PLEASE NOTE: Some comments made in Spanish are still being translated.

2020/11/12 4:00:48 PM EST Olga Hawn 1021 dacian ave Durham

Hello, I am a mom of DPS kindergartener and 3rd-grader. Despite heroic efforts from our teachers to try to make it work, I (and my children) remain utterly dissatisfied with remote learning. They both recently expressed to me how much they hate school, they are clearly falling behind, and in fact we caught our 3rd-grader watch youtube Minecraft videos during class as youtube is not blocked on school devices and parents do not have access to do it on their own. I would like to petition the district to prioritize and accelerate planning for a safe return, for at least some students and teachers, to in-person instruction. Research shows covid doesn't spread in elementary classrooms, and I remain utterly confused as to why we went all virtual for this group of key stakeholders who need in-person instruction the most. Clearly, lessons can and should be learned from the many other schools and learning centers that are currently operating in our state and geographic region, including learning centers operated by DPS. I'd like to ask the district to 1) develop specific, clear, evidence-based criteria on which to base the decision to return, 2) take all necessary steps to significantly mitigate risks to staff and students in school; and 3) to clearly communicate the planning to parents and teachers, so each family can make informed decisions about how to adapt to those plans. As a start, it would have been helpful to introduce a COVID19 section on the DPS website that centralizes all information about reopening plans, dashboard-like statistics on any COVID cases in DPS learning centers and (eventually) schools by grade, list of key personnel making recommendations and decisions with their contact information, dates of meetings, and meetings notes. I'd like to encourage the district leadership to lead, time is of essence here, and we are all waiting for you. Please prioritize our children in your decisions - they do not have a voice in this and will continue falling behind not just globally but also locally. Thank you for considering my request.

2020/11/12 4:46:52 PM EST NA Durham Durham

If we are to return to in person learning, he district must clearly communicate ALL planning to parents AND teachers. They must develop specific, clear, evidence-based criteria on which to base the decision to return or close, as well as take steps to significantly mitigate risks to staff and students in school. This must all be clearly shared with all involved as soon as possible.

2020/11/12 5:03:36 PM EST Katie Serfas 1019 Lancaster St Durham

Hello. I am the parent of a second grader and kindergartener at George Watts Elementary, and I want to express my deep gratitude and satisfaction with how DPS has handled the pandemic. We fully agree with being cautious with the health of students and teachers by keeping people at home. My husband, who is a doctor at Duke, doesn't usually have an anxious bone in his body, but this virus has him terrified. I have seen chatter from other parents at my children's school about pushing DPS to move to in-person learning, and realizing that you might be inundated with negative messages about virtual learning, I wanted to voice my support of your virtual model. These are very stressful times - my second grader has an IEP due to his Autism Spectrum diagnosis, so I am in a unique position to understand the difficulties of virtual learning, however, his teachers and specialists are doing an amazing job, and I worry about how he would handle getting a new teacher who isn't prepared to deal with his particular learning needs if he is transitioned to the Ignite program. For the health and safety of our students and teachers, and to minimize disruption now that a new normal has been established for this school year, I am very hopeful we will continue in the current model.

2020/11/12 5:08:53 PM EST Tim and Julie Dodge 1503 BELLEVUE AVENUE DURHAM

Our son Grayson Dodge is a 4th grader in Tamara Barabasz's class at George Watts Montessori Magnet Elementary School (GWM). We cannot say enough good things about how well Ms. Barabasz, as well as all of the Upper Elementary School teachers have done this fall in providing meaningful and enriching educational activities for our son and his classmates so far this year. While we don't think that remote learning can check all of the boxes that an in-person environment can provide academically and socially, our teachers have made heroic efforts so far this year to make online learning engaging, interactive, and informative. The input and feedback that you receive from teachers is critical to structuring a meaningful plan for returning to in-person learning that is safe and effective for everyone.

As part of your deliberations, we wanted to encourage you to give due weight to the importance of continuity and stability in the classroom environment. Starting out in a new classroom with a new teacher and new schedules can be a challenge for all students in the best of circumstances. In the challenging times we currently find ourselves in, however, the ability to adjust and adapt to these change can be extremely stressful for students. From Grayson's perspective, the first few weeks of this year started off a bit rough, but once he began to adjust to the remote environment and become familiar with his schedule, he was able to engage and participate a bit more. The change in schedule to start the second quarter was a bit rough for Grayson, bringing tears and frustration as he adjusted to the changes. He is now doing fine, again, but we do worry about what the more significant changes planned for January 2021 will bring for Grayson and his classmates. We struggled with the idea of signing up for Ignite, since he seems to be doing reasonably well in an online environment, but we also see the added value of returning to school in person, provided it is in the right classroom environment. This is true not just for Grayson, but for all students in DPS.

At this time, we ask that changes made in January help maintain continuity for students to the greatest extent possible. If a student was working with a specific teacher or group of students, we would ask that DPS strive to keep those groups and learning environments intact and stable to the greatest extent possible to reduce further anxiety and stress that having to adjust to another new schedule or a new teacher. This may include opportunities to have students choosing the remote option to still engage and work with the same teachers that may have returned to in-person teaching, and vice-versa. This can also hopefully help with ensuring continuity and structure for next year for those students that will be remaining in the same school or classroom environment next year.

Thanks again for everything that DPS teachers and staff are doing on behalf of our children.

Sincerely,

Tim and Julie Dodge

2020/11/12 6:24:42 PM EST Victoria Cattani 1003 Clarendon St. Durham, NC, 27705

My six year old daughter has been really struggling with virtual learning, despite the well- meaning and great efforts by her teacher. She attends a private community center because we parents work full time, and though they make sure she attends her virtual meetings, she does not receive any additional tutoring or teaching. We can barely keep up with helping her do homework and try to make up for the lack of content that is not coming through virtually. We can only do it after dinner, at a time when she is tired, cranky, and when homework ends up in constant crying, yelling and overall disenchantment with learning.

As a Scientist, I urge the district to develop an evidence-based plan for a safe return to in- person learning for the children who need it the most. We cannot wait until there is zero risk — we really need to mitigate risks and have a clear plan moving forward to care for our children and teachers. These plans have already been successfully put in place in other states, and in right here at DPS' learning centers (among other community centers and places where in- person instruction has returned already).

Importantly, this plan needs to be clearly communicated to parents and the community. How is it possible that there is no information in the DPS webpage about the planning for a safe return to in-person learning, the planning that is taking place, who is in the committee, etc? We parents need to know what will be expected of our schools, the expected timelines, the assumptions, and what the updates are. There should be a COVID-19 dedicated space where all updates are centralized and curated, including notes for all the Board Meetings related to this.

Thank you for your time, Dr. Victoria Cattani.

2020/11/12 7:17:03 PM EST Elaine Busillo McKittrick Lane Durham, NC 27712

Curious if there is a plan to get students back into the classroom a couple days a week or on some rotating schedule? Some kids are not doing well with virtual & this year is pretty much a wash unfortunately. Are there ideas being discussed about this so we don’t lose an entire year of learning?

2020/11/12 8:57:00 PM EST Rebecca Balderas 4817 Glendarion drive Durham

Please send our students back to school! My daughters are starting to show the stress of not being in school. They are depressed and anxious. They need the support of the school environment. Please send the kids back in January!

2020/11/12 8:57:09 PM EST Rebecca Balderas 4817 Glendarion drive Durham

Please send our students back to school! My daughters are starting to show the stress of not being in school. They are depressed and anxious. They need the support of the school environment. Please send the kids back in January!

2020/11/12 10:31:25 PM EST Morgan Rutherford 604 Watts Street Durham

I am not satisfied with remote learning for my children, despite heroic efforts from our teachers to try to make it work.

I want the district to prioritize and accelerate planning for a safe return, for at least some students and teachers, to in-person instruction. This means developing specific, clear, evidence-based criteria on which to base the decision to return, as well as taking steps to significantly mitigate risks to staff and students in school. Lessons can and should be learned from the many other schools and learning centers that are currently operating in our state and geographic region, including learning centers operated by DPS.

I want the district to clearly communicate their planning to parents and teachers, so each family can make informed decisions about how to adapt to those plans. A start would be a COVID19 section on the DPS website that centralizes all information about reopening plans, dashboard-like statistics on any COVID cases in DPS learning centers and (eventually) schools, list of key personnel making recommendations and decisions with their contact information, dates of meetings, and meetings notes.

2020/11/13 7:49:09 AM EST Shana Brye 2502 Pickett Rd Durham

Respectfully I request that the board reevaluate returning to in person instruction in January. As a nurse practitioner health is paramount in my values, and I also highly value the need for quality education. My concern is that as people move the virus spreads; given our record high numbers which will continue to surge given the upcoming holiday get togethers. The data tells us that we will have positive COVID-19 cases and subsequently connected fatalities. Is it worth your child, your spouse, your teacher, your principal dying? Do you want it to be your family mourning? Life is more valuable than a desire to engage with friends in person. My child has one of the best teachers ever this year, my fear in switching to Ignite is that she may miss out on a wonderful year of growth. The Ignite teachers won’t know our students. Please value life over wants. Thank you.

2020/11/13 9:05:31 AM EST Stephen Hren 230 W Trinity Ave Durham, NC 27701

Hi, Our household is struggling mightily with the online education for our kindergartner. I don't feel like I'm getting any information on the DPS plan for how our schools are planning to reopen. I greatly appreciate how difficult this situation is, and the heroic effort involved by our teachers and DPS staff. Would it be too much to ask for guidelines on what criteria DPS will use to reopen and the outline of a plan for how that is going to happen when those criteria are met? There now seems to be an abundance of information regarding reopening schools, especially with smaller children who are vitally in need of in-person learning. How is DPS researching this information and incorporating it into our reopening plan? Thanks in advance!

2020/11/13 10:36:53 AM EST Jennifer Franklin 1012 Green St Durham, NC 27701

I'm not satisfied with the current remote learning program, despite heroic efforts from our teachers to try to make it work. It is causing our child great distress, leading to great distress within our family. As an only child without family in the area, our child needs more interaction with human beings than an online academic program is offering, and his social needs are leading to behavioral problems he didn't have before Covid. We have discovered that relying on DPS exclusively with its current remote learning program inevitably leads to mental health problems for our child and as well as his parents. It is not a sustainable academic program for our family; it's causing more harm than good.

I would like DPS to prioritize and accelerate planning for a safe return, for at least some students like my son and those teachers who are willing to provide in-person instruction. Many schools across the nation are doing this successfully. An outdoor program would be most advantageous come spring. I'd like to see outdoor spaces being utilized for educational purposes.

Being asked to choose between an online program and an in-person program come January without being given any clear information about DPS's safety plan for in-person instruction was an impossible choice. I am seeking and expecting to receive from DPS specific, clear, evidence- based criteria on which to base the decision to return as well as clear action steps to significantly mitigate risks to staff and students in school.

Lessons can and should be learned from the many other schools and learning centers that are currently operating in our state and geographic region, including learning centers operated by DPS. Currently there are schools across the nation who are offer outdoor pogromming or indoor programming with many safety protocols in place. More transparency about the models/research DPS is relying on would be helpful. For instance, when I did some research on the Ignite online program, I found no evidence to support a plan for three or more hours of nearly solid online instruction there days per week for elementary school students. There is no basis I see for some of these decisions, yet DPS continues with these decisions.

I would like for DPS to clearly communicate their planning directly to parents and teachers, not just to school administrators, so each family receives timely information which which to can make informed decisions about how to adapt to those plans. I would like for DPS to include it its plan the kind of understanding, compassion, and flexibility that will actually support/meet the needs of students with a wide variety of needs across many different areas of functioning and does not marginalize or discriminate against any student or family for any reason.

A start would be a COVID19 section on the DPS website that centralizes all information about reopening plans, dashboard-like statistics on any COVID cases in DPS learning centers and (eventually) schools, list of key personnel making recommendations and decisions with their contact information, dates of meetings, and meetings notes.

Thank you.

2020/11/13 12:03:49 PM EST Julie Kent Arrowwood Court Durham, NC 27712

Based on alarming recent trends in numbers of cases and hospitalizations, I encourage you to keep students fully remote through the end of the year. If in January, some students opt to remain remote and others go back into the classrooms, it's likely that remote students will be placed with new teachers. This disruption mid-year will only cause more stress and chaos. It also appears likely that a vaccine for adults will become more widely available in the spring, and by the time students go back for the 2021-2022 school year, enough adults could be vaccinated to allow school re-entry in a safer fashion. As much as virtual learning has been a strain on my family, it's more important that we wait to send kids back until it is safe to do so.

2020/11/13 1:31:40 PM EST Elizabeth Ryan 801 Tamara's Circle Wake Forest

I would like to urge the board to reconsider re-opening schools at this time. COVID numbers continue to increase, and with the fast approaching holidays, it is apparent that the cases will continue to increase. It is not acceptable to put our teachers, students, and families in this kind of danger. Other counties that have opened have had continuous closures, confirmed cases and even deaths. So, I ask the board, which of your students or teachers are you willing to let die for the reopening of buildings?

2020/11/13 1:57:56 PM EST yetta williams 100 Laurel Springs Dr. #124 Durham, NC 27713

So, is anyone with any medical background looking at State and National Trends? Are you aware of the schools that just have adults that have had to shut down? Are you aware of the fact that we haven't been compensated for 2+ years for the jobs we are already doing? Are you aware that the "bonus" we received from the state was only 200 dollars after taxes; that we are doing more than expected than we normally do and now you expect us to go back with little to no protection in a state that has one of the highest number (and growing) covid cases third only to California and the Midwest.

2020/11/13 2:38:48 PM EST Reagan Murphy 2051 Northern Durham Pkwy Durham, NC 27703

Please consider by staying virtual, K-5 students would receive 4 full days of virtual live instruction rather than only 2. Also, I believe consistency is so important especially for young children. A huge switch (learning new routines, schedules, potentially teachers, etc) could be detrimental to students' learning.

2020/11/13 4:00:11 PM EST Millie Rosen 1703 Sprunt Ave 27705

Hello! I am a 7th grade math teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be:

1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and

2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district, and a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building.

Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community.

Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision.

Yours respectfully, Millie Rosen

2020/11/13 4:20:24 PM EST Rebecca LaMaire 700 Laurel Springs Drive Durham, NC 27713

I understand many are looking forward to in person learning and I truly appreciate the challenges of remote learning but given the spiking covid cases across NC and across the country I’m very concerned that returning to in person instruction in January will make a bad covid winter even worse. I’m thankful for the leadership DPS has shown by centering science in their reopening decisions thus far and I trust that the board will continue to do so. I urge the board to extend plan C through the 3rd quarter in the hopes that we might have a safer return in March. Thank you

2020/11/13 4:31:18 PM EST Heather Hall 904 Benton St Hillsborough

As an EC PreK teacher responsible for toilet training, feeding, and hand over hand prompting, social distancing will not be possible. When we met with these school board members present here, they had few answers for how they can best protect us teachers working with the most vulnerable population if and when we return in person. I commend the board for making safe choices thus far. The choice to re-open in January in person would not be supported with any additional measures. There is only so much that can be done to make in-person learning safe. With community spread on the rise through the winter months and UNC's experts confirming that school spread will reflect community spread, what is the logic of opening schools when case numbers in the community are higher than they've ever been? I urge the school board to come up with a quantitative measure of community spread % that will define when we return to in-person learning. I urge the community to consider the facts: cases are higher now, predicted to increase and there is only so much an underfunded education department can do when already providing 1:1 technology and working to make virtual learning successful. I see growth in my students even with virtual learning and I want very much to be in person. I also don't want to be the cause of community spread, infecting other educators and students, or jeopardizing my own personal health.

2020/11/13 4:35:17 PM EST Chelsea Bartel 3 Elderberry Ct. Durham, NC 27703

Dear Board,

I am currently employed in charter schools in Durham and Wake counties, and I've seen what it looks like to bring students back. Despite best intentions, safety precautions are not always followed and all three of my schools have had multiple reported cases among staff and students. Currently, the entire sixth grade at one school is on mandatory quarantine until December 7 due to students using positive. At another school, the only people trained to do vision screenings (required for special education evaluations) are out on mandatory quarantine due to staff testing positive, so all evaluations are on hold. That's what's happening with the best intentions and attempts to follow safety precautions.

Until and unless DPS can establish objective metrics for reopening and re-closing opening schools is irresponsible and dangerous with community spread continuing to rise. It is unfortunate that our federal and state leadership have not enforced actions to control community spread, choosing to open businesses when schools should be the priority, but you have the power to protect our community by requiring conditions to be safe before reopening schools.

Thank you, Dr. Chelsea Bartel

2020/11/13 5:10:55 PM EST Catherine Smith 2728 Spencer St Durham, NC 27705

Given how that the numbers of COVID are increasing/surging (and predicted to increase even more), I think it is very unsafe for children and teachers to return to in-person instruction. After a vaccine is available and/or once it's spring, this could be revisited. To me it's simple, what are the risks of staying online (not optimal instruction, but teachers keep improving) vs. the risks of in-person (death, severe illness maybe even with long term effects, along with more teachers quitting)? When framed like that, there's only one responsible decision that can be made.

2020/11/13 5:13:43 PM EST Eliza Meynardie 2325 Cheek Road Durham, NC 27704

I am a 1st grade teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even on a hybrid plan. The risk and spread of COVID is higher now than it has been since the start of this decision and returning to school is an illogical decision.

While we all crave a return to normalcy, from my understanding, going back to school on a hybrid plan will result in less face to face time for students and teachers. We will all be learning new routines and procedures, and will therefore lose instructional time when we may have to shift back online anyway when cases inevitably start to spread.

I love my job, but not enough to risk contracting a virus with long term health impacts and potentially death. Please make a choice that will keep teachers, students and their family members safe.

2020/11/13 5:38:29 PM EST Angel Peterchev 1416 Norton St Durham, NC 27701

I understand the huge challenges facing schools in the current situation and the tremendous efforts of teachers to make remote learning effective. Nevertheless, remote learning is not working well for many young children including ours (Pre-K and 1st grade). Considering the importance of children's education, we would like to see more concrete criteria and plans for a safe return to in-person instruction. In particular, we need a specific, clear, evidence-based criteria on which to base the decision to return, as well as laying out specific steps that can mitigate risks to staff and students in school. Lessons can and should be learned from the many other schools and learning centers that are currently operating in our state and geographic region, including learning centers operated by DPS. We need the district to clearly communicate their planning to parents and teachers, so each family can make informed decisions about how to adapt to and support those plans.

2020/11/13 6:53:56 PM EST Rachel Guthrie 1107 N. Gregson St Durham, NC 27701

As a parent of a pre-k and a 2nd student, I would like the board to strongly consider going back to in-person instruction, especially for the youngest students. My kids teachers have worked so hard to make online learning as good as it can be, and we are extremely grateful for the time & effort they have put into making this work. However, despite teachers' heroic efforts, online instruction is not the same as in-person instruction, especially for young elementary aged children. They need to be in school. I would like the board to prioritize and accelerate planning for a safe return, at least for some students and teachers, to in-person learning. We can learn from the many other learning centers & schools who have already returned to in-person instruction in our state and geographic region, including DPS learning centers. Please look at science and evidence-backed criteria in making this decision as well as in developing steps to mitigate risks to all teachers, students, and staff. Also, please provide clear communication to parents and teachers regarding this transition so that everyone can make informed decisions moving forward. Thank you.

2020/11/13 6:55:56 PM EST Melissa Rygalski 1016 Carroll St Durham, NC, 27707

Dear Durham Public School Board Members,

Good evening, I am a high school teacher (and a parent) in Durham. I find it ironic that I am submitting this public comment via a Google Form to a School Board meeting being held remotely for COVID-19 related safety reasons, while having to make a case for DPS to continue 100% remote learning. Nevertheless.

Current skyrocketing rates of COVID-19 infection in North Carolina which are, in effect, doubling already astronomical infection and death rates, make it unequivocally unsafe and irresponsible to reopen any of our schools for in-person instruction.

Governor Cooper recently mandated tighter restrictions on indoor gatherings, limiting group numbers to 10 people, down from 25. If this is standard practice for the state of North Carolina, why would DPS consider filling old, failing, and very poorly ventilated public school buildings with students and staff? To wit: my basement classroom has no windows, a leaking HVAC (and likely, mold). It’s an impossible space to make safe during this unchecked, deadly, highly contagious pandemic.

Studies of aerosol transmission have shown people are at risk of COVID-19 infection by spending more than 15 minutes in a poorly ventilated indoor space *with* masks on *and* social distancing. Why would DPS consider forcing school children and staff into such a dangerous situation? I will not orphan my child, nor have my child fall sick/die because people are feeling frustrated by remote learning or experiencing pandemic fatigue. Everyone is frustrated by remote learning, including teachers. Everyone is tired of the pandemic. But that does not mean we make foolish decisions that put the lives of DPS staff and families at risk.

Kids can catch up on lessons, but dying or being chronically ill from COVID-19 is permanent. I believe DPS should allocate time and resources toward revamping, simplifying, and refining remote learning for the Spring semester, so it works better AND we can stay safe AND lower COVID-19 infection/death rates.

IF DPS chooses to return to in-person instruction (after winter holidays no less, when surely infections will rise to unimaginable levels) while an unchecked, highly infectious, and deadly pandemic is out of control, both staff AND families MUST have the RIGHT to work/learn remotely if *they* choose, no exceptions, NO health exemption required. No one should EVER have to worry about losing their job because they reject being forced to work in a dangerous, deadly environment, period.

We teach our students that self-advocacy and self-respect are critical to their health and well- being. Self-advocacy and self-respect is also vital for health and well-being of DPS staff and families. Schools are not safe spaces for our kids or staff while out-of-control COVID-19 infections and deaths rates are raging and exponentially exploding across North Carolina.

Reopening in-person instruction sends the simple message that DPS is far more concerned with data-driven scorecards than basic health and safety of its staff and families.

Thank you for your time,

Respectfully, Ms. Melissa Rygalski

2020/11/13 9:04:35 PM EST Joe Colopy 704 N Buchanan Blvd Durham

I am the dad of four kids, three of them are currently in DPS and the fourth and is a recent graduate of the system. For the last six months, I've been overseeing my 7th grade son's work. It has been a struggle. Normally, he has been a strong self-sufficient student, but this year I have seen a significant decline in his engagement, grades, and mental health this year. 13 is tough age and all-online school has made it tougher, despite our fortunate circumstances. I can't imagine how less fortunate families are coping. It is turning out to be a lost purposeless year.

Based on my experiences with him and other kids, I strongly advocate returning to in-person school in some capacity. I believe that it can be done safely with rigorous mask wearing and other precautions. The lack of in-person structure is having a long-term impact on our children that is not worth the tradeoff given our better understanding of Covid and how to mitigate the risks of it spreading.

Thank you for listening. Joe Colopy

2020/11/13 11:05:38 PM EST Pamela Mitchell 55 Crystal Oaks Court Durham, NC 27707

It is difficult for me to imagine returning to in-person education when the number of infections is more than double what it was when we went remote in March. Perhaps more importantly, students and teachers are in a routine now and have established relationships as communities. Returning to any kind of hybrid plan would cause already traumatized people (students and teachers) even greater trauma as their worlds are once again turned upside down. It's like starting the year over again with whole new class combinations and teachers, and the socialization everyone is aching for will not be allowed due to distancing and masks. It feels like the lesser of evils is to finish out the year remotely and make a plan for a vigorous start to next fall.

2020/11/14 10:01:11 AM EST Monica White 27 wood stream lane Greensboro Nc 27410

I believe our teachers are in grave danger. As noted in surrounding counties where teachers and staff have passed away. Our metrics are higher than they were in March. Come visit the inner city schools or is a much different situation. You say your concerned for black and brown kid but pay no attention that the virus is killing black and brown people at a higher rate. I have to not see my family for the holidays because of Covid-19. But by all means make sure I show up for work. Not all staff members follow protocols and you can’t expect principals to micro manage every staff member an do their job. Proper cleaning doesn’t happen. I’m lucky if my classroom gets swept one a week let alone mopped which never happens. EC teachers are expected to to teach in person, virtual and keep the room sanitized between classes. It absolutely an impossible job to do all the while trying to stay safe. Please reconsider virtual for all students and staff until Jan. 15th. That’s 14 days after the New Year. Thank you for caring enough to read my letter to the members and the public.

2020/11/14 10:54:10 AM EST Kathy Lynn Bridlewood Trail 27713

I am so appreciative of the caution and care DPS has taken and continues to take. As a parent and educator, My hope is that you move forward with a gradual reentry to school in January, starting with EC, PK-3 (or PK-2), then 3-5. Knowing what we know about schools and spread, and the success other districts close to us are having, not having an in-person option is causing harm in other ways. I am particularly worried about students in self-contained classrooms who have no other care options. Community spread is happening without schools being opened (and most of those testing positive at schools got it outside of school). Many young children and elementary students have been in care situations since Spring. My own children attend care with children ranging in age from 5-12 and in a room smaller than classrooms with no Covid spread. I am confident that there are precautions (Masks are a must) and protocols when students/staff have symptoms or test positive. Middle school and high school are trickier to navigate logistically, but I think it’s why a gradual approach to opening is important. I do not envy your task, but we are unfortunately past the point of waiting for Covid to go away.

2020/11/14 2:16:25 PM EST Kathleen DuVal 1105 W Knox St Durham, NC 27701

I am the mother of a student who receives Exceptional Children's (Special Needs) services in a separate setting classroom within DPS. I strongly urge the School Board to make a plan to return some children to in-person instruction starting with our most vulnerable students. Please consider following the Wake County model of bringing back PreK-3 students and K-12 special-education students in regional programs. Our special needs and youngest children are the students least able to learn from online instruction. My autistic son finds the noise of Zoom unbearable and cannot negotiate Canvas on his own. Although we try to keep him working on asynchronous assignments, he has steadily lost ground academically and socially since March, ground that a special needs child is likely to take years to make up. As you weigh safety versus education, please keep in mind that all children are not the same, and some are getting far, far less from online education than others.

2020/11/14 3:26:52 PM EST Yareen Bern 1003 Lowry Ave Durham NC 27701

Starting in school learning when covid-19 cases are drastically I think is a bad idea. I believe we should continue virtual learning until we know for sure our children will be safe and the cases are low.

2020/11/14 4:36:25 PM EST Morghean McPhail 3201 oxford Drive durham

When I was sent the HR form to opt out of Face-to-face teaching, I was told that only those conditions recognized by the CDC would be accepted. There was nowhere on DPS's HR form for a person 65 and older, with no other health impairment, to choose to opt out, although that is still a high-risk category recognized by the CDC. What does exist is a great deal of confusion as to how any of this will work, an escalating number of cases and deaths in North Carolina,as well as daily notification of infections at different sites at DPS. Should the Board decide to reopen schools and coerce teachers to go back to teaching in person, there will be a great many resignations, mine among them. I will not negotiate with my life.

2020/11/14 4:52:43 PM EST Anonymous DPS Teacher Anonymous Durham, NC

I'm a 5th grade teacher who is concerned about a potential return to in-person instruction. First- the holiday season hasn't even started and covid case numbers are already terrible in every state, including ours. Second- we are already seeing districts and universities around the country reversing their decisions and closing down, which causes more instability than just staying closed. We're all watching these things happen on the news real time. Trying to force an in-person return during the very time period that will be worse and more critical than anything we've had since March is, quite honestly, tone deaf and irresponsible.

2020/11/14 6:02:11 PM EST Cheryl Navalinsky 3 Elmridge Ct. Durham, NC 27713

I am an EC IA that works with high school students with Autism. I miss my students very much and would love to be back in an actual classroom with them. That being said, I have concerns. What do we do when one or more of our students won’t wear a mask? Is there a concrete list of what the exceptions to wearing the mask are? What are we to do if a student has an outburst that puts themselves or others in danger? Where do we take that student? Or where do we move the other students? How do we safely do CPI holds? How do we remain safe when social distancing will likely not happen? Some of our IAs that will be returning don’t even make the $15/hour that other frontline employees have been given. I think these are just some of the concerns that need to be addressed if we are to return our EC students and staff safely back to school.

2020/11/14 6:30:22 PM EST Sarah 2652 Cherry Creek Drive Durham NC 27703

Middle schoolers need a chance to go back into in person learning also. It’s not fair for them. They are struggling just as much as the younger kids, if not more!

2020/11/14 7:47:32 PM EST Kaetlin Rauschenberg 908 Wood Chapel Lane Durham, NC 27703

I'm putting in my request that Durham public schools move forward with plan B to reopen, but also still doing it in a way that allows parents to keep their kids home if they or someone in the household has a high risk condition. As a Duke nurse that has been working through the entire epidemic, and another child that stayed in a daycare facility the entire time, I'm telling you that schools can reopen safely. It may mean smaller classes, staggering schedules, lots of hand washing breaks, wearing masks, etc. But it can be done. My 7 year old is suffering horribly from remote learning. All this screen time is damaging her eyes to the point that we've made an Opthalmology appointment. Kids this young cannot be expected to sit still in the classroom, let in front of a computer for 6+ hours a day.

2020/11/14 8:10:33 PM EST Emily Guzman 5 Slate Ct. Durham, NC 27703

It’s very irresponsible to exclude middle schoolers and high schoolers from the possibility of Spring semester in person. Middle schoolers and high schoolers would do a better job of mask wearing and social distancing than elementary schoolers. Also many middle schoolers and high schoolers are really struggling with remote learning. Please be considerate of them in your decisions.

2020/11/14 8:15:30 PM EST Maria colocho 512 Aaron circle Durham NC 27713

If I don’t agree with Plan B will the Ignite registration open again as we were told for families didn’t want there students in Plan B.

2020/11/14 8:19:51 PM EST Sky Jones Glenn School Rd. Durham NC

Please make decisions based on health and safety not because people are frustrated with remote learning. Frustration issues can be solved or worked on but you can't do that if someone dies.

2020/11/14 8:43:53 PM EST craig williams 305 faucette ave. Burlington, NC

I do not think that schools should reopen, but to stay remote until there is a definite vaccine passed by the CDC and it has been mentioned to our newly elected President Joseph Biden. This pandemic is to serious to lose lives or to open schools back up because the numbers arise continuing to rise as well as most adults are wearing face masks as they should and they are practicing social distance. Also alot of us have family members that are seniors and essential workers that we are in connection with them on a consistent basis. It could be very dangerous and that this pandemic could really get out of hand if start to reopen schools and colleagues and students come back. why? Because on Tv you see people wearing face mask and showing safety , but in reality most adults as well as kids are not doing this as they should. The pandemic data wouldn't show the danger that the nation is in if it was the case.

2020/11/14 9:15:51 PM EST Misty Dickerson 3011 Hopkins Rd Bahama

Our kids need to be back in person! 5 days a week!

2020/11/14 9:44:56 PM EST LaTeisha Davis 3622 Colchester Street Unit 20 Durham, NC 27707

Every other establishment is open at this point, school should be too. My daughter is doing virtual K, she has a wonderful teacher and is learning but not as much as she could be if she was in the classroom with a teacher who is educated and qualified to help her in ways that I can’t. She also receives speech and occupational therapy and to put it mildly it’s not working. These years are so important for certain developmental skills and social skills. It seems she is deteriorating in learning which is unacceptable for me. Now y’all spoke on the hard of hearing and self contained classes will be in attendance for days a week. What about the kids that receive other services as well? Continue doing it virtual the other two days, please think about the other challenged children that need to receive service in person verses virtual. I understand it’s unfortunate for teachers to not have a choice to go back to work, I work in healthcare, I didn’t have a choice either.

2020/11/14 9:55:04 PM EST Laura williford 3007 Deerchase Wynd Durham , NC 27712

Thank you for working to give families with younger children the choice to send their children back. My kids have been at a preschool that has a learning pod since September. They have safety protocols in place and it’s gone so well. We’ve been very fortunate to be able to provide that for our children because I know so many families can’t. I fear that those less fortunate are not getting their voices heard or are getting left behind. Please please move forward with Plan B like so many other counties in our state. You can’t expect there to be no cases. COVID isn’t going anywhere but we can’t continue to live out of fear. With the safety precautions in place, schools should be able to operate and our kids get the education they deserve. For the families who don’t feel that it’s safe, they can opt to sign up for Ignite. But please don’t only listen to the extreme vocal ones who are adamant about not reopening in person. That’s not fair to the ones who do want to be given the option to send ours back. Also it’s already been said by shown that schools aren’t super spreaders. Our kids deserve to be given the best education so please give us an option to allow our kids to be in person.

2020/11/14 9:59:27 PM EST Lorie Lowans-Wells 109 Vantage Court Durham NC 27712

I am very concerned about the safety of my child and her teachers with Plan B. There has been no decrease or change in the Covid 19 virus situation from when the school home quarantine started and now. Universities have been virus hotspots when they reopened to in-person and quickly shut back down- more stress and chaos. My kids will end up using Ignite which will mean another change and new tech for my 10yo. We were just now feeling competent with Canvas. I am immune compromised and my 78yo mother (whom we help) is at very high risk. In my opinion this is the wrong time to return to school.

2020/11/14 10:16:16 PM EST William McLean 5 Current Lane Durham, NC 27712

While I appreciate the consideration of options for students to return, however with rising cases in the community, I *strongly* fear for the safety of students, faculty, and staff, if plans are implemented to return to in-person learning. I implore DPS to keep the safety of the community in the forefront of your decision making process and wait until either cases have dropped to negligible levels or a vaccine is available. Witnessing the rise of cases within other school districts is cause for concern, and if there was a time to return even some students to in- person instruction - that time is not now.

2020/11/14 10:31:18 PM EST Hannah Hodson McLean 5 Current Ln Durham, NC 27712

I have concerns about the timing for implementing this plan. Cases are steeply increasing in NC, and reopening after the holidays when people are likely to be traveling seems extra risky. I do think this is a strong plan to consider when the number of cases in NC shows a sustained steady downward trend. As a DPS staff member, I am looking forward to getting back to in person work when it’s safe for students and staff.

2020/11/14 10:50:46 PM EST Emma McTavish 8008 Crenshaw Ln Durham, NC 27713

I, like every parent, want and need my children to go back to in-person school. Remote learning is hard, and at times it feels impossible. However, we were promised a safe return to school. This is not it. Covid cases are rising and in January we will be in the middle of cold weather, with cases likely surging further. Additionally, we as a country appear to be on the precipice of a vaccine, which is the only clear solution and path forward for our families and children. This is not the time to relax the measures that were put in place to protect our children, teachers, and staff. This is the time to stay home, remain vigilant, continue to protect our community, and stay the course towards a vaccine. Durham Public Schools should follow the guidance set in place that limits in person gatherings. This virus does not care if in-person gatherings are occurring in the name of education. DPS must continue to educate our children to the best of their ability, while remaining safe at home.

2020/11/15 5:25:37 AM EST Anonymous North Durham area 27704

Why does DPS always claim that when a staff member tests positive for covid they are never in the building or work around anyone and doesn't close the building for cleaning? How can you work some where and never come in contact with someone? Why was teachers given bonuses when you have classified staff working at the learning centers since August risking their lives and DPS hasn't considered giving them a bonus or even thanked them for being their test dummies for the reopening of schools in January? Now classified staff are being forced to return to work or resign in January if they don't have serious health conditions. Custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and learning center staff deserve a bonus just like the teachers. Does DPS not value the lives of their classified staff?

2020/11/15 5:35:02 AM EST Mary lawson 2906 Fayetteville rd. 27713

DPS doesn't value the lives of their classified employees. Most have been working since August and haven't recieved a simple thank you yet teachers got a bonus. Learning center staff, bus drivers, and custodians deserve a raise. DPS used them to figure out a reopening plan but can't give them a bonus.

2020/11/15 6:58:40 AM EST THOMAS V ADMAY 1332 Campus Drive Durham, NC 27708

DPS

I am the father of a 3rd grade student at George Watts.

Please do not go back to in-person schooling in the spring. While the current system of remote instruction is no comparison to normal in-person school, and our students are struggling, it is improving. The teachers are gaining experience working in this format and getting much better at making the most of this bad situation. I fear that if part of DPS goes back in-person and part remains in remote learning that the teachers will be stretched so thin that it will end up being worse for everyone. And many students will be taken away from the teachers who have gotten to know them. It will effectively be scrambling the whole school system and starting all over from scratch.

Covid-19 infection levels are hitting all time highs in the US, this is not the time to introduce this major breach to social distancing to the community.

If we can just hold out for the rest of this school year there is likely to be a vaccine allowing everyone to safely return to school in the fall.

The large amount of money that would have to be invested to make the school buildings functional during the pandemic will largely be wasted once a vaccine is available.

Thank you,

Tom Admay

2020/11/15 8:05:07 AM EST Jennifer Jensen 1710 Rosetta Dr Durham, NC 27701

We are thrilled with the District's plan to re-open in person! Our daughter has never adapted to online learning. Every day is a struggle to force her to sit in front of her Zoom class through threats, or to let her wander off and do what she wants while class continues without her. She is bright and has always thrived in in-person class environments, so it has been heartbreaking to go through an entire semester of learning this way. Since Dr. Mandy Cohen has repeatedly said that school openings in the state have not contributed to the spread of COVID-19, we feel comfortable sending our daughter back to an in-person learning environment.

2020/11/15 8:18:37 AM EST Erin Dowling 1007 W Trinity Ave Durham, NC 27701

I've been incredibly frustrated with DPS since March 13th when the doors closed as it's never been clear there is any sense of communication or drive to get these kids back in school. My daughter is 6. She's suffered tremendously from not being in a classroom. The virtual learning model that Watts developed (despite us having a great teacher) is subpar, at best. Young kids NEED to be in the classroom. They NEED structure. While two days is a step in the right direction, it's not enough and it's actually incredibly disruptive to the (very expensive) childcare that we've had to put together and will seem to still need with this proposed model. We are two FT workers with very demanding jobs. We don't have the ability to flex and teach. FT in person schooling has been rolled out across the country successfully. I ask that you take this into account for not only our family, but especially for the many many children who are suffering far worse.

2020/11/15 9:49:32 AM EST Patrick G Murphy 128 Canadian Ct Durham

When reviewing a reopening plan, my biggest priorities are maintaining continuity (i.e. teacher and classmates), increasing instructional time, and, of course, safety. The proposed plan loses on all counts. There's no option to specify staying with the same teacher regardless of format. Actual instructional time would drop from 3 days to 2 days. While in-person instruction has some inherent risk, by limiting the number of instructional days to 2, many children will end up in other cohorts for the other 3 days. The net result is a larger network of exposure and more risk.

Please scrap this plan and create a new one that follows the successful protocols that have been used in childcare centers throughout the pandemic.

2020/11/15 10:14:58 AM EST Tammy Slenn-Lloyd 1102 Sophomore Ct. Durham

I have many concerns, primarily about the safety of this plan. By sending children two days per week, the cohort of each child then becomes their class + each child’s cohort the other three days per week. For a 10-student class cohort, this could realistically amount to a 100-child or more pod (not counting family interactions and interactions outside of a school/childcare setting). These children will not be sitting home by themselves the other three days per week, and when they then participate in any sort of group care setting, it is an exposure and contact tracing nightmare. Even for those who are home with parents during the days they don’t attend school, they are in turn exposed to the other children in their class who are not.

I am also concerned about the Ignite option - who are the teachers? Will opting into Ignite mean losing enrichments like small groups through AIG, etc.?

2020/11/15 12:21:01 PM EST Jillian Sanchez Valley Springs Rd Durham, NC

Ms Jovania Lewis hit the nail on the head a few board meetings ago when she said that DPS is losing students. We are losing students to depression, neglect, abuse, food insecurity, boredom, and we are definitely losing that DPS ‘spark.’ Please see how other school districts have implemented safe and successful school openings and recreate that process here in Durham. Those who wish to remain online still have that option but many students require a way to be physically in the classroom. We have been waiting patiently for months giving grace and flexibility as requested by DPS. Please return the sentiment by supporting families and students who wish to return to campus.

