Roberto Rodriguez

Stay in the light.

So, let’s talk straight about the vax mandate. There are some key ideas missing in the reactions, and we need a big picture to keep our staff and students safe. And that - along w/ providing the best education possible for every single student - is our primary goal.

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta We were doing so well. It’s not flawed logic, it’s a different way to prioritize risk management. I agree with reaching 100% vaccination rate. I am sharing serious concerns about our ability to deliver services to students.

@Roberto_Rodrgz @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta Appreciate the engagement and somewhat impressed by your sticking to your (flawed) logic. ✌🏽

Hi @PORTLANDPUBLIC, @EmFigdor and @Roberto_Rodrgz!!

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta Will you join me in urging the governor to pass a state wide mandate?

@Roberto_Rodrgz @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta Which skews heavily against all other data and doesn’t make your case anyway. It’s like saying don’t wear seatbelts because of the few cases of people who die wearing one.

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta And those risk mitigation strategies would be more challenging if we are even more short staffed. That increases our risk

@Roberto_Rodrgz @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta As am I. Schools are doing well limiting spread but it won’t matter if we’re not controlling community spread from staff/teachers. I mean, students have a vaccine mandate don’t they?

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta We are doing a great job at limiting transmission because of the many layers of risk mitigation in place, including universal masking. I think we need to consider the workload of our educators and that we would compromise class sizes,coverage in key places like special Ed suppor

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta The vast majority of cases we have reported so far are of vaccinated people.

@Roberto_Rodrgz @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta I guess we disagree on the merits of losing unvaccinated staff, especially those who threaten to quit if they don’t get their way. I wonder what PHS and Lyman Moore parents think of that approach after cases revealed this week were likely the result of unvaxed staff.

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta There as nothing to gain from the resolution other than the risk to lose staff. We finished the night with a commitment to testing and expanding support for students while they are quarantined. We need to have robust outreach to these kids during the 10 TEN days they will miss.

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta We can, and should be preparing to do weekly pool testing of all staff and students k-12. Without the local mandate or need to terminate people. Absent a state wide guidance, my concerns for staff shortages are far too great for a district that has 92% of staff vaccinated.

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta The resolution called for measures that are already in place, such as vaccine clinic, incentives, education/factual information and offered PTO time (that needs to be bargained but we expressed agreement).

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta Reminder that we heard Tuesday night, some of the data showing NOs are still UNKNOWN. People we have not heard from yet, so our % could be even higher.

@writingMaine @PORTLANDPUBLIC @EmFigdor @united @Delta Replace them with who? We have vacancies that have been open and we can’t staff. In critical positions. Students would not be able to access services. Needs go unmet.

A quick thread:
 A lot of people have asked me this week: Where did this ivermectin obsession come from? Who could possibly benefit from it? Most importantly, why did my antivaxx aunt start eating horse goo from the tractor store? It’s complicated, but here are some answers.

Stat of the day: #COVID19 #vaccination rates are up 11.7% in #Maine since late July. On July 30, Maine was administering 1497 doses/day on a 7-day average basis. As of this morning, that rate is 1673/day. This is encouraging, especially considering #Delta. Let's keep it up.

Just posted a photo @ Portland, Maine instagram.com/p/CR1IwU5rAjz/…

"We can't look at this as just the crisis fix. This is something that's going to be good for our students long term," says Brooke Teller of Portland Public Schools. mainepublic.org/environment-an…

Thank you @MainePublic for covering and @brooke_teller for leading this work @PORTLANDPUBLIC. Lessons learned and lessons continued.