Should we prepare for virtual schooling starting in January?

[Anonymous]

So many colleges moving to virtual for spring, cancelling December commencement etc.. it would not be a surprise if mcps went virtual again. I certainly hope it doesn’t. Virtual has been terrible for my child. 2nd grader never got to have a full year of school since Kindergarten!

[Anonymous]

I think we will see rolling virtual periods when cases are high in a school and they want to slow spread or don't have enough staff/subs to run school. The 10 day isolation period is going to be the biggest disruptor. I wish the CDC would take another look at that particular number to assess whether that is still the appropriate isolation for someone who was positive or if virus shed is shorter.

[Anonymous]

Yes. The worst kind - unpredictable and rolling, because politicians don't want to get saddled with the "school closer" label.

And if it gets really bad, the whole system will switch to virtual, which at least will be clear and we'll know where we stand re: work. It's easier to negotiate leave when you can point to the news and the official system-wide email, versus trying to explain that "my daughter's grade just went virtual for two weeks". And then "oh, now my son's grade just went virtual for two weeks". And then "sorry, my preschooler has Covid". Yeah. Bosses will love that.

[Anonymous]

Doesn’t make sense though. If people are vaccinated in our area especially then why not keep the schools open? Even the 5-11 can get vaccinated, if there is no real threat of death because of vaccine protection then why cause so much disruption?

[Anonymous]

Nope

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The worst kind - unpredictable and rolling, because politicians don't want to get saddled with the "school closer" label.

And if it gets really bad, the whole system will switch to virtual, which at least will be clear and we'll know where we stand re: work. It's easier to negotiate leave when you can point to the news and the official system-wide email, versus trying to explain that "my daughter's grade just went virtual for two weeks". And then "oh, now my son's grade just went virtual for two weeks". And then "sorry, my preschooler has Covid". Yeah. Bosses will love that.

While everything else stays open? Nope. We did that already. This time around, EVERYTHING ELSE needs to close before schools close.

[Anonymous]

I am hoarding cash in case I have to move back to private. But I don’t think they will - MoCo says they will be DL only if the state orders it, and Hogan wants to be president so he won’t.

Now that my kids are vaccinated, I even expect fewer quarantines than fall. More absent kids but just 1-2 who are actually (mildly) ill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am hoarding cash in case I have to move back to private. But I don’t think they will - MoCo says they will be DL only if the state orders it, and Hogan wants to be president so he won’t.

Now that my kids are vaccinated, I even expect fewer quarantines than fall. More absent kids but just 1-2 who are actually (mildly) ill.

If that were true, how do you explain universities switching to virtual where 99% students are vaccinated? That’s what doesn’t make sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am hoarding cash in case I have to move back to private. But I don’t think they will - MoCo says they will be DL only if the state orders it, and Hogan wants to be president so he won’t.

Now that my kids are vaccinated, I even expect fewer quarantines than fall. More absent kids but just 1-2 who are actually (mildly) ill.

If that were true, how do you explain universities switching to virtual where 99% students are vaccinated? That’s what doesn’t make sense to me.

Not many residential programs in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am hoarding cash in case I have to move back to private. But I don’t think they will - MoCo says they will be DL only if the state orders it, and Hogan wants to be president so he won’t.

Now that my kids are vaccinated, I even expect fewer quarantines than fall. More absent kids but just 1-2 who are actually (mildly) ill.

If that were true, how do you explain universities switching to virtual where 99% students are vaccinated? That’s what doesn’t make sense to me.

Yeah, and why isn't MCPS banning eating in dorm lounges and common areas, like UMD?!

Wait, what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The worst kind - unpredictable and rolling, because politicians don't want to get saddled with the "school closer" label.

And if it gets really bad, the whole system will switch to virtual, which at least will be clear and we'll know where we stand re: work. It's easier to negotiate leave when you can point to the news and the official system-wide email, versus trying to explain that "my daughter's grade just went virtual for two weeks". And then "oh, now my son's grade just went virtual for two weeks". And then "sorry, my preschooler has Covid". Yeah. Bosses will love that.

While everything else stays open? Nope. We did that already. This time around, EVERYTHING ELSE needs to close before schools close.

+1 I don't want to see schools closed while everything else is open and free. Even with the school and grade level shutdowns now, you know those kids aren't sitting at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many colleges moving to virtual for spring, cancelling December commencement etc.. it would not be a surprise if mcps went virtual again. I certainly hope it doesn’t. Virtual has been terrible for my child. 2nd grader never got to have a full year of school since Kindergarten!

Which colleges have announced virtual for spring? I know several have recently switched to virtual until after the winter break, but haven’t heard of any going beyond that.

[Anonymous]

Nope. State won’t count virtual-only days to the 180-day minimum instructional days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we will see rolling virtual periods when cases are high in a school and they want to slow spread or don't have enough staff/subs to run school. The 10 day isolation period is going to be the biggest disruptor. I wish the CDC would take another look at that particular number to assess whether that is still the appropriate isolation for someone who was positive or if virus shed is shorter.

They've shortened the isolation period before (it used to be 14 days), I don't see why they can't do it again.

[Anonymous]

Despite all the threads you guys keep starting, the answer is the same: no; there will not be virtual school.

We've seen the results. It won't happen