Because of Covid-19, my school has been closed for at least two weeks. This is just the second day of the layoff and it is already driving me fucking crazy. So let's talk people...share stories, start conversations, send photos, doesn't matter. The internet is a safe distance to keep and not spread Covid-19...so lets engage on here. I'll start.
As I sit here, in shorts and a bathrobe drinking coffee this morning, listening to WNYC, I will start off by saying that this was supposed to be my Spring Break from the school that I currently work at. All of the kids were excited about the up coming break and as Thursday's school day came to a close, all staff were sent out an email stating that we had an emergency meeting at 3:20, about 5 minutes after the kids would be leaving the building for their break. You could see the worry in some teachers' faces as we walked the halls, ushering kids out the doors and then heading down to the lunch room where the meeting was to be held.
As the teachers and principles filed in, the head principle was in the middle of the room with her laptop and a notebook. She didn't look that happy. She informed us that there was a possible three options about what was going to happen with Covid-19 during the break, that we could be just gone during for break and then come back, that we might be closed for a little bit and then add on that time that was missed at the end of the school year, or go to online schooling for our Elementary school kids.
At that time, the story about what was going to be happening (time off) had changed three times that day alone according to our head principle, and at the time of that meeting, we were just going to be off for the break with the school under intense deep cleaning over the next week.
SINCE THEN, (Mind you, the last update was on Sunday, three days after Break "officially" began), the school has closed down for two weeks (spring break and one week after) then after that call was made, the state governor stated that she is suggesting that what the CDC is suggesting that no gatherings larger than 50 people should get together for the next 8 weeks. That would be May 8th...
I am not sure when the last time any of you were in school, but there are more than 50 people in a school. Hell, there are more than 50 adults there at the school on any given day...let alone the kids. So, we are all worried that if the state health department says yes, 8 weeks with 50 or less people, what that is going to do for schools, and for the pay of us teachers who are not salaried but are paid hourly...Personally I cannot go 8 weeks with no pay...and with everything in the world closing down, I will not be able to get a temporary job until this blows over. It sucks!