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Post by mrmatthews on Jun 18, 2020 7:39:27 GMT -6
I was just about to point the immunocompromised part out. It’s clear that many of you either don’t care about someone who is, or don’t know who someone who is. There are several people close to me who are and to see many here say “There’s no problem with this. Go on. If you’re scared the hell with you” is quite sad. There was a huge story here in Indiana back in March about several people, coaches and spectators, in the basketball community getting sick and dying of COVID-19. And now just seems like some people on this forum just want to have that repeat itself. Who cares about everyone else. I need my normalcy! 🙄 The inconvenience is temporary. For the health of the community and for ourselves...... I do need my normalcy. My mental health has suffered from all this which has so far been far more detrimental than a possible viral infection. I'm also in the 'high risk' category too, so I understand the fear some people have. I just don't have that fear anymore. There's too much misinformation, opposing information, lack of information, etc. for me to live my life based on the fear of corona. I see people alone in their cars, with the windows rolled up wearing masks...so if you want to wear that mask, feel free. If you are afraid of catching it, then wear the mask. For me, the risk of getting it isn't large enough to alter my life any more than it already has. As far as convenience, I see people on TV saying this will go on maybe for years. To me, that's not temporary, and I believe some in the world want this to be the 'new normal'. Makes it easier the next time they want to force the public to alter society. Again, these are just my opinions/viewpoints. We all have the right to have them, and I don't intend to be offensive to anyone here. I want marching season to happen as much as anyone, but if it doesn't, then I'll save a lot of gas money this fall.
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Post by angelee on Jun 18, 2020 8:40:32 GMT -6
Well, I for one am not wasting a year of life due to COVID. It’s been an awakening in my household. My oldest son is a Madison Scout whose season was cancelled. But he’s and his Blue Devil dad are participating in their virtual MadU, playing their horns together, and are mass listening and watching drum corps. They would never have done that without this time (my son just graduated and is off to college eventually). My freshman is gearing up for whatever band looks like this year. I have absolute faith that the band director is going to give him an excellent experience in whatever this fall looks like. I’m learning new skills. My youngest two are gonna murder each other but are best friends. So, you only get out what you put in. I just do not understand this mindset. Sorry your normal isn’t normal anymore. But adjust and adapt. Pretending that data is false doesn’t change the reality. Focusing on your last sentences - be aware it is really a double edged sword, and that hasn't stopped obviously wrong positions being pushed to support a particular narrative regardless of who/what is pushing it (I am not pushing one "side" or the other with that statement). Instead of making a broad statement you have to prove that the data is wrong. When you are able to do so, then you'll find that those of us that are data driven will actually agree with you. We will never agree if all you do is try to beat us over the head without using data.
Here is more data from where I sit - my county (as of the morning of June 18, 2020) has a population of around 610,000 (607,391 per the official website, linked below). Total confirmed cases - 1,428 or 0.235% of the population. Total tests 22,688 or 3.6% of the population. There have been a total of 33 deaths here, 811 recoveries and 584 currently active. Currently there are 11 hospitalizations (there was a peak on May 19 with 61). So, purely from a local perspective, there is and never was a reason to fear. Take precautions as I've outlined previously (wash hands regularly as the single most effective thing you can do), understand that if you get sick you are far more likely to recover than not, and get on with your life. Live life in spite of the fact we are all going to die, rather than in fear of that fact. I wish you and everyone here the best!
Understood. I have a mathematics masters degree, so stats and I (along with their grey area translations) are no mystery to me. Also, we as a school district understood when we made the decision to cancel for the last quarter that there would be drama here with how the community would agree or would throw “facts” in our faces. Those that don’t believe this virus is an issue will use (now are using) the data to show that the virus was never an issue. Numbers are low! (Although in my county they are not and continuing to rise). Those that believed corona is/was an issue would be validated in the fact that the cases stayed low because most of us stayed home and were taking precautions. The backlash was expected, although it’s still disappointing. We knew parents would be up in arms saying “look! Illnesses are so low so go back to school! No masks!” But our governor and county officials say otherwise. Will mass gatherings spread the infection faster? Our state health said Memorial Day openings caused an increase in our state (yesterday’s briefing with Holcomb). Data from the protests are not yet available (too soon). Numbers low are good. Excellent. I don’t argue that at all! We as a school district did the right thing to help slow the spread. Now how will we help in this school year to continue that trend?
