Schools across the U.S. are deciding how (or even if) to return students to class in coming weeks.

The talk at @theSMSD in recent days is a snapshot into the uncertain, uncomfortable realities millions of educators and parents are dealing with.

A thread ... /1

Whether students in @theSMSD get to actually go back to school (like, in person) depends on this chart. /2

Chances of getting to the green "zone" (fully reopen) by early September is looking pretty grim right now. @jcdhe
"gating criteria" for reopening currently looks like this: /3

What do those two charts mean? The left is positive % of new cases. @JOCOHealth recommends 5% positive for schools to fully reopen. So, not close right now.

AND steadily declining new cases (on the right.) Closer on that score, but JoCo still has a LOT of new cases/day.

Still, the majority of both students and teachers would like "in person" school, according to surveys @theSMSD gave recently. Here are student results. 70%+ want "in person" learning as opposed to "remote only." /5

Now, "in person" includes a combo of learning at school and remote learning. (It's not 100% in person, in other words.) Still, that breakdown is notable for the number of kids who want to be at school at least part of the time. /6

A similar proportion of @theSMSD certified staff also said they'd prefer "in person" models over "remote." /7

I've been told by multiple sources many teachers felt pressured into putting "in person", afraid that if they pout "remote" they'd lose their teaching spot at their school.

@theSMSD officials acknowledged that swayed results. /8

Still, most teachers and kids WANT to go back to school in @theSMSD That makes sense. My wife's a teacher (not in SM) and she is HATING getting ready for remote teaching right now.

But in-person "business as usual" school is looking not likely. At least not right away. /9

Then, there's the question of whether being at school is actually safe. @theSMSD is putting "mitigation protocols" in place. Students will be required to wear masks, families will be asked to take kids' temps before school.

And then, there's the air scrubbers... /10

. @theSMSD is purchasing nearly $800,000 worth of industrial grade negative air machines and air scrubbers to better sanitize and filter air in parts of school buildings. /11

These machines are typically used at work sites to guard against things like asbestos and mold. Or in hospitals to maintain a sterile enviro.

Now, they're being used in schools. /12

And then what about sports/activities. If you've followed talk around the Big 10 and Pac-12 canceling football this season, you know: things will probably get dicey. @theSMSD has divided activities into 3 categories: /13

"High risk" activities like football, wrestling and choir are going to be greatly impacted. Might not even happen this fall at all.

District leaders have raised the possibility of making up fall activity seasons in the spring. /14

I'll end this by quoting something board member Laura Guy said Mo, talking about kids missing school and milestones:

"We're giving up a lot of these moments in life right now, and we're grieving over it. But if we stay six feet apart and wear masks, we'll get through it." /15

We (as a country) had a chance. Now it's too late for kids in @theSMSD or anywhere else to have a "normal" school year. It's just not going to happen.

But there is still hope (unfounded, some might say) that we can still learn to finally deal with this pandemic. /16