2020/11/15 12:39:13 PM EST Tal Matalon 208 N. Driver St Durham

I would like to thank the board and DPS administration for their ongoing work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff thus far. After seeing you decide to prioritize safety over political pressure repeatedly, I was surprised and disappointed to see the plan B outline published for January. We are seeing another spike in new cases, we get e-mails about staff at different school buildings being tested positive daily, and the board is considering bringing staff and students into buildings in the height of flu season? Not only is this unsafe, I am also unclear on the pedagogical benefits of this transition that is being suggested. Students and staff need consistency. We have worked so hard to adjust to remote learning and adapt our teaching and curriculum. This is far from what we became teachers for, but it is at least consistent. With going back into the building and the inevitable closings we will have as cases are discovered in schools, how do we keep things consistent? This plan is also not sustainable - now we are told that we will be expected to deliver instruction to both remote students and in-person-but-still-through-Canvas students every day, and sacrifice our planning time to be supervising students while they attend virtual specials - we all already work so many non-contractual hours and still feel like we are constantly behind. There just aren't enough hours in a day. We were told that teachers would teach either remotely or in person, but the A/B cohort model means any in-person teacher is in fact doing both simultaneously. DPS students, staff, and families need the board to make the right decision and make the in- person option opt-in, not the default. That way families that need to send their students to school in person, and teachers and staff who choose to go into building in person, can be matched and a plan can be made for them, and no one has to choose between their career or education and their health and safety. Thank you again for taking the time to hear from the public and make the right decision for our communities.

2020/11/15 12:58:28 PM EST James Finnegan 916 Berkeley St Durham, NC 27705

Hi, I am a social studies teacher at Hillside High School. First, I'd like to say that with COVID cases on the rise, I don't see any way it's going to be safe to move to Plan B in January, especially while most levels of government are still doing nothing to contain the virus. I oppose Dr. Mubenga's reopening plan because it does not have clear health metrics about how a decision can be made to reopen, and because I don't think educators should be forced to choose between their own safety and their jobs during a pandemic. I do support changes to Plan C that would make learning more manageable for all students, parents and educators. Let's work on those changes instead of rushing into a reopening when it's not safe. James Finnegan

2020/11/15 1:55:45 PM EST Leonard Rhew 3011 Broomsedge Way 27712

I have 2 children one 9 and one 7. They both need to be in school however my 7 year old shave been held back last year now she should be held back this year. She receives services for speech reading and math. I know the teachers are trying but she can not learn by working in zoom classes. Honestly it is a joke and I feel my wife and I are pulling out our hair day in and out and the reality is it’s not even helping my daughter. I try not to get angry but all the people who are pushing for at home are the ones who have the means to make it work. The ones who struggle are the parents who have real jobs that make the world turn and their children. Should the trash man and the grocery store worker stay at home to teach so the person who opted for their child to stay home and then put them in a pod can think they are doing the right thing. Lastly DPS has really lost the stay at home and child in poverty.

2020/11/15 2:59:46 PM EST Rita Rathbone 105 Moray Drive Raleigh, NC 27613

Dear Dr. Mubenga and Board Members,

This plan contains a number of aspects. One is the timing of a possible return. Another is the logistics of school once we are back in person. I think we need to put both of those aside for now and look at a more basic issue, and that is why. Why are we trying to return to in-person instruction? Some seem to think that answer is obvious, that students would benefit from in- person instruction. Where is the data on this topic? I see none in this proposal. Of course we know “normal” in person instruction is likely better, but this will not be normal instruction. Many districts across the country started remote and have transitioned to in person; where is the data about improved educational and social/emotional outcomes after that transition? Data from some sources actually show that remote learning improved student mental health (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-53884401). Of course, this is not conclusive by any means, but it is proof that our assumptions need to be questioned carefully. Existing data reflecting poorly on remote learning does not attempt to isolate variables of other pandemic-related stressors on student well-being and learning nor does it control for things like technology access.

One thing that is absolutely clear in lots of data is that students are most successful when provided structure and consistency in learning environments. A mid-year return to some sort of in person schooling does not provide that; in fact it would disrupt it. Students may have to change teachers and classmates. Zoom is imperfect, but in some ways it seems more personal than teaching with a mask would. There are likely to be frequent disruptions when exposure requires quarantining of staff or students. There will be substitute teachers needed. The district did not have enough subs before Covid, what solutions are in place for that issue now? Students will have to maintain two schedules, one for remote days and one for in person days. This plan highlights that students will still be doing most assignments through Canvas, sitting at their desks in a classroom. If that is the case then I must ask, what exactly is the point? If data does not show a clear benefit to students, and there is possible detriment regarding both academic performance and Covid risk, why are we even considering it? Frankly, we are getting very close to the ethical quagmire that is asking school staff to risk their lives to provide childcare to other parents. Absolutely no one signed up for that job.

No one has bothered to ask teachers as far as I know, but my online classes are going quite well. Students are learning and having fun and we have developed a sense of community. No, it is not perfect, but it is working. In fact, the impression of those that have observed lots of online instruction is that overall it is indeed going well now that everyone is finally used to it.

Now let’s get to those logistics that we set aside. All of you who are former teachers, please take a moment to try and think through the logistics of planning for, assessing, and supporting simultaneous modified in-person and remote instruction. Experienced teachers cannot pull something from the past and tweak. To be effective, every single thing students do has to be reimagined and redeveloped. Teacher’s workloads have basically doubled for remote instruction. A hybrid model quadruples it. Spend a short time on teacher social media groups and blogs and you will see that the hybrid model is clearly the least sustainable option and it is pushing teachers to the absolute breaking point.

I am also looking for clarity on in-person instruction on Wednesdays for 6th and 9th grade. Will this be implemented the same at the 6-12 schools, specialty high schools, and comprehensive high schools who are all on different schedules? Will the time on Wednesday be used for instruction or wellness? If it is instruction, that would require redoing our weekly schedules yet again? It is no small feat to get students accustomed to log into live class sessions at the right time. We have just gotten students used to a new schedule that was required for the transition to a new common district lunchtime. What about the high school classes that are multi-age? Electives are mixed grade and some 9th graders take higher level math, science, and English classes.

I have also learned that the plan is to make teachers return to work from buildings starting in January. What exactly is the justification for this? I have successfully taught from my home since August. Why am I suddenly not trusted as a professional and must expose myself to greater risk when it does not impact my ability to do my job? Other teachers and I have invested in equipment to make my workspace at home healthy and productive. Will the district be providing all those things as well (standing desks, under desk exercise equipment, TVs or extra monitors, etc.)?

I am just going to come out and say it. We have wasted entirely too much time, energy, and money planning for a return to school this year that simply is not possible. That time, energy, and money would have been better spent in improving remote instruction. The BOE would be doing students good to simply read the writing on the wall and vote on remote learning until the end of the school year. The logistics simply cannot be worked out to a point where the risk/benefit ratio makes sense for students or staff and for our whole community.

Probably the greatest failing in all this planning so far is that the pandemic should have been treated as an opportunity to implement innovative ideas and reconsider many of our structures and assumptions about what school must look like. We have failed to envision all the possibilities.

I eagerly await the discussion to answer these and many other questions at the upcoming board meeting.

Sincerely, Rita Rathbone 20 year DPS teacher

2020/11/15 3:56:45 PM EST Tamara Curtis 5208 Penrith Drive Durham, NC 27713

If the school board are afraid to meet in person

Then they shouldn't expect the students to go back.

Especially the most likely to get covid population.

Makes not sense to me.

2020/11/15 4:17:27 PM EST Abigail martin 915 West Murray Ave Durham, NC 27704

I am worried about the reduction in childcare via learning centers. Is there any way to keep them open for the 3 days the students would not be in person? I don’t know what parents will do if they are now asked to go from 5 days of childcare to 2. I suspect we will face some non- supervised students. Or if learning centers are closed, what resources can we offer for people who need free/subsidized care for 3 days/week?

2020/11/15 5:34:55 PM EST Marcie Pachino 2133 Sunset Ave. Durham, NC 27705

I'm writing as a DPS parent and retired DPS teacher.

While it seems like more thought went into Plan B 2.0 than late summer's proposed Plan B, I urge Durham Public Schools not to re-open in-person instruction until COVID infection rates are below 3% and until every possible safety precaution can be put in place to make classrooms, buses and schools safe. Students and teachers are finally getting used to remote learning. Let's stay the course through second semester to keep students and teachers safe. Learning accelerates when teachers/students make connections. Let's not disrupt students' education by mixing up teachers/classes at this point or sending them back to school and then having to close schools once students/teachers test positive for COVID. DPS knows well that COVID rates are climbing statewide and nationally at alarming levels. That's unlikely to change between now and the beginning (or even middle) of second semester. We all have to accept that this school year is going to be less-than-ideal. But remote learning is better than putting people's lives at risk.

Should DPS decide to proceed with Plan B, it is imperative that EVERY TEACHER be given the option of returning to the school building or continuing to teach remotely.

In October, DPS held a Facebook Live event to share info. about Ignite Learning. From the hundreds of parent comments, it was clear that DPS had not sought widespread parent/teacher/student input before asking families to make a quick decision about Ignite Learning. I fear the same thing is happening again--decisions are being made without widespread input from the entire DPS community.

2020/11/15 5:51:58 PM EST Kim Ivory Glenn School Rd. Durham NC 27704

Make decisions based on safety not because of pressure. Parents have options with the learning centers. Teachers are doing their job daily remote teaching. Social and emotional skills won't matter if a child is on a ventilator or in a casket. No one truly knows how their body will respond to Covid 19. Let's not roll the dice with our teachers and kids health. Let's be leaders during the pandemic.

2020/11/15 5:54:49 PM EST Leslie Steele S. Roxboro St. Durham NC

This meeting is STILL remote so students should still be remote.

2020/11/15 6:17:47 PM EST Sarah Green Red Mill Rd. Durham NC

Instruction or loss lives. We can always make adjustments with instruction but not lives. Which is more important. Stop trying to pacify everyone. Continue to keep everyone safe.

2020/11/15 6:21:18 PM EST Tavon Marcus Catamount Ct Durham NC

Keep our kids and teachers safe. We need a break after second nine weeks for a week or two then we can do the rest of the school year.

2020/11/15 6:37:39 PM EST S Weaver Costin Ct Durham NC 27713

I will not be sending my child back in January as I work in healthcare and know as covid numbers increase a big percentage increase has been seen in kids. I dont think public schools have the resources to keep her safe with hand sanitizers, eliminating parents from entering the building, and special aerosolized chemicals for the hvac system. If you could do those things and ensure each and every kid will keep their mask on then we would love to go to real school. We attend daycare and feel comfortable sending our kids there because they do the above things and it works well. How will you keep the kids separated in afterschool? What happens if a staff/kid tests positive will the entire school shut down for 10 days? Who is cleaning the classrooms? That should not rely on a teacher to do at the end of the day when he/she is tired.

2020/11/15 6:47:48 PM EST Lauren scott 1836 Chedworth ct Chapel hill nc 27517

School is essential & should be treated as such. I’m pleased with the current plan B as it takes into account many aspects of neighboring communities currently in school while trying to not overwork our already exhausted teachers. Thank you for considering our younger students & teachers.

2020/11/15 6:58:05 PM EST Amanda Pulliam 3531 Hamstead Ct. Durham, NC 27707

I supported full remote learning in August, when we were about half as bad off as we are now. I can't fathom returning to in-person learning now. Not only does it seem logically backwards, it sends a terrible message to our students (I am DPS staff as well) about our respect for others in our community and science. Most of my students and I have only recently gotten into a groove. A change would also upset that dynamic. I am in an at-risk category, and will either and up switching to teach Ignite, or will have to make other career decisions. We've got a weird but good thing going in my class. Staying remote is the plan that offers the best in terms of safety, sound thinking, and stability.

2020/11/15 6:58:41 PM EST Kristen Wagner 2401 North Duke St. Durham, NC 27704

I am baffled that a vote to return to in-person instruction is even up for discussion right now. It is not safe for the staff, the students, or the families those staff and students will come home to in the evening.

Working on a plan that could be implemented when the metrics show us it is safe - is good planning.

Voting to implement that plan the way the metrics are now - is just reckless.

2020/11/15 7:05:39 PM EST Andy Stinson 4211 Trotter Ridge rd Durham, NC 27707

What is the plan for 7th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders? Are they going to remain online for the rest of the school year?

2020/11/15 7:42:05 PM EST Gayle Guterl 811 9th Street, Suite 120-180 Durham, NC, 27705

We have all just gotten into a good routine: students, parents, teachers. While we would like in-person learning as the primary way of providing instruction, we are also observing the skyrocketing cases of Covid-19 across the country. This makes me very uneasy to have children in an enclosed space such as a classroom. If it is not okay to have a gathering of family members for Thanksgiving why is it okay to have children and teachers from various families to be together. Currently students are working with very dedicated and knowledgeable instructors in a Zoom environment where all parties are safe. Every week someone is having to quarantine teachers and students and just don't want that for Durham Public Schools at all grade levels.

2020/11/15 8:21:45 PM EST Chelsea Bartel 3 Elderberry Ct. Durham, NC 27703

Dear Board and DPS Administration, it's been a long year and you've been dealing with the fallout from a lack of leadership at the federal Department of Education. Our State Legislature did not stay at work to make changes to allow greater flexibility and creativity in problem- solving. Your hands are, in many ways, tied. This is not what any of us wanted the year to look like, and we've had to make big and small adjustments. Now is the time when, as leaders representing the interests of our children and community, you can do the next right thing. You can prioritize the lives of your stakeholders over legal requirements enacted before the pandemic changed everything. You can continue to lead in equity and moral decision-making. You can allow educators to devote the time and energy they have to improve remote learning, rather than this cycle of creating new plans and trying to predict what the pandemic will do. Please keep schools closed entirely to all in-person learning at least until the community positivity rate drops below 5% for 14 days. Please be bold in standing up for the health and safety of our community.

2020/11/15 9:15:20 PM EST Shomari Brame 3321 Mossdale Ave Durham

We all are family let's be treated that way no one out does the other if anybody shines it's not because they did it WE ALL DID IT

2020/11/15 9:33:29 PM EST Suzanne Minton 701 Bluestone Road Durham, NC, 27713

I appreciate the details in the plan for school re-entry but am finding the whole process to be stressful and overwhelming as a parent. I don't think that virtual school is working well for us as a family, but I have concerns that sending kids to in person school will lead to a spike in COVID- 19 cases. I think that I would feel better about a return to in person instruction if the community level of cases wasn't so high and/or we had a safe and effective vaccine available.

I am grateful for the hardworking DPS teachers and staff and understand that they are doing their best in a difficult situation.

2020/11/15 9:38:41 PM EST Michael DeBerrt 1339 Catch Fly Lane Durham NC 27713

I do not believe that Plan B should be implemented in January. I have chosen remote learning for the health and safety of my family. My son likes his teacher and has gotten into a good routine with school. Learning to use Ignite, with a new teacher and new classmates will be highly disruptive to his learning experience. Please keep schools closed and allow students to continue learning remotely.

2020/11/15 11:37:29 PM EST Amy Tucker 4011 Brambury Xing Durham, NC 27704

Why is the school not creating a way to help seniors successfully graduate. There's ways to make it work and be safe because for some ,virtual learning is not working and they are failing on their last year. Please consider how to make sure seniors pass.

2020/11/16 3:19:30 AM EST Catherine Admay Bassett Dorm on Duke's East Campus (corner Buchanan and Dacian) Durham 27705

I strongly urge you to retain Plan C. As a parent, I think this is imperative for a quality and safe education for my child. There will be enormous momentum loss for everything to be reinvented again. I do not want to lose the connection between teachers and students. COVID infections are getting worse: it makes no sense to act as if that is not the case. Nor do I think it makes any sense to spend the large amount of public and PTA money it will take to buy all of what is needed for Plan B. Our school--George Watts--is very old. The cost of readying it for safe air exchange/ventilation will be substantial. I also feel very responsible for caring about the lives of our teachers. How demoralizing it will be for them to be told their job/livelihood/vocation depends on doing what so many of them regard as unsafe/unacceptably risky. If we have the money to make a shift to Plan B we should spend that money on our teachers: if there is anything I have learned from the many difficulties of the last 8 months it is that our teachers are essential and we need them to be healthy and paid well. We have learning centers for those parents who really want their children to go to school in person: I don't understand why so many teachers and staff who don't want to go back to school in person under these conditions should be put at risk of losing jobs/exposing themselves to COVID for people who do have an alternative. Please retain Plan C.

2020/11/16 7:04:29 AM EST Annie Harrison 4000 Tyndrum Drive 27705

First, I'd like to say that I really appreciate all that the DPS board has done to keep us safe so far this year - I know it's been a brutal, often thankless job. At this point, we're almost halfway through a year I'm sure you never thought would be in your laps, and you've worked harder than I'm sure you ever thought you'd have to do! Right now we have choices to make, and even if we put aside the rising tide of coronavirus numbers, the stats surrounding our return to school are scary for teachers like me. As it is, we're pouring ourselves into a job that we didn't expect either; we all know how brutal it's been, adjusting to new systems and platforms and living apart from the kids that we love (because believe me, we're not here for the money or the fame). If we go back now, we risk upending the stability it's taken us months to create. It will take months to rebuild these fragile communities inside those classrooms, months to establish new rules and normalcy for the kids, and months to set up work/life management norms for ourselves so that we don't burn out before spring break. I don't want to speak for my colleagues, but I don't know many teachers who feel confident that the Plan B as posted in various graphics won't lead us to even more after-hours work, and I already spend all day Sunday and most nights struggling to keep up. I implore you to let us keep the plan we have, and refocus our efforts on improving our instruction, as well as the mental health and safety support for the kids who need it most, while maintaining the structures we've built so far. Let's look at how to make remote instruction better, and retrain teachers who never thought they'd be in this position and help them, not punish them for struggling in this new way of teaching through technology. But please, please don't send us into chaos with the hybrid model set forward in Plan B. We want to do well, and we've worked so hard to get where we are - I was our school's Teacher of the Year last year, and I promise you that the only thing I've ever wanted was for my school to be a thriving, joyous community where everyone felt safe. Jumping ship on our barely-established system now instead of patching any holes or looking for ways to make it better would be asking the entire school community to flip their lives upside down. Let's work on fixing what we have instead of throwing it out - we CAN make this better without risking our safety and without giving your teachers even more work to struggle through.

2020/11/16 7:05:04 AM EST Brian L. Groves 106 Winrock Place Durham, NC 27705

Please permit willing and able children to return to school. Those in need the most (special needs, unstable home, working parents, etc.) suffer the greatest. Any contrary action to this should result in a plan of reducing or refunding our school-related taxes so families can leverage those funds for services the government is not adequately providing.

2020/11/16 7:58:59 AM EST Ikia Hatchett 127 brownville street Hillsborough NC 27278

I just think it is a bad idea to start school back especially with cases of COVID starting to rise again and with flu season about to start.

2020/11/16 8:03:30 AM EST Jessica Silvia 50306 Governors Drive Chapel Hill, NC, 27517

With COVID cases rising higher than they were in the spring, I think it is not the best choice to send any students back to the school buildings at this time. Students will be coming from a variety of home situations - their parents will be working, their siblings may attend different schools, and their families may not be following social distancing. The same will be said for teachers. You can't guarantee the safety of hundreds of students and employees once they leave the school building. You can put as many controls and safety measures into the school buildings themselves as you want, but COVID will get into the school buildings because it is already in the homes of our students and staff.

I understand that continued virtual learning is not even close to an ideal circumstance for our students and families. Every student is likely to come away from this year behind academically. However, I think in this time of difficult choices, it is better to stay safe, healthy, and living, than to risk our youth, our staff, and their families for the sake of academics.

2020/11/16 8:05:18 AM EST Don Zeigler M.Ed /CI 7u7u7 27513

EC is due to return on a Five day schedule. When are the EC areas going to be sanitized? Unlike a rotating schedule for Gen Ed. We have already had families go through covid protocols so imagine if we were in a classroom setting.

2020/11/16 8:17:05 AM EST Andrew Chanon 319 Oxfordshire Lane Chapel Hill

With all the changes going on with the vaccine, why do we have to decide in November what we are going to be doing in May? Can't we just decide one month at a time?

2020/11/16 8:47:26 AM EST Tammy Chance 423 Cross COuntry Way Durham, NC 27703

I am not in support of this plan. This virus is still killing people and is quite unpredicatable--it affects everyone differently. I have heard of children and teachers dying, and even for a personal friend, her 17 yo old son threw a blood clot and had to have a testicle removed. THIS IS REAL--one more semester with virtual learnigni s the SAFEST bet--it is not about money. We Wil get students back next year no doubt. It is a matter of time before we see loss of a stakeholder in education due to returning to the classroom. Simply make STUDENTS and parents are accountable. Push on and people will adapt--but safely. Evolution is a natural process and we as organisims will adapt. It is about SURVIVAL of our species.

2020/11/16 8:59:16 AM EST Ikia Hatchett 127 brownville street Hillsborough NC 27278

I just think it is a bad idea to start school back especially with cases of COVID starting to rise again and with flu season about to start.

2020/11/16 9:10:49 AM EST Nawal Issa 3502 Oneonta Ave 27604

It would be helpful for all IA’s to have laptops to help with the classroom.

2020/11/16 9:12:09 AM EST Anonymous Main Street 27713

Please provide appropriate technology with updated software for our Instructional Assistants so that they can properly help teachers and most importantly, the students. They need laptops that have Windows and Chrome installed. They also deserve a raise! Please rethink Plan B. It is a logistical nightmare for many families and employees. It is not safe to return to in-person instruction until Covid numbers significantly drop. Thank you!

2020/11/16 9:14:36 AM EST Carson Crowley 30 Falling Water Drive Durham, North Carolina

I don't think it is safe for elementary and middle school students to return to in-person learning at the start of the second semester. Cases in North Carolina are the highest ever now, so if we couldn't go to school when it was lower, what makes it that it is safe to go in-person now? Are there things you have learned that has made it safer to go in-person where students, teachers, and their families aren't at risk?

2020/11/16 9:42:59 AM EST Beau Borek Durham, NC Durham, NC

Every week I get multiple emails saying that a student and/or a staff member has tested positive for Covid, but that there hasn't been any transmission at a DPS facility. The reason transmission hasn't happened is because we are all working remotely. How can anyone claim it's safe to return to school while people are still getting sick? This is so irresponsible. I work at a school where a second grader died from this virus. How can we so quickly move on? One week we planted a tree in their honor, the next we are discussing returning to school? Sending students and staff into a school building while this virus is running rampant is beyond irresponsible. People will get sick, people will die from this. How is Plan B even on the table when literally nothing has changed?

2020/11/16 9:49:02 AM EST Deborah Garrison 2409-A Camellia Drive Durham, N.C., 27705

Will employees who work for Ignite be able to return to their base school and the position they left, when and if DPS returns to a normal school year?

2020/11/16 10:07:59 AM EST Krystal Moore 3903 bivins hillsborough nc

Is there a plan should NC have to return to stay at home orders like many other states have had to do this week? There has been a 75% increase in covid cases in the last fortnight, what assurance can DPS make for students and educators and their families in light of this upswing in the face of school reentry? What about this with family who are immunocompromised? Will the BoE be providing appropriate PPE such was face shields and air filtration units? Forsythe had 50 educators test positive in 2 weeks after reentry, how will DPS combat similar situations?

2020/11/16 10:16:06 AM EST Sunny Hiraldo 5554 Spindlewood Court Durham, NC 27703

I would like to thank Dr. Mubenga, Dr. Bell, Natalie Beyer, Frederick Ravin for attending the IA meeting. This was a productive meeting and we feel like we were heard. I would just like to say personally, I don't feel safe with us coming back to school in January. I am an IA in an EC classroom and it makes me nervous thinking of us going back with our kids in that it is hard for them to keep mask on and to be social distant from one another is hard for them. I miss our kids, but I need to make sure that we are save in our return. Also, all classified staff deserve $15/hour. As it was brought up in our meeting this past week with Dr. Mubenga; the IAs during this time are leading small groups, doing lesson plans, etc., but we don't get treated fairly. It is about time that IAs are looked at for what we contribute to the classroom and to our students. As it was stated in our meeting last week; what would teachers do if they didn't have IAs? They would come in set-up the classroom, prepare their own materials, try to do multiple small groups, etc. We are essential to the schools and District we work for.

2020/11/16 10:17:23 AM EST Krystal Moore bivins rd 27278

As much as I love and miss my students I worry reentry will be disastrous to them. What has been described by DPS as a school day sounds exhausting and taxing for all involved. It is hard enough on all to conduct 8 HR school days online let alone adding in f2f on top. There is not ample prep to create differentiated lessons for double the class load in 2 formats. I worry this Will cause further recessions for students. A stepped block schedule for students and educators should be more efficient and allow for better personnel time with students to scaffold. Students are inundated with assignments and expectations of time they many not have during this pandemic. please remember this is a stressful with that alone, and we have no idea the stresses students may face outside of the classroom in a normal time. I its the BoE to remember that students and their games, and educators too, are people with intersectional lives

2020/11/16 10:20:36 AM EST Rachel Freyer 1805 Vale St Durham NC

I have an Exceptional Child in kindergarten at George Watts. Because of his age and learning differences, remote learning does not work for him. A return to school for even a few days a week would make a big difference in his skills. He is very frustrated and resistant to the online platforms. The teachers and staff at Watts have been exceptional. If there is a way to protect teachers and staff while also providing in person learning, that would be hugely beneficial to my son.

2020/11/16 10:27:07 AM EST Jennifer Duvall 6018 Newhall Durham, NC, 27713

Rather than go into a lengthy, fact-driven diatribe, I will simply copy and paste your own words: The Board of Education Regular Meeting is Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, at 6:30 p.m. The health and well-being of our students, staff and community is of utmost importance to us. We will be conducting this meeting via Zoom video conferencing in an effort to increase social distancing in accordance with the Governor's state of emergency and the guidance of NCDHHS. If it's not safe for YOU to meet face to face, it is not safe for your teachers and students. Common sense.

2020/11/16 10:41:19 AM EST Mary Grace Miller 20 Cedar Hill Drive Durham

With COVID cases increasing, this plan is irresponsible and unsafe. Additionally, it offers less consistency for students and families and reduces direct instruction time for students from 3 days a week to 2 days. DPS should remain remote for the 3rd quarter to provide instructional consistency and ensure safety for staff and students.

2020/11/16 10:41:25 AM EST Elena Brosnan 7114 MONTIBILLO PKWY DURHAM

I don't feel comfortable coming back to school, especially to a high school with 2,000 students before there is a vaccine. Covid cases are rising in North Carolina and it doesn't feel safe to go back. Please be considerate of teachers, substitutes, and other staff as well as students with health risks. This could be fatal. Don't let people die.

2020/11/16 10:41:26 AM EST Kim Green 215 William Penn Plaza Apt 1437 Durham

How can we reopen with such high cases here in Durham

2020/11/16 10:41:32 AM EST Alice Haystead 3741 Hope Valley Rd Durham, NC, 27707

I do not think opening schools for in person class is a good idea. Covid cases have continued to be on the rise and it is not a good idea to open schools. Opening schools has been linked to an increase in COVID cases. Schools should not open until a vaccine is widely distributed.

2020/11/16 11:01:46 AM EST unknown Southern Durham 27713

I do applaud DPS for trying to come up with a plan to return to school, but with cases rising I just don't see us returning safely. I am a concerned teacher and parent of 2 DPS children, one in elementary and one in middle. I am disappointed in the fact that no response has been giving to teachers who do not have medical issues in regards of IGNITE. As a parent I can not see myself leaving my 6th grader at home all day while I return to school(what if he needs help, what if he has tech issues) who will help him? As well as with this plan as a teacher parent, am I just to leave a 6 year old at home with my 11 year old on the days he doesn't have school? There is no support for teachers who honestly don't have care lined up for children, but you want us to put our lives on the line to go home and possible put our whole household in danger. I get parents are tired and want some kind of relief, but DPS you have teachers who are worried about our health, worried about having to teach in person and virtual at the same time because honestly that is what the plan is saying, on top of having no breaks during the day. I want to be able to stay home and support my children so that they can continue to learn.

All I am saying is please be aware that it is the teachers and students who are catching COVID, it is the teachers who are dying. What will DPS say then when one of their own dies? I simple sorry is just not going to cut it.

2020/11/16 11:11:52 AM EST Kenya Webb 709 Colfax St. Durham, NC, 27701

I absolutely feel it is ridiculous to use our elementary school students and teachers as Guinea pigs while middle school and high school students continue to do virtual learning. The number of cases in NC are steadily rising and here we are thinking of sending our small kids back to school. I totally disagree and thank God for the Ignite program.

2020/11/16 11:20:18 AM EST Jennifer Sullivan 2110 Carriage way Chapel hill, Nc 27517

Shifting the plan mid-year essentially forces my child to potentially start over with an entirely new teaching team. Can there be any consideration for maintaining a child with his school based teaching team even if we opt for entirely remote? Or if his teachers are shifted to remote? I am fine with some on person options if I knew my child’s teaching team would remain the same.

2020/11/16 11:20:24 AM EST Martha bausch 4900 centerway dr Durham NC 27705

Please allow EOC tests to be remote rather than in person. It seems particularly dangeous right now, given the spike of cases we are seeing. For those of us with kids in school where the semester ends mid December, we will be sending our kids into school just after Thanksgiving, when families have just traveled

2020/11/16 11:21:01 AM EST Kendall Morgan 1201 Shepherd St Durham, NC, 27707

I think there should be an option to stay out and not switch to ignite. Many would be glad to keep kids home to reduce load in schools but don't want to have a big transition to what is essentially a new school midyear. I chose ignite at the beginning of year, but don't want to choose it now. That's not because I want to insist my elementary kid will be in school 2 days a week with all the added risks and challenges that come with that for everyone. I don't think anyone (or very few) really want to leave their school for some other school that may or may not tie in with anything their kids have been doing up until now. So, if you want as many people as possible to choose remote for the rest of the year (or at least Q3) and reduce the load in person, ignite isn't the best way to do that at this stage. Many people want to keep kids home and/or would be happy to keep them home if it is helpful to the schools/district. Parents/kids should have a means to do that without being forced into a new school. In my mind also, the plan B as proposed isn't really that helpful to anyone (2 days a week, less synchronous instruction than we have now, kids in school but still stuck to computer screens) and is simply not worth the added risk and logistical challenges it brings to teachers, district, parents or kids.

2020/11/16 11:25:27 AM EST Amanda Webb 4916 Cheek Road Durham NC 27704

What about the numbers rising and schools that have opened having to shut back down? What about kids with disabilities who can’t wear mask? What are going to be done for these kids?

2020/11/16 11:33:15 AM EST Nancy Gasper Smith 606 Cheselden Dr Durham NC 27713

Thank you so much for taking 6th and 9th graders into consideration. The option for them to meet their peers and get oriented to their new schools is greatly appreciated!

2020/11/16 11:35:33 AM EST Sarah Thorpe 5701 novaglen rd Durham NC 27712

I think you guys are doing a great job at re-opening the schools. These kids have been remote learning for the first semester. The teachers are doing an amazing job the best that they can do but this is not working for these children. These kids need to be in a classroom setting and getting more of the education that this online learning can get them. When these kids do go back to school you’re gonna have to re-assess these kids because I can tell you doing remote learning these kids are not up to Grade level. There is only so much these teachers can do with an online approach. I know what the numbers show with all these Covid cases but with the proper steps put in place you can limit the number of kids being exposed. It’s time to stop listening to these parents that complain about you opening the schools, and stop listening to the ones that they don’t want their kids in school but they have the option to keep their kids at home and listen to the parents that need their kids in the school building setting so they know that their child is getting everything they need to succeed in life. If you take time to listen to these kids they want to be back in school they need to be back in school you’ve got kids that are starting to skip out on their remote learning classes because they’re tired of sitting in front of a computer and they’re not listening and they’re not learning it’s time to re-open the schools and do it in a safe way which you guys have already put in place you’ve done everything the CDC has recommended now you need to hold your parents responsible for making sure that they practice the social distancing and keep their kids home if they know they’ve been exposed it’s time to hold these parents accountable

2020/11/16 11:46:44 AM EST Jazmín Santillan 229 Bridgefield Place Durham NC 27705

I am not planning to send my kids back to school this year. Numbers of COVID cases are only getting worse. But I would really appreciate if my kids stay with their teachers that they have at the moment. Not only are they going through a stressful pandemic. They would also have to struggle in changing teachers once again.

2020/11/16 11:48:16 AM EST Kali Williams 730 Branniff Dr Cary

What type of PPE will be provided for classroom use? (Plexiglass barriers between seats?) Will teachers be given time to prepare their classrooms? Especially those who cannot access their rooms because of care centers? What will be expected of students for the days that they are not in the school building?

2020/11/16 12:01:34 PM EST Ilene Farkas 3112 Annandale Road Durham, NC 27705

I know we all have different reasons for wanting our children to be back in school, but my main reason is that my children need a more effective instructional environment for their developmental level. Increased asynchronous educational time does NOT achieve this goal, and in fact, will lead to even more disengagement on the part of my previously-engaged children. Please consider this when you are evaluating this plan, DPS Board. Please hear the parents who are at home with these kids every day: we are not trained educators and don't know what we are doing half the time. DPS can label it any way they want, but Wednesdays and Fridays are currently "days off" according to the majority of our children and families. Even if your child has a small group on Friday, that only lasts for 30 minutes. Adding a third day for parents to fill and attempt to teach their children is an unreasonable burden for parents and a disservice to our children's education. Please do not sacrifice synchronous instructional time for the sake of saying that DPS was able to figure out a way to send our children back. I urge everyone to remember the reason WHY we want to send our children back- for a more effective instructional environment overall.

2020/11/16 12:11:32 PM EST Michael Smith 701 Harrier Ct Durham, NC 27713

I don't understand why we would be planning a return to school when cases are just going to rise and the expected peak is in January. Durham is currently reapproaching our highest peak. Before our kids can safely return we need to get these cases under control. If we send our children and teachers back in January we will just be contributing to the spike in cases and will inevitably have community members die because of our lack of care. We should first rally Durham County to get these numbers under control, before asking teachers and students to enter unsafe environments.

2020/11/16 12:12:03 PM EST Quinn RUSS GREYSON DRIVE DURHAM

With all due respect to efforts that Local government authorities Have made so far toward improving compensation for classified staff; other than an annual or bi-annual raise, and other than an annual bonus, the Least that local, state, and/or federal government authorities can do to improve financial compensation for classified staff is a Housing Voucher (helping to offset the ongoing lion's share of most households' costs of living) or Tax Credit, particularly in the cases of classified staff personnel such as myself who not only have years' long records of serving the public faithfully and consistently but also have continued to recycle the financial compensation that we so minimally receive back into the local government budget/revenue by:

1. living in Durham County, thus paying local property taxes (which rise annually) and sales taxes, and/or

2. keeping our children enrolled in Durham Public Schools, thus maintaining the per-pupil funding that these children provide, and/or

3.supporting the raises that our fellow state/local employee colleagues Continue to receive.

Since so far No one has explained Why state and local government authorities continue to exclude classified employees from otherwise across-the-board compensation improvements, Even after downsizing the statewide classified staff workforce; it is self-explanatory that classified staff personnel must be included in all compensation improvements; and I for one am therefore convinced that such inclusion, as stated in the always readily available (though apparently too often overlooked) options and justifications above, is simply a right thing for local as well as state government authorities to do.

Respectfully,

Instructional Assistant, Pre-Kindergarten (E.C./D.N.) Durham Public Schools

2020/11/16 12:36:17 PM EST Anonymous Anonymous Durham,NC

School should not open until covid 19 is cleared and Teachers assistant should have computers

2020/11/16 12:41:42 PM EST Keisha curtis 14 Rhyn court durham

I am an EC IA at little river and Also VP for the DPS IA board. I would like to thank Dr. Mubenga and the board members who attended our meeting last week. As an EC IA, I am not fully sure that we are ready to return to school in January.. Flu season will be in full swing causing more ppl to get sick, on top of ppl still getting COVID-19 and we are all at risk. I personally think that we should wait until 2021-22 to return to school and continue online learning for the remainder of the year. Thank you!!

2020/11/16 12:43:04 PM EST Martha Figuerado Greystone Ct Durham

This should not be necessary, but let me preface this response by stating, I miss my students and worry deeply about their wellbeing in regards to many factors during this period of distance learning. Although we are all working harder than ever before, virtual instruction is falling short for many students. That being said, the proposition of returning to in-person instruction directly contradicts promises to keep students and staff safe. It is not March/April 2020 anymore. Eight months into this and national and local numbers are rising exponentially. We know more than ever about the virus and we also know more than ever about how people react to restrictions. The science tells us that COVID spreads through aerosol droplets. We now know that exposure counts cumulatively - 15 minutes total over 24 hours dramatically increases risk, regardless of masks or distance indoors. Air filters and PPE cannot protect students and staff form the extreme exposure of 30 hours per week in school buildings. In a normal year, teachers make emotional, financial, health, and safety sacrifices day after day. This sacrifice is too great.

2020/11/16 12:59:24 PM EST Sarah Sanborn 6205 Farrington Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27517

I reviewed the slide presentation with the Plan B proposal and strongly urge the board to vote against the proposal. The proposal as it stands reduces instructor led learning opportunities from 4 days per week to 2 days per week. The two face to face days propose students use their devices to submit work and communicate with their classmates. I fear that the benefit from sitting in a room with their teacher and half of their class will be far less than the risks of exposure from fellow bus riders, eating lunch together, and potentially cross exposure from aftercare. We are in the thick of a pandemic with cases breaking records daily. This is not the time to multiply our risks.

2020/11/16 1:00:14 PM EST Paris Lee Vearalance Marsh 15 Moss Grove Lane Durham, Nc, 27703

I do not believe that in person learning should occur due to COVID cases rising as well as elementary students tendency to put things in their mouths

2020/11/16 1:08:06 PM EST Amy Krebs 7509 Chesley Lane Durham, NC 27713

Will students in each class be split into cohorts? I.e only half the class is present at 1 time?

2020/11/16 1:09:00 PM EST Anonymous DPS Educator Anonymous Durham, NC 27704

I realize that families have faced hardships and logistical burdens under Plan C, and as an educator there is nothing more I'd like than to teach students in the classroom again. Sadly, however, it simply isn't safe yet. Please protect our students and teachers by remaining remote until an effective vaccine is widely available. Teachers love our students... but we also love our own families and value our lives.

2020/11/16 1:34:40 PM EST Caroline Bailey 900 Laurel Springs Drive Durham, NC 27713

Stay with Plan C. It is safer.

As a first grade teacher, looking at the district's plan for Plan B, I notice the following problems:

1.) How do I take an hour long lunch break when students are eating under my supervision in the classroom? 2.) How am I supposed to simultaneously plan while supervising students? I know every parent in the district can tell you that supervising a student during online learning is a full time job. 3.) If I am constantly responsible for supervising students when I am allowed to use the restroom? I do not have an assistant, and moving IAs around the building defeats the purpose of keeping students isolated in classrooms. 4.) If I am expected to continue instruction with asynchronous students after students leave the building when do I plan? Or meet with my team? Or do district required professional development? I am already working past dinner almost every weeknight. 5.) Students seem to be continuing to primarily learn on computers and submit work by virtual means. This does not decrease screen time, but only increases exposure risks 6.) With my attention split between supervising six year olds on Zoom and in person, there is no result but a decrease in the quality of instruction.

This does not sound like "the teacher experience reimagined" it sounds like a two different jobs combined into a nightmare experience. These are not the schools our students deserve. If we're #InThisTogether then #DoBetterDPS

2020/11/16 1:38:21 PM EST Lynette Lee 5710 Arringdon Park Drive Morrisville NC.27560

I would like to keep my child home virtual, I don't feel safe sending my daughter back to in person learning, is it possible to keep her with her same teacher? It would be nice to have some kind of consistency this year with her learning.

2020/11/16 1:45:35 PM EST Lynette Lee 5710 Arringdon Park Drive Morrisville NC 27560

Plan be shows kids going to school for two days only, will there be any virtual learning on the other days, this is going to be hard to manage a child with 3 days of no school. I work and so does my child's father.

2020/11/16 1:49:58 PM EST Queen Wilson 631 Mittenzwei Lane Oxford

Queen Wilson

2020/11/16 1:56:55 PM EST N/ N/a Durham NC

While I appreciate all that DPS is doing I’m not sure why you would want EC separate setting students, the most vulnerable of our students to attend in person 4 days a week? What does that say for how those students and staff are seen? Regular Ed is doing cohorts where students will only be in the building 2 days a week to help with the spread. But out EC students do not get that same consideration? Yet again it shows how DPS really feels about our EC population and the amazing teachers and staff that work with them

2020/11/16 1:59:02 PM EST Mercy Whipple 4210 Peachway Drive Durham, NC 27705

I think that if it is lawful and teachers are willing to go back into the classroom, there are ways we can do it safely. Trinity (private school in Durham) has been back for the whole year and has had zero cases. There ARE ways to make this work, and little kids need to be back in school. But also I recognize everyone isn't comfortable. This is why it should be an option and choice of the family. I also think there should be at least a PLAN for high schoolers to go back in the spring or in 4th quarter. There needs to be some sort of social interaction.

