For what it’s worth, I don’t really blame any parent in here for the choices they make. I assume everyone is trying their best to make good decisions.
In our case, our district has an in-person track and a remote track. Both tracks are starting out 100% remotely on Monday of next week, but the in-person track is transitioning to a hybrid approach to begin 9/21. (The remote track is a commitment to be online for the entire semester.)
After much angst, we chose the in-person track. That’s largely because the remote track was such a sub-standard and inequitable choice that we didn’t feel like it was really an option. We’re still very nervous about sending the kids back, even though our county has experienced an incredible drop in cases recently. There’s a reasonable chance we end up pulling at least one of our kids out to the remote track depending on how things go. It sucks.
Even in the hybrid approach, our kids are still going to be doing half their learning at home. We’ve been trying to prepare for that in a few ways:
- Upgraded our google wifi setup to the new google nest router. Coverage is much better throughout the house. (Google wifi has been incredible and I highly recommend this kind of mesh system to anyone with spotty wifi service.)
- Upgraded our internet to a 75mbps plan.
- Purchased a new desktop computer for my basement office, and will move the current desktop upstairs for the kids to work on.
- We’re moving the kitchen table to the office, so that we have a workspace that’s big enough for both my wife and a kid at the same time. This is because desks are sold out EVERYWHERE. As are webcams.
Fingers crossed.