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Missourinet

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Missouri Teachers of the Year want K-12 community to get vaccinated immediately

February 16, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

“Our state’s teachers and support staff have faithfully risked their lives this year,” a letter says from Missouri’s 2017-2021 Teachers of the Year. It is addressed to Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Director Randall Williams and it presses him to let teachers and support staff get their coronavirus vaccinations immediately.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson visits a St. Louis school on July 29, 2020 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

The letter is signed by Darrion Cockrell of Lindbergh Schools, Melissa Grandel of the Fordland School District, Shelly Parks of Francis Howell in St. Charles, Beth Davey of Ritenour Schools, and Darbie Valenti Huff of the St. Joseph School District. Three of them say they have been infected with the virus and say all cases are from likely exposures at school.

Most Missouri schools have been operating at least partially in-person classes for months. According to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) data, 27 of the state’s 551 public districts and charter schools are currently offering distanced learning only.

Under Missouri’s coronavirus vaccination plan, citizens currently eligible to get immunized include those in the health care field, first responders, long-term care patients and staff, individuals 65 years or older, and Missourians with certain health conditions. Teachers are eligible to get immunized now if they are 65 years or older or have health conditions that could put them at risk of developing COVID-19.

The next phase of the state’s plan will allow teachers, faculty, and staff in public, private, and nonprofit pre K-12 schools to get vaccinated. But that phase might not begin until April or so.

“We have stepped up to the challenge to meet the educational, social, and physical needs of students, families, and communities in every way possible. We have been thanked as heroes – and just as often have been accused of ‘not doing enough.’ And yet, we have continued to place the needs of our children as the first priorities. Imagine, then, the dismay and chagrin teachers feel in knowing that many of our state’s school employees with Phase 1B Tier 3 may not have access to the vaccine for several months. Therefore, depending on the region in which they teach and live, the current distribution plan may not provide teachers and support staff full viral protection before the end of this school year,” the letter says.

The teachers say they have concerns about addendums and lowered safety precautions they say many school districts are using.

“Many districts are no longer identifying close contacts if most individuals were presumably masked. Many districts are utilizing ‘modified’ quarantines in which exposed students are still in buildings. Many districts have abandoned research-backed guidelines of 6-foot distanced learning for the convenience of full classrooms. Few Missouri counties employ a mask mandate, and many schools are holding instruction without mask protocols. This indicates an even more pressing need for Missouri educators to receive higher prioritization to the vaccine,” they say.

According to the group, 26 states are vaccinating educators immediately, including seven of Missouri’s eight bordering states.

“Policy makers and community leaders have asked school buildings to be open. Missouri teachers and support staff are doing what has been asked of us. We asked that you do the right thing,” they say.

Missouri, along with every other U.S. state, has had a high demand for the vaccine but not enough vaccine to go around. In a recent legislative committee hearing about the state’s vaccine rollout, Dr. Williams said the state had to make some tough decisions about Missouri’s priority list.

During this month’s Missouri Board of Education meeting, State Education Commissioner Margie Vandeven said she shares the desire for teachers to be a priority. However, she said she also understands the way the state has set up its priority list.

“When that next tier opens, there may be communities who are called upon to prioritize their distribution and we are going to ask them to really think carefully about how do we make sure our teachers get in when they are eligible,” she said. “Additionally, we have a number of our teachers who are currently eligible because they are over 65 or have a pre-existing condition and we are encouraging them to seek that vaccination as quickly as they can.”

DESE spokeswoman Mallory McGowin said she wishes the next phase would launch earlier. She went on to say the vaccination is one layer of the state’s overall strategy to fight the virus.

“We’ve used that swiss cheese analogy – that we’re stacking layers of protection on top of one another like swiss cheese. And so there’s holes in every layer of protection, but the more layers you add, the more holes you cover up and better protect the students and staff members in your building,” she said.

The state has also emphasized the need for masking, handwashing, and social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus but wearing a mask in public is not required. Instead, Gov. Mike Parson has left coronavirus-related restrictions up to local leaders. Safety measures within schools have also been local control decisions.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Education, Health / Medicine, Legislature, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Beth Davey, Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven, COVID-19, Darbie Valenti Huff, Darrion Cockrell, DHSS Director Dr. Randall Williams, governor mike parson, Mallory McGowin, Melissa Grandel, Missouri Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Shelly Parks

Missouri K-12 community waits its turn to get COVID-19 vaccination

January 15, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The state is not quite there yet in offering the COVID-19 vaccination to Missouri’s K-12 school workers. It is working on a plan to get them vaccinated when it is their turn. During a state Board of Education meeting this week, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Spokeswoman Mallory McGowin said supply continues to be an obstacle.