2020/11/16 2:00:01 PM EST Carolyn Rose-Seed 622 S. Mineral Springs Road Durham, NC 27703

I urge the DPS BOE to keep our community safe by continuing with distance learning. Distance learning is providing structure, routine, and consistency for our students. A return to school, with this hybrid model, will re-introduce chaos and uncertainty for our community while providing little in terms of child-care for working parents.

There are currently two very promising vaccines that will likely be available for mass distribution this spring. By January, we will have done 10 months of no in-person learning. By January, it will be cold and dark and the community spread in this country will be rampant. Why, why, why would we open schools at the darkest, coldest part of the year when we are so close to a vaccine? Why, why, why would we do something so reckless after 10 months of staying the course?

Durham County has done an excellent job to-date of keeping community spread in check. Our citizenry is by-and-large abiding by current directives from the NCDHHS. We have good overall mask compliance and citizens who believe in science. Why throw away all our hard work when we are so very close to the finish line?

I urge you to vote to keep kids home. I urge you to keep teachers and teachers' families healthy & alive. Don't cave to political pressure. Do the right thing.

2020/11/16 2:07:46 PM EST Autumn Weidman 910 9TH ST, UNIT B DURHAM

Please do not ope schools back up. With COVID cases on the rise, this is an irresponsible decision. As both an educator and teacher, I do not feel like my life is valued by the district by opening back the schools while cases are steadily rising. Please consider the lives of students, educators, and staff members - our lives are worth more than our discomfort from Zoom. As someone who is immunocompromised, I am having to decide if my job will be worth the risk to my health - and that is unfair. Please reconsider. Thank you for your time.

2020/11/16 2:10:32 PM EST Katherine Golding 400 Advancement Avenue Durham, NC 27703

For those who are teaching EC services, will be pushing into their classrooms or pulling them out for services to minimize exposure. If we do push-in, how will we be expected to complete all the students services when some of the pull out students are not in the same classes.

2020/11/16 2:11:28 PM EST Cynthia Thimme 2821 Stirrup Court Wake Forest, NC 27587

I am okay with going back, in the second semester, as long I have the proper protective gear to protect myself, my IA and my students.

2020/11/16 2:18:44 PM EST Jasmyne N Miller 1801 Williamsburg Rd Apt 48H 27707

I am worried about my health and safety

2020/11/16 2:31:50 PM EST Monica Crouse 1106 Rose Garden Lane Durham, NC 27707

I am not comfortable with returning to the classroom. My family has already been through COVID sicknesses and deaths. I am not interested in dramatically increasing my interactions with the outside world and risking more COVID sickness and death upon my family.

2020/11/16 2:44:27 PM EST Naja Maria Hill 1010 Professor Place Durham, NC, 27713

I feel like the high school seniors should go back to school because your supposed to enjoy your last year of high school.

2020/11/16 2:44:32 PM EST JaZaveon Smalls 52 Holloway St Durham, North Carolina 27701

I believe that we should be able to go back to school with choice for the ones who don't and the ones who do want to go back

2020/11/16 3:00:58 PM EST Connie B Durham, NC Durham, NC

I am an elementary educator in DPS. Currently teachers are working in endlessly to ensure that students are being provided the best education they can while learning is virtual. We have been working tirelessly to create engaging activities and lessons as we learn multiple new LMS and teaching platforms. We have taught students how to use these platforms as well. I have read the Plan B proposal and I do NOT believe this plan is realistic students nor teachers for a return to FTF instruction. Elementary teachers will still be creating the same virtual lessons and activities, but now it will be for 2 classes or cohorts. There are not enough hours in the day to prepare learning materials, record lessons and teach live lessons for 2 cohorts each week. Based on the schedule provided, students and teachers will have to remain the classroom all day with no break. Based on the proposed schedule, teachers do not get a lunch break they eat with the students in the classroom, who will not be wearing masks. Teachers will not get a planning period because they will be overseeing students with online assignments or specials. Students will still not be able to collaborate with each other and talk to their friends. What will happen if we all have to quarantine for 14 days because 1 of us has been exposed? I do not believe risking exposure is worth coming to school for 2 days out of the week. Will we have time to set up our classrooms in accordance to CDA guidelines? Will we be provided proper PPE? When will be have time to complete the proper trainings? How will fire drills take place? What will the procedures be for lockdowns? I’m concerned for the health and safety of our students, teachers and their families. It is NOT time to return to face to face instruction.

2020/11/16 3:02:48 PM EST Kiara Fuller 4417 Armitage Drive Durham, NC 27703

I do not think teachers or students should return to school, especially while the numbers are rising. Parents should utilize the learning centers if their child is struggling or/and if they parent has to work. Teachers should not have to risk their life because parents do not not want to utilize that service. As an educator for DPS and parent I do not feel as though it is safe. I will have to resign if we are required to return.

2020/11/16 3:12:25 PM EST LuAnn Lenz 1314 Farm Pond Trail Durham, nc 27703

Have you considered making the day shorter. Possibly ending at 12:30 and sending all kids home with their lunch. This would take cars if the problem of spacing during lunch. Have them all do specials from home and recess T home. This would also help teachers have a duty free lunch and not have possible exposure during lunchtime and would also give teachers time for planning,

2020/11/16 3:18:16 PM EST Matt Fitzpatrick 4126 Livingstone Place Durham 27707

Durham has done a fantastic job of offering virtual instruction to date under incredibly difficult circumstances. This board has rightly prioritized keeping our entire community safe. Now is not the time to throw all of that effort away, especially with effective vaccines just weeks away.

The largest study to date of contract tracing, undertaken by Princeton and John Hopkins Universities, showed that children were key to spreading the coronavirus. Children are no less likely to spread the virus than adults, and in fact are significantly more likely to spread it among others their age. (https://www.princeton.edu/news/2020/09/30/largest-covid-19-contact- tracing-study-date-finds-children-key-spread-evidence)

I ask the board to not move forward with implementing re-opening plans at this time.

2020/11/16 3:21:40 PM EST Jessica Sperling 909 W Knox St Durham

Thank you for your hard work. I have some questions about the hybrid plan from a student, parent/caregiver, and public health lens. This is considering a hybrid plan as a move away from the prior Plan B, where students K-5 would have the option of being in-person full-time. For children: If a hybrid offering means 3 days of fully asynchronous work (more asynchronous time than now), I wonder if this will meet the needs of children who are struggling online; the addition of more asynchronous days, vs fewer, may be a particular problem. For parents/caregivers: this schedule seems challenging for working parents/caregivers. I imagine many may need to enroll children in learning centers or other supervision on the asynchronous days. This creates logistical or financial complication, and it also means students are in growing numbers of distinct exposure contexts. For public health (building off parent concern): I imagine many of these children may end up in-person with DPS 2 days and in different group learning centers (or other supervision care) - all with different sets of people present - the 3 asynchronous days. This seems to introduce community spread and public health risks, with each DPS class effectively now bringing in exposure from a wide array of different other group learning centers/supervision care sites.

2020/11/16 3:25:08 PM EST Nicholas J Edge 1001 White Pine Dr Durham

I don't believe we should be going to school in any capacity, from what I know we do not have enough of a plan for how things are going to work, I am still concerned about my, my students', and my staff's safety. On top of the we are currently averaging well over 100k new cases a day, the worst it's been since the pandemic started. Given that, cases are projected to spike, again, over thanksgiving and Christmas. It would be irresponsible to keep us back in the beginning of all this only to bring us back when the pandemic is at it's worst so far. Also, I am not sure why, if parent's aren't allowed at sport events (in Wake County), and contact sports are not coming back, why we are. In the EC department we are also in close contact, and frequently need to be in contact with our students many of which are immune compromised. I believe that if EC does come back then it would appear that you are prioritizing athletes' and other students' needs and safety over ours. I'll say that yes the situation is different, but the principle of the situation is the same. We need to have a guarantee of safety before we are back in classes especially since we have a, albeit not perfect situation, but one that is working and can prevent the spread of this deadly virus to our students and loved ones. We are all making sacrifices, none of them easy, but if we truly want to stop this virus and get back to a more seemingly normal way of life, then social distancing and taking preventative measures, like continuing online learning, are needed.

2020/11/16 3:29:15 PM EST Agatha Eggers 907 Monmouth Ave Durham, NC 27701

Please allow pre-k students at magnet schools to have the option to NOT attend school for the remainder of 2020-21, and still retain their magnet placement for 2021-22. This would help with school density, and allow parents who work to secure other child care that doesn’t have to incorporate online learning expectations. Online school for 4-5 year olds has little benefit for the children or their families. Thank you!

2020/11/16 3:45:58 PM EST Stephanie Okoth 1500 Woodland Dr. Durham NC 27701

I appreciate everyone’s efforts to establish a plan for students who wish to do so, to return to school. As the mother of a child for whom remote learning is a struggle, I am grateful to have the option to send my son two days a week. I have read through the slides for the Plan B proposal and from what I can tell schools will be set up like learning centers with kids on their chrome books. (If I am misreading this, please forgive me.) I think having the in person days be online is doing a disservice to kids and teachers. There is ample evidence of the negative impact of screen time on children’s brains. American Academy of Pediatrics and WHO recommend no more than 1.5 hours of screen time for children ages 6-10. It also seems that using chrome books in class will pose greater challenges for teachers. I fear that in our quest to maintain the health and safety of people against covid-19, we are losing sight of other great health risks with long term consequences. I implore you to consider ditching the computers for in person schooling. Thank you for your time and consideration.

2020/11/16 3:45:59 PM EST Cheryl Vaughn 5223 Langford Ter Durham

1). Why are we getting less direct instructional time for both the plan B and the ignite academy? 2). Is the 4th day on Ignite all asynchronous, as it says they will get instruction 3 days a week? 3). How do you expect Kindergarteners to access asynchronous learning/assignments 2 days a week without having a parent/helper there to assist? 4). Is there a plan B to return in person for middle schoolers in 7th/8th grade? Will they remain remote all year? Do we have to sign them up ignite right now as well or will there be another window for that? 5). Will 7th graders be on the same schedule/routine they are on now online? 6). If we choose to do ignite and metrics improve in March to where the school is opening up 5 days a week for students, can we switch to that? 6). What is the window to sign up for ignite if we have not already? Thank you for all your hard work and planning.

2020/11/16 3:49:28 PM EST Anonymous North Durham 27704

Will the school board members now hold in person meetings in January if schools open? If you don't plan on having in person board meetings don't send the students and staff back.

2020/11/16 4:00:45 PM EST Andrea Royster 1701 Creighton Hall Way Durham, NC27703

I appreciate the efforts of the board moving in a positive direction to stand behind our purpose.

2020/11/16 4:01:14 PM EST Shawn Stokes 1306 Norton St. Durham, NC 27701

I am writing to express my profound dissatisfaction with virtual school/remote learning program established for my first and second grade sons. Despite the hard work and efforts of our teachers to make it work, the system simply isn’t working. I say this as a parent with a flexible enough schedule to actually sit and monitor my boys each day and try to keep them on task. I can only imagine how far behind the children of families less fortunate than ours have fallen.

I am especially disappointed that the county has not found a way to provide in-school education for children with special needs, like my autistic second grade son. Since August, he has regressed socially, functionally, and educationally, to an extent I could never have imagined. He, and many others like him, will never be the same after this, and to be frank, the BOE is culpable for that tragic outcome.

I want the Durham BOE to imagine for a moment what it would have done had this pandemic happened just five years ago, when these online technologies didn’t exist. I hope the BOE agrees with me that, instead of relying on the snake oil promises of Silicon Valley, it would have leveraged the many valuable academic and healthcare institutions we are so lucky to have in our backyard to find a solution to keep our children in school. Now, let’s turn that counterfactual into a reality.

I want the Durham BOE to make a safe return to school an absolute priority. The second, third, and forth order effects of failing to prioritize in-person instruction are simply too costly to Durham’s most vulnerable and marginalized citizens, and will be felt for several years, if not decades, to come.

To accomplish the goal of hosting in-person school in January, I request that the BOE establish a specific, clear, evidence-based plan for opening that demonstrates to teachers, students, and parents that every measure is being taken to ensure their safety. Lessons can and should be learned from the many other schools and learning centers currently operating in our state, including learning centers operated by DPS. There are far more technologies available now than there were in August to help monitor COVID-19, including rapid tests, and the newly- established Greenlight Durham program developed at Duke University to monitor and control COVID-19 on campus.

Finally, I would ask that the BOE improve communication on its COVID-19 plans and strategies, so each family can make informed decisions on what to do over the next 6-10 weeks. One simple start would be to establish a COVID-19 section on the DPS website that centralizes all information about reopening plans, with dashboard statistics on any COVID-19 cases in DPS learning centers, and eventually schools. The website should also include list of key personnel making recommendations and decisions with their contact information, dates of meetings, and meetings notes.

2020/11/16 4:45:06 PM EST Sarah Cohen 2203 Chase St Durham, NC 27707

I am a parent to 3 students in DPS, a PTA President, and an epidemiologist. I believe there are safe ways to open schools and many compelling reasons to do so. I commend your planning to mitigate risk and appreciate that much of it is based on sound science. HOWEVER, based on expected Covid-19 trends for January as well as the strong disapproval of a return to in-person learning by our DPS teachers, I believe that DPS cannot successfully move to Plan B in Quarter 3. The best choice is to stay in Plan C with reevaluation of Covid trends and teacher input throughout the spring.

2020/11/16 4:57:31 PM EST Kristen Wagner 2401 North Duke St. Durham, NC 27704

I am baffled that a vote to return to in-person instruction is even up for discussion right now. It is not safe for the staff, the students, or the families those staff and students will come home to in the evening.

Working on a plan that could be implemented when the metrics show us it is safe - is good planning.

Voting to implement that plan the way the metrics are now - is just reckless.

2020/11/16 5:24:41 PM EST Stephanie Okoth 1500 Woodland Dr. Durham NC 27701

I appreciate everyone’s efforts to establish a plan for students who wish to do so, to return to school. As the mother of a child for whom remote learning is a struggle, I am grateful to have the option to send my son two days a week. I have read through the slides for the Plan B proposal and from what I can tell schools will be set up like learning centers with kids on their chrome books. (If I am misreading this, please forgive me.) I think having the in person days be online is doing a disservice to kids and teachers. There is ample evidence of the negative impact of screen time on children’s brains. American Academy of Pediatrics and WHO recommend no more than 1.5 hours of screen time for children ages 6-10. It also seems that using chrome books in class will pose greater challenges for teachers. I fear that in our quest to maintain the health and safety of people against covid-19, we are losing sight of other great health risks with long term consequences. I implore you to consider ditching the computers for in person schooling. Thank you for your time and consideration.

2020/11/16 5:37:16 PM EST Megan Polzin 1305 Grace Park Dr. Morrisville, NC 27560

Please bring our students back to school. They are struggling, we as teachers are struggling. Online learning, no matter how it is implemented, is not working. Students are not engaged, they are not growing, they are not learning. Bringing them back to school is the only option where the students come out of this successful.

2020/11/16 6:26:51 PM EST Julianne Hall 8 Brickstone Pl Durham, NC 27712

With COVID numbers higher than they were in March, and hospitals becoming increasingly close to capacity, it does not make sense to return to school at this time. Virtual learning is difficult, but it is crucial to ensure the safety of our students and staff at this time. I urge you to continue with Plan C at least through the 3rd Quarter of this school year, until numbers decline once again.

2020/11/16 7:16:42 PM EST Tramaine Bazemore 20306 Rose Garden Lane Durham, 27707

Hello, for someone who recently lived through having COVID19, I am against anyone coming back. Living through this for two weeks it is not worth the risk of living through this nightmare again in the classroom. You are literally playing with death if you catch this virus. Education is important and we must get back to the classroom but lets do this after they have discovered a vaccine.

2020/11/16 7:20:31 PM EST Meredith Murphy 128 Canadian Court Durham

What happened to DPS' original Plan B that included fully in-person instruction for elementary students 5 days per week? Durham's new Plan B does not recognize an important problem. If students are only engaged in learning alongside their peers and instructors two days per week, many families will, by neccesity, have to find alternative options for their students for the remaining three days. This means exposure to COVID will be needlessly expanded. Pediatricians agree that elementary age students need to be in school and that it can be done safely. My two year old's experience in a daycare center over the past five months proves that safety is possible if appropriate precautions are taken. And as a teacher at the NC School of Science and Mathematics, I have been safely teaching my students in-person for the past three months without incident. Wake County schools is demonstrating that even in a densely populated urban and suburban county, bringing elementary age students back into physical classrooms is an important and worthy goal. DPS should follow this example.

2020/11/16 7:26:17 PM EST kate nartker Durham Durham, NC 27704

I am wondering how this differs from a learning center. I chose in-person for more social interaction, less / no zoom time, engagement with teachers. This sounds like remote learning in a classroom.

2020/11/16 8:07:32 PM EST Leigh Egeghy 4424 Talcott Drive Durham, NC 27705

I can respect Superintendent Mubenga’s desire to craft a plan to allow kids back into the classroom. This has been a long, hard haul. There are few easy or clear ways forward. As a parent of two DPS students I have struggled to see them bear the burden of this horrible pandemic. The isolation and stress of online schooling has left us numb and weary. Nevertheless, I cannot support the current Plan B our superintendent has put forth. My concerns are not so much about safety (although I do worry about our older and more vulnerable teachers). My main problem with the plan is that the benefit is too small and the cost too high to make this a sensible or wise option. This plan would get elementary age children back in the classroom only two days a week, yet the repercussions of this decision would create chaos and instability throughout the whole system. There is no mention of how DPS would pull off basically running two educational programs (one in person, one remote) at the same time and with the same level of staffing. It is my understanding teachers would be expected to provide in person learning to the students in their classroom while monitoring remote learners at the same time. Unfortunately, DPS does not have the resources it needs to fully staff a hybrid model of learning. My fear is that neither the in person nor the remote learning experience will be satisfactory. As Covid-19 rates soar across the state and country, my vote is to leave things like they are for now. Spare families and children the upheaval of a poorly timed and ill-conceived reopening plan.

2020/11/16 8:09:19 PM EST Anon Y Mouse North Durham 27712

I know that online learning is not ideal. I know parents are frustrated. I know teachers are frustrated (especially those that are parents too). I also know teachers are SCARED. I know that in a region with so many school districts, I’m not sure my loyalty will be to a district that does not value my life or the lives of my colleagues. Why we are even discussing a return when the numbers are skyrocketing? It makes no logical sense. Discussing a return that might endanger teachers, staff, and students lives makes no moral sense. There are vaccines on the horizon. It’s worth waiting. Some examples of why I am objecting: Iowa teacher dies three days after testing positive for COVID-19 (11/12/20) Mary Ward, 51, taught at Capitol Encore Academy died after being exposed.(11/10/20) There have been at least 47,376 cases reported in K-12 schools so far this year, and at least 37 educators have died since August 1 (10/13/20) Oct 5, 2020 — STANLY COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- A community is grieving after a teacher at a Stanly County Elementary School died from COVID-19 on …(10/5/20) DEMETRIA BANNISTER, A third-grade teacher in South Carolina, died this week of the coronavirus. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday, Sept. 4, exactly one week after she spent a day in her Columbia school for teacher professional development. By Monday, she was dead. Bannister was 28 years old. (9/11/20) 72 employees in the New York City district have died from Covid-19 virus 28 teachers and 28 paraprofessionals are among those who have lost their lives.(5/5/20)

2020/11/16 8:10:47 PM EST Stacy Woodring 3321 meadowrun drive Durham, nc 27707

In person eoc testing will not be safe. Cases continue to rise and will only be worse In January. Plan b for return to school stares rates need to be at 3% or below. There is no way they will be at 3 % with cases continuing to increase. But they still plan to have kids go to school for testing. That makes no sense. Why can’t they do remotely like ap exams last year.

2020/11/16 8:12:38 PM EST Rasheeda Johnson 7904 Round Oak Rd. Raleigh

First and Foremost, I am in full support of the continued operation of Remote Learning for our students. It is ultimately necessary to keep schools closed as the rate of positive cases of Covid- 19 continues to increase. However, as a DPS educator I am concerned about the reality of the widening achievement gap. Students who are already high achieving, intrinsically motivated and have an abundance of resources and support continue to succeed academically under Plan B or C. Unfortunately, students who were below grade level in reading and math or have risk factors that may lead to drop-out are still performing poorly. Additionally, students who performed at standard are now dropping below their growth targets. In my estimation, if we continue to operate under remote learning, our high achieving students may continue to do well (although filled with stress and anxiety) but our underperforming students will fall further behind. The resounding potentiality is that the majority of our students will be passed to the next level despite their performance.

My proposal is for all to consider extending the school-year if/when we return to In-Person instruction. If resources could be made available, allow students who test below grade level standards to report to school for additional weeks/months to recapture what they have lost during the Pandemic School Closure. Additionally, faculty and staff who work these extended hours should be compensated appropriately. Educators and parents all agree in-person instruction is the most effective way to meet the needs of our students. Particularly for our at- risk students. The time out of school since March 2019 has taken a major toll on our student's education but I do believe it can be recaptured through extended time once we can return to school safely.

2020/11/16 8:16:42 PM EST Roger Vroom 3 Summertime Ct Durham

To all of you who are putting forth the effort to manage a difficult situation and trying to get our kids safely back to school I applaud you. That being said I am very disappointed with the new plan B and would very much like to know what the thinking and reasoning was behind it. I fully acknowledge the possibility that the situation, due to current trends, in January might be such that remote learning will be the only safe decision to make. But if the numbers stabilize and start looking more like they did when the original plan B was announced I don't see any way to justify taking such a conservative approach as is outlined in the new plan.

1. How did we go from a plan B that had all k-5 students going back full time with the rest staying virtual. To a plan where k-5 is only going 2 days a week and the rest are still staying virtual.

2. This plan seems completely untenable for kids, teachers and working parents. Why send kids back to school at all just to have them sit at a desk in front of a screen all day. How are teachers supposed to juggle teaching kids in person and online while providing quality education. Not only does this plan not make things easier for working parents it appears to make it harder by requiring more facilitation on the remote days.

2. If Wake and Durham are both being guided by the scientists and doctors of the ABC advisory board how did they arrive at such totally different plans to get kids back in school.

3. If Wake county is able to finish out the year without seeing a huge increase in cases within schools and the community due to the more aggressive back to school plan. How will you be able to justify taking such a conservative approach.

4. There is a growing body of evidence that contrary to intuition the hybrid model may actually pose more risk to students, faculty and the community. It would be all well and good if the reality of the situation fit the power point presentation and all students were spending the virtual learning days at home with "mom", don't even get me started on that slide, but that is just not whats happening in all cases. Working parents are needing to find care and learning facilitation through pods, learning centers and daycare centers. Some of which are putting kids together in large numbers and not doing a great job of ensuring all precautions are being taken. So now instead of having 15-20 kids in a manageable bubble you have 5-10 who are being secondarily exposed to a much larger number of people .

5. If you believe that it is not going to be safe to send kids back to school in larger numbers are you communicating with the mayor and city council about what they need to do to help make it safe. I am tired of getting the feeling that we are putting the interests of business and the economy before the needs of our children. When you tell me its not safe for young students to go back to school in Durham but it is safe for gyms, indoor dining and weekend downtown block parties I am filled with frustration. Countries all over Europe are experiencing the same kinds of surges in Coronavirus cases that we are seeing here and most of them seem to be doing everything they can to keep kids in school even if it means shutting other things down. We need to rearrange our priorities.

2020/11/16 8:24:04 PM EST Bethany Gray 16 Wythebrook Ln Durham, NC, 27713

I am interested to better understand how the current Plan B proposal will improve the safety or educational situation for elementary aged children. At first look, it seems that the plan will significantly increase many children's exposure to different groups of people without much altering their educational experience. For parents who are unable to work from home, additional childcare will be required 3 days a week, exposing many children to even greater numbers of children and adults throughout the week. This trade-off could seem worth it if the kids were able to receive traditional in person instruction when onsite at the schools. If the kids will simply be receiving online instruction while onsite at the schools, the only perceived benefit seems to be that childcare will be provided 2 days a week. It also sounds incredibly complicated for teachers to have to teach children both in the classroom and outside of the classroom while also managing the children onsite. I am very much hoping for a Plan B implementation that will allow for elementary aged children to go back to school in some form but also hope that there will be some way to incorporate a larger component of traditional in person instruction to make the transition back to school worth it when weighed against the risks of additional exposure for children and educators.

2020/11/16 8:44:06 PM EST Veronica Orgen 1522 E Geer st Durham 27704

Con el paso de los dias hemos aprendido nucho sobre los cuidados que devemos tener para protejernos de este virus y de todos los virus, y creo que ya estamos preparados para regresar, aun asi hay padres que aun no estan seguros de enviar a sus hijos al escuela, y se les respeta su desicion, pero avemos padres que ya estamos preparados para enviar a nuestros hijos, porfavor les pido que igual se respete nuestra desicion, porfavor yo les pido con el corazon que ya habran las escuelitas. Esto de tener a los niños asi les hace daño. Los que quieran tener a sus hijos en linea pues adelante pero porfavor avemos muchos que pedimos porfavor que se habran las escuelitas. Muchas gracias.

As the days have gone by, we have learned a lot about what we need to do to protect ourselves from this virus and from all viruses, and I think we are ready to go back, even if there are parents who are not sure about sending their children to school, and their decision is respected, but we, other parents, are ready to send our children, please I ask you that our decision is respected anyway, please I ask you from my heart to open schools. Having the children like this hurts them. Those who want to have their children online, well, they can go ahead, but please a lot of us are asking to, please, open schools. Thanks a lot.

2020/11/16 8:50:29 PM EST Anonymous 1617 Bellechase Rd Hillsborough

I am an Elementary EC resource teacher for Durham County Schools. My top priority is that our students are safe and that their health is not in jeopardy. However, I know first hand how desperately our students need in person instruction. Ensuring student attendance, engagement, and understanding through remote learning is incredibly difficult and every day I feel like I am consistently jumping over hurtles that are completely out of our control. Whether it be distractions in the home or internet outages, I feel as if I am unable to serve my students to the degree that they need. The smallest things like reading a child's body language or allowing them work with hands on materials make an incredible difference in our ability to provide instruction that works for every child. I and every teacher I know is trying their very best, but our students deserve more. I would never want to put my students' health and safety at risk, but if it is anyway possible to implement some form of plan B in a safe way, I ask that you deeply consider bringing our students back to brick and mortar.

2020/11/16 9:12:06 PM EST Charbel Sandate 901 chalk level Rd apt A 10 Durham nc 27704

Tengo a mis hijos de grado 7 y grado 9 con responsabilidad de tomar distanciamiento social para que regresen a la escuela

My children in grade 7 and grade 9 have been given the responsibility to maintain social distancing so they can go back to school

2020/11/16 10:11:47 PM EST Amanda Castizo 1405 manteó st Apt A Durham NC 27701

Yo estoy de acuerdo con el plan B. Pero es importante la igualdad con la educación tanto en linia y en persona. Tienen que saber que todos tenemos diferentes necesidades no todos nos funciona lo mismo.gracias

I agree with plan B. But equality in education is important both online and in person. You need to know that we all have different needs. Not everything works for everybody. Thanks.

2020/11/17 12:07:38 AM EST Jaquelina Urbano 1411 ida st Durham NC 27705

Seguir virtualmente

Continue virtually

2020/11/17 12:14:59 AM EST Allison Swaim 2502 Shenandoah Ave Durham, NC 27704

We need to have a full picture of how many students AND teachers will OPT IN for in-person learning. Only then do we have all the information in place to make decisions about what Plan B could look like.

It deeply concerns me that the planning and decision-making for Plan B is being done using data from the Ignite Enrollment form, and it seems there is an assumption all parents who did not fill out the form would like their children to attend in-person. We have no idea how many parents saw the form. We need to survey ALL parents to ask if they would like in-person or Ignite. Parents who don't fill out the form should be called by school staff to ensure they understand their options and participate in deciding what they want for their child, and so we have accurate data on prospective in-person vs. online enrollment.

Additionally, teachers should be surveyed- asking who wants to OPT IN to in-person instruction and which of us would like to remain remote for our health and the health of our families. No teacher should be mandated to come to the building with COVID numbers higher than ever. Some of us are willing to go back but nobody has asked us yet what risks we're willing to take on.

DPS needs a better system for effective two-way communication with families. We must prioritize a text-message based platform that can be used at the school and district level to more effectively reach all parents/families (with short succinct text updates and links.) We do not have an effective text-messaging platform that is widely used at schools and for district- wide communication. We need data on how effective our current communication methods are at reaching families and we need family input (including working class, Black, and immigrant families) to inform the process of improving our communication systems.

Thank you for your leadership in this impossible time.

2020/11/17 12:45:03 AM EST Shomari Brame 3321 Mossdale Ave Durham

We all are family let's be treated that way no one out does the other if anybody shines it's not because they did it WE ALL DID IT

2020/11/17 6:22:30 AM EST Lenny Kovalick 2624 PICKETT RD Durham, NC 27705

At this time 2 days a week should be the absolute worst case scenario for K-5. Districts across the state have implemented 5 days a week for this group of students successfully. While 2 days is better than none this still is something that is difficult for children and parents to achieve and only partially helps resume normal learning for our children. We should not only consider plan B but plan A as recommended by state and federal health professionals.

2020/11/17 6:52:30 AM EST Marian Woods 2325 Cheek Road Durham NC 27704

I am a first grade teacher in DPS. I do not feel safe at all returning to school, and I hope the board will make the wise decision to remain online. That being said, if we are going to return, I truly hope you will reconsider the idea to have two cohorts. Sending students to school only twice a week will hurt our students because it cuts our already limited instructional time in half. Teaching six- and seven-year-olds online obviously isn’t ideal, but my students have amazing attendance and their families and caregivers are incredibly supportive. My students are learning. They are making measurable progress, and in some ways teaching online has actually led to faster academic gains than in the classroom. However, this is due to the accountability of having a teacher with the students all day, and the routine of going to school Monday-Friday. Learning online asynchronously (and trust me, I have tried) is not realistic or practical for lower elementary students. I have been told by my administration that I need to stay on pace in the first grade curriculum, despite the fact that my students have missed a huge chunk of their kindergarten year and that teachers have 20% less instructional time due to Wellness Wednesday being a non-instructional day. Since asynchronous learning is not going to work for MOST students, if you approve this new Plan B, I will now be forced to complete 100% of the first grade curriculum in 40% of the time, with a cohort of students who missed at least 30% of their previous school year! I am a good teacher but I am not magic. This is unlikely to be successful and will have serious repercussions on our students’ learning. Please leave us online so that we can continue the progress we are making. Many of my students’ families do need childcare, and I would love to be part of the solution for them. But the proposed plan isn’t that either! It does not help families who need to go to work, since most people work more than two days a week, and the chance of being assigned the right days for their schedule is low. This current plan seems to be a compromise that doesn’t serve anyone. I hope that if Ignite can be re-opened, and advertised more clearly by schools, more students will enroll in Ignite and more teaching positions will be opened in Ignite. That way we can open schools only for those for whom it is essential, and for teachers who CHOOSE to go, rather than who are forced to go. Until we can have a plan that guarantees that, just leave us online.

2020/11/17 7:17:42 AM EST Elle Thropp 2325 Cheek Road Durham NC 27704

I am a DPS teacher. I have heard many people, including the families of some of the children I teach, say that schools should just give a “choice” to students and teachers about whether or not to return. I would like to state as clearly as possible that teachers are not being given a choice. Only the most medically vulnerable qualify to even apply to teach online in Ignite. If the school board chooses to return us to school, the “choice” I am being offered is to risk my safety or quit. This misconception is causing families to resent teachers for obstructing the return to school. To those families, I want to say that we are on the same team. I want you to be able to have the childcare you need. I want you to be able to provide for your family. But I also deserve to be able to safely provide for mine. I am willing to sacrifice my safety for your child in many ways – I think about it every time I do an active shooter drill, or cross the road on a field trip while holding an impulsive child’s hand. I catch colds from students every year from our proximity during the time I spend caring for them. I give my free time, my mental energy, my money, and my sleep for the students and families that I work with. Every teacher that I know does this, and we do it because we believe that we are making a difference and that the sacrifices are worth it because our children deserve the best education we are able to provide. Under the current plan, my risk (which, let’s face it, is a terrifying disease) is for… two days of childcare? No thanks. And please don’t demean us by implying we have a choice.

2020/11/17 7:37:33 AM EST Sharon L Hall 1824 Hideaway Lane Durham, North Carolina 27712

I think it it is dangerous to reopen when numbers are higher. I am a 64 year old educator. I have seen parents send their children to school sick and do not answer their phones when we call them to come get their babies. I know that some parents will do the same thing with this virus. Most educators have some underlying conditions or live with someone who does. Yes, they have developed vaccines but there will not be enough available to slow this virus down until probably the spring. We are talking about returning in January right after the holiday but families should be quarantine for at least two weeks after the holidays. I miss my class and the relationship I form with my students face-2-face but I have developed relationships online as well. I worry every time I hear of a teacher dying days after testing positive. I think the risk is too high!

2020/11/17 7:46:32 AM EST Mary Barzee 1014 Onslow St Durham

With appreciation for the work you've done and the impossible position you all are in, I still have strong concerns about whether two days of face-to-face classroom time is sufficient for children in pre-K to 2. Will those children truly have the support they need to learn and grow the rest of the week when they are scheduled for asynchronous learning? I would like for us to prioritize in-person learning with less dependence on screens for our youngest learners. We forget and ignore the importance of learning with our hands, through nature and by being in the company of trusted adults and a peer group. Are we overlooking the basics in favor of a more complicated, expensive, and more addictive tech-based solution? Also, I did not see rapid testing or the part of the plan that employs random, regular testing for students and staff to identify both symtomatic and asymptomatic carriers? Is that part of the plan. Thank you all for your dedication to our students, your hard work, and for making the best decisions you can based on advice from public health experts, scientific evidence, and best practices in teaching and learning!

2020/11/17 8:14:01 AM EST Beverly Evans Cook Rd Durham NC 27704

I would like to see my paycheck equal to what according to what the Step and Grade pay scale says . I've been with system for 24 years I think Instructional Assistants should be compensated for the work and support that they provide across the school as we do many jobs to the best of our ability and considering we're only individuals but provide many services to our school with the same amount of pay. Some of us work for 2-3 teachers . Regardless of having a degree or not we still do the same job and should be paid for the work we do, not because some have a degree and others don't. We love what we do and I feel our experience should matter not the degree we would recieve.

2020/11/17 8:29:10 AM EST Jaquelina Urbano 1411 ida st Durham NC 27705

Seguir virtualmente

2020/11/17 9:00:17 AM EST Anonymous North Durham 27712

How are teachers to make decisions about their own personal children returning to school when we do not know when we as teachers are returning to teach at our middle and high schools.

2020/11/17 9:06:29 AM EST Erica Saleska District 3 Durham NC 27713

As a parent of two elementary aged DPS students, I am writing to voice my support for a Plan B opening to begin the second semester. Many experts, including the ABC Science Collaborative, suggest that we must be prepared to live with the realities of COVID-19 for months, if not years, to come. They have also noted that the rate of transmission in schools is minimal, with appropriate safety measures in place. I urge the board to make a data-driven decision on the reopening of schools and that you please advocate for the many DPS families who wish to return to in-person learning. Thank you for your time and service.

2020/11/17 9:27:21 AM EST Michala Bryant 15 smoketree court Durham, NC, 27712

I do not think that we should go back to school especillay because the numbers just spicked again. But if we do go to school I think the school system should make every student fill out a form with questions asking: If the student has been in contact with a persn that has Covid-19, If they have had it, if they are at a higher risk of getting the virus, If they have Covid symptoms, ETC. This way we can evaluate how many student should come, how many should enroll in online school, and even how many should get tested just in case. I also think there should be a list of rules sent to every student going to physical school and a place where they can sighn their name before going into the biulding because I know alot of student who forget the rules and not just put them at risk, but others also. I have sibling that go to school as well, and I want them and myself to be safe especially since we have someone in my house-hold that is at a higher risk of getting this virus.

2020/11/17 9:37:41 AM EST Liliana Murillo 5136 kenwood Rd. Durham, NC. 27712

La salud de mis hijos y la de mi familia es muy importante, por lo tanto no voy a poner en riesgo su salud. Mis hijos pueden seguir tomando clases online y permanecer en casa , ya que he visto mucho aprendizaje en ellos. Gracias al excelente trabajo de los maestros.

My children's and my family's health are very important, consequently, I am not going to put their health at risk. My children can continue taking classes online and stay home, since I have seen that they have learned a lot. Thanks to the teachers' excellent work.

2020/11/17 9:39:57 AM EST Durham People's Alliance Education Action Team P.O. Box 2935 Durham

"Dear Durham Public Schools Board of Education, Thank you for putting together a Plan B proposal for DPS Students. In September, the People’s Alliance Education Action Team issued guiding principles for a safe, sound re-entry, viewable here. Many of these guiding principles are present and highly visible in this Plan B proposal, for which we applaud the district! However, our team feels that the reopening plan in its current form does not adequately meet the following specific guidelines: 1) “Benchmarks for reopening should be made explicit to all stakeholders, and plans should be in place for a return to Plan C if benchmarks are exceeded while Plan B is in effect.” We all know that the caseload and rate of infection in our community has increased, meaning that the risk to the health of students and staff of reopening schools has also increased. What is the community infection rate benchmark or acceptable caseload for reopening schools for in-person instruction? What is the community or school/site infection rate benchmark for closing schools back down? We need to see published metrics ahead of time, and we need public commitment to adherence. 2) “Any return to school should be on a volunteer basis for both teachers and students/families. Teachers should have the option to continue teaching remotely if they feel it is not yet safe for them to teach in-person.” How specifically will DPS respond to the following, inevitable situation: a teacher does not feel safe returning to in-person instruction, but the school needs her/him back in the building for Plan B staffing reasons? In neighboring districts, teachers have been forced to choose between their health and their employment. Dozens, even hundreds, have resigned or retired. Is DPS prepared for that possibility? 3) “Teachers should not be asked to teach both online and in-person.” For the mental health of teachers as well as the online safety of students, it is not feasible to ask teachers to simultaneously teach online and in-person. A planning period in which teachers are responsible for supervising students is not a planning period. Please address how you will modify these elements of Plan B in its current form. Additionally, what is the decisive pedagogical advantage of a return to in-person instruction if all students will continue to receive instruction primarily through Canvas? Will Wednesdays continue to be protected planning for teachers? 4) “The guiding principle of any reopening plans should be the safety of students, teachers, and staff.” How will the integrity of the cohorts be established and maintained? Will students be required to have a negative test before entering a cohort? What if the cohort-designated teacher is absent? Will substitutes compromise the integrity of the cohort? Will afterschool programs and bus routes compromise cohorts? How will contact tracing between students be handled/reflected in the dashboard? If a student misses their cohort in-person classes for any reason can they attend online for that day or will they be marked absent? How will DPS support the additional transition and lack of routine that Plan B asks of children and families? Until the above concerns are adequately addressed, the PA Education Action Team urges the School Board to vote NO on any plan that sends students and teachers back into schools for face-to-face instruction. Thank you for your hard work serving the needs of students, teachers, and families in our community. Thank you for making the difficult decisions during these extraordinary circumstances that first and foremost keep students, teachers, and families safe."

2020/11/17 9:49:42 AM EST JS 7503 Montibillo Pkwy Durham, NC 27713

Thank you for sharing & discussing the details related to the DPS Plan B Recommendation.

There are likely going to be many questions & concerns about this plan. I appreciate the willingness of DPS Administration & the Board to consider the needs of some of our DPS families who are struggling with virtual learning. Please think about the families you do NOT hear from during public comments, such as those without the privilege of having a parent who can stay at home and continuously monitor the learning of their younger students or those with EC students at home who are regressing because they are not receiving needed therapies.

These families face more stressors right now in the pandemic and deserve to have the option of face-to-face learning for their children.