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Post by angelee on Jun 18, 2020 8:46:12 GMT -6
Do you know all your pre-existing conditions? How about those of your parents and your children? Yes. Yes, I do. As well of those of my wife, my in-laws, my brothers, my grandchildren, and even most of those conditions for my close friends. What's your point with this question? Must be nice! We just found out with our last bout of pneumonia, that my husband has COPD. He’s only 41. If he had COVID instead of that, he could have died. I just found out my young reflux kid actually has asthma now. So no, we all don’t know all our pre-existing conditions. So good for you that you know so much about the health of every family member. We continue to learn about our own health frequently here.
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Post by hewhowaits on Jun 18, 2020 9:13:47 GMT -6
Understood. I have a mathematics masters degree, so stats and I (along with their grey area translations) are no mystery to me. So I believe that (at least) the two of us would agree that the same statistics can be used to support both sides of an argument. And that the same data can be interpreted to give multiple very different data-driven conclusions. As the saying goes "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." Another version of this is "There are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third and most aggravated is statistics."
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Post by twhsalumniparent on Jun 18, 2020 11:01:31 GMT -6
Focusing on your last sentences - be aware it is really a double edged sword, and that hasn't stopped obviously wrong positions being pushed to support a particular narrative regardless of who/what is pushing it (I am not pushing one "side" or the other with that statement). Instead of making a broad statement you have to prove that the data is wrong. When you are able to do so, then you'll find that those of us that are data driven will actually agree with you. We will never agree if all you do is try to beat us over the head without using data.
Here is more data from where I sit - my county (as of the morning of June 18, 2020) has a population of around 610,000 (607,391 per the official website, linked below). Total confirmed cases - 1,428 or 0.235% of the population. Total tests 22,688 or 3.6% of the population. There have been a total of 33 deaths here, 811 recoveries and 584 currently active. Currently there are 11 hospitalizations (there was a peak on May 19 with 61). So, purely from a local perspective, there is and never was a reason to fear. Take precautions as I've outlined previously (wash hands regularly as the single most effective thing you can do), understand that if you get sick you are far more likely to recover than not, and get on with your life. Live life in spite of the fact we are all going to die, rather than in fear of that fact. I wish you and everyone here the best!
Understood. I have a mathematics masters degree, so stats and I (along with their grey area translations) are no mystery to me. Also, we as a school district understood when we made the decision to cancel for the last quarter that there would be drama here with how the community would agree or would throw “facts” in our faces. Those that don’t believe this virus is an issue will use (now are using) the data to show that the virus was never an issue. Numbers are low! (Although in my county they are not and continuing to rise). Those that believed corona is/was an issue would be validated in the fact that the cases stayed low because most of us stayed home and were taking precautions. The backlash was expected, although it’s still disappointing. We knew parents would be up in arms saying “look! Illnesses are so low so go back to school! No masks!” But our governor and county officials say otherwise. Will mass gatherings spread the infection faster? Our state health said Memorial Day openings caused an increase in our state (yesterday’s briefing with Holcomb). Data from the protests are not yet available (too soon). Numbers low are good. Excellent. I don’t argue that at all! We as a school district did the right thing to help slow the spread. Now how will we help in this school year to continue that trend? FYI, my background is physics, so math is no stranger to me either...
See, I completely support local decision making. There is no magic bullet, and things are different in different locations. Trying to push everyone to do the same thing in this situation is not the correct approach - it has to be based on what is going on "in your backyard". If a place wants to lock down, I support their right to make that decision, and if they don't, I also support that right. Whether either is the right decision is completely up to results.
