Ferebee email re adding school days because of snow

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe they cancelled PTC and kept the wellness day. The union has an absolute chokehold on this district and it’s driving more and more parents to private.

Why didn’t they preemptively shift one of the wellness days to the two snow days we had off and keep PTC?? We get NO communication about how our ES kid is doing as it is. PTC was the one chance to do that and you know the teacher isn’t going to offer any other ad hoc conferences or communications.

I mean if you can’t handle teachers having a day off, peace. DCPS doesn’t care about your demographic anyway.

We found out in the middle of class at 11:47 on a Wednesday. If you think teachers had any say, you don’t understand DCPS.

Does DCPS care about any demographic? Does the teachers’ union? And why do teachers say they have no say in these situations when it is their union?

If you think the teacher’s union is so evil, stay at your non-unionized charter school or if you are at a DCPS school -what a weird take.

The wellness day is something teachers agreed to prior to any kind of weather events, meaning this is separate from a snow day. Can we use our critical thinking skills?

It’s interesting, charter schools also closed -they closed during Covid too -with no union present. Funny how some of you are quick to blame workers and not the management. Makes me think it’s just 1-2 people trolling because there’s no way multiple people could be this dumb.

I am not the PP, but it actually doesn't seem impossible to me that DCPS could have retained the flexibility to change one of the 3 snow days into the teachers' wellness day (provided that they weren't requiring them to do any work); I suspect that if the contract didn't give them that flexibility, then the next one will. Assuming that they weren't working any of those days, why couldn't one be designated as the wellness day? They got the days off... Maybe I'm missing something?

Since it was an emergency event they could not have have just randomly decided to make it a wellness day -despite DCPS often being a tumultuous place to work even they cannot just decide to change the date of the wellness day with zero notice. For example I have already planned to do something with my family that day (the actual wellness day). Also let’s be honest, it’s not much of a wellness day to be anxious about what DCPS is deciding to do (as you know).

To note some teachers would have been happy to take the wellness day, however it would have had to be put to a vote and there was not enough time for all of that.

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe they cancelled PTC and kept the wellness day. The union has an absolute chokehold on this district and it’s driving more and more parents to private.

Why didn’t they preemptively shift one of the wellness days to the two snow days we had off and keep PTC?? We get NO communication about how our ES kid is doing as it is. PTC was the one chance to do that and you know the teacher isn’t going to offer any other ad hoc conferences or communications.

I mean if you can’t handle teachers having a day off, peace. DCPS doesn’t care about your demographic anyway.

We found out in the middle of class at 11:47 on a Wednesday. If you think teachers had any say, you don’t understand DCPS.

Does DCPS care about any demographic? Does the teachers’ union? And why do teachers say they have no say in these situations when it is their union?

1. Yes, but I won’t derail the thread discussing it. They are fairly open about it.

2. The teacher’s union is not a student or parent union so I’m not sure who you want them to prioritize. Spare us the whole teaching is a calling and we should die on the altar of students. It’s a job.

3. Teachers say they have no say because in these decisions because DCPS is not the union. Chancellor is not part of the WTU. Central office is not part of the WTU. Principals are not part of the WTU. They didn’t ask teachers what we wanted so how could we even have a say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe they cancelled PTC and kept the wellness day. The union has an absolute chokehold on this district and it’s driving more and more parents to private.

Why didn’t they preemptively shift one of the wellness days to the two snow days we had off and keep PTC?? We get NO communication about how our ES kid is doing as it is. PTC was the one chance to do that and you know the teacher isn’t going to offer any other ad hoc conferences or communications.

I mean if you can’t handle teachers having a day off, peace. DCPS doesn’t care about your demographic anyway.

We found out in the middle of class at 11:47 on a Wednesday. If you think teachers had any say, you don’t understand DCPS.

Does DCPS care about any demographic? Does the teachers’ union? And why do teachers say they have no say in these situations when it is their union?

If you think the teacher’s union is so evil, stay at your non-unionized charter school or if you are at a DCPS school -what a weird take.

The wellness day is something teachers agreed to prior to any kind of weather events, meaning this is separate from a snow day. Can we use our critical thinking skills?