As always, thank you for considering all of our teachers' and parents' concerns and providing realistic choices that serve the best interests of our children. At the end of the day, we should be doing everything we can as a community to assure that our children continue to stay safe, learn and receive needed supportive services through the public school system.

2020/11/17 10:16:29 AM EST Sarah O'Brien 4904 Centerway Dr. Durham, NC 27705

Please be clear on how the cohort splits will work. Is a teacher teaching the same lesson plan to Cohort B on Th/Fr as (s)he taught to Cohort A on M/Tu (i.e., teaching the same material two times) - in which case, how can a class get through all the curriculum required within a given academic year - OR - are teachers expected to create two versions of lesson plans (one in- person version and one asynchronous version) - in which case, how are students expected to independently learn new material on their own if it happens to be introduced on the day(s) they're at home - OR - will the in-person class be livestreamed, so that on the days that a given cohort is at home, they are learning along with the cohort who is at school?

2020/11/17 10:18:18 AM EST Samuel Johnathan Scarborough 1008 Delray Street Durham, NC, 27713

I am a Sophomore student from Hillside High School. First and foremost, thank you everyone for the prodigious efforts made to ensure a safe and secure educational experience for my fellow students and I, in the midst of a world under turmoil. I possess much curiosity regarding the next steps for not only our place of learning, but for the logistical processes related to creating equity for all students across the board. I've noticed that some students and teachers have had technological issues from internet connectivity to device malfunctions, but there has also been a discrepancy in learning online. Whether discussing with other students or from my own experiences, at times school can and does feel more like submitting assignments than actually comprehending and retaining information. In what fashion might the Board of Education provide support to teachers, students, and parents in these areas of concern?

2020/11/17 10:32:05 AM EST Nicholas I Graber-Grace 1809 Glendale Ave Durham

Good evening Board members, Dr. Mubenga, and our DPS family. There are significant concerns being raised by both educators and families regarding the details of this re-opening plan. I fully understand the need to have a plan in place to support our students in person should the conditions be medically safe to do so come January. I would ask that the Board guarantee three things tonight to the people of Durham.

First, amend this plan to require a second authorization vote by this Board that would be required to green-light school re-opening, based entirely on health and safety metrics, one week before the scheduled opening date. This would provide peace of mind to parents, students, and staff that the Board is basing any final decisions about re-opening on clearly established, real time health and safety metrics, which are not knowable today two months in advance.

Second, I ask the Board to direct administration to identify, invest in, and implement an effective two way text message communication system that can be used to improve communications both with DPS families and DPS staff. Such systems are widely used in the 21st century, and are vastly superior to our current reliance on robocalls and mass texts that do not invite response and conversation. Communication plans should also include adding significant interpretation capacity so that complex logistical and safety information can be effectively shared with multilingual families.

Finally, I ask that the Board leave room for adjustments to this proposal based on educator and community feedback between now and January. There are significant pedagogical and operational concerns that remain unresolved.

2020/11/17 10:51:31 AM EST Happi Adams 2901 Broad St Durham, NC, 27704

I am an English and ESL teacher at Jordan High School. My observation is that both students and teachers desperately need consistency and predictability. Given the way Covid numbers are forecasted to continue rising, a January opening seems tenuous and inappropriate. Last minute rearrangements will interrupt the flow of learning, heighten anxiety, and possibly lead to great disappointment for students eager to go back to school. I would much rather be in a position to have realistic conversations with students about the losses and benefits of our virtual year so that we can grieve what we've lost and fully embrace the positives of onIine learning. There are many benefits to online learning, and we will be better positioned to explore them when we remove the uncertainty about the remainder of the school year.

My hope is that the board will choose to keep everyone virtual for the remainder of the 2020- 21 school year. Or, if DPS does decide to orchestrate some in-person opportunities with consenting teachers and students, my hope is that all teachers will be guaranteed the option to remain fully virtual.

I know that we will need to figure out safe ways to conduct in-person learning before the threat of Covid is completely eliminated, but right now, the height of the pandemic, is not the time. Assuming that we develop a better handle on the pandemic by the summer (a reasonable hope), I support in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year. But right now, reopening plans are a chaotic distraction. Even the idea of going into school once a week distracts me from my task of designing and delivering high quality online education.

2020/11/17 11:01:09 AM EST Wesley Shaddox 522 wanda ridge drive Durham North Carolina 27712

Can we please go back partly like Monday and Thursday?

2020/11/17 12:24:05 PM EST Laura Kagan 3 Rexing Court Durham, NC 27713

Please keep all DPS families informed so everyone can make the best decision for their family for second semester.

2020/11/17 12:40:42 PM EST Concerned DPS employee Unknown Durham, NC 27713

To whom it may concern,

Right now, I would love nothing more than to hug the neck of each of my students but it is simply not possibly or safe right now. I feel like if we returned to school it would feel more like a prison with prisoner than a school where kids should feel free to express themselves and move around freely. I believe we also need to take into account that these students could be bringing home this deadly virus to their parents, family members, or close friends.

One thing that I have learned throughout this COVID-19 era, is that this should not be about US. It should be about protecting others and those around us. I firmly believe that we should make the right decision by NOT going back to school at this time. We need to take care of the health of our community and slow the spread as the cases are increasing. I know I do my part by practicing the 3 W's at all times. But I also know that there are those around me who do not practice the 3 W's and do not try to limit there exposures to the virus. If we want to return, we all need to be on the same page with practicing the 3 W's and I truly believe that is at a 50/50 split right now. Everyone has to do their part and right now it is 100% that everyone is NOT doing their part and this virus is still not being taken seriously.

Durham Public School Board members, please consider my concerns/questions below when voting on whether students should return back to school in January. My hope and wish is that we will be able to return, but I do not believe that right now is the appropriate time.

Here are my questions:

1. What are going to be the protocols in regards to handling a student is presumed or tests positive for COVID-19? 2. Are temperatures going to be taken more than once a day? Or are there going to be more than just screening questions and temperature checks as precaution measures? As an educator, one thing I have learned is that parents tend to give their child Tylenol and send them to school. If the child has COVID-19, they may infect the entire classroom before it is noticed that they have a temperature and need to go home. 3. What will the life of a student, teacher, instructional assistant look like during a typical day? 4. Are proper supplies/PPE going to given for EACH and EVERY faculty member? For the rest of the year? Often times, we rely on PARENTS to purchase/supply materials such as Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues, etc. Those materials are hard to come by these days. Recently, I heard the Costco was out of toilet paper, again. We cannot rely on parents to supply our needs to the classroom this year. There is simply not enough available and accessible to meet the needs of our school to adequately keep our classrooms clean throughout the day. Cleaning and sanitizing our classrooms once a daily is NOT enough. 5. If a faculty member contracts the virus, how will pay and time off be handled? I am speaking for most faculty members that we have a 2nd job that does not offer benefits. If we contract COVID-19 from the school, we will not be able to go to our 2nd job which results in immediate loss of pay. For those of us with the second job, we CANNOT afford to lose any of our wages. People cry that "teachers are essential workers" but yet we are NOT paid as much nor treated as such. 6. What will daily disinfection look like within the school setting? Are there enough janitorial staff members to take care of our needs. For example, the classroom bathroom should be sanitized after every use. Is there someone who can do that? 7. Will before and after school be offered to assist families in need? 8. If a classroom/school building needs to be shut down for disinfecting, will the classrooms would be able to pivot seamlessly back to virtual learning? 9. Given the rumor of the President Elect possibly doing a nationwide shutdown, is it actually beneficial to return students back to the classroom only to be told that they have to transition back to virtual learning? 10. Is it possible to actually consider Plan B when cases and our metrics are starting to decline, not soar like they currently are? 11. The current classroom seating (in at least the classroom I work in) is 4 students sharing ONE table which are not 6 feet apart from each other! We DO NOT have space or budget to house 20+ of these tables along with spacing them 6ft apart. I do not believe a "safe option" is putting a plexiglass barrier either. I think those are jokes. (honestly, speaking) When a student stands up to say sharpen their pencil, they are now above the barrier and the barrier serves ZERO purpose. Also, in elementary schools, carpet time is essential for learning. It allows the children to be in a more intimate environments while learning. However, that is something of the past. There is not enough room for a classroom to sit/stand on the carpet. So how do you propose a teacher to manage a classroom SAFELY while maintaining the 3 W's.

I work for DPS and I am concerned with the faculty and students returning to school in January. While I agree that our students need to return back to the classroom, I do not agree that sending them back to school while cases of COVID-19 are increasing. Our key metrics as a state are NOT going in the right direction and that not only concerns me for myself, but for my fellow faculty members and students.

Thanks, Concerned Employee of DPS

2020/11/17 1:15:17 PM EST Jessica C Luginbuhl 1011 W Knox St Durham NC 27701

First, I know this is immensely important and HARD work and I THANK you!!! COMMENT: PLAN B: I think that the in-person days should feel truly in-person and not on a screen; there is NO benefit in my opinion otherwise. If the challenge is the two groups and 1/2 being remote half the time etc. then have the remote days be on IGNITE and the in-person be REAL in-person instruction. My son is EC (special needs) and I feel that what is presently proposed will def not work for him and many others, frankly. Not to mention my Pre-K: what will that look like for them? Let's make in-person count!! <3 <3 THANK YOU!!!!!

2020/11/17 2:52:06 PM EST Mary Atkins 305 S. Guthrie Ave Durham, N.C. 27703

I wanted the children in school October 26,2020. Thanks for whatever you do for us.

2020/11/17 4:28:43 PM EST Jameria Self 414 Harkness Circle Durham, NC 27705

I have concerns about what will happen with EC children at Rogers Herr Middle School whose parents elect for them to remain in virtual learning during Phase 3. Will their current teacher who has been working with them since this school year began be required to work with both in- person and remote students simultaneously? Or will the kids in virtual learning be assigned to a teacher they have not worked with before? I'm concerned about how this new phase might impact the students. I'm also concerned about the safety of the teacher and other students.

2020/11/17 5:05:55 PM EST Lyn Mattioli 714 Voyager Pl. Durham, NC 27712

If middle school students are not allowed to return to "in school" learning at the start of the 2nd semester, then I request that you allow schools to lighten their online learning time. Elective classes should be made optional. My son is in 7th grade at DSA. He has 7 classes, 3 of which are electives. I am concerned about the vast amount of time he is in front of screens with 5-6 zoom sessions per day, followed by homework that often requires working on the computer. I am told by the school that is not possible or he will not be promoted to the 8th grade. In the midst of this pandemic, concessions should be made. It is in the best interest of my son, and I'm sure other students as well, to have less computer time. I, and other parents I'm sure, have the time and resources to provide non-screen learning opportunities for our children.

2020/11/17 5:35:24 PM EST anonymous n/a Durham, 27713

I just want to make sure in considering Plan B that you realize the issues you will have with the elementary students being expected to bring the Chromebooks back and forth to school and then use them all day. A huge effort was made to buy the technology but then nothing was purchased to protect the devices while in transit. No cases, protective sleeves- etc. I don't think any students are particularly kind to their backpacks but elementary students certainly are not. You are going to have ALOT of damaged Chromebooks on your hands. The other issue is keeping the devices charged for the entire school day. You seem to have forgotten how many of your schools were built in the 50s, and 60s and have very very few outlets per classroom. I assume the newer buildings are a little better but probably insufficient for this situation. You have a lot of logistical things I would suggest to give some serious thought to before you try to implement a return to school.

2020/11/17 5:44:47 PM EST Lisa McCool-Grime 311 S LaSalle St APT A Durham, NC 27705

I am so grateful that DPS has chosen safety first this entire pandemic. We have led on this issue where so many other people in power have given into political pressure rather than be guided by safety first. I ask that the district continue to do the same.

1) This starts with connecting clear metrics to the proposed plan--we should not be planning to go back unless our numbers are 3% or lower and reasonably expected to stay so--schools opening and then reclosing creates worse not better learning conditions for our students. While our students do better in a social environment, they also need stability and safety to learn well.

2) Ongoingly we need to include two-way communication between DPS leadership and stakeholders, especially staff whose livelihoods are impacted by these decisions. I am grateful DPS is working with ABC Science Collaborative. However that information along with much else isn't reaching everyday staff in meaningful ways that allow engagement. DPS leadership should be moving outside of electronic communication--going to staff meetings and having smaller meetings to discuss the science and the impact on the plan.

3) Staff should have input into where they serve as relates to their own health needs. Without this, DPS stands to lose a good number of staff who will be forced to choose between the job they love and their own health.

2020/11/17 6:00:34 PM EST (Anonymous) Northern Durham Durham

In reference to reopening, I am asking that we remain remote. The plan that has been proposed has too many discrepancies for people who are depending on education for our livelihood. I am a TA who works in 5 classroom and am high risk. At this time there is no plan to protect me personally or my position if we were to return to the building. I am asking that we remain remote until the end of the school year.

2020/11/17 6:13:40 PM EST Spencer Ware 307 E Trinity Ave Durham, NC, 27701

Dear DPS school board members, I am a student teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Spencer Ware

2020/11/17 6:14:47 PM EST Scott Riley 1212 W Chapel Hill St Durham, NC 27701

Dear DPS school board members, I am a middle school teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Scott Riley

2020/11/17 6:14:52 PM EST Gus Anchondo 201 Center St Carrboro

Dear DPS school board members,

I am a teacher in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Gus Anchondo

2020/11/17 6:15:20 PM EST Heather Maconochie 1005 North Buchanan Blvd Durham

Dear DPS school board members, I am an ELL teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Heather Maconochie

2020/11/17 6:15:24 PM EST Maggie Radack 130 Forest Oaks Dr Durham

I am a teacher at Northern HS. While I won't be at risk of going back in-person under the repopening plan, cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students and teachers. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Maggie

2020/11/17 6:16:08 PM EST Trish Steinbrecher NA NA [email protected]

2020/11/17 6:17:36 PM EST Michelle Fahey 918 Sedgefield Street Durham, NC 27705

I'm an Instructional Assistant in a separate setting class and I am concerned about the lack of specifics in the proposed plan regarding reentry for EC students and staff.

2020/11/17 6:18:08 PM EST Deborah Garrison 2409-A Camellia Drive Durham, N.C> 27705

I am not in favor of Plan B because of the increased amount of children now positive with covid.

2020/11/17 6:21:05 PM EST Sarah Jamieson 15024 Westerfield Rd Wake Forest, NC 27587

Dear DPS school board members, I am an AIG Specialist here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely. I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Sarah Jamieson

2020/11/17 6:24:26 PM EST Trish Steinbrecher DSA Durham, NC

Dear School Board and District Administration, At this time, no contact sports have been approved to restart activities. In part, this is due to the close proximity that players find themselves during practices (2-3 hours) and competition (1-1.5 hours).

EC staff in separate classrooms often find themselves in equally close proximity to students with significant academic, functional, and behavioral needs for 6+ hours. They often eat lunch with their students, are directly involved in their toileting, provide hand over hand instruction, and sometimes need to protect their students and other students using close proximity holds during behavioral episodes. There are no halftime break or socially distanced circles between these staff and their students.

While contact sports are not possible between reasonably healthy young people due to concerns with covid spread, I would respectfully request that you consider our most vulnerable populations and the increasingly scarce special education teachers and instructional assistants prior to reopening. Many EC separate classrooms are regularly a contact sport.

Thank you.

2020/11/17 6:25:44 PM EST Gabby Rice Demerius Street Durham NC, 27701

Dear DPS school board members, I am a teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Gabby Rice

2020/11/17 6:27:21 PM EST Alexis Rose 511 Cleveland St. Durham, NC 27702

Dear DPS school board members, I am a 2nd grade teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Alexis

2020/11/17 6:32:15 PM EST Jenneca Graber-Grace 1405 Leon St. Durham NC 27705

I am an English Teacher at Southern High School here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be:

1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision.

Best,Jenneca Graber-Grace

2020/11/17 6:39:02 PM EST Ashlie Canipe 106 West Woodridge Drive Durham, NC 27707

Please provide $15/hour minimum for all DPS staff. Undervaluing and underpaying any employees sends a message that is counter to the mission of Durham Public Schools. Now is the time to correct this and to send the message that all DPS employees are valued and to set a higher standard for compensating employees. Since the county commission's vote against $15 in June, drops in sales tax due to COVID did not prevent hazard pay from being (rightly) paid to DPS workers; now that sales tax revenues are higher than previously expected, it seems clear that there are sufficient funds to make this decision at this time.

2020/11/17 7:03:24 PM EST Mary Margaret Mills 1836 Liberty St Durham

Dear DPS school board members, I am a a teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Mary Margaret Mills

2020/11/17 7:16:43 PM EST Rachel Owens 819 Bill Poole Rd. Rougemont, NC 27572

Dear DPS school board members, I am a science teacher here in DPS. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Rachel Owens

2020/11/17 7:26:47 PM EST Tracie Estep 905 Turmeric Lane Durham, NC 27713

I think the proposal to bring the kids back 2 days per week is a great idea and SO needed. The teachers are working so hard, but elementary school kids can't learn new material remotely with so many home distractions.

2020/11/17 8:09:01 PM EST Mary Ann Whaley 110 Monticello Avenue Durham, NC 27707

DPS should continue to have fully remote instruction for the remainder of the 2020/2021 school year. The case numbers of Covid are rising so starting school back now puts students, teachers and staff at risk of getting this serious and potentially fatal illness. There are very promising effective vaccines on the horizon. Wait until these are available and administered! If schools open and then have to be closed due to outbreaks, this will cause more confusion and chaos. Schools have been remote since March. Why open when case numbers are rising?

2020/11/17 8:16:08 PM EST Natalie Spring 801 Cleveland St Durham, NC, 27701

Hello,

I am a DPS parent of a kindergartener who attends George Watts. As a pre-k student last year she and I would sit in the dark at 6:30 every morning waiting for her bus driver, Mr. Roy Evans, to pick her up. This spring and summer, she drew pictures and cards for me to mail him. In writing my comments, I am thinking of the safety of bus drivers like Mr. Evans. He is elderly (my apologies Mr. Evans for naming your business!) and the bus plan does not seem to keep his health front and center as an important factor. I am also thinking about my child's teacher. She and her husband are DPS teachers and have a small child. If any of them get sick or exposed, who cares for them? How are substitutes found for bus riders and students in their classes? I have seen my child's teacher adapt and make the best of a horrible situation without complaining, yet Plan B appears to double her work again by asking her to teach in a classroom and for students online simultaneously with no break during the day. As a parent, it is too much to ask of our teachers and staff to do this work this way. Finally, cases are rising in Durham. By January we will be in a much worse position, yet Plan B provides no numbers by which we can comment or objectively measure how bad it is and when to close again. I understand the desire to feel like we are moving forward and returning to normal, but it's just not. The learning centers had clusters, sports teams have clusters, schools will have clusters by MLK day. No risk of teacher, staff, student, family, or community life is acceptable to me. Please remain all virtual until 70%+ of Durham Co has received an effective vaccine.

2020/11/17 8:25:22 PM EST John T Whaley 111 5511 old chapel hill rd Durham, N. C . 27707

Need to wait until we all have vaccines

2020/11/17 8:36:26 PM EST Colleen Robinson 725 Harold Dr Durham

As both a parent and teacher in Durham county I wish nothing more then to see my students and first-time kindergarten daughter learning in the school with their peers. Though I do think Durham is trying to put precautions in place to keep staff and students safe, safety can't be guaranteed. I also do not see this as being the best option for my students' learning. With less face-to-face instruction and just two days to teach new content; all while expectations of mask wearing and social distancing are pressed on students. It was quite the transition to virtual learning; and now that we are comfortable in it, it would be another major transition period and therefore a disruption to students learning to adapt to the procedures, schedules, expectations and all other changes that will come with Plan B implementation. I do not see the benefits this has on the students and families to make this change. I do not envy anyone having to make this choice but do we really think NOW is the time to go back to school with Covid case numbers on the rise? Thank you

2020/11/17 8:36:40 PM EST Hannah Guggemos East Maynard Ave Durham NC 27704

We are receiving emails every few days about DPS employees who have tested positive with COVID. The emails state that "due to the nature of the work being done by that employee, there is little risk that there was close contact between that employee and other individuals at the facility". Opening DPS school buildings will be risking the health of children, staff, families and the community who have been working hard to stay safe from this virus. We haven't even gotten through Thanksgiving or winter holidays, and the numbers are already soaring. Teachers have pivoted and are working hard to ensure students are engaged and learning virtually. Students' routines and education will be disrupted when teachers, staff and student bodies are forced to quarantine due to possible exposure. Please keep our students, staff and community safe by staying virtual.

2020/11/17 8:40:18 PM EST Andi Mariategui 1825 NORTHGATE ST Durham, NC, 27704

EC Resource teachers, who move in and out of classrooms throughout the building during the school day, are not fully addressed in Plan B. This leaves a gaping hole and creates a huge safety risk for entire school communities. I am a K-5 EC Resource teacher, and I want to explain what my day looks like. An EC Resource teacher works with students who have IEPs but are not in a Self-Contained classroom. Legally, if a student's IEP requires service in their General Education (regular content or homeroom teacher), the EC Resource teacher has to meet them in that setting. If it requires service in the Special Education setting, the student meets the EC Resource teacher in the EC Resource teacher's classroom. These distinctions are written into the IEP-- a federal, legal document. Because of scheduling, students are almost always in small groups of students from other classrooms and grade levels with similar needs and IEP requirements. In addition, as with other EC settings like our colleagues who teach in Self Contained classrooms, our students require more hands on and direct instruction, further increasing their risk and ours if someone is a carrier of Covid-19.

I think that after explaining how EC Resource works, the safety issues are glaringly obvious. The only information that the Plan B presentation contains about EC Resource is that we will be "virtual, on-site, for the first 3 weeks." It should be noted that other service providers who see multiple students in a day, like Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists, will continue to provide services virtually, and that specials will also be delivered virtually.

I have many questions. Those which feel most urgent to me are included below: 1) If we are legally required to meet with many students, in both our classrooms and their general education classrooms, and with students from other classrooms, couldn't that potentially be a source of spread? 2) If other teachers and service providers in similar situations remain virtual, why would EC Resource teachers be required to move throughout the building, potentially spreading Covid-19 across multiple classrooms and grade levels? 3) If we are required to be in-person and provide in-person services, is the district planning on recruiting and hiring massive numbers of EC Resource teachers so that students' legally mandated needs can be met without them having to move between classes and possibly spread Covid? 4) My school has one other EC Resource teacher, and we are already stretched to capacity trying to meet the needs of the students on our caseloads. If one of us gets sick, or has to quarantine, how will you provide coverage for us so that our students receive their legally required service minutes?

In the midst of an unsafe and unbearably hard situation for all of us, it is difficult to find the right answer. I appreciate the Board's determination to develop a solution that works for all of us, but Plan B is not it. It puts me, my students, and my colleagues (and by extension, all of our families and communities) at an increased risk of illness. It is an incredibly unsafe choice, and will only be less safe as numbers rise, which they will surely continue to do after the holidays.

2020/11/17 8:52:01 PM EST Maria Ellis 1306 Norton St. Durham NC 27701

I am the parent of two DPS elementary age students, one who has an IEP. I have sent several comments to the EC office, complaining about how virtual school is not working for my child, that no amount of virtual help improves the situation. My child is unable to access his education in this way, he has fallen behind academically but more concerning he is depressed, anxious, and constantly unregulated. I am a nurse and my husband works in a restaurant, because of our schedules my child has a different schedule every day. We can not afford to quit our jobs or hire a full time teacher- which is clearly the only way to make virtual school work for elementary age children. They must be back in school. Tell us what you are doing to ensure they are back in school full time. Tell us specifically what the teacher want to see, not just that they feel unsafe. This is an epic failure for our most vulnerable children.

2020/11/17 8:55:48 PM EST kate nartker Durham Durham, NC 27704

I am wondering how this differs from a learning center. I chose in-person for more social interaction, less / no zoom time, engagement with teachers. This sounds like remote learning in a classroom.

2020/11/17 9:00:10 PM EST Chelsea Earles 1709 Glendale Ave. Durham, NC 27701

Please please don't put our youngest students and their teachers and elementary staff in danger by forcing employees to go in person at a time when it's not even safe for over 10 people to gather, and the hospitalization and death trends are exponentially increasing.

2020/11/17 9:06:24 PM EST Hannah Guggemos East Maynard Ave Durham NC 27704

We are receiving emails every few days about DPS employees who have tested positive with COVID. The emails state that "due to the nature of the work being done by that employee, there is little risk that there was close contact between that employee and other individuals at the facility". Opening DPS school buildings will be risking the health of children, staff, families and the community who have been working hard to stay safe from this virus. We haven't even gotten through Thanksgiving or winter holidays, and the numbers are already soaring. Teachers have pivoted and are working hard to ensure students are engaged and learning virtually. Students' routines and education will be disrupted when teachers, staff and student bodies are forced to quarantine due to possible exposure. Please keep our students, staff and community safe by staying virtual.

2020/11/17 9:37:24 PM EST Mary Ann Whaley 110 Monticello Avenue Durham, NC 27707

DPS should continue to have fully remote instruction for the remainder of the 2020/2021 school year. The case numbers of Covid are rising so starting school back now puts students, teachers and staff at risk of getting this serious and potentially fatal illness. There are very promising effective vaccines on the horizon. Wait until these are available and administered! If schools open and then have to be closed due to outbreaks, this will cause more confusion and chaos. Schools have been remote since March. Why open when case numbers are rising?

2020/11/17 9:52:11 PM EST Heather Sackett 3336 Lassiter St Durham NC 27707

Please stay in plan C for the remainder of the school year.

2020/11/17 11:00:27 PM EST Margie Boccieri 2114 Copeland Way Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Dear Members of the DPS Board of Education, We are parents of a middle schooler and two high schoolers currently enrolled in Durham Public Schools. We were dismayed to learn that the DPS administration is not currently formulating plans to provide middle schoolers and high schoolers with at least part-time, in- person instruction in the Spring of 2021. We urge you to direct the DPS administration to create a modified plan that provides some in-person instruction for all DPS middle and high school students who would like to participate. Thank you. Margie Boccieri and Peter Einaudi

2020/11/17 11:16:50 PM EST Melanie Rosario Jimenez 16 dauphine pl, Durham nc 27707 Durham nothing

2020/11/18 2:22:28 AM EST Sharon Demorest 4403 Sun Valley Dr Durham, NC 27707

I would like to know the circumstances in which Plan B will be instituted. For instance, what level of Covid control (none, at the moment) makes this acceptable, or at what point is it deemed unsafe? Having had two students go through DPS schools already, I have trouble believing there will be adequate sanitizer, etc., available to make this proposal stand up over time.

2020/11/18 2:43:50 AM EST Endurance ukponmwan 1010 Poplar street Durham

I am an ER RN working in the frontline of COVID. Please kids or children should not be allowed to go back to school until an effective vaccine has been given. It is not safe at all. No matter how great an immune system a child has- they are still vulnerable and may be a vector to other population( grand parents). Also kids don’t understand what social distancing is all about, they don’t know whet it means to weed their masks at all time. They don’t understand what Sanitization is all about. They don’t understand what it means to avoid touching their faces. Nooooo, they should not be allowed to go back especially with the recent spike .

2020/11/18 6:56:09 AM EST Courtney Hexter 5004 Kettle Creek Way Durham, NC 27705

These plans are beyond overdue & truly are just too little too late. Where was the planning to be ready to safely open our schools in August? The key word is safely. Back in the summer our collective concerns as parents for our children & as caring community members for the faculty & staff, was in regards to safety. It’s good to see steps in the right direction toward safety in this plan but we still don’t see an increase in school nurses & that is a problem. There are so many problems with all of this.

Current DPS leadership is not instilling confidence in DPS. We are not the best option no matter how many times you say it into a camera, Dr. Mubenga. It’s just spin & we all know it. It’s your job to have the foresight to do whatever it takes to make those words true & you haven’t. We wanted to believe DPS could adapt & overcome the way all the Durham area private schools have been able to do. You chose not to. Our community is suffering even more now because of this lack of leadership. It is a huge problem.

Another very big problem with this plan is the fact that all community built to date will be wiped out & everyone will have to start over. Where is the focus on continuity? How does any of this proposal really make sense in terms of what’s best for our students? Again, if plans had been better, more thoroughly thought out & implemented in the summer, no one in their right mind would ever consider making our children & their teachers basically start over mid-year.

All 3 of my DPS children, who are in all 3 levels of DPS need to be back in school. They need to see their peers. They need to know themselves outside of their family unit. They need to have those opportunities for social/emotional growth. They need the steps they get walking in the halls & playing outside at recess or on their sports teams or in their clubs/activities. They don’t need to come in & stay in one room all day long while still being on screens in Elementary School. They also don’t need to now only have teachers in their lives 2 days a week! They don’t need to be completely left out of consideration in your planning if they’re in grades 7-8 or 10- 12!

For these reasons, we just may choose Ignite. We wanted more information before we had to decide to choose Ignite or not-for a second time. We have more information but still don’t know what to do. We did choose Ignite in the summer. We wish you had let us start the year in Ignite if you were going to make us all choose it again anyway. It all comes back to poor planning/execution from poor leadership. We have always been a traditional public school family but we are seriously considering other options for the future.

2020/11/18 7:56:56 AM EST Brianna Roberts 4800 University Dr Apt 12C Durham, NC 27707

Staff should not be required to go back to teaching face to face if they feel unsafe. The number of cases in Durham and North Carolina are rising. I feel uncomfortable coming back - and do not want to put my students and their families at risk either. We have lost enough already. All of the US schools are opening up and then closing back down a week later due to more cases happening. Keep your staff, families, and students of Durham safe and keep them at home!!

2020/11/18 8:11:15 AM EST Anne Sider 4037 Kelly Drive Durham, NC 27707

I am a teacher in the Durham Public School system. In the interest of the safety of our students and staff I want to register my opposition to the current standardized testing plan. While I realize their are state and national policies at play here it would mean a lot if the school board would stand on the side of safety on this issue. Bringing such a large number of students and staff back for the first time in order to take a test is not safe for anyone physically or emotionally.

2020/11/18 8:31:06 AM EST John Puryear 2508 Gracewood Dr Greensboro, NC 27408

I would not feel comfortable going back to school. There has been a rise across the state and nation of cases. I would appose going back into the building as a teacher.

2020/11/18 8:36:15 AM EST Teresa Howard 2628 Kirk Rd. Durham, NC 27705

I’m concerned about going back into the classroom with Covid on the rise. I’m also concerned about the reality of children not actually wearing a mask and not properly and consistently social distancing like they are supposed to do.

2020/11/18 8:44:20 AM EST John W Davis 206 Hemmingwood Dr Durham

While I have an idea of the pressure you're under, it seems reckless to seriously consider reopening in January. Plan, sure, so you're not caught flat footed if things somehow miraculously improve, but do not let yourself be swayed by pandemic exhaustion.

The lives of the students, the teachers, and all of our families are worth more than that.

2020/11/18 8:54:16 AM EST Tamara Wilcox-Curtis 5208 Penrith Drive Durham, NC 27714

With regard to the self-contained students, why would we send the medically fragile students back in such a time like this? They are the ones most likely to get covid and have a hard time recovering.

2020/11/18 9:00:53 AM EST Andrea Ruby 315 dovershire pkwy apt 103 Durham nc 27704

Schools should NOT even be considering reopening right now. The numbers have increased and will only continue increasing. I am a teacher and I will not put my family at risk to go back in person. No one has mentioned the incredible amount of work it is to do hybrid. Teachers are doing twice the amount of work to teach kids virtually and in person. Read articles or blogs or watch any video from a teacher doing hybrid learning and you will know how awful it is for them. I've seen more teachers cry this year than I can count. Virtual learning is hard and kids do need in person instruction to be successful; however this is not the time. We must accept that this year is going to be a set back for kids and when it is safe, we will meet them where they are and help them get caught up. There is no data to suggest its safe. I havent seen any plan to reopen that makes sense. I also fear that if we were to reopen, we would follow in Wake County's footsteps and eventually reduce the social distancing requirements because of space and a lack of teachers. Safety should come first. If the board approves this plan, you will be endangering the lives of our teachers, staff, parents, students, and community. Fyi the CDC removed the statements from their website that suggested it was ok for kids to return. It was politically motivated and SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT REOPEN! Again, if the board meeting is happening via zoom, maybe this is a sign its not safe to bring kids and teachers back...

2020/11/18 9:01:42 AM EST Matt Browning 909 Green St Durham, NC 27701

Remote learning is not working well for my daughter, despite heroic efforts from her teacher. I support the proposed plan to return to in-person instruction, which appears to have sufficient COVID precautions to keep our community healthy. I would like the district to prioritize and accelerate planning for a safe return.

2020/11/18 9:11:52 AM EST Lisa Powell 901 Chalk Level Rd Apt K2 Durham, NC 27704

Pay increase for all IA’s

2020/11/18 9:15:30 AM EST khmya vanhook 2433 glen brook dr durham,nc, 27704 i think we should go back to school

2020/11/18 9:16:41 AM EST Katharine Edwards 7315 Calibre Park Drive #202 Durham, NC 27707

With Covid-19 still prevalent, I do not see how one thinks that EC separate settings are safe to go back to school when they will not wear masks and are at high-risk of catching it.

2020/11/18 9:17:03 AM EST Pierre vieux 3230 Myra st Durham 27707

It doesn't make sense to open school now we know cases are going to happen children and staff . Getting sick and spread it to parents make a smart move thank you

2020/11/18 9:51:27 AM EST Reilly Finnegan 1915 Bivins St. Durham, NC, 27707

Dear School Board members,

My name is Reilly Finnegan and I am a high school teacher in Durham Public Schools. The COVID-19 pandemic is deadly and even for the survivors, there can be severe, long-term health risks for anyone at any age. Let's be absolutely clear: risking harm or death to our students and educators is a choice. Making that choice would mean that DPS is responsible for any tragedies that occur.

Dr. Mubenga's reopening plan has some solid elements, but it is missing some crucial pieces that must be included before the plan should be approved.

Chiefly, we need clearly defined COVID metrics about when we can even considering opening our schools, and metrics for when schools will have to close again. I support the number that Harvard and DAE have arrived at which is <3% positive test rate in the area -- and schools must immediately close if/when the positive rate rises above that figure as well.

Secondly, the plan needs to stress the fact that educators and students should not be forced to risk their health (and possibly their life). Students and parents will have options if they cannot return to the building. Educators need the same guarantee that they will have safe options to continue working and that their positions will be safe going forward.

Without those crucial pieces, I cannot support this plan and neither should any of you.

Yours respectfully, Reilly Finnegan

2020/11/18 9:58:36 AM EST Sudie White-Spence Stone Lion Drive Durham , NC 27703

I have been an Instructional Assistant with DPS since 2004 and have two four- year degrees. I enjoy overall serving my population of students however, are you aware in this position only years of experience are used to determine pay. Ones level of education whether you have a degree or master's is not perceived relevant in reference to salary. I am sure you would want to feel valued and respected in your profession and ask you the board to rethink this way of doing things. One's education as well as years of experience in fairness should holistically dictate salary.? Don't You Agree?

2020/11/18 10:08:34 AM EST Sonja Thalheimer 1209 N Duke St. Durham

Dear DPS school board members,

Hi, my name is Sonja Thalheimer, and I'm a teacher at Lakewood Elementary School. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. I'm scared about reopening with the following two plans in place:

1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return to in-person work without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR. Each staff member must be able to define what safety looks like for themself and their family.

2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building.

Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now - and who also need to be paid more!), and a more robust canvassing of both families AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely.

Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision.

Warmly,

Sonja

2020/11/18 10:10:32 AM EST Andrea Ruby 315 Dovershire Pkwy Apt. 103 Durham Nc 27704

There should be NO in person testing in January. It is to risky, unsafe, a logistical nightmare. I know this is a state mandate, but please advocate for our district that this is not ok!

2020/11/18 10:35:07 AM EST Lakshmi Premkumar Mt. Sinai Road, Durham Durham 27705

Hi, I work as an EC IA for DPS. I have two Masters degrees and I get paid pittance for working hard. My question is, will DPS pay for the hospital bill if and when I contract this deadly disease and when I am admitted into the hospital? Knowing that this is a deadly disease, knowing fully well that our class will not be able to maintain social distance, is a consciously made decision by the district to put their employees and children at risk. I hope they would pay for our medical bill when we are flooded in a lifelong debt.

2020/11/18 10:37:49 AM EST Jonathan Plesser 209 Old Fox Trl, Durham, NC 27713

I am a second year teacher with Durham Public Schools. Obviously, it has been a strange time to come into this profession, and I have had to watch as some truly impossible decisions get made. With that said, it is genuinely unfathomable that we are discussing a plan for reopening schools at this stage. I was so pleased and impressed when DPS announced the partnership with healthcare professionals to determine when the appropriate time would be to send students back for in-person learning, because I knew that following the advice of scientists would lead to unpopular decisions. I lauded that step, and felt gratitude that my district was putting my safety and my students' safety first. I consider this proposal a reversal of that prudence.

To wit, here are a few recent comments from prominent public health experts:

"We are in a very dangerous period, the most dangerous public health period since 1918." -Dr. Michael Osterholm, adviser to Joe Biden

"There is an absolute necessity of the Administration to use this moment to ask the American people to wear masks, physical distance and avoid gatherings in both public and private spaces." -Dr. Deborah Birx, White House COVID Task Force Coordinator, in a memo released in November

"We’re in for a whole lot of hurt. It’s not a good situation... All the stars are aligned in the wrong place as you go into the fall and winter season, with people congregating at home indoors. You could not possibly be positioned more poorly." -Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaking in late October.

While it is clear that the situation in Durham is not isomorphic to the broader national outbreak, we are not exempt from the ill effects of COVID. An eight year old Durham resident died of COVID while schools were closed. I recognize the challenges of retaining enrollment in this year, but how can we suggest those challenges are greater than what we risk by reopening? With only teachers in the building we have seen repeated shutdowns for COVID this year. Now, as cases are climbing (even with testing flat), is not the time to discuss reopening.

The reality is that if we reopen this year in any capacity, prior to broad distribution of a vaccine, it will not be safely. It will be an admission that the logistical difficulties we face are sufficiently worrying that the lives of our students and our staff can be put at serious risk. We have to be better than that.

2020/11/18 10:42:14 AM EST Shala Perla 1005 Snow Crest Trail Durham

I don't want my kid to be taken away from his teacher if we don't want to send him back in person. If we choose ignite all the hard work with his teacher and classmates will be in jeopardy if he has to readjust to a new teacher and classmates. My child has been thriving as he is a bit behind after being diagnosed with adhd before thr pandemic. We moved from Florida to nc in July and due to the pandemic obviously we can't get him the stuff he needs . however his teacher and school , forestview, has done a fabulous job accommodating and giving him one on one instruction via zoom and other tools. So much so my son is now reading and thriving in math. I don't want to have to choose between my child's health and schooling. He has an autoimmune issue and has ended up in the hospital in the past due to it. I don't want him to get sick. I don't want to switch him. I want to stay consistent.

2020/11/18 11:01:09 AM EST Jennie Marcum 304 Snughill Ct Mebane

I am concerned for teachers but also for students to return under plan b. If we are to return under plan B in the separate setting, students in my classroom will not be able to maintain social distancing and wear masks. My students have behavior challenges that would cause them to come in close contact with other students and staff. I want very much for my students to be in person, but the risk of them losing their lives or losing a teacher life is not one I am willing to take. I have lost two loved ones to Covid-19. Please make the choice to keep everyone safe and alive under plan-b. I understand it is not ideal for all students to remain virtual and I empathize with all the families who are struggling. However, I have experienced first hand losing two amazing people to this virus and that has given me perspective on what is most important to focus on in this situation. Thank you to every parent who is working so hard to get us through this time together.

2020/11/18 11:15:22 AM EST Wayne Bramlett 1024 Southpoint Crossing Durham, NC 27713

I am a teacher. I appreciate the history of decisions being made long range, well into the future. I can structure my entire education program based on the environment . A change in environment means a change in norms. Change in mid-cycle can only be accompanied by stress and likely failure.

Further as a teacher, I am often dismayed that my health and feelings of personal safety are not part of the discussion. Please do not assume I will enter the school building under any conditions. You must have my trust before I will do so.

