Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1449741
TA L E S F R O M T H E T R E N C H E S See other educators' stories in our series at cta.org/tales. Got your own tale as an educator during the pandemic? Let us know at editor@cta.org with " Tales" in the subject line. Mary Walsh MAT H T E AC H E R Hayward High School Hayward Education Association vice president Normally, the first day back after winter break, we have nearly 100 percent attendance, but on Monday, Jan. 3, 30 percent of students were out. By Friday, there were less than 50 percent of students in attendance. It was a shocking progression — and not just at Hayward High, but throughout the district. There has been voluntary testing in the student parking lot twice a week since the start of the school year. Before winter break, you might have two or three people in line, but since our return on Monday, the line went from the parking lot to the street and down the block. It felt like we'd entered the Twilight Zone. I had a student ask to use the bathroom, and when he came back, he handed me something. I realized it was his rapid response COVID test. The student asked, "Am I posi- tive?" and indeed he was. I must have washed my hands for 20 minutes. Imagine having a special education class with paraeducators absent. Some of our stu- dents with special needs require bathroom assistance. We were in dire straits without enough substitutes. We had six classes in the cafeteria with administrators watching stu- dents because of the lack of substitutes. In mid-January our school board held an emergency online meeting attended by more than 2 ,200 parents, and made the decision to return to virtual learning and independent study for one week. This provided 10 days (including the Martin Luther King holiday) for students and staff to go through quarantine period and to get more control of the situation. Parents wanted this. Parents who wanted their children back in school were now saying, "Close it down and give us a chance to slow down the spread of the virus." During the week of online learning, my student attendance was back up to nearly 100 percent. Learning was taking place. State leaders are threatening our district with a huge financial loss because we went virtual, but the situation was so dire, we had no choice. We feared for the safety of our children and staff. I don't think the state Leg- islature has a pulse on what the public wants and what is happening during this surge. Leg- islators aren't in the trenches with us. I am getting through this with the support of my union. HEA has been there for members who call to ask questions or need support. We publish a Friday Follow‑up weekly for members to stay informed. We are there for one another, and we will get through this together. In January, Hayward High's line for voluntary COVID testing, which had been two or three people a day before winter break, stretched from the parking lot to the street and down the block. "It felt like we'd entered the Twilight Zone." 22 cta.org Feature