It’s interesting, charter schools also closed -they closed during Covid too -with no union present. Funny how some of you are quick to blame workers and not the management. Makes me think it’s just 1-2 people trolling because there’s no way multiple people could be this dumb.

I am not the PP, but it actually doesn't seem impossible to me that DCPS could have retained the flexibility to change one of the 3 snow days into the teachers' wellness day (provided that they weren't requiring them to do any work); I suspect that if the contract didn't give them that flexibility, then the next one will. Assuming that they weren't working any of those days, why couldn't one be designated as the wellness day? They got the days off... Maybe I'm missing something?

Since it was an emergency event they could not have have just randomly decided to make it a wellness day -despite DCPS often being a tumultuous place to work even they cannot just decide to change the date of the wellness day with zero notice. For example I have already planned to do something with my family that day (the actual wellness day). Also let’s be honest, it’s not much of a wellness day to be anxious about what DCPS is deciding to do (as you know).

To note some teachers would have been happy to take the wellness day, however it would have had to be put to a vote and there was not enough time for all of that.

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

It’s also worth noting that the wellness day was intentionally scheduled for March, a historically long feeling month without breaks. I suspect they wanted to make a quick decision and since it’s in the contract it would have taken longer to negotiate, and as others mentioned, some teachers might not have agreed to give it up.

For what it’s worth, there are a lot of teachers I hear about lamenting the loss of conference day because there is still an expectation to meet/call/email, just now on our own time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

One of them was tacked on to the end. They should have chosen April 6 as the other day since it is in the last week before spring break and grading can be done on the adjacent weekend or during free times. The now last day for students is June 18 right before a 3-day weekend from Juneteenth. They now have a strange staff end date of Monday, June 22. They should make June 18 a half student day and full staff day. Waive the 2 half PD days after the 3rd and 4th quarters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe they cancelled PTC and kept the wellness day. The union has an absolute chokehold on this district and it’s driving more and more parents to private.

Why didn’t they preemptively shift one of the wellness days to the two snow days we had off and keep PTC?? We get NO communication about how our ES kid is doing as it is. PTC was the one chance to do that and you know the teacher isn’t going to offer any other ad hoc conferences or communications.

I mean if you can’t handle teachers having a day off, peace. DCPS doesn’t care about your demographic anyway.

We found out in the middle of class at 11:47 on a Wednesday. If you think teachers had any say, you don’t understand DCPS.

Does DCPS care about any demographic? Does the teachers’ union? And why do teachers say they have no say in these situations when it is their union?

1. Yes, but I won’t derail the thread discussing it. They are fairly open about it.

2. The teacher’s union is not a student or parent union so I’m not sure who you want them to prioritize. Spare us the whole teaching is a calling and we should die on the altar of students. It’s a job.

3. Teachers say they have no say because in these decisions because DCPS is not the union. Chancellor is not part of the WTU. Central office is not part of the WTU. Principals are not part of the WTU. They didn’t ask teachers what we wanted so how could we even have a say?

Do teachers have any say in what the union does? Some teachers seem to be saying they would prefer one thing but the union won’t allow it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

One of them was tacked on to the end. They should have chosen April 6 as the other day since it is in the last week before spring break and grading can be done on the adjacent weekend or during free times. The now last day for students is June 18 right before a 3-day weekend from Juneteenth. They now have a strange staff end date of Monday, June 22. They should make June 18 a half student day and full staff day. Waive the 2 half PD days after the 3rd and 4th quarters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

One of them was tacked on to the end. They should have chosen April 6 as the other day since it is in the last week before spring break and grading can be done on the adjacent weekend or during free times. The now last day for students is June 18 right before a 3-day weekend from Juneteenth. They now have a strange staff end date of Monday, June 22. They should make June 18 a half student day and full staff day. Waive the 2 half PD days after the 3rd and 4th quarters.

+1

This is a good idea. Why we have a PD day after students leave is beyond me. I’ve never worked in any other district that required that. You can make it optional- if teachers need to complete grades, clean out their rooms, etc. then have the buildings open the day after students leave. But making thr last day half day students and full day staff is perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I cannot believe they cancelled PTC and kept the wellness day. The union has an absolute chokehold on this district and it’s driving more and more parents to private.