As we know, there is a difference between data and statistics. Games can be played with both, but it is much easier to see through statistical games than data games. And to me, if your area isn't releasing data then I would be very skeptical of anything they are doing (that is a general statement, not directed at an individual or specific locale).
The key disagreement is what we think of the severity of the disease. None of this political crap going around. I hate getting sick, but I would expect that I would recover (chances are good, but of course not 100%, which is true of any disease). I appreciate that I live in an area that had minimal lockdowns, and we'll see how things proceed from here. I think there are places that didn't lockdown that have larger problems, and there are places that did lockdown that have larger problems. And vice/versa. In other words, that would imply that lockdown/non lockdown wasn't really the main factor. There is something else going on. What that is, I don't know.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jun 18, 2020 11:11:12 GMT -6
13 University of Texas football players have tested positive as of today.
Not promising. Not promising at all.
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Post by twhsalumniparent on Jun 18, 2020 11:48:47 GMT -6
13 University of Texas football players have tested positive as of today. Not promising. Not promising at all. My opinion again...
The focus shouldn't be on the infections, it should be on the outcomes of the infections. Ultimately that is what matters. As the human race, we don't have a strong track record of defeating viruses, and there is nothing indicating such success with this one.
How many of those 13 are asymptomatic? How many are serious with bad symptoms or hospitalized? This is the info that really matters, not "13 have tested positive". "Flatten the curve" does not mean drop infections to zero, it means the infections will happen but happen over a longer period of time (in math terms the area under the curves are the same). Ultimately the same number of people will get this disease, so the outcomes should be what we watch.
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Post by marimba11 on Jun 18, 2020 12:23:03 GMT -6
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Post by hewhowaits on Jun 18, 2020 12:27:17 GMT -6
The article posted by marimba11 shows that Texas is taking a measured approach. The goal is in-school instruction but families will have the option to request remote learning for their children as appropriate. What will be interesting to me is whether those students whose parents opt for remote learning will be allowed to participate in any extracurricular (or co-curricular) activities.
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Post by marimba11 on Jun 18, 2020 12:33:55 GMT -6
The article posted by marimba11 shows that Texas is taking a measured approach. The goal is in-school instruction but families will have the option to request remote learning for their children as appropriate. What will be interesting to me is whether those students whose parents opt for remote learning will be allowed to participate in any extracurricular (or co-curricular) activities. Home schooling is more common in SC (than perhaps other places)... and those students almost always have the option to do extra curriculars at the school(s) they are zoned for (even co-curriculars). I think they will.
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Post by hewhowaits on Jun 18, 2020 13:49:29 GMT -6
The article posted by marimba11 shows that Texas is taking a measured approach. The goal is in-school instruction but families will have the option to request remote learning for their children as appropriate. What will be interesting to me is whether those students whose parents opt for remote learning will be allowed to participate in any extracurricular (or co-curricular) activities. Home schooling is more common in SC (than perhaps other places)... and those students almost always have the option to do extra curriculars at the school(s) they are zoned for (even co-curriculars). I think they will. If this were truly a home schooling situation, I have no doubt the general rules in place for home schoolers would still apply. In this instance, people may opt to have their children participate in remote learning because of the perceived health risk of going to school in person. Will those students be permitted to participate in activities that require them to be physically present in this case?
If that answer is yes - the question needs to be raised to the parents about why band/football/chess club is "safe" for those students but sitting in class is not. If that answer is no - how many parents who would otherwise opt for remote learning will instead send their children to school so they can participate in band/football/chess club?
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Post by atxbandnerd on Jun 18, 2020 13:53:30 GMT -6
And lots of teachers and parents are in an uproar over this. What happens when a teacher gets covid? What happens when a student gets covid? I don't envy the State at all.
