Roachdale Elementary to be closed through Nov. 15

The North Putnam school board gets an “F” for not adopting policies to keep its schools open and operating during a pandemic. Early in the school year, a majority of the board refused to adopt a policy to require mask-wearing. Had the board done so, the schools would have reduced viral transmissions which would have resulted in fewer COVID cases. The schools could have stayed open and students could have been taught in school, in person, where teachers do their best work and where students learn in an equitable environment. Instead, the students of Roachdale Elementary, like the students of Bainbridge and NP Middle School before them, now must rely on “virtual learning.” That is, IF the students are fortunate enough to have reliable internet access; many do not.

In the Code of Ethics for Indiana school board members, the first pledge is that a board member “always thinks in terms of “children first.”” It’s time to get to the business of educating students, in person, in corporation facilities. It’s time to put personal political and cultural preferences aside. PUT CHILDREN FIRST. LET’S GET OUR CHILDREN SAFELY BACK IN CLASSROOMS.

Agree with the F but from a different perspective. The article doesn’t state how many positive cases there are, just that there is a large number quarantined which could be resulting from situations of contact tracing inducing large numbers of children who are affected. This is silly there is so little, practically non existent risk to children to warrant this. Plus there is literally no evidence that close contact even causes positive cases. The main irreparable damage being done is having kids miss instruction. Throw all of this out and get on with living.

“Plus there is literally no evidence that close contact even causes positive cases.”

This is just silly.

Sorry, it’s reality not silly. Countless cases of one member in a household who is COVID positive and the spouse who shares a bed or other close family members do not become infected. Countless cases of

quarantined students who have never contacted COVID. You think all these ‘quarantined’ students will stay home and away from the public? The answer is no.

I am a grandma with grands at each elementary..my issue is both my grands classrooms were put on quarantine Mon/Tues respectively...yet preschool teacherand assistant are still in the classroom..most puzzling is preschool afternoon kids still attending.

“You think all these ‘quarantined’ students will stay home and away from the public? The answer is no.”

I think you just answered your own question. This is why the virus is still infecting people.

Were those positive cases that caused the quarantine actually positive? Hope they verified those with a PCR test…. Ya know since the rapids give false positives.

@Koios - the virus is still infecting people because it is a VIRUS. It will not go away just like the flu and common cold VIRUSES are around every year. The vaccine will not stop it - nor will masks. You can try, but like it or not, everyone will get it sooner or later.

@LJScott - your theory of masks keeping kids in school is fine, but you have no idea what the majority of parents want for their children. From talking with friends and other parents, they do want their kids in school - but with NO MASKS ever. So it's okay to post your own opinion, but it is in the minority of most parents.

"The vaccine will not stop it - nor will masks."

Nevermind then.

Koios just took a major position change!

Maybe masks just might slow down the spread after all??

At least keep kids in school.

I see all these comments and no where do I see proof that the spread is IN the school. Could be from outside of school. How many of those in quarantine ACTUALLY have the virus? I have had to quarantine 3 times, NOT by my choice, and all 3 times I did NOT have the virus but I was still counted in the "Quarantine" numbers.

The argument that parents (and some NP school board members) do not want their students to wear masks is invalid from a public health perspective. See a simple definition of PUBLIC HEALTH: health services to improve and protect community health, especially sanitation, immunization, and preventive medicine. Preventive medicine includes face mask wearing to reduce the transmission of disease.

The central argument is not what individuals WANT but what steps an elected board should have taken to prevent the transmission of disease in public schools. It’s an argument of public health measures for all, not one of social or political choices of an individual.

Got polio? Got measles, diphtheria, pertussis? If not, thank public health professionals.

LJScott,

"Got Polio, measles, diptheria, pertussis" thank vaccines that ACTUALLY WORK not public health.

also would like to know after this is over what % of the quarantined students ACTUALLY test positive. If its a significant % then maybe this was needed. However, i would bet that it ends up being a pretty low % which would indicate that our quarantine criteria is too strict. But we'll never actually know those results because it would contradict the "science".

Well said @hometownboy...

The effectiveness of quarantine and wearing masks is extremely variable and just doesn’t hold up to common sense. What is known is the gap in learning from closing schools down and forcing kids to a very limited education virtually. I’m going with the known aspect of this situation. Send sick kids home and quit the arbitrary quarantine policies and keep schools open and kids involved. I would invite anyone to run for school board on a mask and strict quarantine policy. You will be soundly defeated.

hometownboy, Of course we have many scientists, doctors, and businesses to thank for creating and manufacturing successful vaccines for infectious diseases. The vaccines are only successful if they are disseminated and given to the population, however. That’s where public health professionals enter the picture. Their job is also to educate people about why and how vaccines work. Clearly, with COVID vaccination rates of 32.9% in the Russellville zip code and 38.1% in the Roachdale zip code, there is a disconnect between public health education and inoculation of residents. I refer to those zip codes because that is where most students live who attend Roachdale Elementary.

To AVENGER, I say that if this county, state, and country cannot elect educated, knowledgeable, conscientious, honest people to positions of responsibility, we are doomed. To introduce that discussion here, though, is off the topic of the business of education and keeping students in school.

Masks are worthless. Stop trying to get our children to cover their faces with stupid little scraps of paper or cloth. It’s dumb. Stop.

"Plus there is literally no evidence that close contact even causes positive cases."

"The vaccine will not stop it - nor will masks."

"The effectiveness of quarantine and wearing masks is extremely variable and just doesn’t hold up to common sense."

"Masks are worthless. Stop trying to get our children to cover their faces with stupid little scraps of paper or cloth. It’s dumb. Stop."