Why didn’t they preemptively shift one of the wellness days to the two snow days we had off and keep PTC?? We get NO communication about how our ES kid is doing as it is. PTC was the one chance to do that and you know the teacher isn’t going to offer any other ad hoc conferences or communications.

I mean if you can’t handle teachers having a day off, peace. DCPS doesn’t care about your demographic anyway.

We found out in the middle of class at 11:47 on a Wednesday. If you think teachers had any say, you don’t understand DCPS.

Does DCPS care about any demographic? Does the teachers’ union? And why do teachers say they have no say in these situations when it is their union?

1. Yes, but I won’t derail the thread discussing it. They are fairly open about it.

2. The teacher’s union is not a student or parent union so I’m not sure who you want them to prioritize. Spare us the whole teaching is a calling and we should die on the altar of students. It’s a job.

3. Teachers say they have no say because in these decisions because DCPS is not the union. Chancellor is not part of the WTU. Central office is not part of the WTU. Principals are not part of the WTU. They didn’t ask teachers what we wanted so how could we even have a say?

Do teachers have any say in what the union does? Some teachers seem to be saying they would prefer one thing but the union won’t allow it.

What won’t the union allow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

One of them was tacked on to the end. They should have chosen April 6 as the other day since it is in the last week before spring break and grading can be done on the adjacent weekend or during free times. The now last day for students is June 18 right before a 3-day weekend from Juneteenth. They now have a strange staff end date of Monday, June 22. They should make June 18 a half student day and full staff day. Waive the 2 half PD days after the 3rd and 4th quarters.

+1

This is a good idea. Why we have a PD day after students leave is beyond me. I’ve never worked in any other district that required that. You can make it optional- if teachers need to complete grades, clean out their rooms, etc. then have the buildings open the day after students leave. But making thr last day half day students and full day staff is perfect.

There’s generally not any PD that day. Sometimes schools have some new initiative or training but for the most part it’s just a teacher work day. PreK in particular I think has a ton of cleaning work (at least they did in the Head Start era). Half day student-teacher is perfect, but parents voted against them a few years ago. As for making it optional, if it needs to be done they need to give teachers time for it. Taking away that day and making it an optional unpaid day to do required work wouldn’t fly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

One of them was tacked on to the end. They should have chosen April 6 as the other day since it is in the last week before spring break and grading can be done on the adjacent weekend or during free times. The now last day for students is June 18 right before a 3-day weekend from Juneteenth. They now have a strange staff end date of Monday, June 22. They should make June 18 a half student day and full staff day. Waive the 2 half PD days after the 3rd and 4th quarters.

+1

This is a good idea. Why we have a PD day after students leave is beyond me. I’ve never worked in any other district that required that. You can make it optional- if teachers need to complete grades, clean out their rooms, etc. then have the buildings open the day after students leave. But making thr last day half day students and full day staff is perfect.

There’s generally not any PD that day. Sometimes schools have some new initiative or training but for the most part it’s just a teacher work day. PreK in particular I think has a ton of cleaning work (at least they did in the Head Start era). Half day student-teacher is perfect, but parents voted against them a few years ago. As for making it optional, if it needs to be done they need to give teachers time for it. Taking away that day and making it an optional unpaid day to do required work wouldn’t fly.

So instead either teachers who are all done have to go sit in their school doing absolutely nothing or burn a day of leave? Why does that fly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

One of them was tacked on to the end. They should have chosen April 6 as the other day since it is in the last week before spring break and grading can be done on the adjacent weekend or during free times. The now last day for students is June 18 right before a 3-day weekend from Juneteenth. They now have a strange staff end date of Monday, June 22. They should make June 18 a half student day and full staff day. Waive the 2 half PD days after the 3rd and 4th quarters.

+1

This is a good idea. Why we have a PD day after students leave is beyond me. I’ve never worked in any other district that required that. You can make it optional- if teachers need to complete grades, clean out their rooms, etc. then have the buildings open the day after students leave. But making thr last day half day students and full day staff is perfect.

There’s generally not any PD that day. Sometimes schools have some new initiative or training but for the most part it’s just a teacher work day. PreK in particular I think has a ton of cleaning work (at least they did in the Head Start era). Half day student-teacher is perfect, but parents voted against them a few years ago. As for making it optional, if it needs to be done they need to give teachers time for it. Taking away that day and making it an optional unpaid day to do required work wouldn’t fly.