2020/11/18 11:15:38 AM EST Jacqueline Aparicio Garces 2734 thelma st Durham NC 27704 when the high school kids entered school

2020/11/18 11:24:42 AM EST Mike Monsees 6613 Isham Chambers Road Rougemont, N.C. 27572

Dear DPS school board members,

I am a 28 year veteran teacher and coach at Northern here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be:

1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and I feel that teachers will only be effective in completing daily tasks, educating students and working to improve both social well being which is currently a major concern for our students and academic achievement, if teachers feel safe from any virus concerns. I really feel that many teachers will spend much of the time dedicated to instruction addressing concerns about social distancing, proper use of PPE and overall hygiene on the classroom and facilities. NHS is old and has many issues with the physical plant and especially the efficiency of the heating and cooling in regard to air quality and circulation. I already have some underlying health concerns; but with that being said I am dedicated to our students. I currently work more teaching and implementing remote learning that I would normally work with the in person model. I am afraid if we go to a hybrid plan that increase the level of work and expectation for teachers. The same should be considered for athletics and the overall risk to players, their families and just as important the families and relatives of coaches who would work in close contact with athletes. Implementing the guidelines for safe athletics according to the National Federation would be a daunting task. I would think the efforts required to field athletic teams in a pandemic would add a strain to already strained financial resources for both the state and local districts.

2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community.

According to most CDC statistics and the NIH cases in children are under reported and many children are asymptomatic making the detection of the virus more of a challenge. Families have always sent kids to school sick due to the strain on daycare and a need for most adults to go to work to support their families.

Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision.

2020/11/18 11:25:06 AM EST Elizabeth Diehl 5804 Tattersall Dr. Apt 15 Durham, NC, 27713

Why are we even considering face-to-face classes? Our covid numbers are higher than when we initially closed schools, and it's only going to get worse over the holiday season. What benefits are there to reopening? How can you justify putting teachers and students at risk? We already have staff and students testing positive now. Students need some consistency. Teachers need more support. Please focus on helping us with virtual learning instead of forcing us to risk our lives and those of our students and our community.

2020/11/18 11:48:48 AM EST Alisa Halferty 6 Cullowee Court Durham, NC 27713

As a DPS 2nd grade teacher, I have major concerns about returning to school under the Plan B recommendation. Although I will leave the physical and health risks of COVID-19 and the seasonal flu to the experts, I speak today on the social and emotional impact on my homeroom. If Plan B is approved and implemented, students who requested Ignite Academy will no longer be in my homeroom class. In addition, under the hybrid plan, classmates would no longer have access to half of the student body in their homeroom class. As a result, they will lose access to beloved classmates, consistency, structure, familiarity and myself on an unprecedented year when one can argue these virtues are more important than ever. Relationship-building is one of the fundamental components of student achievement, growth and success. By taking away a major source of comfort, love, joy and harmony from these children, I'm afraid we all run the risk of doing more harm than good by returning under the Plan B recommendation. I appreciate your time and careful consideration in this matter, and I trust the best decision will be made for the greater good of the whole child and community.

2020/11/18 11:57:53 AM EST John Dervin 206 Hardwick Drive Durham, NC, 27713

Thank you for all of your hard work regarding Plan B. The presentation was extremely helpful. It’s clear how much work has gone into it and how much DPS leaders, faculty and staff care about safety. Thank you for your service.

I write to request that Plan B include an option for K-5 students to continue learning remotely with their class and teacher for all four school days of the week. We have a 1st grader who loves his amazing teachers and his class. However, we have medical concerns in our family that might require us to opt-out of face-to-face learning. It’s not hyperbole to say that it would be almost traumatic to have our 1st grader essentially start a new school, meet a new class and learn a new routine with Ignite.

I hope that you allow students to have this additional option.

Thank you for considering this.

Sincerely, John Dervin

2020/11/18 11:58:22 AM EST Ms. Watkins 5105 Copper Ridge Drive Durham, NC 27707

As a classified employee, I understand that we will be expected to return to in person learning, along with Certified staff/Teachers. All the more reason to raise our salary so that its comparable to our current cost of living. Teacher Assistants should be offered at minimum, $15/hr. To give a clear picture of why we feel we deserve this, I will attempt to list what's expected of us day one: We are to assist with child learning and development, design anchor charts (Art Teachers), organize and prepare learning environment (Clerical Assistants), substitute for all grade levels (Teachers), run copies and run errands (Secretaries), communicate with parents, assess student needs, maintain cleanliness, provide inside and playground supervision, after-school bus duties, chaperone field trips; the roles and tasks are exhaustive. Many of us have some level of college degree yet owe more in student loans than we can afford to repay because of our salaries. It's interesting that employees in the retail industry are making more than Teacher Assistants. We have to work 2nd, 3rd jobs to meet our financial obligations. And some of us can't afford to live on our own. Yet again, we will be expected to return to in-person learning as if we are immune to this pandemic. Please consider our plea for support, fairness and respect across the board beginning with a raise in salary. Respectfully.

2020/11/18 12:28:05 PM EST Joseph Egger 602 E Forest Hills Blvd Durham

I strongly support a concerted effort to reopen our elementary and middle schools in January, at least for partial in-person instruction. This would need to happen in conjunction with increased mitigation and social distancing efforts at the community level (e.g., closing bars/restaurants, churches, etc.) but this is clearly of greater social benefit. I am an epidemiologist and the evidence of low transmission among young children, and the risks of transmission in schools strongly supports reopening. We can do this Durham!

2020/11/18 12:40:08 PM EST Anonymous 2920 Chapel Hill Road Durham, NC 27707

As a parent of 5yr old with an extensive IEP, I understand the urge to get kids back in school. It's extremely difficult, and I know her needs aren't being met in the way the would if she were face to face. As a middle school educator, I know I am not meeting all the needs of my kids. I understand I would be able to be more effective if we were in person. BUT as a person with common sense, I KNOW we are home and safe. Things are NOT normal, and parents who aren't educators need to accept this. Going back face to face will not look how it did before March 13, 2020. Our covid case numbers are rising, and they are going to get worse. Going back isn't a wise choice. I feel like this is peace offering...trying to think of something to please everyone, but we need to focus on the overall safety of teachers, students, and other school staff workers. Right now, we're being used as guinea pigs...which is extremely disheartening.

2020/11/18 12:47:12 PM EST Trish Dean 18 Barkridge Ct Durham, NC 27713

I appreciate all the effort everyone has put into this ongoing situation. I would guess that you all must feel like you are in a no-win situation with whatever direction to take. While I understand the district has to look at the physical wellbeing of the community as a whole, I want to make sure that people try to remember that virtual learning is taking a toll on the mental, emotional, educational and social well-being of our students. Wellness Wednesday activities are great to have, but they can't replace the real thing, even if students are doing them. I wish Durham could take some of the best of the tactics other school districts are implementing and help get more students back in school. Maybe not all but more. With all the successes DPS has made in recent years, it feels like this one year is going to wipe all of that out. Thank you again for all your time.

2020/11/18 12:50:00 PM EST Stephanie Hughes Durham NC

As a 1st grade teacher, I have many feelings and opinions about the possibility of schools beginning to implement a Plan B for third quarter. However, I am going to stick to the facts. If it was necessary to close schools in March, it's not safe now to go back in-person. If it was necessary to implement Plan C for the start of 2020-2021 school year, it's not safe now to go back in-person. If it was necessary to stay in Plan C for quarter two, it's not safe now to go back in-person. Anyone who keeps informed about the current rates of COVID-19, even minimally, knows the nation, NC, and Durham, are experiencing the highest rates of cases since the start of the pandemic. I want to teach my students in-person, but not at the expense of my health+safety, their health+safety, and my & their family's health+safety. It hasn't been safe enough since March to have in-person school, and simply put, it's NOT SAFE NOW.

2020/11/18 1:00:23 PM EST Madison Wagner 12 Grosbeak Lane Durham

Dear DPS school board members, I am a Teaching and Learning Coach and resident here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision.

2020/11/18 1:01:55 PM EST Mika J Twietmeyer 2009 Carolina Ave Durham, NC 27705

Hello! I teach Biology and science at Riverside and I am very concerned about in-person EOC and CTE testing that will begin, for some schools, in a few short weeks. I completely understand that the decision making power does not entirely lie at the local level. However, Durham can take a stand for the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students. For example, some districts are petitioning the State Board for waivers for the in-person requirement. Others are allowing for students to submit medical waivers so they do not have to take EOCs and CTE exams in- person. If that path is chosen it would be most appropriate to offer waivers for all students, as access to a medical professional can be a barrier. For a large school like Riverside, we will need at least 50 staff, plus proctors, for a full week of regular test administration. Not to mention the number of staff that we will need to screen students and help them navigate a school that they might have never attended in-person. Please do all that you can to ensure the safety and well being of our students during this time. An in-person, high stakes test, during a pandemic, is not what they need. Thank you, - Mika Twietmeyer, 2019 TOY

2020/11/18 1:21:42 PM EST Heyden Brien 5804 Tattersall Drive, apt 15 Durham

Hi there,

I'm a Durham resident, and I'm emailing to urge you to approve the $15/hr minimum wage for all DPS employees. Our classified staff in DPS absolutely deserve a living wage, especially during this pandemic in which they have been frontline workers the entire time.

Sincerely, Heyden

2020/11/18 1:29:19 PM EST Deborah Isley-Roghelia 4205 Sunny Court Durham

I have been an educational interpreter for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in DPS for 20 years. I love my job and I love being in the classroom with students. There is nothing better than seeing a student’s curiosity peaked or “the lightbulb coming on” and the gleam in their eye and hunger in their spirit for learning more. Being in elementary EC we usually are working with our students from the time of identification through 5th grade, sometimes as much as 6 or 7 years together. The students whom I work with do become “my kids”. There is no doubt being in the classroom is ideal. Now, I am afraid to be in the classroom. I want to be; but whenever the conversations start about going back face to face I sleep less, have odd dreams about losing things, and my gut lets me know my anxiety is rising. DPS is doing some amazing planning for us to return safely and I am so grateful to be in a district that is being so cautious. I am grateful we have the community resources to collaborate with some of the top infectious disease specialists in the country. I look at the plans, the creative energy, the thought, and the expenditures, at the district level and in each school building and it is truly incredible. However, COVID-19 is unpredictable in how it manifests itself in each unique human body. Some have no symptoms, others mild, some critically ill and for others it is deadly. Some become “long haulers” not being well for months following their diagnosis. The challenge is we do not know how it will affect each person. We do not know for whom COVID will be life changing or deadly. Will it be the 20 something year old teacher who has asthma or God forbid, another DPS student, or me, a 58-year-old six-year breast cancer survivor, or will I bring it home to my husband who is at risk due to age? For our EC students and staff our risk is double the risk of general education students simply because of the decision to have us face to face for 4-5 days all day. For EC students and staff who do go into general education classrooms it will increase their risk even more because they are not staying in one classroom with one group of people all day. I will be one of those staff members. While I understand the need for our students to be in the classroom, I find it alarming to me even to consider it. For the past 8 months, I have eliminated activities with others outside my home other than quick trips to the store weekly to buy food or supplies in order to protect my family and myself. How will I protect my family and myself going into the school building 4 days a week all day?

2020/11/18 1:30:51 PM EST Abigail Thompson 2638 Propus Wilkerson Rd. Bullock NC 27507

I am a teacher in Durham public schools and daily I receive emails stating that a teacher or someone working from the building had tested positive for covid therefore shutting down that school building or advising others to be aware. There are only a select few employees working from these buildings and I can only imagine the panic that would arise if we returned to school even under plan b and an email like this had to be sent out. Numbers in Durham continue to rise and Durham is still seen as a hot spot in NC.

2020/11/18 1:33:48 PM EST KAITLYN FOX 3108 Maple Ave Efland

I was recently diagnosed with a condition that has weakened my immune system. My 2 kids both have asthma and airway problems. I do not want to be put in a position where I have to endanger myself or my kids. My mother in law tested positive for covid June 4th and by June 11th was placed on a ventilator. She had to be taken off life support July 5th. This is the reality of this disease. By demanding students and teachers be physically at school you are putting every one of us at risk. While I understand the potential rate of failure for kids is concerning, the risk of death is worse. Please do not cave to outside pressures and do the right thing: keep schools online.

2020/11/18 1:45:11 PM EST Thuy-Ai Nguyen 523 Tall Oaks Dr Durham

I want to commend DPS administrators for at least initiating a plan to return elementary students and exceptional students back in person schooling. I know that this task is a huge undertaking. I wholeheartedly believe that DPS can safely bring students, teachers and staff for in-person learning starting in January 2021. My family and children are super excited at the prospect of returning to in-person school. We will be sending our kids when school reopens. However, if the Board were to vote on the proposed plan as it is presented right now, I would encourage you to vote NO. If the reasons for returning students to in-person school are to benefit the students, teachers, staff, and parents, this plan WILL NOT achieve any of these things. As a parent with two kids in elementary school, a family of two PhD scientists, whom are both essential workers who are required to be present in the laboratory daily since March, I CANNOT endorse this plan. The first reason is for safety. I really believe that teachers, staff, and students can return to DPS schools safely. Without a doubt, reopening schools and doing it safely should be our number one priority. However, the current proposal with two days in-person and three days remote rotation will only increase infection rates. For parents working outside of the home, we will have to send our children to some other place during the remote learning days, which would increase each classroom’s social circle and hence risk exposure. This will be the scenario for most underprivileged families because there will not be an adult at home to watch the children during remote learning days. I thought DPS’ original plan B that was proposed in July 2020 with students attending in person all 5 days was the best proposal in the state because it minimizes outside exposure to other people. While splitting each class into two cohorts could possibly allow for more social distancing, anyone testing positive for COVID-19 in either cohort would still shut the entire classroom down because all share the same teacher. As a compromise, DPS could perhaps propose only 4 consecutive days of in-person classes so that students always had Fridays off for the extra day of cleaning each week in schools. This could be Wellness Friday for the schools, teachers and students. Wake county currently has their all their elementary school students (not signed up for Virtual Academy) attending 5-days a week in person. Please reach across the county lines and talk to our neighbors about best practices to achieve this, otherwise we might see a mass exodus from many families. The second reason why I am against this proposal is because this would be such a burden for teachers to have to balance/juggle both in-person and remote learning students. During these times of Covid, teachers are already being asked to perform new tasks/duties by having them teach remotely. Now to give them an even bigger burden of juggling both in-person and remote teaching, I fear may be the last straw. I am afraid of the mental, emotional, physical stress this will have on teachers. Thus, I propose schools be fully opened all 4 or 5 days per week, with teachers either solely teaching remotely (due to COVID-19 sensitivities or being immunocompromised, etc.) or in person. Finally, for parents and students, this plan seems to decrease the amount of synchronous learning that students would receive. After almost a year, I am surprised and frustrated that we are still going backwards in learning instead of gearing up. Many countries, states, and even local counties have been able to return to in-person instruction for elementary school aged kids under plan B. I hope DPS administrators are actively engaging these school systems to find out what the best practices going forward are. For these above reasons, I encourage the BOE to vote NO on the current proposal. Please encourage DPS administrators to revise their plan to increase the number of days of in-person schooling so that students, teachers, staff do not increase their social circles and risk exposures during the remote days that working parents would have to find care of their minor children. National and local experts have all mentioned that schools are not super-spreader sites and schools are one of the safest places to be, when everyone is masked. When DPS does reopen schools, I hope they also transition slowly, like they did in Wake County. Start with PreK and K, then 1 and 2, then 3-4 and 5. Do NOT try to reopen all schools for all grades in one day. Take it slowly so that everyone understands and is comfortable following the new procedures to ensure a safe return. As I stated, my family is super excited at the prospect of returning to in- person school. We hope DPS administrators continue to modify the proposed in-person schedule to meet the needs of working families, students, and teachers.

2020/11/18 1:52:33 PM EST Bruce Graham 95 Intuition Cir Durham, NC 27705

Dear DPS school board members, I am a high school math teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Bruce Graham

2020/11/18 2:01:37 PM EST Mary Ann Whaley 110 Monticello Avenue Durham, NC 27707

DPS should continue to have fully remote instruction for the remainder of the 2020/2021 school year. The case numbers of Covid are rising so starting school back now puts students, teachers and staff at risk of getting this serious and potentially fatal illness. There are very promising effective vaccines on the horizon. Wait until these are available and administered! If schools open and then have to be closed due to outbreaks, this will cause more confusion and chaos. Schools have been remote since March. Why open when case numbers are rising?

2020/11/18 2:14:58 PM EST Brittany Hairston 8 Coolidge Place Durham, NC 27705

DPS Teacher Assistants are super unappreciated and should get paid more money. They are truly an important part of the school day and are often treated like less than people (trash), by administration, parents, students and other educators and it's sickening.

2020/11/18 3:01:28 PM EST Sara Moore 109 N Bellvue St Hillsborough, NC 27278

Good evening. I am a teacher at Riverside High School and am very concerned about Plan B and all the dangers and complications it poses. Our covid rates are increasing, and with Thanksgiving and Winter breaks coming, families will be engaging in risky behavior, just in time for reopening in January. This is a recipe for disaster. Additionally, we all know that parents send their sick children to school all the time. At Riverside, we’ve already had an incident in which a parent sent their kid to sports practice whose family all had covid. Furthermore, we have finally developed a routine after a bumpy start to the school year. Why would we choose to change all of this in the middle of the school year when we know that children need consistency, and furthermore, many families have shuffled their work schedules around Plan C. This change would be very disruptive to our students and parents. Finally, there are not enough adults to safely reopen and operate school. Prior to the pandemic, we had major shortages of teachers, substitutes and staff. It is very evident from my conversations and meetings with colleagues that the vast majority of us do not feel safe reopening schools. As much as we all wish we were ready, we are most certainly NOT ready for Plan B.

2020/11/18 3:14:06 PM EST Katy Culberson Florentino Court Clayton, NC 27527

I want to thank DPS for the decisions they’ve made up until this point to help keep students and staff safe at home.

As an art teacher, I teach over 600 students and whether we are in person or at home, my student’s safety is always my number one priority. And while I wish more than anything that I could be in the classroom with my students right now, I know it is not the safest option.

I am a new mom who became pregnant at the start of the pandemic. I spent 9 months quarantining to keep myself and my baby healthy. But the number of cases continues to rise in NC. Going back now would throw away everything I’ve done to protect my baby.

Additionally, there are teachers who are not considered high risk, who wish to remain remote. It is unacceptable to ask someone to choose job security over their health.

I truly appreciate all the thought that was put into creating a “safe” return to school with Plan B, but the safest option is to continue doing things the way we have been until we can truly return to school safely.

2020/11/18 3:28:28 PM EST Christopher A Werner 606 BRADEN DR Durham

Please do not reopen any DPS school on an in-person basis until a vaccine has been adequately distributed to the public.

2020/11/18 3:46:40 PM EST Laura Brady 2335 Broad Street Durham, NC, 27704

Dear DPS school board members, I am a English teacher at Riverside and I’m proud to be a staff member of Durham Public Schools. My mother is a teacher in Wake County and my father is a high risk individual. Every day I fear for both of their lives because of the reckless decision to reopen Wake schools. I cannot fathom that Durham is considering something similar. I am 24 and terrified. I firmly believe cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. There are many questions I have, but two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. I love my students dearly, but I want them alive and I want to be able to keep them and their families safe. It is simply not possible to do this with schools reopening. I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before it’s viable. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully, Laura Brady

2020/11/18 3:48:00 PM EST Allison Keller 5001 Red Mill Road Durham, NC 27713

No one needs to risk their life right now by being in-school.

2020/11/18 3:49:41 PM EST Jasmin Nabors N/A N/A

I am an elementary teacher in DPS and I strongly urge the Board to make the decision to keep our schools online. COVID cases are rising and as a result, states are implementing lockdowns again, and many districts who were in person have moved classes back online. We need to follow their lead and protect students and staff. I personally do not feel that I would be safe, nor do I trust my school leadership to support me with student learning, needs, or safety if we were in the building. If we were to go back in person in January, we would inevitably move back online due to COVID cases, thus interrupting student routines and learning once again. The past few weeks DPS has had cases that staff have been emailed about; we still are having meetings online, clear indicator it is not time to go back in person. Black and brown children, and black and brown adults are disproportionately affected, and sending students and staff back would intentionally put them in harms way. Online instruction has its frustrations and it is not perfect, but it is the safest decision for students and staff, which should be the priority of the district.

2020/11/18 4:22:27 PM EST Sara Stewart 920 W. Trinity Ave. Durham, NC 27701

I'm an Instructional Assistant in an elementary autism classroom and believe that it would be a grave mistake to re-open schools in January. I love my students and I miss working with them in-person every day. However, I'm considered high risk because I have asthma, and do not think that I nor anyone else should be required to risk their lives to teach in-person. My students are making progress while learning remotely and benefit from a consistent schedule and routine. Re-introducing them to in-person instruction for an unknown amount of time will disrupt the consistency we have worked so hard to build over the past 2 quarters. Please prioritize the mental and physical safety of all DPS staff, students, and families and vote against Plan B.

2020/11/18 4:26:10 PM EST Jacob Stanley 1932 Crowell St Durham NC 27707

The pandemic is getting worse with no clear end in sight. Reopening schools puts everyone in greater danger. I ask that DPS *not* reopen schools for in person learning in the new year, and instead focus on getting vital resources to teachers, students and staff to improve online learning.

2020/11/18 4:55:33 PM EST Jovanna Foreman 2209 North Oakridge Blvd. Durham

As the number of cases rise our well-being and safety, as well as the students, should be the highest priority. The world is watching, let's be the example that maintains integrity and compassion. Future teachers and remaining staff of DPS will remember the response if lives are threatened by returning too soon. We should be very careful to make the correct decision.

2020/11/18 5:11:01 PM EST Melissa DeLargy 104 S Corncrib Ct Cary, NC

I understand that both parents and students are struggling right now. I understand that the work / life balance is making life extremely challenging. With that being said I fear for the safety of our teachers and students. COVID cases are on the rise in our community, hospital beds are at 75% capacity, we are also in flu season. Employees have been testing positive with little to no students in our schools, other counties that have started back have had students and student clusters with COVID. We know that COVID disproportionately affects black and brown communities. The number of cases are astronomically higher than when we shut schools down last spring. I urge you to keep our students’ and teachers safety in mind and not to send students back in person until the COVID numbers in the community are lower and we can implement adequate safety measures (PPE, HEPA filtration, more custodians, etc.).

2020/11/18 5:33:19 PM EST Joan Karcher 311 S La Salle St Durham NC 27705

I oppose the return to in-person teaching for this school year. Actually, I enthusiastically support in-person teaching and learning. But COVID19 cases are increasing. And I don't believe that DPS has the resources or the workable plan that are needed to return to the classroom while also ensuring the safety and health of all for whom it has responsibility. My daughter is a beginning teacher with a huge commitment to her elementary students. She wants nothing more than to see them. But she will be a greater asset to them and to DPS in the long run if you keep her safe in short run. No one wants this result, but it's the right choice.

2020/11/18 5:41:44 PM EST Martha Munn Camacho 1612 Bramble Dr Durham, NC 27712

I am in favor of continuing remote learning into the spring. The teachers are doing a good job and our two children are advancing. Changing to Ignite will be like starting over. Teachers should not be made to return to in-person school. I have a niece with Covid-19, who is presently in quarantine in her home. She is a teacher in Person County. Person County seems to be doing the very thing DPS is suggesting. Two days on and two days off. And, my young niece, the teacher is sick. There are too many people who don't go by the "rules".

2020/11/18 6:15:36 PM EST Rhonda Ashe 5001 Rainmaker Dr Durham NC 27704

I honestly don’t feel as if schools in Durham County should reopen in January. With the COVID- 19 cases on the rise, it’s to risky for students and staff. As a staff member of DPS I read the emails all the time about how employees at different DPS sites have tested positive. So just think how it will be if schools reopen. I’m all for the kids getting back into the classroom setting but my children’s health as well as my own health is far more important to me. I have high blood pressure at it scares me to even think about contracting the virus, also I don’t think staff should come in the buildings at all; everyone should work from home. I have nothing but love and respect for our superintendent but please don’t reopen schools.

2020/11/18 6:33:32 PM EST Davis Harper 908 Cleveland St. Durham, NC 27701

Dear DPS School Board Members,

I am a high school social studies teacher here in Durham, at Hillside New Tech. It's my understanding that we will not be required to teach students in-person under the proposed re- opening, but I am standing in solidarity with my fellow DPS employees in demanding that DPS remain entirely remote into the second semester. Durham is a special place and I am proud of the progressive, inclusive education system that exists here, but that is at risk as the school board caves to the popular narrative and considers putting students, teachers, and school personnel at risk during one of the worst periods of the pandemic.

If we do reopen, two things must happen:

1. A guarantee that all DPS employees who consider themselves at risk can choose not return, without facing punishment or penalty from HR

2. A clear, data-driven plan for re-opening. I stand with DAE in the thinking that learning should remain remote as long as infection rates are above 3%.

I understand the impulse to reopen schools, especially since the most at-risk students are losing the most during the remote learning period. But Durham has a chance to step up and really be transformative, rather than pushing students back into in-school conditions in which those most vulnerable students will still be the most at-risk.

Thank you, Davis Harper

2020/11/18 6:38:21 PM EST Theresa Jones 2308 Green St Durham, NC 27705

As a teacher in Durham Public Schools, I am concerned about how teacher absences will be handled after transitioning to Plan B.

Before the pandemic, if I had an unexpected absence due to illness, my colleagues almost always had to cover my classes because there were no available substitutes. This made me more hesitant to take care of my own health since calling in sick meant my colleagues had to give up planning periods to cover my classes. This should not be the case in normal circumstances, but this issue carries heavier implications with the onset of the pandemic. It will be of the upmost importance that anyone experiencing symptoms or feeling under the weather stays home.

This issue will surely be exacerbated if we return to in-person learning in the midst of the pandemic. Many of our regular substitute teachers are in high-risk categories and may not be willing to return when the district transitions to Plan B.

How will we ensure that teachers who are feeling sick, displaying symptoms, or are asymptomatic but have tested positive do not feel pressured to report to work? Where will class coverage come from? The shortage of substitutes needs to be addressed by our school board, and a plan for teacher absences must be made before moving to Plan B.

2020/11/18 6:52:33 PM EST Unknown 27713 Durham NC 27713

As a Parent as well as a teacher I understand the need to go back, but I am begging that the Board votes no. Numbers in Durham are rising, we are above the 3% of COVID cases. I get that you say that children are not getting it as much, but it’s the adults who are risk. There have been teachers who were healthy who have died in other states. Don’t let DPS add to those poor families who no longer have mom or dad because they were forced to go to work.

What happened to the district being understanding of teachers who had children who want to protect their own personal child. I seems as though we don’t matter and it is sad.

To the board please use common sense and allow teachers who are parents that want to stay home with their kids to do so without feeling as though we will be out of a job

2020/11/18 7:12:48 PM EST DPS Parent Downing Creek Durham, NC 27517

Thank you so much for moving forward with a plan to bring students back to school. Thank you for looking at the science, listening to doctors, and looking at neighboring districts when thinking about the needs of our DPS students. Even though the cases are on the rise, all the data is pointing towards schools NOT being sources of spread. People who do get infected with Covid-19 get it from other adults from their HOME, not schools. I appreciate you keeping siblings together for cohort A and B, but PLEASE also make every effort possible to keep students with their same teacher. Thank you.

2020/11/18 7:14:04 PM EST Danielle Hill Barbee Road Durham, NC 27713

Given the current spike in COVID numbers, I think going back to in-person learning right now is a reckless decision. That said, I also realize we need a reopening plan for when it is safe to return to the school building. Based on my understanding of the plan that was shared, teachers will have lunch with their class where they're supervising students, no real planning because we'll also be supervising students and office hours after the school day is over. Please keep in mind that teachers need time to complete all of the new demands and if we aren't given that during the school day we will not be able to effectively meet the needs of our students.

2020/11/18 7:28:42 PM EST Andrea Ruby 315 Dovershire Pkwy Apt. 103 Durham

I will not be administering testing. I refuse to go into the school. This is life and death.

2020/11/18 7:32:00 PM EST Sharon Demorest 4403 Sun Valley Dr Durham, NC 27707

It is so nice that the School Board is holding this meeting virtually because "the health and well- being of our students, staff and community is of utmost importance to us," so what makes your insistence on in-person EOC testing appropriate? I would say, this requirement is entirely inappropriate in face of the current public health crisis for our community.

2020/11/18 7:56:23 PM EST Carolyn Rose-Seed 622 S. Mineral Springs Road Durham, NC 27703

I understand that there state and federal mandates dictating that our high-schoolers will need to take in-person EOC/CTE tests this December & January. This is a ridiculous mandate in the middle of a pandemic. As a parent, I will NOT be sending my student in to take a test. No test is that important.

2020/11/18 7:58:44 PM EST Vera Bennett-Allen Falk Dr Durham

Regarding New Northern Theatre Arts Wing: It is imperative that the new Architectural design include Theatre Arts in the Arts wing. Theatre is an essential part of developmental growth as well as enhancing those essential life skills that are necessary to our young people. Please do consider how important Theatre is to as you prepare to lay the foundation of the future.

2020/11/18 8:02:32 PM EST Nina Pande 1000 N Duke St Durham, NC 27701

Neither parents nor staff understand why the board is considering a plan that does not establish a baseline for the levels of community spread that must be in place in order for DPS to begin in-person instruction. Whether or not this plan is safe is a meaningless question in the absence of clearly defined metrics for reopening. Parents desperately need assurance that community spread will be much lower than it is now in order to confidently opt their children into in-person instruction.

Within Durham, our Black and brown communities have been hit the hardest by COVID-19. We know that over two-thirds of the children lost to this pandemic have been Black or Latinx. We lost a student at Creekside earlier this year. For many families, the risk of losing a child is not hypothetical. Both parents and staff would feel more confident about this plan with a commitment from the district and board to not move forward with a transition to Plan B until the infection rate falls below 3% for a period of 2 weeks. This is the metric that other progressive communities such as New York City are using. Establishing this baseline would allow families and staff to make informed choices about what educational format they are willing to commit to for the rest of the year and allow us to confidently support the continued development of this plan.

2020/11/18 8:05:26 PM EST Tony McCall 104 Calms Way Rougemont

I am very concerned about bringing our students in to the school in January for EOCs. With numbers spiking and people flocking out of town for the holidays, how is this the best decision to keep my children safe? My child was able to take his AP exam online last spring. What is the reason that EOCs cannot be done in an online setting? #WeKeepUsSafe

2020/11/18 8:31:22 PM EST Jennifer Avery 3412 Alman Dr Durham, NC 27705

What are the expectations on the asynchronous learning/remote days? Thinking specifically of households with working caretakers who are unable to provide consistent side-by-side supervision during daytime hours.

2020/11/18 8:38:55 PM EST Jackie Turnwald 1119 Cabin Creek Rd. Durham, NC, 27712

Dear Board Members, As I’ve learned about the proposed information for Plan B I wanted to share some thoughts. Recently we have heard that there are viable vaccines in our future for Covid-19. Simultaneously, we have also seen numbers shooting up across NC with record positives and hospitalizations. We had chosen Plan C as a district to keep our community safe when conditions were actually better (though not safe) than they are presently. And yet the district is now proposing Plan B. If we hadn’t been living in the upside down for all of 2020 I would laugh at how absurd that sounds.

I have heard the arguments, unsupported by data, that in person instruction will be better, the belief that schools won’t be super spreader sites, and statements regarding the socialization needed for the mental health of students. And yet, I still do not support this wholesale reopening of K-5.

I remember when my school got a computer in my childhood classroom for the first time and we eagerly competed for opportunities to get screen time playing math or reading games on it. But somehow, in 2020, we’re acting as if five more months of virtual learning, with a vaccine for this horrific disease on the horizon, is some sort of tragedy. I get emails and see news articles almost daily about school sites (both with and without students present) where people are testing positive for Covid and buildings are being closed. But we want to put more people in them? And I’ve been infuriated by the speed at which districts make claims that their staff members surely didn’t get Covid at school when they die. Meanwhile, staff members who want “accommodations” must lay down their medical history at the feet of their employer to be protected. And I have no doubt that a major factor in those decisions is how liable the district would be for someone’s death if they put them in the school building. Not whether it is safe, but whether the district would be considered negligent. Right now, the sicker you are, the safer you are. Frankly, it’s all depressing.

And yes, students are depressed. Teachers are depressed. Parents are depressed. But, in my humble opinion, that depression isn’t rooted in virtual learning. It is rooted in a society that consistently puts money over human life. Like a state that will require us to give in person exams for the sake of funding, despite the fact that it could very possible result in someone’s death. It is rooted in the recognition that we have created a deeply “I” oriented society. Such that, in almost every instance I have had to leave my house in the last 7 months, I have witnessed someone defiantly refusing to wear a mask, wearing a mask below their nose, or behaving in a manner that would likely put someone at risk. That depression is the result of witnessing people in leadership make choices that pander to people who complain about quarantine fatigue instead of following the guidance of scientists and metrics. It is rooted in having to survive in a society where there are people who just flat out don’t care about other people. Putting us all in a poorly ventilated building together during a pandemic isn’t going to make that better.

So, instead I am asking the following: Stay the course. Protect our people. Show us that in Durham we have grown ups in the room calling the shots. Work on creative and equitable problem solving and outreach to our families who have the greatest need. Support teachers in improving virtual learning. Enact and encourage trauma responsive approaches. And set a reasonable metric at which we as a community can anticipate and plan for reentry (preferably below 3%).

With Gratitude, Jackie Turnwald

2020/11/18 8:50:46 PM EST Marsha Harrell 516 Mountain Ridge Road Rougemont NC 27572

I am a teacher at Morehead Montessori. I was approved to teach remotely when school resumes; however, I am scared for my colleagues. Our school is over 60 years old and has HVAC units that are well past their replacement date. Several units failed last winter, forcing our whole school to evacuate and relocate for several weeks. Even then, only the one part was replaced. Our classrooms are small and our windows do not open. There is no way those conditions are safe for staff or students.

2020/11/18 8:50:48 PM EST Robyn Moore 1674 Snowmass Way Durham, NC 27713

Dear DPS school board members,

I am a teacher here in Durham. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January. Stakeholders in Durham County Schools need certain things in place before we can rest assured that schools can open safely:

1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job AND without having to submit a health form to HR. I was told not to submit a health form to HR because I am pregnant and a couple months ago the CDC did not know how pregnancy fully impacts pregnant women. Now, new studies are showing that COVID-19 negatively affects pregnant women, fetuses and can cause pre-mature labor. Health is NOT a black and white matter that can be described on a form.

2. A solid plan for determining when schools will open and HOW we will prevent the spread of COVID-19. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. We also need a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE and adequate staff, we cannot reopen safely.

2020/11/18 9:01:18 PM EST Vercie Gant 208 Mainline Station Dr. Morrisville

I understand that going back to school is impactful for the children. I’m concerned about the children switching teachers in the middle of the year. It was already hard work to get virtual learning off the ground. I fear continued change will increase the achievement gaps that are a current concern for DPS. How is DPS preparing for the learning curve that will essentially decrease learning in the middle of the year? What will kids do for the other days they are not in school? Will asynchronous learning be the majority of the learning next semester?

Technology: Chromebook issues with constant logging in /out on applications. Zoom not logging in. Internet connection on chrome books not sufficient for talking and video.

Additional concern: how will schools handle Covid tracing? Are schools set up with hand washing stations with warm water? I ask this because warm water is not readily available in student bathrooms. Will PPE be provided to staff, and students?

What is the protocol for shutting down if outside cases continue to rise?

2020/11/18 9:02:37 PM EST Mary Soriano Gutierrez 65 Pine View Henderson

I have a disagreement to go back to school next trimester due to the pandemic, it's not finished, students and teachers are in high risk. I am in high risk, particularly because I am currently under a cancer treatment.

2020/11/18 9:23:56 PM EST Susan Ewald 1606 Sycamore St. 27707

While the curve for Covid 19 looks much more like a cliff than a curve, how can we move forward with the mixing of hundreds of social bubbles? Is that the best public policy for the safety and well being of Durham? I cannot believe that we can flatten that cliff by blending up our population in schools. I am sickened to imagine that we have learned nothing in recent history! Please think life and death.

2020/11/18 9:26:27 PM EST Daffany Rivers Durham NC Durham NC

As a teacher and parent at Morehead Montessori, I am concerned about the possibility of being forced to come back into the building. Covid cases are rising, flu season is among us, and it is getting colder outside. It saddens me that some teachers may not be accepted to stay home because they do not have an underlying medical condition or they are not over a certain age. I do not believe you should have to have a medical condition or be elderly to not want to risk your life. When I think of returning to the building, I want it to be a time where it is safe. I have to think about more than myself when it comes to making this decision. I have a family who needs me to be healthy as well as stay healthy themselves. I feel there is a misconception when it comes to teachers who are opposed to returning to the building in January. I believe I can speak for many when I say this is NOT the ideal situation. We long to be back in person with our students. We miss being able to work with them hands on. We think about our students every single day and are hurting with them. While we are not happy about this pandemic we know the importance of being safe. The lives of our educators and students matter! One life loss due to Covid is already one too many. I am 100% for remaining remote for the rest of the year. There is no evidence that can make retuning in person at this time make sense to me. I really hope that teachers are also given the option to return in person or not should this plan b take place. We really need to think about the mental health and safety of those who will have to potentially go into the building unwillingly. There is enough stress/anxiety among ung educators as it is. We should be supporting teachers/families in making the most out of virtual learning for the time being. I am Happy to return when it is safe and as it stands, it is not.

2020/11/18 10:13:19 PM EST April Rhew 3011 Broomsedge way Durham NC 27712

No child left behind? Looks like they have all been left behind. This is not school, my children are not learning what they should be learning because you can not adequately teach via zoom. Surrounding counties have gone to hybrid or full time school. What makes Durham so different? Do your chances of Covid increase when you cross county lines? Open our schools that our tax dollars support. We have been remote long enough. Doctors and scientist agree that schools can open safely with precautions. But Durham continues to say no.

2020/11/18 11:22:13 PM EST Anonymous Durham Street The Bull City

First and foremost, thank you to the DPS School Board and Dr. Mubenga for their efforts in thinking about and crafting a re-entry plan for DPS. Yet as an elementary school teacher and parent in DPS (with 2 kids at home who will still be in virtual learning), I am concerned with some of our elements in Plan B as well as the health and safety of students and staff.

As an elementary teacher, I feel that the rising rates of COVID cases proves that re-entry at this time is not prudent and safe. As of today, NY City schools have to had go back to remote learning after a foray into in-person learning as COVID cases hit all time highs. Additionally, we will be in the think of cold and flu season when projected to possibly return in January with more germs spread from our boogery sweet youngins in elementary classrooms who still are culprits of picking their boogers AND eating them too!

I also feel that the current plan doesn't fully address the issues of teacher burnout with the teacher having no break with ALL activities being held in the teacher's classroom and under their supervision - lunch, specials (while being virtual, students will still have to be monitored), and forget any meaningful recess, especially with masks on AND to add to the fun, always being socially distanced. Students will barely, if any, leave their desk areas and their classrooms. And...which staff will be sacrificed to monitor kids that have to go to COVID isolation rooms when symptoms arise?

Also, as students are learning in the classroom they are expected to continue to learn on their devices, basically making us a learning center. I hope that parents of elementary students realize that their children will not have the same meaningful interactions that their kids are used to during a "normal" school year - and mask management will now become a prolific concern for teachers (especially in the lower grades). In addition, the students may not have the same teacher that they started with at the beginning of the year due to teacher movement to Ignite Academy, creating yet another cycle of building classroom community norms, rapport, structures, and expectations. Will students really be getting more meaningful instruction when it is still limited to computers and no physical interactions? Will instruction time really increase when students will essentially have 3 days of asynchronous learning vs. the 1 to 2 days of asynchronous learning now? My opinion is....no. Adding that if a case of COVID in a student and/or teacher comes up, will students again have to transition back to remote learning? Thus creating yet another transition and inconsistent routine for students.

Lastly, with reading stories of elementary teachers in our country who have contracted COVID and died or have had detrimental life long health effects after recovering from COVID, scares the heck out of me as I or any teacher may meet these fates as well. While small children may not contract or carry COVID as much as adults, they have adults in their families who may and will and they bring those germs to us.....I don't want to feel like a sacrificial lamb. Yes, I want to see my students face-to-face again, and yes, I know that virtual learning is not as effective as in- person learning, but learning during COVID or any pandemic will not be normal or as effective and therefore, we all need to accept this and move to in-person instruction ONLY once the COVID infection rates are less than 3%, and/or there is a readily available effective COVID vaccine, and we ALLLLLLLLL feel safe in the building. Teachers need to have a say.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE wait until it is more safe for us to return: waiting until at least there is a 3% or less infection rate and/or when an effective vaccine is readily available, also consider surveying staff and families again to measure comfort levels with re-entry (like we did earlier this year), and NO ONE should have to choose between their HEALTH and their job or education. Thank you for your time.

