But... you're not closing schools....

[conuly]

The health and safety of all students, staff, and families continues to be the DOE’s first priority. Based on current recommendations from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and in an abundance of caution, we are asking all of our middle schools to use phone or technology-based options to conduct March Parent Teacher Conferences this week.

Parent Teacher Conferences scheduled for Thursday evening (3/12) and Friday afternoon (3/13) will still take place; however, you should not attend in person. Instead, Parent Teacher Conferences will occur by phone or virtually.

If they're not closing schools - and I understand that this is a complex decision that has to take many things into account - then I am doubtful as to what benefits they think will accrue from not having in-person Parent Teacher Conferences.

Comments

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

They trust the kids to wash their hands but are less certain about the parents. The parents are more likely to be the same height and less likely to stand back three feet.

Mostly, it's to remove an unusual timing of "need to clean up post-event"-once the room is cleaned post-classes, it's not got people in it touching things. And, it just might let the teachers actually eat something without taking shortcuts.

[dewline]

That...actually makes sense.

[conuly]

That makes sense, except for the handwashing. Kids aren't any more likely to do it

[peoriapeoriawhereart]

Depends on the kids and the fathers. There may be some splay of behavior re:hand washing. More importantly, Dad might be the forceable handshaker type, while most kids are going to fist bump if that much.

[grammarwoman]

We just got the same announcement. The kids are out for spring break from now until the 23rd; my husband suspects we'll get an email before that saying subsequent classes will be conducted online.

[conuly]

DoE spring break isn't until Passover, though I think some of the private schools are on a different schedule. (Presumably the Parochial schools get out for Easter, which, same diff this year and most years.)

[jesuswasbatman]

I wonder if they're worried about teachers giving the virus to elderly grandparents etc of kids who might come.

[hamimi_fk]

I just went to parent teacher conference last week and no one was hiding behind masks or worried about meeting in person. Honestly not much has changed in a week other than media-induced paranoia. =\ Just my opinion.

[readerjane]

If they're exposed to the kids' germs, they're already exposed to the parents' germs.

[thewayne]

New Mexico State just announced that they're starting Spring Break a week early, i.e. now. And NM Dept of Health is forbidding public gatherings > 100, so movie theaters are closing off seating so each movie house holds no more than 100.

Interesting times.