Yes. Suddenly, across the state of Virginia, school districts are planning to have large numbers of students (and teachers & staff) go back face to face in a matter of weeks. For some it will be in phases. For others, not. https://twitter.com/AtMelemrva/status/1309238758613622791

What wasn't safe, financially feasible, or logistically possible for Virginia school buildings and classrooms one month ago is suddenly and magically safe, affordable, and possible with mysteriously stockpiled PPE, "creativity," and decreasing (huh?) numbers of positive cases.

My head and my heart hurt thinking about it.

Most Virginia teachers I know (present company included) can't work any harder or longer hours or give up anything else.

What do we have left to give?

Oh, just our and our family's health and lives.

So now I am hearing that it's partly because of this:

Rather than hold localities harmless, the state is threatening to cut Virginia's state education budget because of drops in localities' enrollment due to people home and private schooling.

Hence, local school districts in Virginia are trying to head off enrollment drops (and placate certain interests) and avoid massive cuts to education funding for future years by sending everyone back face to face.

JFC.

"Each year, public schools in Virginia report enrollment numbers to VDOE to help regulate state funding.

A new survey estimates that Virginia’s public schools are down 36,000 students which could result in a loss of nearly $160 million." https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2020/09/24/study-finds-virginia-public-schools-could-lose-160-million-in-funding-due-to-an-early-drop-in-enrollment/

Here's one way you can take action: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-budget-amendment-item-145-6h-sales-tax-revenues-second-edition

And then there's this.

Budgets cuts for education funding but $18.4 million in bonuses here. https://twitter.com/AtMelemrva/status/1309517725052657664

And a reminder of who is making these decisions.

(Not the same, ahem, as the people being compelled to do the work & carry the risk. But that's always been the case with teachers) https://twitter.com/RachelAnneLevy/status/1309624862592335874