2020/11/19 12:02:09 AM EST Devon McNally 4418 S. Alston Ave. Durham, NC 27713

As a DPS educator, I would first like to thank the board and district administrators for their work in trying to keep all DPS staff, students, and families safe and healthy. Throughout this pandemic, I have been proud to share my confidence in the decisions made by the board and administration with family and friends having very different experiences in other districts and states.

With that said, I am writing to you all tonight to implore you to please refrain from approving any in-person instruction at any level. When we left our buildings eight months ago, the number of cases in our county, state, and country were far fewer than they are now. I understand that this plan would not be enacted for two more months and I'm sure we are all hopeful that the numbers will decrease by then. However, with the holidays approaching, and many people giving in to the desire to travel and be with larger groups of family despite the risks, this is not our reality. I am a math teacher, licensed at all levels of K-12 education, but it does not take a mathematician to analyze and draw these conclusions from the data. We cannot claim that this plan is a "legitimate salvage" or morally just action.

I miss my students, the energy of my classroom, and the genuine and meaningful connections I get to make when in person. In my ten years of teaching, I have never been faced with this situation or any like it. We were not trained for this. However, I cannot reconcile these wants with the very real risk of students, staff, and families falling seriously ill, having lifelong complications, or dying. Adapting to virtual learning was, and continues to be, difficult. However, our students are adapting. My students regularly communicate with me regarding the stress, anxiety, and mental health struggles they are experiencing as a result of virtual learning. However, it is not justifiable to replace that with the anxiety and stress of risking one's life or the life of others.

It seems like every day or two we receive an email announcing a positive or presumed positive case with the caveat that "due to the nature of the work being done...there is little risk that there was close contact..." and "Since our initial closure in March, there continues to have been no transmission of the virus at a DPS facility." The reason there has been little risk is because we literally shut down buildings in March. If students and staff return to buildings, in any capacity, there will almost certainly be spread. In the three weeks since re-opening, Wake County has had over fifty cases. We need to be better than that. For our students, families, staff, and community. I truly believe we are *still* DPS.

Thank you.

2020/11/19 7:46:26 AM EST Gloria Thompson 49875 fields lane Durham

Seeing that the COVID number are rising again, kids should continue with virtually learning.

2020/11/19 7:50:36 AM EST Mariela Verdugo Morales 2511 Dearborn dr Durham NC 27704

Plan.C

2020/11/19 7:51:12 AM EST Claudia 3408 Hursey st Durham

Yo estoy de acuerdo con el plan B por qué tengo 3 niños y se desesperan con las clases en línea me dicen mami no más clases en línea y yo les digo por el momento no hay otra opción

I agree with plan B because I have 3 children and they get overwhelmed about online classes. They tell me "mommy, no more online classes" and I tell them that, at the moment, there isn't another option.

2020/11/19 8:09:08 AM EST Catriona Moore 4201 Forest Edge Trail Durham, NC 27705

I would like the board to consider the potentially catastrophic ramifications of the gray area between policy and practice in its return to in-person learning plan.

At the core of DPS culture is site-based decision making: schools and school administrators have autonomy to interpret and implement policy. This results in vastly different interpretations at different schools. Right now under Q2 Plan C, some schools offer 4 days of synchronous learning, others provide 3. Some schools honor the district-wide 11:45am -12:45pm device-free lunch, others do not. All these schools followed the same DPS board policy guidelines. Is this equitable for teachers, students, families?

I am a competent, lifelong educator. Like my colleagues, I have spent the waking hours of my adult life in the company and service of children. I want nothing more than for all DPS students, including my own high school freshman, to return to school again. However, I know with every fiber of my being that our district is not fully prepared to do this safely or effectively- yet.

I respectfully ask the board to consider its decision through an equity lens. Please actively listen, more closely, to individual teachers- give us a chance to provide consistency and routine with remote learning. Learn more about how we have collaborated to support each other and our students, how we have redefined community and collective effort, why we are concerned about this incomplete plan. The more specific the stories, the more universal the themes.

We can teach well from home, but we need uninterrupted, supported time to move from implementation into growth. Another mid-year schedule change will disrupt more than it improves. Moving from 3 (or in some schools-4) days of synchronous learning to 2 is detrimental for multilingual learners and other student groups chronically impacted by the opportunity gap. It provokes an exponential increase in virus contact for all families, and it presents teachers with yet another new set of logistical hurdles between us and authentic teaching. I have heard no mention of work days or paid PD to support this. Ask teachers what teaching young learners in this proposed hybrid schedule entails in real life. Gather their stories.

Imagine for a minute the journey of a six-year-old's backpack- Chromebook, power cord, juice box, toys, books- from home to bus to school and back again twice a week or more. Are we prepared to fund the repair and replacement of this essential technology infrastructure at the heart of teaching in Plan B? Will we be ready for 2021-2022?

Dr. Mubenga mentioned that "our babies have been out of school for almost 8 months". A reminder that 3 of those months were by design of the "Traditional Calendar". Whose interests are served by 3 months of summer vacation for students, whose traditions are represented in this systemic policy? Could the board spend time creating a school calendar with less time away from learning, that supports the reality of Durham's working families, which could provide students with consistency to make real positive change in the opportunity gaps in the years to come? Imagine what we could accomplish if we provided equitable opportunities for remediation and acceleration of learning.

It makes sense that virus transmission would be minimal in the clinical conditions spelled out in the plan B. But human behavior is not logical. There will be wide variation in adult compliance to the protocols, as we have seen throughout the pandemic. Schools will be not different. And because schools mirror the systemic inequities of society, our most marginalized members will be most negatively impacted. This is the same old story.

All change, even unwelcome change, brings opportunity. This is a defining moment for DPS, and it is in your hands. There is no quick fix to the academic and social-emotional impact of the pandemic. There never was a quick fix.

We are DPS. We are in this together, but we are not equitably represented. Teachers keep teaching because we believe this in our hearts and minds. We know because see it in our students every day: in the light of their eyes, in all the small moments of connection. Isn't that the spark we strive for?

2020/11/19 8:31:06 AM EST Elizabeth McKeel South Durham Durham, NC 27705

Dear Dr. Mubenga and members of the board,

This is my fifteenth year teaching 2nd grade in Durham Public Schools. After student teaching in Durham, I made the decision to make the Bull City my home after graduating from college. To borrow from the "We are DPS" hashtag to promote positive things happening in our schools, I am so DPS that I bought a home in my school's district to help me know and be a part of the community I serve. In the midst of the pandemic I am so DPS that I am dreaming about posting assignments and designing pages on Canvas. I have awoken in the middle of the night with teaching ideas and my to-do list arranged in my mind on Google Slides. I have worked a full day every Saturday since we returned to school and am averaging at least 60 hours of work a week, even with the remote learning schedule change in Quarter 2. I know from countless Zoom meetings, generous emails sharing resources, and reading the public comments for each board meeting that my fellow teachers and I are giving you our absolute best and much more than we are required to give you from our time, tools, and talents.

I have serious reservations about the proposed schedule for Plan B because it will only work at great cost to teachers' time and health. When you look at the graphic of a teacher's day, it may appear at first glance that there is time within the work day for planning, creating online content, and grading since the teacher has the district wide lunch from 11:45-12:45 and later in the day (s)he will plan while supervising students attending virtual specials. A closer look at the plan reveals that students will be eating lunch in the classroom. These students will need to be supervised by the teacher and will continue to need supervision and something to do with their remaining time once they finish eating until the lunch break ends. This is not a break for the teacher. This will not be uninterrupted planning time. At my school our virtual Specials classes are 25 minutes for 2nd grade. Even if no students need help and everyone is on task, 25 minutes/4 days a week is not enough time to accomplish all of the planning and creating that a teacher needs to do, especially since we will now be planning both remote and in-person activities. While it appears that we will continue to have time to plan on Wednesdays, I would remind you that planning time on Wednesdays is often interrupted by meetings and has not been sufficient to accomplish everything during remote learning.

Right now, your teachers are pouring themselves out for this community. We are exhausted, but we continue to give our all for our students. But right now, we can work safely from home and reduce our exposure risk. Going back into the building is risky not only because our exposure risk drastically increases as we interact with many different households throughout the week, but also because we will be going in with weakened immune systems from lack of rest. I've already received 16 emails this year about closing DPS facilities or cancelling practices after at least 16 DPS staff members and 3 student athletes contracted COVID-19. Why are we considering opening buildings when we are currently closing mostly empty buildings for several days for cleaning and contract tracing? Recently the emails began to include a note that there has been no transmission within DPS. But how are we defining transmission? What are the parameters to determine if the transmission occurred within DPS? Is it really okay for a few people to get sick from another person as long as we stay under a threshold of 5 people? Will there really be no community spread if we return?

Finally, I would like to humbly ask that whatever decision you make tonight, please take credit for your decision. It was very offensive that in making the decision to move to Plan C in July and to continue with Plan C for Quarter 2 that several members said it was because the teachers did not want to go back. Teachers were not the only ones with concerns. Those members made us scapegoats rather than taking responsibility for having to make a difficult decision based on feedback from many community stakeholders. Teachers deserve to be treated better by their leaders.

One of my class's rules for online learning is to be kind to yourself because this is new for everyone. You have never had to make decisions for our school district in the midst of a global pandemic, and I can certainly extend patience and grace as you navigate a new realm. However, my class also has a rule that we are kind to others and are mindful of our words and actions. We apologize and make amends when harm is done. Please do not trample on the people that are working tirelessly and blame them for a complicated, difficult decision. You were chosen and elected to lead and sometimes that calls for you to make a decision that will upset others. Take heart and take credit.

2020/11/19 8:52:57 AM EST Emily Daly 908 West Knox Street Durham, NC, 27701

I appreciate all of the detail about PreK-5th grade instruction for the spring semester but am concerned with the lack of information about 6th-12th grade education beginning in January. I would love to see some of the in-person options described for PreK-5th grade applied for 6th- 8th graders and possibly 9th-12th graders. I look forward to hearing more about the plans for middle schoolers and sincerely hope that in-person options will be available for these social creatures craving face-to-face time (safe, socially distanced, of course) with teachers and peers.

2020/11/19 8:54:23 AM EST Dan Bock 205 Albemarle St Durham

My two kids, who are DPS elementary schoolers, attend the Levin JCC's remote school support program every day, where they get on their Zooms and do their assignments with in-person support from JCC staff. Masks are mandatory for everyone, groups of kids and staff don't intermingle, parents don't enter the building, and lunch is outside. There's no reason these same protocols couldn't be followed for in-person learning at DPS elementary schools.

2020/11/19 8:58:31 AM EST Brianna Shanholtzer 508 Lionheart Lane Sanford

DPS schools must continue with Plan C. Covid-19 is worse now than it’s ever been. Many schools that reopened in August are now having to shut down due to the high number of cases. Reopening now would be a mistake as far as the health and safety of our students and staff is concerned.

2020/11/19 9:15:09 AM EST piper king 2901 gretmar drive durham, nc 27705

Durham County, like all counties everywhere in the state and nation, is wholly unprepared to keep students, families and staff safe if school resumes in person in January. We need to learn as a county from New York and other large cities where they are having to shut down repeatedly as COVID cases soar among students. This is not an easy choice and so many families and students need school but the lives of students, families, and teachers are more important. Cases are rising rapidly in Durham County and this will only get worse during and after the holidays. Sending children and teachers back into classrooms in January is a death wish. This also impacts the wider community. Each child and teacher has family, friends, roommates they live with who will be put in danger. Each child, teacher, and family goes out into the community to purchase necessary food and items from essential workers and spend time with people. This is way beyond Durham County Public Schools. This is Durham County. This is our community.

2020/11/19 9:16:05 AM EST Andrea Huffman 315 Oxfordshire Lane Chapel Hill, NC 27517

Plan B ignores middle and high school student needs. HS students are suffering mentally and emotionally. Have you seen this JAMA article in regards to lives lost? https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772834 In summary, they find "In this decision analytical model of years of life potentially lost under differing conditions of school closure, the analysis favored schools remaining open. Future decisions regarding school closures during the pandemic should consider the association between educational disruption and decreased expected lifespan and give greater weight to the potential outcomes of school closure on children’s health." Please find a way for our HS and MS students to go in person at least one week on, two weeks off. If Wake county can do it (and their opening has not shown to cause rapid superspreader events), DPS certainly can! I fully support all kids back in school for the 2nd semester of 2020-21 school year.

2020/11/19 9:19:26 AM EST Mandy Dailey 1122 Freshman Drive Durham, NC 27713

I write today in opposition to the return to campus under Plan B that is under discussion. COVID-19 is currently surging, with North Carolina logging record high positive cases and hospitalizations on a daily basis. There have been clusters reported in local area schools that are engaged in in-person learning, forcing closures. While I appreciate that everyone wants to see students return to campus, we must do so at a time when it is safe and healthy to do so. Now is not that time—our local health metrics simply can not support it. To open now is irresponsible, potentially putting countless students and teachers, and their families at risk, as well as contributing to the strain on an already taxed healthcare system.

The cohort-based model in which elementary students will only be on campus during a couple of days a week is problematic. While it de-densifies campus, it will require parents to seek out childcare options for the balance of the week. This effectively increases the number of individuals and communities that a single student will interact with on a weekly basis. Instead of being in their “bubble” with either a childcare community OR a school classroom community, they will now interact extensively with both. At a time when public health officials are warning us to stay home and limit interactions so as to help to contain the spread, this effectively increases potential exposures and virus spread.

DPS has done a good job creating a virtual environment to support our students, shifting now to an in-person model, one that will inevitably be rife with closures, quarantines, etc. is likely to be more disruptive to student learning and mental health.

I support the Durham Association of Educators that have also come out in opposition to this plan. I have heard heartbreaking stories of young teachers that are resigned to return to the classroom—not because they are comfortable doing so—but because their risk is lower than that of a more elder colleague. This is unacceptable. No staff or faculty member should be forced to choose between their health and their job, or their health and the health of their colleagues.

Finally, budget discussions at the beginning of the year indicated that the already-strapped DPS system did not have the funds to effectively implement the many health interventions – increased sanitation requirements, additional bus routes, improvements to HVAC systems, etc.—to support a safe return to school per guidelines from public health officials. This is not something that we can do halfway. Rather than directing our already stretched resources to a misguided return to school, we should be focusing those resources on supporting families that need additional help during this time and improving our virtual school experience.

2020/11/19 9:19:55 AM EST Hannah Harris 4100 Destrier Drive 27703

I am a student at Hillside High School and I do not believe the schools should be reopened in January. The number of Covid cases are steadily rising and considering how many students attend the school, putting them all back in the same building with no way of knowing what they may or may not have is just too dangerous.

2020/11/19 9:22:23 AM EST Daeon Graves 814 colfax street Durham,Nc 27701

I don't think school should reopen because of increasing of covid. And didn't Boden said he would shut down U.S. so whats of point of doing that.

2020/11/19 9:32:06 AM EST Andrea Ruby 315 Dovershire Pkwy Apt. 103 Durham

Will there be specifications on the types of masks students would be required to wear for testing? Certain types of masks don't actually prevent spread! Neck gloiters should not be allowed for example. They are basically the same as wearing nothing.

2020/11/19 9:39:07 AM EST Ana Velasquez 1104 Sandlewood dr Durham, NC 27712

Some schools including Universitys all or have been closed. Some states are planing to close and the numbers of Covid-19 people are growing How safe will it be for our kids to physically go back to school?

2020/11/19 9:45:27 AM EST Sadie Pearce 5 N Indiancreek PL Durham,nc

I'm worry about going to school because some of my family have health issues, I don't want to risk getting them sick or them dying.

2020/11/19 9:48:16 AM EST Stacy Woodring 3321 meadowrun drive Durham

The eoc testing should be waved. They are not going to get through the material. My sons math 1 class is only on unit 3 of 6. How is it fair to have it count for 20% of their grade. Online learning is not the same as in person especially with math it’s much harder. Being in a room with other people not in your family for 2 hours is not safe. Its just going to lead to more community spread of covid. It’s unfair to put this stress on kids during a panademic, .

2020/11/19 9:55:48 AM EST Jenn Moerman 100 Erlwood Way, Apt 204 Durham, NC 27704

Dear Board of Education members and Dr. Pascal Mubenga,

With regards to Durham Public Schools moving to Plan B in January, I think it is an ill-advised idea. I am greatly concerned for our staff, administrators, teachers, bus drivers, students, and their families if this were to occur, with regards to their safety and well-being, as well as the impact on the Durham community.

January is the height of a typical flu season, which may be delayed due to the COVID-19 restrictions. This is also a time where there is typically an uptick in rhinovirus, RSV, pneumonia, bronchitis, croup, cold, and other respiratory illnesses. All of the aforementioned conditions have similar or overlapping symptoms with, and may leave a person more susceptible to transmission and more severe symptoms of COVID-19. This poses a risk to inundate and overwhelm our local health care systems and hospitals, jeopardizing not just those in need of treatment of these illnesses, but other potentially emergency and life-threatening situations such as heart attack, anaphylaxis, stroke, bodily injury, etc.

Additionally, a recent article published by the CDC in conjunction with Duke University provided pertinent data on asymptomatic cases: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6946e1.htm?s_cid=mm6946e1_w; discussion of the article can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Cl82rQL3k&feature=youtu.be. Through entry and surveillance testing, along with symptomatic testing, it was found that 51% of all cases identified from August to October were asymptomatic. This is a case study of a more closed community that has agreed to stringent measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 including contract tracing, and being moved to separate quarantine and isolation locations if they reside on campus. The majority of the population are older adolescents/young adults of fairly good health and access to resources. Duke University itself has a great many resources that has allowed them to temper the spread of COVID-19 in this microcosm in our Durham community. Within the broader community there are a greater number of variables, including participants’ level of buy-in to distancing and preventative measures based on their own personal resources, access, and other variables. In combination with a lack of surveillance testing to identify asymptomatic cases, as well as a lack of enforceable agreement to participate in contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine, there will undoubtedly be a greater rate of transmission, and to more vulnerable and high-risk populations, particularly to those who may lack resources that allow them to fully participate.

The risk to our teachers, staff, administrators, students, and their families, as well as to the greater Durham community in returning to the classrooms, as well as the cost of the logistics needed to do so safely, in time, energy, and funding, is too great, particularly at such a high risk time with other illnesses. I understand families are greatly burdened with remote learning. I am one of them, with a child who has a differentiated education plan, with mental and emotional health needs that have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. But our community can only succeed by ensuring the safety and wellness of the most vulnerable, which is best done by continuing remote learning during this precarious time. A vaccine is on the horizon. It is best to wait until we are able to have a vaccine more widely distributed so we are able to protect the most vulnerable of us.

Thank you, Jenn Moerman

2020/11/19 10:01:01 AM EST Tamisha Palmer 5057 Rainmaker Dr Durham, NC 27704

If DPS returns to a hybrid schedule in January for Pre-K-5, will you be able to ensure that kids are spread out enough in classrooms so that there are no more than 10 kids in a class? Will the school system be able to provide desk shields in classrooms? Please list specific sanitation/safety measures.

2020/11/19 10:02:37 AM EST Maricruz Romero 2810 Maple Ridge Dr Durham Nc 27704

Sigo apoyando el plan C. Que los niños permanezcan aprendizaje en casa. Los contagios aún están en aumento, es arriesgar a los niños y sus familias a incrementar aún más los contagios. Tengo un niño con necesidades especiales en las escuelas públicas y mucho menos a el lo arriesgaría al regreso a clases.

"I still support plan C. That children continue learning at home. Cases are still rising. It means risking the children and their families to increase the cases even more. I have a child in public school who has special needs, and I much less would put them at risk by going back to class"

2020/11/19 10:10:51 AM EST Anonymous Anonymous Durham, NC 27703

I am a elementary teacher for DPS. As much as I really want to be with my students and teach in person, we are simply not ready. I support DAE's position that schools should remain remote unless certain parameters are met. Cases are exponentially rising. It would be HIGHLY irresponsible and dangerous to opens schools with such high rates.....that is why we haven't opened before this and we should continue to be cautious. I understand the pressures from families and from other districts, but we have to think about what is SAFEST. In addition, the district is still relying on teachers is schools to come up with the safety procedures. We are not health professionals nor are we paid as such. In addition, to ask me to isolate for months from my family and friends will send me and many others farther down into a mental health crisis. My family and friends would not and should not see me when I am being exposed to many students. Physically, I do not understand how we plan to social distance in our classrooms. They are simply not big enough. At the beginning of the school year, I watched rooms be measured for social distance, and they were only able to have 3 feet in between each student desk. That is NOT social distancing. We've been working this whole year for students to have consistency and structure. With the new plan, they will have no consistency or structure. Each week, I will have to start over with teaching routines and procedures because they will be out of school for 5 days and then return for only 2 days. We need to understand that we are in a pivotal moment for COVID and we need to continue to be cautious and stay closed until we have received a vaccine or we have reached a very low positivity rate.

2020/11/19 10:31:38 AM EST SCS Leadership Team 5001 Red Mill Rd Durham

Dear Superintendent and Board Members,

We, the undersigned members of the School for Creative Studies Leadership Team, wish to express our concerns about the Plan B in-person instruction proposal. The SCS leadership team is a diverse group of teachers and other instructional and support staff that work collaboratively with our school administrators to provide leadership. Specifically we have concerns related to the plan for select students to return to campus on Wednesdays. As a 6-12 school on a seven period schedule, the proposed changes will significantly impact our school in ways different from comprehensive high schools. We request that the Board of Education not approve this section of the plan until questions are clarified and a detailed proposal can be reviewed by the staff.

Moving in-person instructional activities for some students to Wednesdays and wellness to Fridays would require the modification yet again of our entire daily schedule and would reduce instructional time for a majority of our students, changes that we strongly object to. Our students have already had to transition to a new schedule to accommodate the changed lunch time. This was challenging for students and frustrating for our leadership team as we put great time and care into crafting our original schedule based on our student needs. We feel the disruptive nature of this change would outweigh any potential benefit of the limited in person interaction.

Bringing even a relatively small number of students on the campus on Wednesdays will require a large number of staff members to be present to provide supervision and instruction with social distancing. We remain unconvinced that there is enough benefit for students for the increased risk for just one day. We understand safety measures will be in place. However, the data on Covid-19 spread in schools is limited, contradictory, and experts do not agree on the level of risk that in-person schooling truly poses. Our staff members have experienced Covid firsthand and have buried loved ones as a result of it. We know the stakes are high. In addition to the risk posed to students and staff, in person interaction with students requires personal sacrifice on the part of staff who now pose a risk to their loved ones. Such risks should only be undertaken when there is clear and convincing evidence of significant benefits to students. This proposal cannot provide such evidence since it includes no details or data. Staff should not be asked to accept risks that have yet to even be clearly defined. We also ask that any plan to bring students on campus be developed with direct input from the entire school leadership team.

A date of February 15th for the start of potential in-person interactions on Wednesday is also simply not realistic given the current Covid-19 rates and the upcoming holiday travel and flu season. We hope that you will take these issues under advisement as you consider the proposal. Thank you for your leadership in Durham Public Schools.

Kia Barfield Vanessa T Barnes Shaunte' Bridges David Cousins Bellino Evans Anquinnette Lewis John Robert Lewis Lisa Parker Rita Rathbone Shara Settle Elizabeth Sims

2020/11/19 10:34:44 AM EST Carolyn Allen 6312 Whitt Rd Durham NC 27712

It is not safe or ethical to bring students and teachers together back into the building for the first time this year to administer high stakes exams while COVID-19 cases continue to climb. Please do whatever you can to support the effort to urge the NC State Board of Education, Superintendent of Public Schools Mark Johnson, and Governor Roy Cooper to act immediately to waive the requirement for students to take high school End of Course EOC exams and CTE assessments for the fall 2020 semester, and to request that the state apply for a waiver from the US Department of Education for the in-person testing requirement associated with these and other federally mandated, standardized tests. http://chng.it/wRDsWJW5Mk

2020/11/19 10:39:12 AM EST Douglas J. Graves 1 Kitchner Ct Durham

Dear Members of the Board,

I am writing to implore you to take a closer look at the plans for the new Northern High School and take note of the plan’s use of theatre space. There are glaring issues with the theatre space (or lack thereof) and it is obvious that theatre was more of an afterthought than a priority for this new school.

I have been a theatre educator with Durham Public Schools for more than 20 years and there have been many times when I was not invited to the table to discuss changes in my space that directly impact my program and ability to produce high-quality theatre. Durham Public Schools has signed off on an inadequate plan that doesn’t invest in the FUTURE of students who attend Northern High School. This new facility should be the model of all future theatre spaces and, instead, theatre has been thrown in as an afterthought. Long before move-in day, DPS has already established a huge inequity by signing off on this woefully lacking respect for the Northern High School Theatre program. My email to the Board outlines some of the specific issues.

I support Irving Truitt’s request for a redesign and invitation to come to the table to help solve the issues with the current plan. This is the time to do the right thing and make this a space where theatre will thrive for future generations. Our community and students deserve it! The inequity of the current plan must be revisited.

Thank you for your consideration,

Douglas J. Graves Durham School of the Arts Theatre Department Chair

2020/11/19 10:49:28 AM EST Por lasituasion ke estamos bi biendo mi yjos estan mas seguros enkasa espermos unpokomas porfabor 4818 kendridge dr durham nc 27712 Durham n.c

Estan mejor protejidos enkasa

Because of the situation we have been living, my children are safer at home. Let's wait a bit longer, please. They are more protected at home.

2020/11/19 10:52:34 AM EST Fredy Mendoza Aparicio 1819 South Miami Blvd Durham , NC 27703

I think that they shouldn't reopen the schools because they are risking the lives of young children K-5 and i feel like it's not safe for the young ones to go to school due to COVID-19 cases rising up I understand that K-5 kids are struggling with their school work but I feel like they should stay home for their own safety

2020/11/19 11:08:30 AM EST Emily Moody 703 Shepherd Street Durham

Nurse, refugee advocate, and parent of a third grader and kindergarten, including one with ADHD providing comment here. I want to strongly iterate that I am and have been in support of schools returning since August 2020. As a refugee advocate, I WANT TO SEE these often at-risk kids back in front of competent in-person assistance as this break will only further contribute to challenges later, that may not be recovered. Additionally, as a healthcare professional, I have been at work the entire pandemic and have had the fortunate ability to see firsthand just how preventative masks are, have learned the evidence about transmission, and have watched protocols change and be fine-tuned to match the evidence we have about covid transmission and risk. The current understanding that schools are known not to be strong sources of transmission, especially with young children, is what makes me a strong advocate to have in person learning as an option for those that want it, especially elementary age. Also let's remember that most schools in the state have already returned in some capacity and in Durham, many children "have returned" already because many parents are relying on daycare centers and childcare centers whether through DPS, YMCA, etc and in some of these situations, the daily attendance fluctuates, making it actually more unsafe because it is a varied group of kids joining together, rather than a cohort. For me, these childcare centers have either been cost prohibitive or not effective and I have had to cut my nursing hours to make remote learning work. As far as returning, effective proactive communication is lacking and needed. At my large healthcare organization, I have watched how proactive education and clearly communicated provisions for how we will be protected have been instrumental at making staff feel comfortable in coming into work. I think this clear communication needs to go out to parents so they can make decisions about plan B and understand that their decision to return doesn't mean that their at-risk teacher would be forced to teach if she/he is at risk. Rather than referring to various links that a parent is to find on a website, please make a 1 page flyer, translated as needed, for all parents that details what precautions will be in place, resources for support, and just how evidenced-based these policies are! The reality is that until you take that step and return to school, fears of the unknown will linger, but so many fears can be decreased if parents understand just how thorough and evidence-based the plan is!

Finally, here are my suggestions: 1) Provide a translated flyer to all parents with info on plan B. Have teachers poll 100% of their parents to determine what their intentions would be in returning and submit those to DPS for planning and possibly increasing the abilities for day/week in person instruction 2) Please decrease the amount of meetings teachers are having to do right now and find ways to standardize work plans in an efficient way so that teachers can focus less on meetings and planning and more on working with students, even 1:1. 3)For plan B, please cut out the in-person requirement to interact online with peers during the day, outside of specials. 4) Please provide and require medical masks and eye shields for staff. They need to be further protected and this would better protect them in the inevitable situation of small children not wearing their cloth mask appropriately.

Lastly, two questions: 1)The test positive rate, which is a known parameter under consideration for Plan B, is known to be high due to the lack of inclusion of all negative tests. How will this known information be considered as decisions are made? 2) Why aren't we using the unused middle and elementary schools to space out k-5 and allow for potentially 4-5 day in-person instruction?

2020/11/19 11:08:31 AM EST Elisha Burns Revere Road 27703

Thank you for taking the time to read my comment. I am concerned about the emotional well being of the students if we go back to school in January. Our families have gone through trauma this year in many forms. In January, you will be asking students to meet new teachers, learn new routines, change their learning environment, travel, learn without a teacher for 3 days, and have masks. The parents and teachers have formed relationships and the classroom communities are built and stable at this point. Please don't ask 5-12 year olds, parents, and teaching staff to go through this trauma in January. It will be better for all to finish the year as it was started-online and safe.

2020/11/19 11:09:35 AM EST Robbie keaton 517 Cove Hollow Drive Durham, NC 27703

Good evening, my name is Robbie Keaton. I am an instructional assistant. I have over 25 years of experience as an educator from the community college, Christian education and now with public education. I was issued a student laptop in August, which is a Dell Chrome book, which is about the size of a 8x10 notebook. My day starts at 7:15am and ends at 3:45pm. During the first part of the day I am assisting my teacher and during the second half, I pull small groups for MTSS. Looking at the small screen and print throughout the day places a tremendous amount of strain on my eyes. Having something larger will truly be appreciated. Thank you so much for your consideration.

2020/11/19 11:13:18 AM EST Emalie Burns Pebblestone durham

Hi. I am a 7th grader. I have a brother in first grade and I worry about him going back to school. He wants to see his friends, but he also wants to be safe. He really likes his teacher and is worried that she will not be his teacher when goes back to school. I also worry about my mom. She is a teacher and will have to go back to work if school goes back in the building in January. This means that she may have to leave me at home by myself. She has no where to put me or the money to pay for it. I'm only 12 and it scares me that I may have to be at home alone all day. I am also scared that they will get sick. Please think about these things when you make your decisions.

2020/11/19 11:23:36 AM EST Vikki Vilcek Longwood Drive Durham

Tonight’s vote on Plan B is commendable—thank you for communicating the first look at the plans broadly. But before we lavish everyone with praise and affirmations, let’s remember that Durham is BEHIND. Surrounding districts had already brought some or all of elementary students back, and Guilford and Wake have started expanding on those initial plans. I am just as disappointed as everyone that NC is going in the wrong direction with numbers, but studies continue to show that schools are NOT causing spread. European countries facing an actual 2nd wave of infections are closing bars and restaurants—but they are keeping schools open. You must vote YES to Plan B. It’s still two months away as it is, and my elementary kids and many across the district have suffered enough and have fallen too far behind to delay bringing children back any longer.

2020/11/19 11:46:54 AM EST Tina Torian Chavis 701 Dicken Lane Durham

Plan C

2020/11/19 11:56:40 AM EST monique taylor 3218 Rose of Sharon road Durham

November 18, 2020

Dear Members of the School Board: I am writing to add my voice to the inequities with the new Northern High School building plans. Most Arts educators have worked in spaces that are less than ideal for the craft and students. In my 20+ years as a Theatre Arts teacher, I have had to utilize many spaces: auditoriums, classrooms, via a pushcart with a laptop/projector, a black box, a multi-purpose room, etc. Most Arts educators, at some point in their career, worked in spaces that are less than ideal and contrary to our students' educational development. The building plans for the new Northern High School perpetuate these inequities. Our world consists of a pandemic, civil unrest, political divisiveness, and a hard-hit global economy. We have an opportunity with the new Northern High School building design to set a standard for future high school and community arts. Our students deserve a space where they can build skills like communication, collaboration, creativity, determination, and empathy, which are critical during these challenging times. Studies show that students in underserved communities who are involved in theater have higher academic performance, higher college acceptance rates, and grades, as well as higher job retention. The omission of adequate theater space in Durham County would be a devastating loss to our students and our community. Theatre Arts students need a safe space/Theatre room to explore, recreate their and our future. The new plans should include but are not limited to: 1. A Theatre Arts classroom/black box within the Arts wing 2. Dressing rooms for performers 3. Sufficient storage for props, costumes, and script library 4. Tech Theatre space adjacent to Theatre for easy transfer of large set pieces and loading dock for delivery of materials. 5. An orchestra pit for the collaboration of music and theatre events. These are only a few suggestions, but a place to begin and essential to the growth and security of our culture, students, and community.

Thank you for your time and consideration, Monique Taylor Theatre Arts Riverside HS

2020/11/19 11:59:25 AM EST Haley Rossi 2505 Vesson Ave Durham, NC, 27707

I need to join with the voices of my theatre colleagues across our district in bringing to light the inequities in the plans for the theatre spaces in the new Northern High School Building.

Here are the issues with the plans for the NHS space: The theatre department needs a classroom with a black box theater within the arts wings. To provide equity; Theatre and Dance should have the same arrangements as Chorus and Band with a dedicated classroom and office space. Dance and Theater cannot possibly share the same space – this is a nightmarish scenario. They are both kinetic and social arts – they need dedicated spaces. Theatre will also need separate dressing rooms. Dance and Theatre should not share dressing rooms. All DPS High schools have separate dressing rooms for Dance and Theatre. Another entrance should be used for front of house. One entrance should be on the left and the other on the right. It seems to us that including only a single entrance into the auditorium, from the front of house, is a violation of fire code. Another space will be selected for Chorus risers instead of being stored in the wings. The wings should only be used for scenery, lighting, special effects, actors and props. An orchestra pit will be added for theatrical performances. The pit should be large enough for the band/orchestra to have at least thirty members with stands and instruments. The grand piano will have its own storage room. The sound booth will remain in the House. Roll doors will be wider and higher in order to move staging such as large flats, platforms, wagons and props. The space should be nine feet wide and twelve feet high. The scene shop should be *connected* to the stage – the current plan has the scene shop down a hallway and around a corner – this is impossible to move built scenery from the shop to the stage. These concerns are not just for the program that currently exists, but for the students to come. The theater is such a central space to school communities - a place to gather, to celebrate the work of young artists, and to prepare these artists for their future endeavors. With the opportunity to build a space that makes sense and truly meets the needs of a successful theatre experience, every effort should be made to solve problems before they occur. There are several glaring problems that need to be addressed in these plans.

Thank you for your reconsideration.

2020/11/19 12:00:10 PM EST Emily Wike 910 Constitution Dr. Apt. 706 Durham, NC 27705

As the Theatre teacher at Sandy Ridge Elementary School, I am concerned about problems in the design plans for the new Northern High School Arts Wing. Since these plans are for an 80- year building, I think it best to go back to the drawing board and address these problems before money is spent on building a space that is, at best, restricted in its ability to function, and at worst, is unsafe. A brand-new facility should have dedicated spaces for each art form and not create safety, equity, and logistical problems from Day 1. I hope the Board values “future- proofing” this space and will respond to the complete list of design issues Mr. Irving Truitt has already sent.

2020/11/19 12:04:10 PM EST Wendell Tabb 3 Texanna Circle Durham, NC 27713

Greetings Durham Public Schools Board of Education Members and Superintendent Dr. Mubenga:

I am writing to you to make you keen aware of the major flaws in the Performing Arts Design for the New Northern High School. It was brought to the attention of our Theatre PLC that Theatre at Northern High School is not being treated equitable with the other programs within the school. As the theatre director at Hillside for over 30 years, I have witnessed firsthand the inequities within DPS schools and programs. It is a beautiful building and appears to enhance many of the programs like CTE and Athletics. After reviewing the designs presented to me, the Performing and Visual Arts Wing at Northern is one of the worst designs I have seen in the 21st Century. I know that this School Board would like to be able to showcase the new Northern as a State of the Art Facility that enhances all programs for all its students. Unfortunately, you will not be able to do that as it stands.

Here are some of the major flaws within the space that has to be addressed and corrected: 1. There is no classroom on the Performing Arts Wing for Theatre. 2. The Art Classrooms are located in the gym area of the school and not on the Performing Arts Wing. 3. Theatre and Dance was originally designed to share the same space. This does not work for the different disciplines. 4. There is No Black Box Theatre on the Performing Arts Wing or in the school period. 5. There is an Auto Mechanics Shop located on the Performing Arts Wing but no Theatre Classroom or Black Box. The CTE Auto Shop should not be on the Performing Arts Wing. This space should have been the Black Box or the Theatre Classroom. 6. The Technical Theatre Shop is entirely too small to build scenery and the shop classroom is too small. 7. The Technical Theatre Shop should not be across the hall from the Theatre in a separate space. The Technical Theatre Shop should be attached to the Theatre so that scenery can roll from the shop directly onto the stage.

I am very familiar with the DPI Guidelines and the DPI Facility Planning for The Arts, especially Theatre. Unless there is a Theatre practitioner at the table of discussion, major mistakes are going to occur in planning for a Theatre space. The Theatre Teacher at Northern High School should have been involved in the planning for the Performing and Visual Arts Wing. It appears that Band and Chorus received what the DPI guidelines called for, but Dance, Theatre and Art did not. This will cause major instructional and operational issues amongst students and faculty when the school is built.

I will be willing to assist Dr. Monk and his team in redesigning the Performing Arts Wing at Northern High School. I was very fortunate to have the architect the late Phil Freelon to have me at the table when the new Hillside High School was designed and later built in 1995. Nearly 25 years later, Hillside Theatre is still one of the most used facilities in the district and community. For the most part, The Performing Arts Wing was well planned and designed with the next generation of students in mind. Our major flaw was that the Band room was built too small in comparison to the size of our Marching Band. DPS had to later correct this mistake by having taxpayers invest in a brand new stand-alone Band Room and Suite. DPS should not be making the same mistakes in 2020 that was made in 1995.

Northern High School had a great reputation for theatre in the early 80’s and 90’s. Mr. Truitt has brought that legacy back for the Northern High School community. The new Northern High School should be a representation of excellence for all programs and for all students. School Board Member Mike Lee said its best when Dr. Monk presented the new Northern High School plan at a School Board Meeting. Mr. Lee said that Culinary Arts at Northern should have what it needs because it is a top program. I agree. But what about Theatre? Do what is right and redesign the Performing and Visual Arts Wing at the New Northern High School. The students deserve better.

Peace and Blessings Always,

Mr. Tabb

Wendell Tabb, Chair Emeritus Performing and Visual Arts Director of Theatre Hillside High School

2020/11/19 12:05:03 PM EST MEGHAN BROWN 5536 Inverness Drive Durham

Please reopen. My decision to send my child back will also be based on knowing what teacher he will have. Will it change? Also, please consider mandatory amounts of outside learning time.

2020/11/19 12:19:25 PM EST Sage Washington 114 E Maynard Ave Durham, NC 27704

I am married to a DPS teacher and I strongly urge the board to continue with online learning as we grapple with this deadly pandemic. The health and safety of our students, teachers, faculty, and the surrounding community should be of the upmost importance and considered to be our highest priority. While none of us could have ever planned for this, my wife along with her colleagues across Durham, have gone above and beyond to help students to learn, grow, and stay involved during this difficult time. With numbers surging in our state and all across our nation we need to continue to work remotely wherever possible. This will help to ensure the safety of your family as well as mine. The safer we stay, the quicker we can get through this. Thank you

2020/11/19 12:21:27 PM EST Irving Truitt 4709 Hoppers Drive Durham, NC 27704

Hello All,

This letter is in reference to the proposed design plan for the New Northern High School. The New Northern High School is a beautiful design and appears gorgeous, however the entire design is extremely flawed and presents functional issues. Thus, creating inequities and not inclusive for all students for future generations. Especially for specialized programs such as theater arts and auto mechanics; whom were not invited to discuss the plans of the new school designs.