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Post by bandaid on Jun 18, 2020 14:07:31 GMT -6
A MESSAGE FROM THE HENDRICKS COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ SUPERINTENDENTS
Hendricks County Families,
The Hendricks County public school corporations appreciate the patience and understanding of our families and communities during the last few months. Per Governor Holcomb’s order,schools are allowed to resume normal schedules on July 1. The Indiana Department of Education, in conjunction with the Indiana Department of Health and the Indiana Family and Social Services Agency, released guidance for the reopening of Indiana schools. Hendricks County public schools have come together to share important information as we prepare to welcome your children back to our classrooms.
The partnership between families and schools is always a key to student success. School staff will be receiving professional development on screening student health situations and parents are encouraged to be aware of the health of their students and only send them to school if they are well.
All Hendricks County schools will be starting on their scheduled date. We will also:
●Require staff and students to have a mask with them at all times. There will be certain situations, including on a bus and some in-school settings, when wearing a mask will be required for both students and staff. ●Require students and staff to be fever free for 72 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school. ●Maximize instructional space and scheduling flexibility. ●Employ enhanced cleaning procedures with additional hand sanitizer stations. ●Open playgrounds with separate zones for sanitization purposes. ●Allow the use of water fountains for bottle or cup refills only. ●Adjust lunches to maximize available open space and utilize alternate scheduling to adhere to safety guidelines. ●Identify and separate space in school clinics to treat symptomatic students. ●Restrict visitors and guests in our school buildings. ●Discontinue perfect attendance incentives.
In conjunction with the Hendricks County Health Department, Hendricks County public schools will have a common response to confirmed cases of COVID-19 and ongoing consultation will inform the decisions to keep schools open.Thank you again for supporting your Hendricks County public schools as we look forward to a safe reopening for the 2020-2021 school year.
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Post by marimba11 on Jun 18, 2020 14:23:28 GMT -6
And lots of teachers and parents are in an uproar over this. What happens when a teacher gets covid? What happens when a student gets covid? I don't envy the State at all. The answer is, if you don't like it move to another state. Texas is also giving the option to stay home, so they (you) have options. All the uproar a few months ago when the media was praising states rights with regards to the governors power vs the executive... well different states will have different laws. I also do not envy the state.
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Post by Jake W. on Jun 18, 2020 14:24:21 GMT -6
^ For the non-Hoosiers, Hendricks County encompasses the suburbs on the west side of Indy; or, relevant to the BOA world, Avon, Plainfield, & Brownsburg. All are separate school systems, but appear to be making a joint decision together with the county's health department, which I think we'll see a lot of moving forward.
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Post by Jake W. on Jun 18, 2020 14:39:35 GMT -6
And lots of teachers and parents are in an uproar over this. What happens when a teacher gets covid? What happens when a student gets covid? I don't envy the State at all. The answer is, if you don't like it move to another state. Texas is also giving the option to stay home, so they (you) have options. All the uproar a few months ago when the media was praising states rights with regards to the governors power vs the executive... well different states will have different laws. I also do not envy the state. I've always loathed that response from the states' rights crowds; Forbes found at the end of last year that 78% of U.S. citizens live paycheck to paycheck, and the Federal Reserve found last year as well that 40% of Americans would be unable to pay a surprise $400 medical bill. It's simply not feasible for most of the country to just "move if they don't like it", not to mention the fact that most teachers live near the bottom of public salaries. I think the more appropriate response is that elections have consequences, but that's another platitude for another place, and does nothing to help those in the here & now, and atxbandnerd brings up a valid point that you can't just sluff off with "move if you don't like it". There are tons of high schools throughout suburban Texas that have 2,500+ students in them, and I imagine 200+ staff. It's hard to ignore that that's a vastly higher number than grocery shopping or any other activity we're all beginning to do again. I don't know what the solution is, but to bring up a "just move" when a very real problem is raised is unhelpful and shortsighted.