Well I think that's enough internet for me today lol.

RSOTS- should sports be canceled?

LJScott,

yes we have scientists to thank for a vaccine that is reduced to a coin flip of working within ~6 months of being widely available and will most likely only get worse with time!

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2021-11-04/study-shows-dramatic-decline-in...

I'm not saying that there aren't SOME benefits to the vaccine (appears to mitigate severe complications) but if we're talking about cases and the current quarantine requirements then what matters is if the vaccine is preventing positive cases. All data points to it not being effective at that so to suggest that if everyone got vaccinated is simply just not true. The simple truth is that the vaccines that you cite are much more effective which is why we don't deal with those diseases anymore, this IS NOT the case with the covid vaccines.

Additionally, as far as masking goes, they are NOT effective unless you are wearing an N95 and wearing is APPROPRIATELY. School kids aren't using N95 and if you think elementary kids are sitting for 7 hrs a day wearing their ~10% effective masks without messing around with them then you're delusional.

Beg - Relevance of question? Not sure I understand the connection you're trying to make.

No masks, probably many lacking vaccination, very close together. Most corporations over 100 employees

Should that kind of student activity be sanctioned by a government business (schools are government business).

BTW, this is the case in California though their rule makes no sense.

Some of those who say masks don’t work or the vaccine is useless and ineffective are also those that on January 7th told us the Capital attack was by false flag BLM and Antifa. Some also told us the 2020 election was stolen, despite more than 60 failed lawsuits. These people believe anything Great Leader and Great Leaders preferred media outlets say (sounds a tad like what North Korea has going on), even when a preponderance of evidence proves otherwise. Keep this in mind when evaluating what you are reading here.

Wow. Really? Anyone who disagrees with you is a fan of NK?

I despise 1/6 and never voted for past president but if I disagree with you on something, that is where you go? How do we have any legit conversation?

I am hoping I am misunderstanding you.

Still waiting for an answer to my earlier question

Beg - If the question you're still waiting to be answered is the question regarding sports being canceled, then yes I think if Roachdale Elementary had to be closed then all Roachdale Elementary sports should be cancelled as well. Tough break for the Elementary Curling Team as I believe they had just won regionals and had a shot at State...

Great deflection. I understand why a direct answer will not be delivered.

RSTOS, I should add the humour was decent also!

Enjoy the weekend

Thanks, RSOTS! Yep, that was a tough break for the Curling Team, and I was preparing to take the week off to watch the finals!

I'm turning this thing off with a smile.

The Party narrative is crumbling right before your eyes yet, the Party is pressing harder for compliance on all fronts.

Because you are the problem. You, that won't comply to the mandates of the committee that runs Joe Biden. Other blue states have pressed in and pressed further into heavy handed compliance. Will Indiana follow them?

If you don't already know it the government employees in schools, including teachers and all staff (board members?) state and local governments in Indiana will be under the Biden mandate to take the jab starting in January.

Will that mean the school kids will be next for the shot? FDA has just cleared it for them. Coincidence?

Your freedom is always the problem.

Your demand for informed consent for medical choice, that's a problem.

Your freedom to move about the country, that's a problem.

Your freedom to have a differing opinion, that's a problem.

Your rights under the Constitution, they're at the root of a lot of these problems.

Your freedom is always the problem, tyranny is always the solution.

This will not stop until you say it does.

Gee, a Trump supporter railing against tyranny. Sounds kind of ironic, given the election steal drumbeat Trump started before the election was even close to happening, and the hack legal team and strategies utilized after the election. I get that you don’t agree with Biden’s policies. Largely I don’t either, but Trump isn’t the answer. He’s a wanna be tyrant.

Koios,

I know you are stuck on the past President. Not sure he interned an ethnic group like FDR but understand why you are stuck there. Of course, the current President said today that Americans are stupid. I am sure you will condemn that. I actually agree with him on that topic.

I have offered 2 questions for your perspective. I would love to know your perspectives. I understand you why the silence.

Enjoy your sabbath.

What are you talking about? That’s a question.

When a argument is falling apart, people seem to fall back on either "January 6" or "Trump Supporter".

With all this "Blame" going on against President Trump, then it must be Twitter's fault that this country is so divided.

KOIOS=anti TRUMP. Got it.

@RSOTS glad to see you disagree with me; this confirms my suspicion that I was right all along.

You seem to think anyone who questions your party’s narrative is an idiot. I offer for your consideration, a mirror.

tyranny:

1)Unjust or oppressive government power.

2)A government in which a single ruler is vested with absolute power.

3)The office, authority, or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.

Real, valid long term tested vaccines have always been voluntary.

Exemptions have always been accepted.

None of these mandates are constitutional.

All this political posturing has been fun, but back to the original topic - masks in schools and quaratining. I spent this weekend talking to parents of about 30-40 kids going to NP schools. The consensus with them was that the school policy is overbearing and too strict and they want it changed or eliminated altogether. It would seem that most parents that I spoke with know that: a) COVID is real; b) it is not very harmful to kids; c) anyone who wants can wear a mask at any time; d) contact tracing doesn't work; e) kids need to be in the classroom learning from their teacher and f) herd immunity only happens from exposure.

AMEN

Note definition 3)

Tech - The only party I have is usually a drinking party and yes our narrative get's fairly idiotic about twelve dead bottles in but I absolutely don't want to see my fat hammered face in a mirror at that point. Hard pass here....

It would seem that most parents that I spoke with know that: a) COVID is real;

Kind of sad, yet at the same time illuminating, that you had to include the qualifier "most" there.

Remember when the Demos and the Rinos used to work for the American working people?

Yeah, me neither.