Durham Public Schools prides itself on equity and equability for all, however voices are not being heard. I have completed research and the performance arts facilities at the other area High schools in Durham and surrounding areas far exceeds the functionality of the new design at Northern. If the designs are not amended, the new building will become the epitome of inequities for our students. This design is unacceptable for the new theatre program at Northern in the year 2020. Many can continue to hide behind semantics, bureaucracy, budgets, false documentation and massive placation to justify the inequities and the injustice that exist in the Durham Public School System. My hope is We can “ALL” stand up and boldly say this is wrong and demand that something must be done to correct this egregious design error.

In the Performance Arts Wing, there is not a classroom for the theater program. It is nonexistent in the new school. Instead of theatre in the performing arts wing the design team has added auto mechanics. This error in design will lead to the school administration finding a classroom space for theatre, year after year, depending on the principal’s decision. I asked the question; who puts an auto mechanic shop in the Theater Arts Wing?

The Band Room is located beside the chorus room. How can the voices of singers compete with the instruments of band members? The visual arts department is located on the other side of the campus near the Physical Education Department. All the High schools in Durham public schools have a cohesive and collaborative performance and visual arts Wing. Why is this different for the New Northern High School which will set the precedence for the future high schools? Is it because of its population? The school dodger demographic states that the Northern High school population is 47.7 % African American, 26.4% Hispanic and only 20.9% white, with over 56% of the students on free and reduced lunch.

It is time to do what is right for “All” students and not just have a “Make do” attitude when it comes to our children. All students deserve equity and equability. I can not believe that in the year 2020, I must continue to advocate for equity and equability for our students. Once again old DPS High schools should not be better equipped than a newly built high school.

Design issues: • There is not a classroom for the theatre instruction. • The Auditorium was designed as a concert Hall with one entrance. (fire hazard) • Theatre has been isolated from music and band and not considered a performing Art. • The shop does not connect to the stage. (scenery must be carted across the hall.) • Limited storage space • Small doors • No orchestra pit

We must advocate for our children regardless of their skin color, religion, economic status or sexual orientation. Once again I ask, will you stand with us and support theater teachers in the Durham Public School System. The guidelines are in place and in my opinion were totally neglected and misconstrued. I believe there is something we can do and I will continue to find allies for the arts. I believe and have the “Audacity of Hope” that we can make the New Northern High School to be model for the entire state of North Carolina.

I leave you with the quote “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” Senator John Lewis.

Thank you,

Irving Truitt Theater Educator Northern High school

2020/11/19 12:21:28 PM EST Tracey Barrett 4126 Chaucer Dr Durham NC 27705

I am a DPS teacher writing to urge the Board to vote against the reentry plan as currently presented. In a July meeting with educators, Dr. Mubenga was asked, "If we reopen, what is DPS' plan for when, not if, an educator or another student dies from COVID?" He responded that he "did not even want to think about" something so awful happening in our community. The plan presented today reflects a similar unwillingness to address those fears, and is therefore on shaky ground, both morally and operationally. Without clear metrics for when it would be implemented and a guarantee that all staff who do not feel safe will be allowed to work remotely, educators and families cannot make informed decisions about whether we will return. I ask that the Board not vote on this plan until those changes are made. Our lives and livelihoods hang in the balance.

2020/11/19 12:29:27 PM EST Anna Pickett 4215 Mt. Sinai Rd. Durham, NC 27705

Stay with Plan C please!!! With the numbers rising, us getting into flu season, & having a very close friend who works at UNC hospital (ER lines out the door with patients having COVID symptoms). I strongly feel we need to stick with plan C! The risk of staff, students, and families getting exposed to COVID is continuing to increase with us already on plan C. If we go back to plan B, it is only going to get worse. With staff and students already not being exposed to all the germs they usually are exposed to in a public school since March, it is inevitable that if we go to plan B, staff and students will get sick and the spread will continue to increase. COVID does affect elementary school age children. With my very close friend working at UNC, majority of patients they have scanned, have been elementary school age children. Not to mention, with the plan that is put in place for plan B, it is essentially virtual teaching (plan C) but in a classroom. Kids are to sit by themselves at a table/desk with their computers on canvas (just like we have been doing), no hands on materials, no play time with peers, etc. Students from my class have already got the hang of school with plan C, if you switch things up now students are going to have to get used to a new routine, which we all know can take a couple plus months for some students to get into the swing of things. I feel that Plan C has been working and I can see that my students are engaged, learning, and progressing every day and I don't think we should risk their health, staffs health, nor do I think it would be a good idea for students continued education this year. Change can be very stressful to children and do not think this will benefit the students or staff in the long run. Please Plan C!!!

2020/11/19 12:31:12 PM EST Lindsey Bickers Bock 205 Albemarle Street Durham, NC 27701

As a parent of two DPS elementary students and a member of the Durham County Public Health leadership team, I write to encourage continued progress towards reopening Durham Public Schools. I am well aware that COVID-19 case rates are spiking, but as noted at this Monday's press conference, to have the possibility of reopening this spring, we need to put things in motion now. Also, we must acknowledge that even amidst climbing case rates, data, from NC as well as other cities in the US and across the globe, have shown that the opening of elementary schools is not a driving cause of COVID infections.

The COVID pandemic will continue to affect the school system throughout the current school year and into the 2021-22 year. Despite DPS teachers making amazing efforts to engage students virtually, remote learning has major limitations, and for many families, it is genuinely unsustainable. Significant negative learning impacts will affect individual children, families and communities for a long time to come. I urge the Board to commit to a reopening plan that prioritizes in person learning for our youngest children (where disease transmission risk is the lowest). In the immediate future, the plan can and should provide options for families who wish to stay at home and retain flexibility for a delayed implementation date as the data warrants, but it must move towards in person instruction that leverages the strengths of our teachers and the DPS infrastructure.

We cannot wait for a magic moment when it is clear that it is perfectly safe for students and teachers to be at school. There are real and important risks to keeping schools closed. Parents are desperate for our children to learn, socialize, and escape the challenging environment of remote learning where the youngest and most vulnerable students only succeed if they have a constant caregiver by their side.

The Board of Education must be committed to its strategic goals - increasing academic achievement; providing a safe school environment that supports the whole child; retaining outstanding educators and staff; strengthening school, family and community engagement; and ensuring fiscal and operational responsibility. This means we must move towards reopening. Schools need to provide an in-person option for students and families who need it. We are DPS. We can do this.

2020/11/19 12:36:20 PM EST Anonymous 511 Cleveland St Durham, NC

Elementary Plan B: Please allow a Cohort C option which will allow students to remain with their teacher and stay online for all 4 days of instruction. Since teachers will be teaching from their Canvas page anyway, why are we required to sign-up for Ignite? This causes unnecessary change for students to learn a new teacher and schedule as well as unnecessary change for staff to receive new students. Schools can create a plan for coverage for in-person instruction which is significantly less disruptive to learning.

Thank you for always looking out for the safety of all stakeholder and being flexible to meet the needs of our students.

2020/11/19 12:42:33 PM EST Sam Liska 1307 Scholar Dr. Durham, NC, 27703

Father forced to go into work: Covid -19 positive. Sister forced to go back to college: Covid-19 positive. Teachers forced to go into work: ????? Make the safe choice!

2020/11/19 12:46:03 PM EST Ms. Ebonye Jessip Street Morrisville, NC 27560

Dear School Board and Community Members, As I type, my heart is heavy. Last week, from Saturday, November 7th - Friday, November 13th, I received four emails to my work email (dpsnc.net) from William Sudderth. These emails informed the entire Durham Public Schools community that there were 6 positive cases: 3 student athletes in High Schools and 3 staff members that report to 3 different buildings. From these emails, either no actions were taken, practices were canceled for 2 or 8 days, OR the entire building was shut down for two days. After reading these emails, I have numerous questions about the reopening that is being discussed and voted on tonight for January 20th, 2021. 1. When there are positive cases IF we open, what will the standard protocol be? 2. Will standard protocol be different depending on the school level? 3. Will students and teachers be asked to take materials for 2 nights or 2 weeks with them every time they leave the building in case there is a positive test after they have exited the building? 4. Where are the subs coming from when staff members test positive but the CDC determines that the entire building does not need to be closed, yet the person still needs to quarantine? 5. How can teaching assistants be utilized in true “assistant” form if the CDC recommends limited the amount of people we interact with? In elementary schools, some assistants report to 3 classrooms and supervise 2 or 3 grade levels per day. 6. Will Durham be using their “in person instruction” as Wake County is? In Wake, students sit in the building on computers, in online classes all day long. 7. Which CDC recommendations will DPS follow? Which will not be top priority? 8. What will recess look like? Will playground equipment be used? If so, will it be cleaned? If so, by whom? 9. Will students be allowed to talk during lunch (without masks on)? 10. Will student materials be shared? If not, how will art and PE occur? 11. Will the entire time that students are “in the building” on alternating days be used for assessments and data collection? 12. Is there money in the budget for schools to be properly cleaned daily or just on Wednesdays and Saturdays when no one is in the building? 13. Are there enough unemployed teachers to fill openings when teachers resign due to not being heard nor supported? 14. Are there enough qualified applicants to fill assistant positions when assistants resign due to not being protected nor supported? 15. Are there enough qualified staff members to fill staff positions when staff resign due to not being protected nor supported? 16. Will employees have to pay a copay to be tested for Covid-19? 17. How will students and staff properly wash their hands to CDC requirements if we have luke-warm water (at best)? 18. How would you handle staff members with children? (Because the children can only come on certain days) 19. How will all specials be handled? 20. If children do not have supplies, what then? 21. How can we provide small group instruction/ have one to one instruction if we're 6 feet apart? 22. How do we provide assessments 6 feet apart? 23. When/how will staff be able to plan? 24. Should staff members that want to teach online sign their students up for ignite or leave in person in case their ignite application is denied?

Please consider your inability to answer these questions as a significant enough reason to vote no to returning to school in January.

2020/11/19 12:47:03 PM EST Kristin Winchester 918 Dacian Ave Durham

I stand in solidarity with Irving Truitt and the Theatre Program at Northern High School, it is my fervent hope that the district will look at the issues with the new school plan.

2020/11/19 12:49:09 PM EST Kai Monast 4518 Highgate Dr Durham

Schools should reopen. The national and State data clearly show that schools are not driving community spread of COVID. We can no longer achieve a 'no risk' situation, but have the information needed to open safely and make it as low risk as possible. The benefits of opening schools far outweigh the risks.

2020/11/19 12:50:47 PM EST Heather Nottingham 5001 Centerway Drive Durham, NC 27705

DPS Board Members,

We are writing to respectfully ask you to vote AGAINST Plan B tonight.

We believe that the Durham Public Schools need to remain on Plan C for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, in order to ensure the safety of students, teachers/staff, and their families, as well as to maintain some academic consistency and emotional stability for students in particular.

A few points: 1.) Covid cases are rising quickly everywhere, and many school systems across the country are beginning to shut down. This is the worst time to attempt to reopen our schools, knowing that a closure (and thus more disruption and transition) will likely be coming.

2.) The “choice” families are supposedly being presented with regarding whether to return to school or participate in Ignite is a false choice. A switch to Ignite means a new teacher, new classmates, new schedule. All consistency is gone. This is especially worrisome for our students struggling socially and emotionally.

3.) Many teachers/staff members do not have the ability to opt out of in-person school, thereby having to decide between putting themselves/their families at risk or losing their jobs.

4.) The amount of time, effort, and money being put into the possibility of reopening would be better spent improving the remote learning system currently in place.

5.) Families who want or need their students to attend in-person school already have that option through the designated learning centers.

Thank you for considering our input. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to Durham Public Schools.

Heather Nottingham and Tim Shearer (parents of 3 DPS students)

2020/11/19 12:56:25 PM EST Digna angelica briones 1924 strebor st Durham

Yo pienso que es mejor que los niños estudien por internet yo no ey sacado mis niños de casa todo este tiempo

I think that it is better that children study online. I have not taken my children outside my house all this time.

2020/11/19 12:58:40 PM EST Keisha Reid 812 Alpha Drive Durham, NC 27703

How will the kids in the EC program be fully protected from this virus? Many of them have health problems, and are non verbal. They’re not able to tell you when they are sick and not feeling well. They are not able to wear the protective protection properly so that they can protect themselves as well as others. They will be coming in contact with the bus drivers as well as teachers, and other staff members. I really don’t feel that this will be in their best interest at this time.

2020/11/19 1:03:37 PM EST Girija Mahajan 817 Burch Avenue Durham, NC 27701

Hello! I urge all school board members to vote yes on Plan B. While I understand that there are concerns about rising COVID rates during the holiday breaks, there are other sectors that should be closing before schools. Public health research continues to indicate that the NC DHHS safety measures in schools are effective enough to allow staff and students to return to campus. I'm concerned that if we continue to keep our schools in a remote learning plan, our most vulnerable students will fall further behind. In Plan B no one is required to return to campus, but rather staff and students who understand the risks and safety protocols will have the opportunity to do so.

2020/11/19 1:07:16 PM EST Jasmyn Hicks 3916 Ludgate Dr. Durham, NC 27713

Good evening Board of Education! As you stated before "The health and well-being of our students, staff and community is of utmost importance to us." With that being said I think it's very important for us to stay with Plan C for the rest of the year. For everyone's safety I feel this plan is the safest. Thanks

2020/11/19 1:11:25 PM EST Nichole Gibbs Geer Street Durham, NC 27704

I am a very proud Theatre Educator for Durham Public Schools where I received quality professional arts training at Hillside High School. Much of the success of that program can be attributed to the well-thought out design of the performing arts learning space, which was designed under the consultation of expert Theatre Teacher Wendell Tabb. The success of other DPS Theatre programs is also reflected in the layout of the performance space. In alignment with the district vision, many of the discussions in our District Theatre Arts PLCs have been targeted around equity in our schools and how we can provide quality Theatre Arts education at all DPS schools for all DPS students regardless of where they attend school in the district. Students often transfer between schools in the district and it is inequitable for them to receive less in some spaces and more in others. I have recently learned of the layout of the performing arts spaces in the building design for the new Northern High School. Those designs blatantly insert inequities previously described, especially for Theatre, yet claim to be a state of the arts facility which will “set the standard” for future schools. All programs should receive the same consideration when designing the school rather than select programs being compromised, as has been done in this scenario. I stand in solidarity with Mr. Irving Truitt, the current Theatre Teacher at Northern High, and on behalf of all DPS Art Students requesting that you do what is right for Arts Education in DPS. If we are a district that truly promotes equity in our schools, then we cannot allow Northern High School to be constructed with this current design. It needs to be revamped to address the concerns below with knowledgeable experts at the table, Theatre Arts Educators. Thank you for your commitment to do what is right for all since “We are DPS.” (Continue reading if time permits.) These are the Design Inequities: omitting a designated theatre arts classroom learning space on the arts wing, prioritizing chorus and band to receive superior learning spaces, isolating visual arts to another wing, imposing the dangers of an automotive program in the “performance wing”, limiting building and storage space for a technical theatre program, presenting safety and maintenance concerns with the tech space not being attached to the theatre, presenting a fire hazard with limited entrances into the theatre, eliminating an essential orchestra pit to foster collaborative programming within the arts and the list could go on.

2020/11/19 1:12:04 PM EST Lutisha Shittu Capstone Drive Durham, NC

I'm very concerned with the safety of my kids and other students if they have to return in January for in-person testing. With Covid-19 numbers continuing to rise, this is a huge concern, especially since students have not been in school or around other students since early March. Is there an option to test online? Also, how does this testing affect seniors who are waiting on semester 1 grades before admission is granted.

Thanks, Lutisha

2020/11/19 1:16:10 PM EST Azmen Johnson withheld Durham, NC 27704

Dr. Mubenga, Board Members, DPS stakeholders, and Durham Community:

These are unprecedented times, pandemic times, COVID times and because of THAT the health, safety, and well-being of our staff and students should be TOP PRIORITY. We all know this! COVID cases are still on the rise and it is not safe for us to return to in-person learning. The plans are well thought out but not feasible or SAFE. I know you may feel your hands are tied but this Board has done a great job of considering all outcomes and putting the lives "actual lives" of our students and staff members first. I hope you will continue to do so. There are a lot of politically motivated strings being pulled behind the scenes but I urge you to check the numbers...rely on data and science. WE are DPS and WE keep us safe! Plus, sitting in one location all day long with a mask on is detrimental to the social-emotional wellbeing of our children. That is not school...that is not connection...that's just sad! Just the thought of returning produces anxiety. Also, it's ridiculous to even think about our highschoolers returning for an in-person high stakes testing...too much at risk for students and staff. Lastly, DPS certified staff and instructional assistants not making $15 an hour- a livable wage- is a shame and disgrace...this should have BEEN rectified!! Thanks for your time and consideration.

2020/11/19 1:16:47 PM EST abbas-hussein 51 a ridgeway ave 27701 i don,t think is right to open school when we have corona virus cases rising plus you don,t how have it at school my health is very important it not a good idea to open school at all when a second wave of corona virus. i m not trying to get sick i don,t like hospital

2020/11/19 1:19:21 PM EST Emily Kochetkova 1002 Camden Ave Durham NC 27701

My KG son’s school and teachers have been doing an excellent job supporting students and parents during this difficult time. I am hopeful my son will be able to experience classroom- based learning under Plan B. My question is: on the days his cohort is not in the classroom, will I have flexibility to manage his asynchronous learning on our own schedule, or will he need to engage in his assignments on a schedule specified by DPS? Given childcare constraints, my own work schedule, and my preschooler’s schedule, flexibility would be appreciated.

2020/11/19 1:20:59 PM EST DPS Teacher Fayetteville Rd Durham

Good evening Dr. Mubenga and Board Member, I ask that you continue to put the health and safety of all students, families and staff first above any test scores or political agendas. Reopening schools for the third quarter is still not safe right now. Cases are continuing to rise here in our city and state. There has already been numberous of DPS staff testing positive for COVID with students not being in the building unless they are at a learning center. There has already been too many teachers across our state and country dying of this horrible virus. Requiring or expecting staff to return back into our buildings is putting many of us in a position where we have to choose the health and safety of familes and ourselves or our jobs. Many of us who have children who attends schools in this district have already had to neglect the needs of our own children and families in order to educate the students across the district because you have failed to give us adequate accomadations that will benefit the needs of our own children so that they can continue to grow and learn academically as well. I have to put my own child at risk by sendiing him back into the buildings so that I can return back to the building to work even though I prefer for my child to remain virtual. You will put me in a position to walk away from my job because you have not considered the needs of staff members with children who also attend DPS schools. I am sure there are many staff members across the district who are in the same or similar situation. I know that you say that our students are first and we are in this together. But what about the children of staff members who are also students in this district. Are they being considered as well? It certainly doesn't feel like it.

2020/11/19 1:23:01 PM EST Megan Kellis 315 Gladstone Drive Durham, NC, 27703

Hello board, I am a teacher who is currently doing the work of three teachers. I teach pre-k, kindergarten and I am a case manager and teacher for EC students. This is already a massive amount of work. If we go back under plan B as it is laid out, I would have even more work. With the a, b, cohort I would teach half of my students live and still be responsible for the other half that are remote for those days and then do it again for the second half of the week. It isn’t fair to ask us to work that much as well as putting us at risk for getting COVID. I mean no disrespect, but have all of you returned in person to your jobs? If not, I ask you to think of why you haven’t gone back?

2020/11/19 1:29:56 PM EST Judith Roman Fayetteville Street Durham , NC,27713

DPS should keep Plan C for the rest of the school year for the better safety of students and staff.

2020/11/19 1:31:17 PM EST Temiko Brown 1800 Williamsburg Road Durham N.C 27707

If you choose PLAN C for the reminder of the school year what will be done about EOG and EOC testing?

2020/11/19 1:35:17 PM EST Jennifer Dixon P. O. Box 16202 Durham

My concern is how will EC Educators be able to teach without being in close contact with students. We have students with behaviors that will try removing protection gear or trying to attack or spit on staff.

2020/11/19 1:35:18 PM EST Gayle Ellis 6 Chipley Court Durham, NC

I am an IA at Club Blvd. I recommend staying with Plan C at least until the spring. Let's make it safely through the winter and flu season. Right now the virus is spreading around the country. We are in the holiday season where people WILL be traveling and infections will probably soar even more. January is too soon!

2020/11/19 1:36:29 PM EST Taylor Brown 1101 Dauphine Place Durham N.c 27701

Will high school students other ninth graders be going back to if you choose Plan B if not why?

2020/11/19 1:38:43 PM EST Daja Horne 1525 Cornowalis Street Durham N.C

How are teacher suppose to monitor benchmarks, EOG and EOC with kids being home?

2020/11/19 1:41:23 PM EST Jill Blalock 305 Get A Way Lane Bahama, NC

I am concerned about the plan that is being presented to the board tonight. Our students are going from 3 days of direct instruction to 2 days of direct instruction in this new plan b. Students will be in the building for live instruction for 2 days and then on the other 2 days they will be required to have independent canvas work that is supposed to be the same as what the students are learning in school. I don't know how a k-5 student, especially one with limited English proficiency, is supposed to access these lessons and be as successful as the students that are getting live instruction. The students are getting less time with the teachers and the teachers are requried to do double the work with the same amount of planning time. This new plan is also going to disrupt our schedules and routine once again and students will be put into new classrooms with unfamiliar faces. We have spent the last 4 months building relationships with the students and their families and having another change is not what we need. With Covid cases on the rise and schools across the country shutting down after returning to face to face, I feel that the best plan is for us to remain remote and continue building a stronger plan B for when it is safe to return.

2020/11/19 1:43:32 PM EST Robert Wiley 100 Village Circle Way Durham NC 27713

What data do you have to measure DPS students' remote learning? Are you able to determine daily if students log in and remain connected to on-line classes? How does the experience so far this school year compare with last spring? Thank you.

2020/11/19 1:47:24 PM EST Diana Nishimuta 1617 Shawnee St. Durham

Dear School Board Members,

I am an ESL teacher and a parent of two EC students in DPS.

The proposed Plan B raises concerns for me about my multilingual students who will be expected to access new academic content on asynchronous days without live support from their teachers. In this plan, they will effectively get less instructional time resulting in further learning gaps.

As a parent of a child with multiple disabilities and ongoing medical needs, I also ask that the board to uphold the DAE’s condition in-person instruction should be opt-in for both teachers and students. Teachers like me should not be in a position to choose between their jobs and the well-being of themselves and their families.

Finally, I urge the board to create and uphold a solid plan for what the Covid infection rate in our community should be to ensure safety for the staff and students who do opt-in for in- person instruction as well as clear guidelines for how subsequent positive cases will be handled in terms of communication and prevention of spread. I support the DAE’s recommendation for a 3% infection rate.

2020/11/19 1:51:36 PM EST Patricia Byrd 200 Patrick Rd Bahama NC 27503

I ask you to please consider staying online at this time due to the Covid wave that is hitting along with cold and flu season. As a parent I am concerned and as an employee I realize that sick children will be given medicine and sent to school as this has always happened. Please consider more time for all sickness to settle down before going face to face. No loss of life is acceptable.

2020/11/19 1:53:28 PM EST Adrian Tucker Wa Wa Ave, Durham 27707

As a Durham Public Schools Instructional Assistant, I am absolutely grateful for my opportunity and experience within our learning village at WG Pearson STEAM Magnet Elementary. The work that has been completed by our Instructional Assistants and other classified staff has been beyond spectacular yet not for the sake of glory. Moreso, for the success of our scholars, their respective communities, and our world as a whole. Instructional assistant, as well as, ALL other classified staff positions are vital to the success of enriching the vision of our district. In my opinion, workload, time commitment, and energy given deserves an increase to the $15 hour mark to help match certain aspects of our economy & society. While we must remain realistic and be sure to live within our means, the need for some of us to balance 2-4 jobs, including our passionate position within DPS, is a harsh reality. However, some mitigation of the stress it induces can be fostered by a just decision possible from discussions such as these. Of course, with great "opportunity" comes great responsibility. CONSISTENCY & INCREASE of accountability of classified staff, support with genuine training, inclusion / equitable practices, and so much more should also be apart of the conversation. WE ALL should be able to move with a sense of integrity, care, & progress. This should / can be an amazing adjustment for all, if handled in the way that would be best for all of the humans involved and kept in motion with care & grace.

2020/11/19 2:01:07 PM EST Nancy Middleton Laughinghouse 2404 W. Club Blvd Durham

Please consider Plan C for 3rd Quarter and access Quarter 4 at a later date.

2020/11/19 2:03:13 PM EST Emily Jean Ericson 1003 Broad Street Durham

I am concerned about making decisions to go back to school. The rates of COVID-19 are higher now than they were when we made the decision to end in person instruction this past spring. That said, and especially for younger students, though children are not impacted by this virus the same way adults are, they are still able to transmit to adults. Furthermore, I know I would not be directly impacted by this, as I am a high school teacher, however...I am curious as to what the district plans on doing when and if teachers are exposed, and forced to quarantine at home until negative test results are in. We simply do not have enough man power to provide subs and make alternative arrangements, and there has not been clear directive shared by DPS about what we would do in these situations.

Additionally, from a very practical standpoint, what do metrics look like? If students are sick or don't pass the screener tests, or their parents lie about whether or not the family is sick, who will be the teacher that sits with students and supervises them in a room while they wait for their parents to come pick them up. As it is, we did not have enough nurses on site at schools every day of the week under the best of circumstances...will there be more trained healthcare professionals in every building? Teaching on line is not ideal, of that I am fully aware, and also it is the safest thing we can do for our communities at the moment. Across the county we are seeing schools shut down for weeks at a time because rates of infection are increasing with cold weather, just as we were told they would. These shut downs are interfering with routine and established norms...much like a hybrid schedule would. *If* we go back to school, it will not look like what we are used to school looking like. Instruction will suffer. This will not me a magic pill. Furthermore, to ask for a return second semester, when students and staff have spent time with family, and tests are still not readily and widely accessible to our communities, is simply counterintuitive to CDC guidelines. With that, it is unconscionable to send students and staff into an environment where safety can not be 100% ensured.

2020/11/19 2:06:46 PM EST Amy Askew 119 W. Piedmont Avenue Durham, NC 27707

Shame on you, for proposing a plan that continues to be half-hearted. Shame on all parties involved standing on idealistic soap boxes. The problem at hand is simple: we are failing our children by not having in person school. We are failing our youngest children, our poorest children and their mothers. Across Europe and other countries who have also been devastated by the pandemic, they prioritize children by keeping schools open and closing bars and restaurants. We need to do the same. The evidence has been clear from places such as this: elementary aged children do not transmit the virus as efficiently as older adolescents and adults. They have lower viral loads and therefore, are less able to transmit to others. We should focus on our elementary aged children K-3 first. Reopen in earnest with a testing protocol, testing availability, screening of temperatures and symptoms, mask wearing (my 3 yo and 6 yo do GREAT with masks), and social distancing when possible. But daycares have been open with much less restriction and have NOT proven to be hotspots for outbreaks all across the nation! So it is clear - we need to reopen for younger children. Positivity rates <3% may not be the right benchmark. Teachers will be safe. Children will benefit - Black children, hispanic children, and white children. The AA BB schedule is impractical and still requires significant alternative arrangements, now with even greater risk of exposures to other kids - it renders a podded arrangement virtually useless and defeats the point of the AA BB separation! Please, let's do what's right for our kids. This virus is real and its effects have been devastating. But we need to be practical and do what is right for our most vulnerable.

2020/11/19 2:09:39 PM EST Pauline B Torain 6708 Guess Road Rougemomt

Plan C, ....because our lives matter too

2020/11/19 2:09:41 PM EST Leah Erlbaum 1209 N Duke St. 27701

Dear DPS school board members,

I am an Instructional Assistant and student teacher at Lakewood Elementary School. I am deeply concerned that Durham is considering opening schools at this time, and I urge you to keep DPS in Plan C remote learning for now. COVID cases are rapidly rising in NC (and elsewhere), and upcoming holiday gatherings will only make things worse. Each week we receive several emails about on-site DPS employees who have contracted COVID-- and this is without students in school. I strongly oppose reopening in-person-- even if it is just for some students-- because no DPS staff, family, or student deserves to worry whether they will become critically ill or die (or pass COVID to their loved ones) as a result of going to work.

However I do support DPS making a comprehensive plan for the moment when it is safe for us to return- and I applaud the attention to detail and logistics that went into writing the current plan.

Before returning to in-person school, I hope the Board will consider these measures:

1. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. There should be a plan in place for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building.

2. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR. Returning to in-person teaching should be an "opt-in" situation, not the default. I may be 35 and generally healthy, but COVID is a wildcard-- if I become sick, COVID may have long- term physical and neurological effects, and in rare cases may be fatal. I make about $12/hr as an IA-- definitely not enough for me to gamble with the safety of me and my loved ones every day. Anyone who returns to work at DPS during the pandemic deserves adequate PPE-- especially custodians and other classified staff.

I know virtual school is difficult-- especially for students in historically marginalized communities. But we need to figure out how to make remote school more accessible and equitable, not expose already-vulnerable families to the potentially devastating consequences of being together in-person.

I strongly urge the DPS School Board to stick with Plan C until we are 100% sure that ALL of Durham's families and staff-- especially our most vulnerable families and staff for whom illness will have the highest consequences-- will be safe when we return to in-person school.

Best wishes, Leah Erlbaum

2020/11/19 2:12:47 PM EST Adorah Moore . Durham

Plan C. I have a newborn and I am very concerned about returning to school. My students are constantly sick, students are constantly sneezing, not washing their hands, and spreading germs. This is a great concern for me. Could we at least stay on plan C throughout the 3rd quarter for the safety of the students, my newborn/family, and teachers? Thank you for your consideration.

2020/11/19 2:22:40 PM EST Juana Garcia 719 Belvin ave Durham

Mi familia quiere que continuemos con el plan C para las clases. tenemos 3 hijos un de ellos con necesidades especiales y el no sabe tener los cuidados adecuados para cuidarse fuera de casa Y la salud de nuestros hijos es nuestra prioridad.

2020/11/19 2:23:45 PM EST Noheli Werner 1416, Jackson St 27573

Plan C

2020/11/19 2:24:40 PM EST Bernell Jones 909 Dupree Street D 27701urham, NC

Please support School Plan C

2020/11/19 2:25:36 PM EST Mercedes montoya 2108 dartmouth dr Durham nc 27705

Pienso que por la salud de nuestros ninos, los maestros, personal general de las escuelas y de nosotros las familias, se debe seguir con el plan C. Se puede aumentar recursos para traductores y personas que puedan ayudar a los ninos y sus padres online. Apoyo psicologico para ninos y padres. La salud mental es importante y en vista que los padres estamos ejerciendo de maestros, tambien necesitamos apoyo. La funcion de las escuelas publicas es la efucacion integral y ahora los padres somos ayudantes de maestros, ademas de nuestras funciones normales, que se destinen recursos de APOYO PARA PADRES, PSICOLOGICO Y DIDACTICO. Muchas gracias

2020/11/19 2:27:49 PM EST Patricia Karim Obregon Lozano 900 Milton Rd 27712

Hola buenas tardes soy Patricia Obregon madre de cuatro niños los cuales dos de estos asisten a las escuelas públicas de Durham y pues mi comentario es a favor del plan C creo que no estamos listos para regresar a las escuelas La pandemia aún no está controlada y no se ha creado una vacuna y en mi caso personal mi hijo menor tiene asma el batallo mucho para usar una mascarilla porque él tiene dificultades respiratorias y creo que es la mejor opción para mi familia es quedarnos en casa seguir teniendo las clases en casa

2020/11/19 2:28:29 PM EST Arbin Sanders 625 Wind River Pkwy Morrisville, NC 27560

I don't think we (DPS) should move to Plan B schedule in January. The number of COVID cases are still rising and deaths too. I am not just concerned with my son's well being, I am also thinking of the teachers / administrators. My mom was a teacher at DPS and I couldn't imagine her going back to work. Kids already bring "SuperBugs" to school. I can only imagine the spread of COVID.

My second point, changing teachers to an Ignite Academy teacher will cause all sorts of issues. He has just finally settled into a routine with his teacher at Pearsontown and I would hate to separate him from her. She has done an amazing job keeping him focused. I can't see him progressing in his studies if we have to rip him away and put him in Ignite Academy. What in can predicted is a lot of students will be repeating their grade level if they have to move to Ignite Academy.

Let's just stay at the plan we are at now and revisit for the new school year.

2020/11/19 2:28:42 PM EST Maria Elias 3600 tremont dr. Apt A- 2 Durham

Hola, a mi me gustaría nos quedáramos en el plan C , la verdad recordemos que esta pandemia aun no se ah ido , estamos en el tercer pico de vuelta, nada mejor que los niños en casa aun , si nuestros niños se enferman a quien culparemos, a nadie sino a nosotros mismos por querer ya mandarlos , padres , hagan un esfuerzo por cuidar de ellos , a nadie le gustaría ver a su propia hija o hijo sufriendo por la enfermedad.... muchas gracias!!!

2020/11/19 2:29:14 PM EST Holly Hardin 4126 Chaucer Dr. Durham NC 27705

Mary Ward, Cumberland County Julie Davis, Stanly County Teresa Gaither, Forsyth County Melissa Bowman, Union County.

I want us to remember and honor those names. Folks working in elementary schools in our state who have lost their lives to Covid 19. At schools with masks and social distancing, and before our current spike, before the holidays.

Each week, each day, how many deaths, long term illnesses at schools are you OK with? Staff members that were not given a choice to return if they wanted to keep their jobs. Students and their families who trusted the schools to keep them safe.

As a 4th/5th grade teacher, I am asking that you focus on what will keep us all safe & what will bring students the most stability and consistency. Shuffling kids around in Plan B and exposing thousands to a potentially deadly virus is not it. Be a leader in the state and stay in Plan C for the remainder of the year to keep consistency. I also ask you to:

1) Guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job/pay, without having to submit a health form to HR; 2) A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district, and a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building.

If forced back, know that I and others will be resigning. School workers are not martyrs.

Additionally, lets not pretend that our schools were working for everyone pre-pandemic. Many of the students struggling now, were struggling in the classroom. Returning is not going to solve that. Why not work on the actual issues rather than claim that sending students back is the magical fix. Investing in community schools with wraparound services, addressing the systemic causes of poverty, raising the minimum wage, becoming committed to anti-racist practices throughout our schools, fully funding public schools including increasing staffing, lowering class size- these things will help students.

Finally, I just want to lift up the voice of a teacher in a self contained classroom that I had the honor of talking about this plan with. She wanted to be clear that reopening EC classrooms, 5 days a week, does not make sense, medically speaking. Yes, it is much easier to teach in person- especially in her classroom- but a reminder to the district that many students in these classrooms are at high medical risks. Students for whom fevers can trigger disastrous effects or students with respiratory or other high risks according to the CDC. Students for whom changes are much harder to adjust to, having to return with masks and into a room of a different teacher . So let's be careful when we create a blanket statement of who needs to return "the most."

Thank you, Holly Hardin

2020/11/19 2:30:19 PM EST Christopher Meglin 111 Bywood Drive Durham

There is a threat to human life on the line, has been since mid March. We took all the needed precautions to stop the spreading of the virus, and it only worked then because people stayed home and didn't gather together. Time and time again we now keep seeing emails and stories of how one or a couple of infected people, whether masked or not, create "super spreader events," and areas have to close and contact tracing has to happen. Do we have the cure or vaccine all of a sudden? Why is there even a discussion at this point about a plan B? You can't stop science! Students in high school can't show up for one day in the middle of nowhere to their schools for a "mandatory" testing exam, and DPS should not be engaged in deliberating a plan to come back when there hasn't been a plan that has stopped the spread of this horrible virus! Where is the leadership in our district, our county, and in our state to face the truth about this? We spent the money on lap tops, great. I know it's not the best case scenario, but it's all we've got for now. Stop the nonsense! Watch how we will begin to have teachers begin to ask intelligent questions regarding their "sick leave," if their own administrators and state leaders fail to protect us, and doctors can't write prescriptions that we ALL need access to, "permission slips" that speak to common sense, reminding us that regardless of your particular health condition, you should NOT be contacting this virus! You should not be going out in public areas where bunches of people came from places that you have no idea about, and whether they are indeed infected at any point in time. The word "pod" has been used regarding this. We do not need to be having to trust one another about diligence, and we are just going to have to wait until those vaccines are distributed. I can't even believe cross country and volleyball "came back." What leaders are making these decisions for us? All that happens time after time are "I told-you-so's" because it's not "if" you will get infected, it's "when." So stop having these baseless discussions already and make the scientific and ethical decision to not place people in harm's way!

2020/11/19 2:32:55 PM EST Reuben Moore 921 N Buchanan Blvd DURHAM

My son is a pre-K student at George Watts. I’m very concerned about COVID safety, for my son as well as others - kids, teachers, staff - but I am definitely hoping for something more than 100% online learning. I would hope that, at a minimum, DPS will develop a plan to include at least some OUTDOOR school time, PLEASE. If an honest assessment of the best data suggests that more than this is possible while maintaining a high degree of safety, I support that.

2020/11/19 2:36:14 PM EST Shaun Thompson 235 Erlwood Way Durham, NC 27704

It is irresponsible and negligent to consider bringing back students for school and testing in January as cases rise. We already have cases amongst students and teachers rising without as much contact. It is illogical to believe they won't continue to rise once you put them together in a room. How many deaths are you ok with? How many health impairments? How many ventilators is use? Additionally, DPS made a stance earlier this week that athletes cannot be safe even when spaced outside to be without masks at any point. Now you contradict that stance and want to bring many people together and allow them to be without masks? And yes you will allow them without masks because they need to eat and they will all breath the same air and share possible viruses. Other states and even districts are shutting down now. The deaths of each student, teacher, and associated family member that contacts covid from schools reopening will your your fault.

2020/11/19 2:36:37 PM EST Emma Santos M. 3602 willow spring Rd. Durham Nc 27703soy

Soy made de un hijo que tiene autism el no esta preparado para seguir los reglamentos de higiene , el necesita una persona que este recordandole que lo haga , y asi como el hay muchas niños mas , es por eso que yo no estoy de acuerdo en que los Los niños regresen a la escuela ahora que los contagious van en aumento , de lo contrario el riesgo es se enfermen y lleven el virus a la casa a toda la familia, es por eso que yo opto por el plan C.

2020/11/19 2:37:38 PM EST Humberto Trejo 1229 Naples Pl Apt B Durham NC 27703

Buenas tardes esta pregunta es directamente para el Sr Pascal superintendente de DPS

Si usted save los casos de Covid están subiendo en nuestro estado usted save el riesgo que implica esto al enviar a nuestros hijos a las escuelas tendrá usted el personal altamente calificado para liderar con esta pandemia , si en el pasado que no teníamos pandemia case sismos de enfermeras se imagina en este tiempo y anteriormente ustedes de DPS siempre dicen es que no hay fondos suficientes para asear esos gastos y si no hay fondos explíqueme usted como le aran para solventar estos gastos que implicarán el Restrepo a clases presenciales que serán muchísimos porque tendrá que contar con personal preside cio al medicamento hablando gracias

2020/11/19 2:39:18 PM EST Nubia perAlta 706 colfax Durham NC 27701

Soy la madre de dos niños en las escuelas públicas de Dunham y uno de ellos es una niña de cinco años con necesidades especiales con problemas de corazón asma problemas respiratorios y considero que con lo que estamos viviendo con esta panademía nadie puede cuidar mejor que yo mi hija no estoy dispuesta a poner en riesgo su salud ella no es capaz de cuidarse de dejarse su tapa voca porfavor sigamos como estamos con el plan c. Pienso que ahora lo más importante es cuidar sus vidas. Que ellos estén bien en casa.

2020/11/19 2:42:18 PM EST Bailey Bennington parkway Durham nc 27713

The cases are higher than ever before. The positivity rate is the highest it has been. Both numbers will continue to grow after the holidays. Our healthcare workers are overwhelmed. 300 teachers have died of Covid already in the US. People's health and safety should be our first priority. Other school systems are closing down schools because the numbers are spiking. I am missing Thanksgiving with my family because that is what is safe and what the CDC recommends. Why then is now the time to open schools up and endanger teachers and students? If I can not be in a room with 6 family members, why can I be in a building with hundreds of people 7-8 hours per day? The remote learning is not perfect, however it is the safest option available. Do not make our teachers choose between their lives and their livelihood. Give the teachers time to support the students in new ways. Keep our community safe and keep learning remote.