So instead either teachers who are all done have to go sit in their school doing absolutely nothing or burn a day of leave? Why does that fly?

Apparently it's even worse next year. Next year's calendar starts August 24 and STILL DOESN'T END till June 17 for students and June 21 for teachers. That's with no tack on days. The following calendar starts August 23 so summer 2027 could be very short if even 1 day is tacked on. Although far off there is a calendar for 2028-29 and that one is completely awful! Still no bump back so it has the first day on August 21 (should be August 28 like 23-24). Summers are getting too short! https://dcps.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcps/page_content/attachments/SY%2026-29%20Calendars_FINAL_English_042825.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

One of them was tacked on to the end. They should have chosen April 6 as the other day since it is in the last week before spring break and grading can be done on the adjacent weekend or during free times. The now last day for students is June 18 right before a 3-day weekend from Juneteenth. They now have a strange staff end date of Monday, June 22. They should make June 18 a half student day and full staff day. Waive the 2 half PD days after the 3rd and 4th quarters.

+1

This is a good idea. Why we have a PD day after students leave is beyond me. I’ve never worked in any other district that required that. You can make it optional- if teachers need to complete grades, clean out their rooms, etc. then have the buildings open the day after students leave. But making thr last day half day students and full day staff is perfect.

There’s generally not any PD that day. Sometimes schools have some new initiative or training but for the most part it’s just a teacher work day. PreK in particular I think has a ton of cleaning work (at least they did in the Head Start era). Half day student-teacher is perfect, but parents voted against them a few years ago. As for making it optional, if it needs to be done they need to give teachers time for it. Taking away that day and making it an optional unpaid day to do required work wouldn’t fly.

So instead either teachers who are all done have to go sit in their school doing absolutely nothing or burn a day of leave? Why does that fly?

Perhaps those teachers could wander down the hall and help their colleagues pack up for the summer. Or is that not in the collective bargaining agreement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They could have just stuck to the plan which was to tack those days on at the end of the year. They did not have to take PTC and yet DCPS chose to.

Since you were kind, I hope this explanation makes sense.

One of them was tacked on to the end. They should have chosen April 6 as the other day since it is in the last week before spring break and grading can be done on the adjacent weekend or during free times. The now last day for students is June 18 right before a 3-day weekend from Juneteenth. They now have a strange staff end date of Monday, June 22. They should make June 18 a half student day and full staff day. Waive the 2 half PD days after the 3rd and 4th quarters.

+1

This is a good idea. Why we have a PD day after students leave is beyond me. I’ve never worked in any other district that required that. You can make it optional- if teachers need to complete grades, clean out their rooms, etc. then have the buildings open the day after students leave. But making thr last day half day students and full day staff is perfect.

There’s generally not any PD that day. Sometimes schools have some new initiative or training but for the most part it’s just a teacher work day. PreK in particular I think has a ton of cleaning work (at least they did in the Head Start era). Half day student-teacher is perfect, but parents voted against them a few years ago. As for making it optional, if it needs to be done they need to give teachers time for it. Taking away that day and making it an optional unpaid day to do required work wouldn’t fly.

So instead either teachers who are all done have to go sit in their school doing absolutely nothing or burn a day of leave? Why does that fly?

Most of my principals have a “if you’re done with your stuff you don’t have to come in” so you just don’t show up and don’t have to take leave (which is why I would rather extend to the Monday than lose the wellness day!). I did work in a school where I had to show up and yes, I sat in my room all day when no one accepted my help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A big part of the problem is this new federal holiday that falls right near the end of school and causes all sorts of headaches. Tuesday the 16th having no school isn't helping either.

It’s not that new anymore. The schedules have been made with Juneteenth accounted for for a few years now. If it’s causing you headaches, it’s not because of the calendar logistics.

[Anonymous]

My kids are missing March 11; we already have plane tickets purchased to go to a family religious event out of state that weekend and we aren’t changing the flights because the district has changed the calendar on short notice. Can’t imagine we’re the only ones who already have plans scheduled, either.