“The number of vaccines we have gotten into the state has not been what we were hoping at this point,” she said. “And so, that is affecting the timeline obviously for our K-12 audience.”

Missouri K-12 community waits its turn to get COVID-19 vaccination

Member Mary Schrag of southern Missouri’s West Plains said the medical community in rural Missouri is also lacking vaccine.

So far, the immunizations have been offered to Missouri’s health care workers as well as long-term care staff and patients. On Thursday, the state began offering them to first responders and remaining health care workers. Beginning Monday, individuals 65 and older and those with an increased risk of severe illness can get vaccinated.

K-12 school employees are next in line. Some board members, including President Charlie Shields, said the education community should be higher on the priority list.

“The faster we get the education community immunized, the faster we get back to in-person learning, which we have said as a board is a huge priority,” said Shields. “The more kids we have in school, the more parents we have able to re-enter the workforce, the faster the economy recovers.”

School nurses could help to vaccinate fellow employees. Some workers might end up going to a nearby Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy. Shields said hospitals “stand ready to help.”

“What we would do is set up in a large space be it a gymnasium or a cafeteria, have several people doing the immunizations, doing the registration, things like that. Then we need to be able to watch people for 15 minutes to make sure they don’t have a reaction,” he said. “So, it takes a lot of manpower to do these. But when you set them up right, you can do hundreds if not thousands a day. So, you can imagine it wouldn’t take very long to do an entire school district.”

Shields, of northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph, is the CEO of Truman Medical Center in Kansas City and serves on the Missouri Hospital Association Board.

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine tracker shows more than 528,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine had been delivered to Missouri’s hospitals, health care providers, local health departments, or pharmacies. Gov. Mike Parson says Missouri has administered at least 190,000 doses of the immunization.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Education, Health / Medicine, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Charlie Shields, COVID-19, governor mike parson, Mallory McGowin, Mary Schrag, Missouri Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

CDC, Missouri officials begin work on first-ever COVID-19 study within K-12 schools

December 10, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Missouri is partnering with the CDC, Washington University and St. Louis University to help local K-12 schools and public health leaders review current COVID-19 measures. CDC workers arrived over the weekend to begin working on the first-ever pilot project within elementary and secondary schools.

Missouri officials begin work on first-ever COVID-19 study within K-12 schools

The effort will track COVID-19 infections among students and staff based upon whether they were wearing masks in school when they came into close contact with someone infected with the virus. They will be tested over a 30-day period.

Schools participating in the project are being identified in St. Charles, St. Louis, and Greene Counties. Participation of students, workers and employees is voluntary.

During a Missouri Board of Education meeting this week, State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokeswoman Mallory McGowin says the project is being piloted for the next couple weeks until schools go on winter break.

“And then the entire data collection and review process is anticipated to be completed within about three months. So likely when schools resume in the new calendar year, there will be more of ability to add participating districts,” she says. “The project will also involve a survey of school-based mitigation strategies. That survey will be sent to schools throughout the state to help the researchers and medical professionals working on this project better understand the measures that are being implemented across the state.”

The findings could lead to additional health measures being taken.

The results of the study will be published for the nation’s school systems to see.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Education, Health / Medicine, News Tagged With: CDC, Mallory McGowin, Missouri Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Saint Louis University, Washington University

Missouri Board of Education talks about ongoing challenges schools face during pandemic

October 21, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Board of Education discussed Tuesday the obstacles and additional workload that teachers and other school workers are dealing with this year. Member Don Claycomb said he expects a much greater number of teachers to leave the profession due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missouri Board of Education talks about ongoing challenges schools are facing during pandemic

“Apparently some feel pushed to the wall,” he said.

Missouri already has a chronic shortage of teachers. Pay is a major reason for the state’s teacher workforce problems. Missouri’s average teacher salary is about $42,000 – ranking it about 42nd in the nation.

The state has about 70,000 pre-K through 12 teachers.

Board President Charlie Shields made a request.

“And I am serious about is there something that you can do for teachers that if you can make it through to the end, which is a challenge for some, that there would be some sort of retention bonus or something like that. I mean, if you would at least dig deeper to make sure I’m not off base on that,” said Shields.