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Post by atxbandnerd on Jun 18, 2020 14:46:33 GMT -6
And lots of teachers and parents are in an uproar over this. What happens when a teacher gets covid? What happens when a student gets covid? I don't envy the State at all. The answer is, if you don't like it move to another state. Texas is also giving the option to stay home, so they (you) have options. All the uproar a few months ago when the media was praising states rights with regards to the governors power vs the executive... well different states will have different laws. I also do not envy the state. Yes..that's just so easy to do. Just because kids are going back to school doesn't mean that it's gonna be the school that they were at on March 1st, 2020.
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Post by marimba11 on Jun 18, 2020 14:58:30 GMT -6
The answer is, if you don't like it move to another state. Texas is also giving the option to stay home, so they (you) have options. All the uproar a few months ago when the media was praising states rights with regards to the governors power vs the executive... well different states will have different laws. I also do not envy the state. I've always loathed that response from the states' rights crowds; Forbes found at the end of last year that 78% of U.S. citizens live paycheck to paycheck, and the Federal Reserve found last year as well that 40% of Americans would be unable to pay a surprise $400 medical bill. It's simply not feasible for most of the country to just "move if they don't like it", not to mention the fact that most teachers live near the bottom of public salaries. I think the more appropriate response is that elections have consequences, but that's another platitude for another place, and does nothing to help those in the here & now, and atxbandnerd brings up a valid point that you can't just sluff off with "move if you don't like it". There are tons of high schools throughout suburban Texas that have 2,500+ students in them, and I imagine 200+ staff. It's hard to ignore that that's a vastly higher number than grocery shopping or any other activity we're all beginning to do again. I don't know what the solution is, but to bring up a "just move" when a very real problem is raised is unhelpful and shortsighted. Of course it is not easy, and this was a quick virus. But this may go on for a while... as MANY of you have said here. We had to hear all about it from the media in April. Media: "oh no no it's the governors who have to make the call!" Well here is the result. But, also vote to change your policy if you don't like it. I find it hard to believe it would be a winning issue in texas though.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jun 18, 2020 15:50:38 GMT -6
13 University of Texas football players have tested positive as of today. Not promising. Not promising at all. My opinion again...
The focus shouldn't be on the infections, it should be on the outcomes of the infections. Ultimately that is what matters. As the human race, we don't have a strong track record of defeating viruses, and there is nothing indicating such success with this one.
How many of those 13 are asymptomatic? How many are serious with bad symptoms or hospitalized? This is the info that really matters, not "13 have tested positive". "Flatten the curve" does not mean drop infections to zero, it means the infections will happen but happen over a longer period of time (in math terms the area under the curves are the same). Ultimately the same number of people will get this disease, so the outcomes should be what we watch.
Oh I agree 1000%. I just don’t think this bodes well for the powers that be when they’re making decisions about the Fall.
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Post by hewhowaits on Jun 19, 2020 6:02:27 GMT -6
●Discontinue perfect attendance incentives. These were never a good policy anyway. It took an unusual situation for them to wake up to this fact.
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Post by atxbandnerd on Jun 19, 2020 10:07:45 GMT -6
Round Rock ISD just sent out their plan for next year. No changes in breaks or the like. But kids have to eat lunch in their classroom, they will stagger school start times, and have less kids per class. Goodness this pandemic is gonna be expensive!
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Post by Allohak on Jun 19, 2020 13:50:29 GMT -6
The WHO today reported that Thursday's 150k new confirmed cases is the most in a single day. They also indicated that the virus' spread is "accelerating". Not positive news.
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Post by OldSchoolTrumpet on Jun 19, 2020 14:13:25 GMT -6
The WHO today reported that Thursday's 150k new confirmed cases is the most in a single day. They also indicated that the virus' spread is "accelerating". Not positive news. The question remains, what is the response? I don't think we'll see a return to Stay at Home orders and lock downs. People simply won't tolerate it, and business and the economy won't survive it. But on the scholastic side, when it comes to sports, band, and other activities...there is going to be a lot of pressure for these to resume, especially on the sports side. And if sports are given the go, the I'd think band has to be given the same green light. Travel is the bigger wildcard, and much more difficult to justify. I'm having a hard time seeing school administrators allowing hundreds of their students to travels across country for multiple days to an event attended by thousands of kids from all over the US.
