2021 with a condensed schedule for all sports. No proposal for sporting events with fans at this time. We are waiting for clarification for green/yellow/red requirements for youth sports. We can have off-season practice in 1:4 pods. However, Secretary Stewart said in a Santa Fe New Mexican article (November 19, 2020). Meanwhile, any extracurricular activities should come to a stop, That includes athletic workouts for high school teams that were still allowed even as schools remained in remote learning. Athletics
There is good news: US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) vaccine advisers are scheduled to meet to discuss Pfizer's and Moderna's applications for emergency use authorization (EUA) of their Covid-19 vaccines, which some state leaders say they're expecting to get the first doses of in the coming weeks. But health officials warn that while some Americans may receive a vaccine by the end of the year, the country likely won't see any meaningful impacts until late spring. COVID 19 Vaccine Offers Promise In the meantime, experts project an incredibly challenging next few months From CNN article The US just hit a record 7-day average of new Covid-19 cases. And the impacts of Thanksgiving will only make things worse, experts warn by Christina Maxouris and Dakin Andone
The vaccine that will is scheduled for release in December is for adults over the age of 18 only. The general adult population could possibly get vaccinated beginning the end of March. What We Know About the Vaccine A vaccine will be released for children under 18 possibly next fall no current studies on children. Currently teachers are in the general category, not first responders Potentially, there will be four different vaccines. First responders could get a vaccine anticipated at the end of December. Two of the vaccines require two doses 21-28 days apart.