Some states are using a guideline that allows school staff and students to avoid quarantining if masks are worn in school and they do not show symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Doing so would prevent the back and forth shuffling of students and workers from in-person schooling to remote learning if someone considered a close contact comes down with COVID-19.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mallory McGowin said if schools require masks at the local level, such a mandate could be beneficial to them.

“Our school leaders just are having a hard time feeling like they are sustainable for the next seven months of the school year,” said McGowin. “And so, we have let our school leaders know we will continue to push for a closer look at some of these measures.”

McGowin said the state is not at a point yet to require a statewide mask order within schools. Missouri has prided itself on being a local control state.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Education, Health / Medicine, Legislature, News Tagged With: Charlie Shields, COVID-19, Don Claycomb, Mallory McGowin, Missouri Board of Education

1,400 Missourians enroll in rapid substitute teacher training option

October 6, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) says more than 1,400 individuals have already enrolled in a training program to become a K-12 substitute teacher. DESE spokesperson Mallory McGowin tells Missourinet about 200 of the candidates have completed all other necessary requirements to be certified – an application and a background check.

1,400 Missourians enrolled in rapid substitute teacher training option

On September 3, the state launched the 22-hour online course for those wishing to break into the field during a time when Missouri education leaders anticipate COVID-19 will cause an even greater teacher shortage.

The training, which is aligned with Missouri teacher standards and includes embedded assessments, involves topics about:

1. Professionalism: Appropriate conduct, confidentiality, legal responsibilities
2. Honoring diversity: Basic terminology and appropriate actions
3. Student engagement: Basic definitions and appropriate strategies
4. Foundational classroom management techniques: Ways to control a classroom and diffusing conflict
5. Basic instructional strategies: Effective questioning, assessment methods, lesson plans
6. Supporting students with special needs: Basic terminology of disorders and characteristics and appropriate strategies
7. Working with at-risk youth: Learning traits, characteristics, and appropriate strategies

Frontline Education is the company offering the training. The cost for the full set of courses required to meet certification is $175.

For the time being, the program is a temporary option DESE is allowing. The Missouri Board of Education passed the emergency rule in August and is set to expire at the end of February 2021.

Prospective substitutes still have the option of getting certified by way of the traditional 60 college credit hours.

Earlier stories:

Missouri Board of Education to consider proposal intended to boost substitute teacher population
https://www.missourinet.com/2020/08/13/missouri-board-of-education-to-consider-proposal-intended-to-boost-substitute-teacher-population/?preview_id=126287&preview_nonce=51df3cecd5&_thumbnail_id=122194&preview=true

Missouri temporarily allows reduced training option to become substitute teacher
https://www.missourinet.com/2020/08/18/missouri-temporarily-allows-reduced-training-option-to-become-substitute-teacher/

Missouri launches online training course to fast track prospective substitute teachers
https://www.missourinet.com/2020/09/02/missouri-launches-online-training-course-to-fast-track-prospective-substitute-teachers/

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Education, Health / Medicine, News Tagged With: COVID-19, DESE, Frontline Education, Mallory McGowin, Missouri Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Missouri to receive 120,000 rapid COVID-19 tests this week

September 30, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The federal government plans to deliver more than 150 million rapid COVID-19 tests around the country. The nasal swab tests are not as uncomfortable as other versions and they can deliver results in about 15 minutes. During today’s virtual briefing at the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City, Gov. Mike Parson says Missouri will be getting a share of those tests.

Missouri to receive 120,000 rapid COVID-19 tests this week

“We expect to receive 120,000 of these tests in Missouri by the end of the week and nearly two million by the end of the year,” says Parson.

Getting the tests to schools and long-term care centers will be a top priority.

During a State Board of Education meeting this month, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesperson Mallory McGowin said the agency is working with the statewide COVID response team to develop the plans and guidance for this new line of effort.

“Being able to test a symptomatic member of your school staff to know if he or she could come into work that morning or not, could be really valuable to address the workforce issue we’ve heard great concern about,” she said.

Missouri has had ongoing problems with keeping teachers around and the shortage is expected to be even greater during the pandemic.