2020/11/19 2:43:08 PM EST Sunny Hiraldo 5554 Spindlewood Court Durham, NC 27703

Greetings to our District Board Members,

Thank you for reaching out to the IA's this morning. And again, thanks to Dr. Mubenga and all other board members for attending that very important meeting a few days ago.

We want to offer a collective response to the question of whether Plan B or Plan C is a better/safer choice for us, as you prepare to vote on returning to in-person learning.

Many people feel that members of the communities within Durham County, pose a higher risk of contracting the virus, then those who're in other counties. One of our concerns are the parents who may not adhere to the CDC guidelines. If a child gets sick, will the parent who have challenges with transportation be willing and able to pick up their child? Will the school have an isolated area for sick kids? Will staff be made to keep a sick child in the classroom? Another concern is trusting that parents will know what bus/day their kids are to attend school. If they decide to send their child every day, of course this poses a problem to schools being over capacity, and not being able to practice social distancing.

Instructional Assistants have also spoken with Teachers. Since we did not get the opportunity to complete a second quarter survey, we have gained insight from them as well. Some are concerned about their elderly parents, who they take care of. A few teachers are pregnant and concerned about their unborn child's health. Sure, we know we must return to in person learning at some point. But with the weather changing NOT in our favor and the surge in Covid-19 cases, it wouldn't be wise to go with PLAN B right now. Furthermore, we are not altogether certain what Plan B really looks like. Is this all- day classes or half day? Will there be sanitation stations outside each classroom? How often will door handles and knobs expected to be wiped down? What if too many kids show up at school?

Board members, if asked what we feel or think about returning to school, the majority will go with PLAN C throughout the remainder of the year. However, it is fair to say, that decision is based upon our own personal experiences since March 2020. Some of us have family members who died from complications of Covid 19, some of us have had the virus ourselves, some live with Elderly parents who are high risk, and others may not know anyone who's had to deal with any of these issues. But we derive at the same conclusion, please stay with Plan C the rest of the school year.

Respectfully,

DPS Instructional Assistant Board

2020/11/19 2:46:25 PM EST Tune 304 W Enterprise Street Durham,NC 27707

I do not feel as if t is feasible for us to return to the school because the cases of Covid-19 are rising each day not declining and I know the holidays will only spike the pandemic cases! I fear for my health, well being and my life as well as my colleagues. This needs to be taken under critical consideration people are dying daily I myself have lost family due to this awful disease and I don't feel as if it's fair to have to have to chose between my life and returning to work under compromising or hazardous conditions. I pray the choice will be in the best interest of everyone.

2020/11/19 2:46:42 PM EST Gretchen Gehrke 1512 Milton Rd Durham

This is not the time to re-open Durham Public Schools to in-person learning. North Carolina and the nation are facing unimaginable levels of coronavirus infections, which are projected to increase for at least the next several months. Opening schools to in-person learning is risking the lives of every staff person and the whole community. Yes, there is a desire to "get back to normal" but right now we need to prioritize the health and safety of our whole Durham community.

Many children in Durham do rely on meals, structure, and safety provided by schools. There are hungry children, homeless children, and abused children who need help. I think there is a way to address the conflicting needs of the school staff and the children in need. Provide a survey to students' parents to find out about the conditions families are in right now, and prioritize very limited in-person schooling for the children most in-need. Survey educators and other staff to find out who would be interested in providing services to those children (instead of their current position, whatever that may be). Create safe environments with ratios of no more than 10 students to 1 in-person teacher. This will require juggling educators and hiring new educators to fill in the gaps left by teachers who choose to serve the most in-need children in- person. That is a great problem to have. There are huge numbers of unemployed people who could serve as interim teachers during this time. Hire them. This will be a win-win for our community.

2020/11/19 2:47:05 PM EST James Chappel 907 North Buchanan Blvd Durham

I would like to signal my support for Plan B as constituted. My son is ready for in-person school, and our family is committed to following whatever health and safety guidelines the school system deems fit.

2020/11/19 2:47:51 PM EST Roger Reed 1010 Chancellors Ridge Drive Durham, NC 27713 first of all I would like to say thank you board for keeping our children safe. I wanted to comment about athletics and extracurricular activities. In the event some of our students make it back to in person learning, it is clear our highschoolers will not attend in person the rest of this year. Athletics an extra curricular activities such as band provide our students much needed avenues for physical and mental health. most of the kids playing a high school sport spent time this summer playing for their travel teams. It is proven it can be done safely with proper safeguards in place. The sooner they can return to athletics the better everyone will be in terms of their conditioning and their risk against injury. my highschoolers play girls and boys lacrosse. Please allow them to return to this outdoor sport safely and soon so they can get with their coaches in order to make sure they prevent injury as the seasons start up. I also ask that you rescind the masks while playing an outdoor sport directive. We’ve been playing tournaments all summer that require masks to and from the field and for all spectators, however they have been able to safely play without wearing masks during play of an outdoor event. many players have chosen to equip their helmet with a clear plastic shield for added safety . I fully understand the directive of masks for for indoor sports, but the state guidelines and current play show it can be done safely for outdoor sports to mask every moment they are not on the field, but to remove for play on the field. please allow us to follow the thorough NCHSAA guidelines for the state on how to return safely to athletics. Thank you for your time.

2020/11/19 2:48:49 PM EST Nadia Garibo 3549 May fair street apt. 209 Durham

Yo no quiero que mi niño regrese a la escuela por ahora porque siento que los niños no pueden estàr mucho tiempo con las mascarillas puestas y los maestros por temor al contagio estaràn atentos que los niños sigan todo el protocolo de hygiene que a la educaciòn, no dudo de su capacidad como maestros pero la realidad puede traer consecuencias a que los niños por miedo a que los regañen no se quiten su mascarilla a pesar de que no se sientan comodos o se sientan enfermos.

2020/11/19 2:53:56 PM EST Erin Holden 200 E Ellerbee. St Durham, NC, 27704

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Dear Board of Education members and Dr. Pascal Mubenga,

First, I'd like to thank you for the caution you have demonstrated thus far in your approach to the unprecedented situation we are currently navigating. Because you have chosen to implement and continue the remote learning plan we have avoided many pitfalls, other counties, that have already returned to in person instruction have suffered.

While I understand remote schooling poses many challenges for all parties involved I firmly believe it is the least disruptive option for students, families, and teachers and staff, at this time, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

I would like to bring your attention to the current situation in Dare county as an example of the disruption that is caused by returning to the classroom prematurely. The county returned to in person instruction on 10/26. By Friday 11/13 there were 85 teachers absent due to COVID exposures protocols. This represents 24% of the district's 356 teachers, with one school suffering an absentee rate among teachers of 46%. As a result of the reduced number of teachers present, instruction is suffering. Music teachers are covering math and english classes, as students were placed in quarantine, distance learning groups exploded to, in some cases, more than 100 students in an online group, all assigned to one teacher. The substitute teachers have been exhausted. The system is at a breaking point. And so, after just three weeks they've returned to remote only instruction.

This upheaval has been detrimental to the students, teachers, staff, and families involved. My fear is that we will also return too early, putting our system through similar trauma and subjecting our schools and all of the people connected to them to unneeded uncertainty, danger, and repeated interruption at a time when we are all in need of stability.

This board has been wise in exercising caution, allowing us the benefit of observing the results others are having as they return to in person instruction. I encourage you to look closely at the outcomes in other counties, heeding the warnings that are present there, in order to better define the thresholds of transmission that need to be met in order for it to be considered safe to return to in person instruction, here in Durham. The proposed return date must be determined by meeting specific predetermined, lower transmission rate thresholds, as opposed to being aligned with the grading calendar.

To be very frank, in person instruction for just two days a week will be of limited benefit to most families and for many will create added stress as they worry over the implications of opting in or out, are preoccupied with their children's ability to practice hand washing and masking without them present, and in a constant state of unknowing about exposure risk posed by attendance, all while struggling to adapt to two days on a new schedule. I ask that you consider this limited benefit against the enormous weight of risk as you map our path forward, and commit to setting a return date based on a reduction in transmission rates.

Thank you. Erin Holden

2020/11/19 2:57:02 PM EST Pilar de Olea 1517 E. GEER St DURHAM NC 27704

Plan.....C

2020/11/19 2:59:25 PM EST Emma Santos M. 3602 willow spring Rd. Durham NC 27703

Buenas tardes, soy madre de un hijo que tiene autismo, mi hijo no esta preparado para seguir los reglamentos de higiene, siempre alguien le tiene que estar recordando a casa momento que lo haga , es por eso que yo no estoy de acuerdo que los niños regresen a la escuela y esto me tiene muy preocupada, y asi como hijo hay muchas niños mas , y ahora que los contagios van en aumento, los ponemos en riesgo a que se enfermen y lleven el virus a La casa y enfermen a toda la familiaes por eso que yo opto por plan C.

2020/11/19 2:59:43 PM EST Maria Luisa Solis 1202 Maroon Dr 27713

Buenas tardes Señores de la junta y súper intendente.

Mi nombre es María Luisa, soy Madre de un estudiante de las escuelas de DPS. La semana pasada les enviamos una carta para ustedes pidiendo un foro para los padres latinos de DPS y es para poder tener más información acerca de los temores y las preocupaciones sobre la apertura de las escuelas y de la aplicación que van usar para la apertura. Una vez más me dirijo a ustedes para que estén abiertos a tener estas conversaciones con la comunidad latina Como Madre de las escuelas de DPS y como líder comunitario les pido que realicen un foro para responder a las preguntas

Maria Luisa

2020/11/19 2:59:51 PM EST Angelica arredondo 5800 Wrenwood ct Durham nc 27703

Plan c ya cuando se allá ido el invierno ahora si plan b

2020/11/19 3:04:22 PM EST Matthew McCauley 5512 Whippoorwill Street Durham

I agree plan C online/ I'm also a Caregiver for my parents as well. Could be very dangerous to enter school and care for them in their conditions. Thanks!

2020/11/19 3:05:26 PM EST Modesta Suero 4801 Danube Lane Durham

Creo que es mejor que la mayoria de los estudiantes sigan con el aprendisaje remoto hasta que la pandemia este totalmente bajo control aunque algunos padres necesitan que sus hijos regresen al salon de clase por asuntos de trabajo pienso que es mas importante la salud de los estudiantes y de los maestros mas que cualquier cosa en este momento.

2020/11/19 3:06:31 PM EST James Nishimuta 1617 Shawnee Street Durham

As a parent of an elementary student with multiple disabilities and the spouse of DPS teacher, I strongly encourage the board to let teachers opt-in returning to in-school instruction through their base school and only move to Plan B when COVID positivity test rate is less than 3%. A recent study, highlighted in the NY Times, reported that children with developmental and intellectual disabilities are 3 times more likely to die from COVID compared to others. This is a similar heighted risk as someone with lung cancer, please consider this when recommending EC in-person instruction. Due to his intellectual disability, my son does not understand and will not tolerate a face mask. He cannot return to in-person instruction until there is negligible risk of COVID.

My wife cannot return to teach in person as we need someone at home with my son. Due to her current role as an ESL instructor, she has a flexible schedule that she would not have otherwise teaching through Ignite. The only way we can keep her employed in DPS through Plan B is if she has the option to remain instructing ESL at home through her school so she can also support my disabled son at home.

Eventually we will have to return to school when COVID cases decrease (unlike the current trend). Surely there is an overlap in parents who want their children to stay at home and teachers who do not feel comfortable returning to school. I understand the logistical nightmare this presents, but keeping online instruction through the base schools is the least detrimental in terms of change for our students, of which EC students are particularly vulnerable.

2020/11/19 3:07:42 PM EST Amada Tlaczani 4203 Thames ave apt A Durham NC 27704

Yo quiero que mis hijos estudien en casa hay muchos contagios y no quiero exponerlos

2020/11/19 3:09:30 PM EST Anonymous 3200 Stream Side Raleigh NC 27613

Good evening. I am a DPS teacher. I teach a multi grade level classroom (prek and k) and I also case manage EC students. My students are some of DPS’ youngest learners. Although peer socialization provides a positive impact to young learners social and emotional development, I challenge you to think of what impact the loss of a favorite teacher, peer, parent, sibling or grandparent would do to their emotional wellness. The reality is a return to school with plan B someone will get sick and potentially die. The only question is who. We have an alternative, remote learning. Yes it is difficult but teachers are working harder than we have ever worked before to reach our students. The undo stress this plan B will put on teachers will cause some to leave an already understaffed profession. Stress over the workload of teaching both face to face and asynchronous students will be enormous. Stress kills also. Save lives, stay remote and create a plan that supports students and doesn’t overwork staff.

2020/11/19 3:11:31 PM EST Corbin Cansler 5708 Hayloft Cir Raleigh, NC 27606

I do not believe it is a good idea to send any student or faculty/staff back to in-person instruction. The rate of new COVID cases/ deaths are continuing to increase. Students, staff, and faculty should not have to risk their health or the health of their families when they have he means to continue education from the safety of their homes. Students and educators have hit a lot of bumps in the road this semester, but we have learned so much and we have worked too hard to throw it all away to risk our safety for in-person instruction.

2020/11/19 3:16:06 PM EST Boris Brown 823 Ridgeway Ave Apt-A Durham NC 27701

I love all our kids including yours and mine. With that said please lets not make a premature decision that will destroy staff and family. Covid is real beyond any politics and beyond any control. yes you can band aid it with any PPE. But you can,t teach and watch your back at all times not realistic. Before covid i felt safe to come to work not under covid conditions. in time this to will pass because time heals all wounds. My question would you want your mother ,farther, sister brother ,grand mother grand Farther to come to work afraid. Neither would I. So lets wait until the work place environment is safe for all of us especially our future they deserve better. Thank you for all considerations.

2020/11/19 3:17:52 PM EST ARACELY HERNANDEZ 2103 lime st. Durham nc 27704 yo voto por el plan c..creo que por el momento nuestros hijos estan mas seguros en casa..

2020/11/19 3:19:20 PM EST Mercedes Cuadra Delano Durham. 27703

Buenas tardes en mi opinion Si octan por plan C les pido que por favor tomen en cosideracion que si pueden reducir las clases de los niños.ya que es mucho tiempo frente ala computadora y terminan los niños con dolor de cabeza y la vista gracias

2020/11/19 3:24:27 PM EST Meagan Bostian 2725 Stuart Drive Durham

My concern is that moving to a hybrid model will reduce the amount of live instruction our students have. Currently my kindergartener has all syncronous teaching (including 3-full teaching days). My understanding is that with the hybrid that will will drop down to 2. I am not sure how that will be more beneficial. Will teachers be able to continue teaching both the virutal and in person students at the same time? This is being done in other districts with a lot of success. I want to be on board with in-person but given the risks we will be taking the pay off needs to be worth it (more actual live teaching).

2020/11/19 3:27:24 PM EST Teresa Ramos 2806 Broad Street Durham yo deseo que sigamos con plan C por ke es muy pronto para exponer a nuestros hijos el virus esta muy fuerte todavía muy peligroso para exponer a nuestros hijos

2020/11/19 3:28:20 PM EST Joe Stapleton 808 Louise Cir Durham NC 27705

I urge the board to not approve any plan that places teachers back in buildings with students. The only thing that has changed from the beginning of the pandemic, when we went remote, to now is: the pandemic is worse. So why are we considering going back to in-person? It must be for reasons OTHER than the safety of teachers, students, and their families. What I'd like to know from DPS and any board member who approves this plan is, what is more important than the safety of teachers, students, and their families? Obviously something is, or else we wouldn't be considering going back any time soon.

Also -- parents, teachers, and students in Durham are prepared to NOT administer or take the EOC and CTE tests in-person. I just think the board should know that.

2020/11/19 3:35:40 PM EST Anonymous N/A Durham, NC

In regards to reopening schools or implementing Plan B I fear that the recent events and spread of the COVID virus has made this plan impossible. NCDHHS is reporting the state’s highest one- day number of COVID-19 cases. The record high days follow several days of increasing trends in new cases, the percent of tests that are positive and hospitalizations. The trends are going up, NOT DOWN. Many states across our nation have already reversed their openings and instead imposed restrictions, closing schools and restaurants and taking more drastic measures to prevent the loss of human life. The US has 250,000 dead, a QUARTER OF A MILION PEOPLE ARE DEAD. Obviously this situation is out of control. This is NOT the time to even be contemplating reopening! Nothing is going down. Not infections, not positive tests, not hospitalizations, everything is INCREASING. There is NO WAY to keep students and staff safe under these conditions. You have had positive cases on several DPS facilities and schools when there is no in person learning taking place. Imagine what could happen if even one person comes to work sick. Taking someone’s temperature before they come in the building and temp checking the students isn’t going to cut it. NOT EVERYONE GETS A FEVER, BUT THEY ARE STILL SPREADING THE VIRUS. Some people are asymptomatic, they show no symptoms but they spread the virus like wildfire. This could create a domino effect that could potentially end human lives, affecting not just a school but whole communities that are already struggling. We have adjusted to online learning, there is no reason to risk people’s lives and health unduly. Being a teacher or educator in North Carolina should not be a kamikaze/suicide mission. We can and will make up this year. We can buckle down next year and make up for this COVID crisis, but you can’t make up a year if you are deceased. We can catch the students up, we can play catch up, but you can’t get a life back. You can’t bring the DEAD back to life. A couple of enhanced filters and hand washing stations are not going to cut it. You cannot guarantee that no one will get COVID if we go back in person. Even one life lost that could have been prevented IS NOT WORTH IT! Our communities have already lost too many by lacks rules and unenforced mandates, people have proven thus far that they can’t follow directions. Adults aren’t following directions, do you honestly believe that children will be any better! We are in the situation we are in now because people are not taking this seriously. This situation is NOT UNDER CONTROL and it is NOT SAFE TO RETURN AT THIS TIME. It is even more dangerous now than it was several months ago!!! Do not put our children and staff in this position. There have already been children in DPS that have died from COVID complications. Planting a tree as a memorial is a thoughtful gesture, but a child’s laugh is sweeter. We don’t want to have more memorials in memory of a life lost. We HAVE to take this seriously. It is not about appeasing people, or about free child care. This is not a cold. THIS IS LIFE OR DEATH! There is a light at the end of this, we have a vaccine. If we had nothing and we were looking at possible years of lockdown I would say ok, we have to figure out something but we don’t have to take this risk. Next school year will look different, but we have to survive to the next school year! Once again I cannot reiterate enough the fact that this virus is life or death. 250,000 dead, a quarter of a million dead, we can help to prevent further loss of life by not taking risky chances right now. Please, I beg of you to make the right decision. Hospitals are at capacity in some states, people have to be turned away, stadiums turned into COVID facilities, the risk to life is just too high. Please, I beg you to make the right choice.

2020/11/19 3:39:11 PM EST Paige Holt 511 Ann Road 4A Hillsborough

I am a teacher at C.E. Jordan High School and I think that it is unconscionable to send students back to for in-person testing at the height of a pandemic, especially after the holidays. I am asking the school board to petition the state to waive the 20% of final grade requirement for EOC exams this year. I am also asking you to petition the federal government to waive the requirement for EOCs and/or to move those tests to a virtual, remote format.

I don't think that it is at all safe to bring students back to school for the 3rd quarter this year. Infection rates continue to rise, and despite the fact that virtual learning is not ideal and in some cases unfair, at the very least it is not putting lives in danger due to this virus. We should not be going back into the buildings until the infection rate is 3% or lower, and we should invest our resources in working to reach that goal, not opening schools prematurely. It is critical that any plan for reopening is tied to specific metrics so that the board and the community can make informed decisions about what is safe. These decisions need to be based on science and public health, not political pressure or the fact that we all wish we were back in the school buildings and that things were normal again. Unfortunately, they are not and we can't act like they are.

Our job is to educate students and prepare them for the world after graduation. Right now it is difficult to share content knowledge with our students, but more than anything it is our job to keep our students and their families safe, so that when we come back they will be able to learn.

2020/11/19 3:42:57 PM EST DPS Parent concerned for DPS employee rights Durham, NC 27704

Is it true that under Plan B all K-5 DPS employees must return for in-person instruction unless they can prove that they or an immediate family member is in a high-risk category? I will support Plan B if teachers are given the choice to teach for Ignite! regardless of special medical status. Is it really possible that DPS will force teachers to quit their jobs (and lose their health insurance!!) if they are unwilling to go back when the virus is surging?! Durham Public Schools can do better.

2020/11/19 3:43:05 PM EST Lourdes Caravan 810 N Duke St Durham

PLAN C please!

2020/11/19 3:45:22 PM EST Sonia de la Cruz 311 S Lasallle St Apt. 14E Durham 27705

Es cuesta arriba el querer abrir las escuelas, en pleno invierno donde están activos dos virus mortales como lo son el de la INFLUENZA y el COVID-19, ambos con comportamiento similar, justo cuando se presenta una segunda ola del virus y los casos están incrementado en NC. Como madre de un nino con necesidades especiales, le puedo afirmar que nuestros hijos no esta preparados para sumir el distanciamiento social, el llevar la mascarilla en todo momento, muchos no saben la manera correcta de lavarse las manos, por lo cual la gran mayoría no cumplen con los requisitos para estar a "salvo" de este virus mortal. Es cierto todos nuestros hijos están amparado bajo un plan de educación individualizada que les brindan terapias y seguimiento, pero sabemos que ademas de la escuela todos nuestros hijos tienen acceso ayuda de terapia si son solicitadas con los pediatras, es mas muchos de nuestros hijos pueden recibir terapias vía ZOOM, es cierto que es un trabajo arduo, mucho mas cuando la gran mayoría de nuestros hijos no tienen quien les de seguimiento en la casas, pues como comunidad tenemos que trabajar para seguir adelante, es un decisión de lo que necesito para vivir o de vivir, porque hay que exponerse diariamente a buscar el sustento de nuestras familias. Solo quiero que lo piensen! Como comunidad latina estamos vulnerables, por el idioma, la desigualdad salarial, el temor por que la mayoría no estamos regularizados, pero queremos que nos escuchen, que sepan que no estamos de acuerdo, que lo mejor que este a;o escolar sea virtual y que necesitamos mas ayuda para sobrellevar esta carga emocional de convivir con el virus y seguir adelante en nuestros trabajos.

2020/11/19 3:47:40 PM EST Drs. Baiyina Muhammad & Dwayne Brandon 812 Clearview Lane Durham, 27713

Greetings Dr. Mubenga and members of the Board, We are the parents of two current DPS-EC students, one elementary level, and the other is in high school. Our three older children also graduated from DPS school in 2017, 2019, and 2020, respectively. We are committed stakeholders, as DPS has been our preferred system for the past 15 years. We write to encourage the Board to continue with Plan C: Remote Instruction Only.

Thus far we have witnessed DPS school board adopt a measured approach to decision making. This approach has kept the safety of students, faculty, and staff at the center of the effort to provide critical instruction in the safest way possible. This measured approach presents the lowest health and safety risk at school, but also concentrates on student engagement in active learning.

Keep in mind neither the state, nor the nation have effectively dealt with the pandemic to date. The advent of cold and flu season, and now COVID-19, have added a level of risk that cannot be determined at present. Given the increase in the national and state COVID-19 cases, as well as the increase in related death rates, we believe that it would be too risky to bring students back into the classroom. Further, a recent New York Times article reported that persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at a greater risk of death if they contract the virus. To us, the recent deaths of one child or one teacher are too many. Therefore, we support continuing with Plan C until the virus is better controlled. It is not worth the risk to the lives and well-being of our students, teachers, and staff to return to in-person instruction while cases continue to climb.

Thank you for your time and consideration. Drs. Muhammad & Brandon (Concerned parents and community members)

2020/11/19 3:51:50 PM EST Martha Murphy N/A Durham, NC

I want to begin by saying thank you to the Board and to Superintendent Mumbenga. I truly believe that DPS has been putting both students AND teachers first with their decision to remain virtual during the first two quarters. Often times doing the right thing is neither easy nor convenient. Although it was an immense undertaking, DPS showed their commitment to our safety and to public safety in general by remaining virtual. DPS did the right thing. I am writing today to beg you to continue to set the example. We cannot return to in person instruction with current numbers spiking as they are. I am an elementary school art teacher. I miss my students and I miss teaching in person, but I also love my family and do not want to put them in harms way. A lesson we so often teach our children is, "Just because someone else is doing it doesn't mean that you should." Please continue to do the right thing. Protect our students, protect our teachers, and protect our at risk community members by remaining virtual.

2020/11/19 3:53:50 PM EST Anne Oumarou 706 Gerard Street Durham, NC 27701

Evidence should be discussed about covid transmission in the school setting where the community infection rate is similar to that of Durham county, including discussion of what’s working and not working in neighboring counties that have partially re-opened. The safety of teachers and staff must be considered because they are at greater risk for becoming infected and spreading infection. Staff and teachers should not be forced to work face to face if they concerned for their safety under the proposal. I want my children back in school, but I want it to be done safely and for our whole community to be safe.

2020/11/19 3:54:12 PM EST Jillian Johnson 902 Arnette Ave Durham, NC 27701

Please keep DPS schools in remote-only instruction through the end of the school year. COVID rates are growing rapidly and will continue to grow through the winter. If we reopen schools, our teachers, staff, and students will be at risk of serious illness and death. Nothing justifies this. I want my kids to go back to school too, but I don’t want to put my entire community at risk. NYC schools just shut down because of a 3% test positivity rate. Durham’s is over 5%. Opening in-person schools would be irresponsible. Please continue remote instruction.

2020/11/19 3:56:02 PM EST Ed Ragsdale 1018 Norwood ave 27707

COVID rates are spiking all over the country and with the holidays coming up, it's bound to only get worse. Durham may have been spared from the worst of it so far, but that's because we're being careful in a lot of ways. I can't imagine a scenario in which there is any improvement in the state of the pandemic. Schools must remain virtual through the rest of the school year. Many areas that have opened schools are currently going virtual again. That's extremely disruptive in an already very difficult year. In addition, I would hate to have to switch teachers and classes on my kids half way through a challenging year, which I will be forced to do if schools reopen and I have to enroll them in Ignite. Everyone would like to reopen, but wishful thinking isn't going to make it a good idea.

2020/11/19 3:56:30 PM EST Sanjidah Ahmed 2113 Englewood Ave. Durham, NC 27705

I urge you to stay in Plan C. The lives of our students, school staff, and educators are absolutely NOT disposable. Forcing people to return when we know the the spread of the e virus has been getting worse and worse, is absolutely unacceptable. Please consider the lives and safety of our children and our educator and our workers. Make a decision that puts them first.

2020/11/19 4:00:22 PM EST ANONYMOUS Dover Ridge Durham

I am a Durham Public School parent and teacher of 21 years. I would like to commend the Board and our district for the thoughtful decisions that have been made thus far and the difficult work that has been put into planning during this pandemic. There is no perfect plan, but the biggest drawback to Plan B is that the safety protocols cannot be carried out with fidelity and the instructional delivery schedule is not an improvement for students or teachers. Here are just a few issues and unanswered questions of many that undermine the efficacy of this plan, just beginning with bus transportation: 1. Enforcing parents to accompany their child to the stop (this has always been unenforceable). 2. Enforcing distancing between students at the bus stop before bus arrives. 3. No clear protocol when a child has a fever at the bus stop and the parent isn't there and can't be reached. Do we send them home alone? Do we put them on the bus and bring them to school, potentially exposing everyone else on the bus? 4. Enforcing 6 foot distancing waiting in line while the bus driver enforces proper seating protocol, the monitor takes temperatures and asks every student symptom check questions. 5. Relying on 5-year-olds to answer symptom check questions accurately - or any elementary age student, for that matter. 6. How are students and parents who do not speak English expected to answer these questions? 7. What is the quarantine protocol when one person tests positive who rides the bus? Do all students, bus driver and monitor quarantine as well? Do we have the substitute manpower? School: Are we expecting Elementary students to be responsible for carrying their computer back and forth between home and school? If so, are we prepared for the inevitability of lost and damaged computers and equipment? How will students continue to access instruction if the equipment is lost, stolen or damaged? How is Plan B an instructional improvement for our students? It seems that students will have less time with their teacher and an increased risk of exposure for all, particularly teachers and specialists who are required to work with students from all classrooms. How many hours of live instruction will students get in person? How many hours of live instruction will students get from Ignite? Our teachers and students are adjusting and improving in this virtual environment, our parents and families are adapting. And we are all doing so from the safety of our homes and should continue to do so until we have a stronger plan and better metrics in our community.

2020/11/19 4:00:52 PM EST Vanissa Conklin 12815 Hampton Rd Rougemont NC 27572

There is no way to keep teachers and students safe in a school environment. We can not control outbreaks in a limited engagement environment much less a classroom of students. I have had it twice already I don’t want to push my luck a third time.

2020/11/19 4:09:55 PM EST Kelli Hunnicutt 2403 Glendale Ave Durham

Dear DPS school board members,

I am a parent of a DPS teacher and a community member. Cases in North Carolina are way too high to consider reopening in January, even if it's only some students. Two critical features we will need before reopening at all must be: 1. A guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job if they are worried for their or their family's safety, without having to submit a health form to HR; and 2. A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district. I support DAE’s position that schools should remain remote while infection rates are above 3%. And a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building. Without these key features, as well as adequate PPE, enough personnel (especially custodians, which it is my understanding we do not have enough of right now), and a more robust canvassing of both parents AND staff within DPS about their preferences for the rest of the year, we cannot reopen safely with buy-in from the entire Durham community. Students in marginalized communities are struggling the most with virtual learning, from what I can see. But I strongly urge the board to focus on how we can keep everyone safe and make virtual learning more equitable instead of trying to force us back to school before we're ready. I trust the DPS school board to make the right decision. Yours respectfully,

Kelli

2020/11/19 4:12:07 PM EST Anonymous Fernway Ave 27701

Dear Respected Board Members,

I am an elementary AU Teacher in Durham Public Schools. I am writing today to urge the board to stay in Plan C for the third quarter. Remote learning is challenging but it is finally working. It is not safe for anyone, students or staff, to be forced to go back into the building in the middle of winter, during flu season. We know from the data that people will die. We know that staff will die and inevitably students will die. This is not a risk that Durham should be willing to take.

Throughout my time as an EC teacher, I have grown accustomed to the significant inequities in regards to treatment, funding, and resource allocation for special education students and staff. Unfortunately my students, COVID and school closures have been no exception. The DPS EC department has been continuously ignored and forgotten about by district leadership throughout the entirety of school closures. If it were not for the school board reinstating Dr. Kristin Bell as EC Director, then Durham Public Schools would be far worse off than it is.

I am terrified of going back into the building for a plethora of reasons, but many of them surround the fact that the district has put forth zero plans that would make this process safe or equitable for EC students. I am aware that EC classrooms will be receiving additional air filtration systems and PPE, but that still will not make our classrooms safe. Currently (like most of my EC colleagues) my classroom is on the bottom level of the building, in a room with no windows or proper ventilation. I have been told by my admin that although there is an open room available for me to move to, I wouldn’t be able to because they are giving it to another gen ed teacher. I have heard very similar stories from many of my EC colleagues and I want to know what the district will be doing to ensure that EC classes are moved to safe locations with bathrooms, windows, and direct access to an outdoor space. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that one of our separate setting teachers in DPS currently teaches out of an old custodian’s storage closet behind their school’s auditorium! If we cannot trust school leadership to put us in the appropriate classrooms (that were originally built as EC classrooms, as clarified by Dr. Monk) not during COVID, we cannot trust them to do so during a deadly pandemic.

We need the school board and the district to truly embody what it means to be equitable and start including EC at the beginning of the conversation. We need you to stand up for our most vulnerable students and protect them during this virus. There are no plans that involve safe classrooms for EC students. For that reason, in person learning is not a viable option. It’s not worth it. Children should not have to die because the district is being pressured to reopen.

The thought of going back to school in January, when NC had over 1500 hospitalizations today (11/19), is terrifying. I'm scared for myself, my kids, and their families. I did not sign up to be a sacrificial lamb and neither did my students.

We, as educators and School Board Members, have a duty to protect our most vulnerable population. Voting to remain in Plan C is doing exactly that.

Sincerely,

A teacher who cares deeply about the wellbeing of her students, their families and her colleagues.

2020/11/19 4:21:27 PM EST Amanda Ragsdale 1018 Norwood ave 27707

I wish our children could return to school in January but it is clear that COVID numbers will not be safe enough for students, teachers and support staff to start school again that soon. I will not be sending my kids back to school if you approve this plan and have signed up for ignite. BUT I am very concerned that many families who want to continue virtual learning have not been able to sign up for ignite because the communication in our district is not perfect and many families didn’t know they needed to sign up for ignite to stay virtual. Please keep virtual learning as the default option!

2020/11/19 4:24:31 PM EST Amber Tovar Thistlerock Lane Durham

I appreciate that your reopening plan will use data to drive decisions. Thank you for taking into consideration the dangers that Covid poses to our community when creating the table of metrics to be used. I hope that Durham Public Schools will continue to make the best decisions to keep our students, staff, and their families safe. Our students' education is important but their health is even more valuable.

2020/11/19 4:27:43 PM EST Beau Cromartie 1811 Chandellay Dr Durham

Please don't force public school workers to go back to working in-person. Some of my dearest friends and community work in schools. And despite their loyalty and commitment to students, they will be forced to resign. I don't think we as a city can afford to lose a single leader who genuinely cares for our children.

Be a leader in the state and stay in Plan C for the remainder of the year to keep consistency. I also ask you to: 1) Guarantee that all DPS staff can choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job/pay, without having to submit a health form to HR; 2) A solid plan for metrics to determine when we will reopen as a district, and a plan for how a positive case in a building will be handled in terms of notifying others and shutting down the building.

2020/11/19 4:30:08 PM EST Abby Exum 21 Coney Pine Ave Roxboro, NC 27574

I'm an elementary educator in DPS and the thought of returning to in-person learning gives me pause. I've made personal decisions to avoid contracting COVID since schools closed in March. Now, if we return to in-person learning, I don't have a choice. I would have to return because I don't have an acceptable medical reason putting myself and my family at risk. While I've made those decisions to protect myself, I now may be in the building with people who haven't/aren't making those same decisions which, again, puts me at increased risk. I'm very uncomfortable with this possibility and fear for my personal health and safety.

2020/11/19 4:34:49 PM EST Courtney Hayes-Rainey 1920 Bedford St. #8 DURHAM, NC 27707

Virtual learning has been a struggle for everyone, especially when parents still have to work, but we have come this far. I feel that we are rushing to reopen schools, and expose everyone. We need to continue to remain virtual for the rest of the school year. Covid numbers are still rising. I cross my fingers each year around this time hoping that my children do not catch a cold or something worse from their peers. How many students per class? Do we really expect children to eat and not talk, then wear masks again? Reopening schools right now isn't safe for students , teachers, staff or families.

2020/11/19 4:38:44 PM EST Galen Maultsby (Teacher) Durham School of the Arts Durham, NC 27701

Here is something a teacher understands from years in the classroom. You must have 1 plan to prevent things from going wrong. You must have a second plan for after things have gone wrong. Because they will.

DPS seems to have plan 1, but not plan 2. Tonight's Plan B powerpoint, supplied to teachers in advance, does not include any information at all besides a red box assuring us that in a total health crisis, school could close. We need to see the day in the life example slide for a sick teacher, sick child, and sick custodian. Also 1 for everyone around the sick person.

On a positive note. Thank you for meeting on zoom tonight. Thank you for doing better than our neighboring counties in setting a good example.

2020/11/19 4:41:54 PM EST Carmen Beltran. 1003#C Sherwood dr. Durham NC.27705

Plan C.� Hasta que nos garanticen que nuestros hijos estaran fuera de peligro en las escuelas.

2020/11/19 4:42:19 PM EST Manju Rajendran 2112 Summit Street Durham

I'm a Durham Public Schools pre-K parent and I do not support our public schools re-opening in- person education until the public health conflagration that our community is experiencing comes to an end. It is irresponsible to send our students, teachers, and school staff into danger. I feel concerned about the instability, unheaval, and grief we would be creating in the lives of our children if we reactivated in-person schooling while the crisis is still underway.

The determination about when we will reopen as a district must be based on the best public health guidelines available. If our decisionmakers choose to re-open classrooms despite the active COVID-19 surge, I hope that at the very least all DPS staff will have the option to choose not to return in-person without fear of losing their job or pay and without having to submit a personal health form. And let us be sure we have excellent plans in place then for notification and shutting down schools in the inevitable deluge of COVID-19 positive cases.

2020/11/19 4:48:25 PM EST Meredith Schartz Wood Valley Court Durham, NC 27712

Hi! I am an elementary teacher here in Durham Public Schools. I am writing today out of concern for us returning in person in January. I am concerned about the rising amount of cases across the country and in our state. There are employees at our schools who view the seriousness of the virus differently, and I am nervous to be near those employees. I also have concerns about the Plan B that has been presented and the effects this will have on our students and our staff. I am being cautious though to wait for the plan to be finalized and have faith the best plan will be decided upon. I hope the plan to go back is reconsidered as we look ahead into these winter months. Thank you!

2020/11/19 4:49:19 PM EST Jennifer Whaley 523 Burlington Ave Durham 27707

Please do not reopen schools - nothing is safer than it was when you made the decision to close, and our resources are not sufficient to make up for that.

2020/11/19 4:55:29 PM EST Kathy Holt 211 Old Buggy Trail Hillsborough

PLEASE let high school students go to school next semester! I understand younger grades need to be taken care of so parents can go back to work, but high schoolers need an education! They will be going to college in a few short years and need to be prepared. Online learning does not in any way compare to in-person lessons. High schoolers should not have to lose a whole year of education. At a very minimum, please allow them to come in once a week for labs and other hands-on classes. Please don't forsake our high schoolers - they need school too!

2020/11/19 4:56:49 PM EST MJ Routh 310 Gresham Ave Durham, NC 27704

I am the partner of a DPS teacher who runs a separate setting EC classroom. As someone who suffers from health conditions that put me at risk for serious illness should I be exposed to Covid-19, I have a lot at stake in the decisions that are made at this board meeting. So let me be as direct as possible: the notion that my partner would be sent back to teach in person is appalling to me. It is well-known that the school buildings have many limitations, with classrooms lacking adequate space for social distancing; and windows and consistently operating HVAC systems for proper ventilation. Already, my partner's students require close, face to face contact that makes it impossible to control the spread of viral illnesses, let alone one as deadly as Covid-19. No amount of hastily planned stop-gap measures & PPE would prevent exposing him, and by extension, me. Moreover, that this board would even consider going forward with a reopening plan, when cases of Covid-19 continue to rise dramatically all over this country (with 9.2% in Durham County, as of the this writing, according to the News & Observer) is disturbing. While I understand that another 6 months of remote learning is not ideal for students, risking the live of teachers, staff, & their family members, to say nothing of the lives of kids and their parents, is far worse. So I'm left to ask: what is my life worth? what is the life of my partner worth? I don’t envy the decision this board has to make, but I do know there is only ONE RIGHT THING for this board to do. And that is to abandon plans to return to school in person in January, and postpone the return to in-person teaching for the rest of the school year, or until the pandemic is under control, either thru the widespread availability of reliable treatments or vaccines.

2020/11/19 4:59:38 PM EST Jennifer Scherer 3627 Sugar Tree Place DURHAM

As a DPS high school teacher and the parent of a DPS 3rd grader and kindergartener, I am tired, and I am discouraged by the difficulties of remote instruction. However, let's not add a layer of mortal dread to these burdens by opening our schools just to close again in a week, two weeks, and so forth, as has been demonstrated by many districts across the country. Our schools have been underfunded for decades. Now we're in a real bind. The answer is not to put our children and our teachers' health and safety on the line, but instead to shine some bright lights on exactly what we need our schools to do in our communities and exactly how we're supporting and funding them to accomplish these essential functions. We also have the added responsibility to educate by example, and to show that we understand science. We can't put on wishful thinking blinders and expect to live it down when cases continue to rise. Thanks for your leadership!

2020/11/19 5:00:12 PM EST Anonymous 3005 Dixon Road Durham

Teachers are very concerned about the possibility of going back. We know virtual learning has been tough for families, however, to try and go back while the pandemic continues to rage on, will be stressful for families as well. The plans to back with hybrid learning seem very chaotic. Parents are struggling to keep up with a daily schedule, what will happen when there is a daily struggle for virtual and in person learning. There are no guarantees teachers will be with the current teacher online, and when cases start that will throw the whole school comunity into turmoil. Please consider continuing online learning until the case amount goes down and there is a vaccine. Thanks!