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Post by Allohak on Jun 19, 2020 14:41:33 GMT -6
The WHO today reported that Thursday's 150k new confirmed cases is the most in a single day. They also indicated that the virus' spread is "accelerating". Not positive news. The question remains, what is the response? I don't think we'll see a return to Stay at Home orders and lock downs. People simply won't tolerate it, and business and the economy won't survive it. But on the scholastic side, when it comes to sports, band, and other activities...there is going to be a lot of pressure for these to resume, especially on the sports side. And if sports are given the go, the I'd think band has to be given the same green light. Travel is the bigger wildcard, and much more difficult to justify. I'm having a hard time seeing school administrators allowing hundreds of their students to travels across country for multiple days to an event attended by thousands of kids from all over the US. People's willingness to be inconvenienced in the name of society's survival is being tested...and unfortunately, Americans are failing that test. (Not that I am in any way surprised, but that's a whole other discussion not appropriate for this board 😎) Call me a doomsayer if you will, but from a purely ethical standpoint, that's the way it is. (My degree is in philosophy and I focused on ethics and morality, in case anyone needs to know my background in making such a claim.)
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jun 19, 2020 16:57:20 GMT -6
Round Rock ISD just sent out their plan for next year. No changes in breaks or the like. But kids have to eat lunch in their classroom, they will stagger school start times, and have less kids per class. Goodness this pandemic is gonna be expensive! Interesting about the staggered times. Not sure how you do that if you have more than one child in the school. 🤔
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Post by hewhowaits on Jun 20, 2020 1:13:34 GMT -6
Round Rock ISD just sent out their plan for next year. No changes in breaks or the like. But kids have to eat lunch in their classroom, they will stagger school start times, and have less kids per class. Goodness this pandemic is gonna be expensive! Interesting about the staggered times. Not sure how you do that if you have more than one child in the school. 🤔 Same as having one in Middle School and another in Elementary - two different bus times.
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Post by LeanderMomma on Jun 20, 2020 7:12:33 GMT -6
Interesting about the staggered times. Not sure how you do that if you have more than one child in the school. 🤔 Same as having one in Middle School and another in Elementary - two different bus times. Meanwhile, Leander removes 18 more routes that are within 2 miles of the school.
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Post by OldSchoolTrumpet on Jun 20, 2020 7:42:19 GMT -6
Same as having one in Middle School and another in Elementary - two different bus times. Meanwhile, Leander removes 18 more routes that are within 2 miles of the school. They likely need to move those buses to routes further away. With distancing requirements they'll need more buses per route I'd guess, since they'll probably run at half capacity. Leander. Ya'll are wealthy anyway. Just have your kids drive the third BMW.
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Post by Allohak on Jun 20, 2020 9:20:24 GMT -6
Meanwhile, Leander removes 18 more routes that are within 2 miles of the school. They likely need to move those buses to routes further away. With distancing requirements they'll need more buses per route I'd guess, since they'll probably run at half capacity. Leander. Ya'll are wealthy anyway. Just have your kids drive the third BMW. Portions of Leander ISD are indeed quite well-off, but the zoned area that Leander HS services is not one of those portions.
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Post by paddy on Jun 20, 2020 10:16:54 GMT -6
They likely need to move those buses to routes further away. With distancing requirements they'll need more buses per route I'd guess, since they'll probably run at half capacity. Leander. Ya'll are wealthy anyway. Just have your kids drive the third BMW. Portions of Leander ISD are indeed quite well-off, but the zoned area that Leander HS services is not one of those portions. Depends on how you define well-off. Leander HS is about 25% free and reduced lunch eligible. Average for Texas is 53%. Of course Vandergrift is 5%.
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