The tests will arrive after a new White House Coronavirus Task Force report says new hospital admissions are increasing and case rates put Missouri in a vulnerable position going into the fall and winter. A report, dated September 27, says Missouri has the 8th highest rate of COVID-19 cases in the country, listing the state again in the red zone for cases based on population.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Health / Medicine, Legislature, News, Politics / Govt, Science / Technology Tagged With: COVID-19, governor mike parson, Mallory McGowin, Missouri Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, White House coronavirus task force

Missouri to get rapid COVID-19 tests for long term care centers and schools

September 16, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The federal government plans to deliver more than 150 million rapid COVID-19 tests around the country. Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) spokesperson Mallory McGowin says long term care centers and higher education and K-12 schools will be at the top of the priority list. She expects the tests to come to Missouri in waves later this fall.

Missouri to get rapid COVID-19 tests for long term care centers and schools

During Tuesday’s state Board of Education meeting, McGowin said the tests are not as uncomfortable as other nasal swab versions and they give results in about 15 minutes.

“Being able to test a symptomatic member of your school staff to know if he or she could come into work that morning or not, could be really valuable to address the workforce issue we’ve heard great concern about,” she said.

Missouri has had ongoing problems with keeping teachers around and the shortage is expected to be even greater during the pandemic.

The breakdown of how many tests Missouri will get and when the state will have them available for use is in the planning stages.

“We are working with the statewide COVID response team to develop the plans, and guidance, etc. for this new line of effort. Just trying to really advocate for realistic use of our existing time and resources to make that happen at the school level,” McGowin says.

The BinaxNOW antigen tests detect proteins on the surface of the virus.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Education, Health / Medicine, News Tagged With: BinaxNOW, COVID-19, Mallory McGowin, Missouri Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Hundreds seek to become Missouri substitute teachers through speedy online training path

September 14, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

On September 3, the state launched a 22-hour online training program for Missourians interested in becoming a K-12 substitute teacher. State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) spokesperson Mallory McGowin tells Missourinet as of last Thursday afternoon, 734 have enrolled in the program.

Hundreds seek to become Missouri substitute teachers through speedy online training path

Last month, the Missouri Board of Education voted to temporarily give prospective substitutes the option of using the expedited certification method or completing the standard 60 college credit hours. The move is meant to help bridge a projected teacher gap during COVID-19. Missouri has had a persistent shortage of permanent teachers and state officials think the need for teachers could be greater during the pandemic. The demand for extra teachers is expected to vary depending on the district, subject, region, among other things.

McGowin says some people have already completed the training and the department has issued a substitute teacher certificate to them. She says Frontline Education, the company offering the training, issues the certificates of completion one business day after the training has been completed. The certificates are available online, and then can be printed and mailed into the state agency’s Certification Office.

If DESE has verification the candidates have received training and they passed a background check, the department can issue a certification in about 1-2 business days, depending on the volume the certification team is handling.

The cost for the full set of courses required to meet certification is $175. The program is available on the Missouri Department Elementary and Secondary Education’s website.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Education, Health / Medicine, News Tagged With: COVID-19, Frontline Education, Mallory McGowin, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

State says bogus letter spreading online claims Missouri students must repeat grade

April 2, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) says a fake letter is circulating on Facebook. The letter claims the state agency will not allow K-12 students to move on to the next grade level for the 2020-21 school year, since the coronavirus closed schools and cancelled statewide tests. The bogus letter, dated April Fool’s Day, illegally uses the Department’s logo, alleges case law and is signed by “Candice B. Furreal”.

Courtesy of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Facebook page

DESE Spokesperson Mallory McGowin says some people thought the prank was true.

“We at the Department feel like we have tried to make clear from the start that we do not want our students across the state to be negatively impacted any more than they already are because of COVID-19,” says McGowin. “We’re obviously are disappointed that someone has chosen to use their free time in this way to create the document, to use our logo illegally and ultimately and most importantly make light of what we consider a really serious situation and that is our students’ education. We feel like it’s pretty insensitive, given the current situation our students and families and educators are already facing so much anxiety and uncertainty right now.”

McGowin says Missouri is not alone.

“We’ve seen this taking place in Michigan, in California and Utah,” she says.

She says the origin of the post is not being retraced at this time.

“So many agencies right now are dealing with so many more important things,” McGowin says. “We really don’t want to give these folks more credit than they’re due or more time and energy than they’re due.”

McGowin urges educators, families and students to check the department’s website for the latest accurate information.

Copyright © 2020 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Education, Health / Medicine, News Tagged With: coronavirus, COVID-19, Mallory McGowin, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education



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