Mcps no school wed and thursday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right call to be closed, but terrible call to force childcare to be closed across the entire county for both days.

Not all childcare centers are closed. Yes, the ones in schools, but not every single childcare center is closed. If you have a job that demands you be available during these times, it would probably be best to find different childcare arrangements. It isn't that hard.

[Anonymous]

I come western Europe and have lived in many locations where significant snow or ice events don't happen every winter and therefore cause school closures and general confusion because there is no infrastructure to deal with that.

Maybe it's because I haven't found, or they didn't/don't have internet boards like this one in which nasty trolls can let loose and criticize everything single decision... but I've never seen any community post such insane comments about whether or not to open schools!

Weather events happen. It isn't anyone's fault. Everyone is trying to do the best they can.

Yes, sometimes you need to take leave to look after your children who are not in school.

As a European, I think you should vote for politicians so they can create a better social safety net for workers in the US, with more paid leave for employees.

This is not the fault of the schools. You deserve more paid days off every year, for your mental and physical health, and occasionally, so you can use it for snowstorms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This has been said countless times. All grades and students are capable of having some virtual learning days when necessary. It was not going to be every day. They botched virtual learning. This week Tues through Fri could have easily been one of those virtual weeks.

That's not the issue. The issue is whether they can learn enough to justifiably remove the need to add days to the calendar without significantly reducing what can be adequately covered in the class. And many grades and subjects can't.

We're not set up to do virtual. We'd need to have curriculums designed to be able to pivot that way. We'd need to have resources ready to send home for students and parents to learn and teach the material. We don't have that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right call to be closed, but terrible call to force childcare to be closed across the entire county for both days.

Not all childcare centers are closed. Yes, the ones in schools, but not every single childcare center is closed. If you have a job that demands you be available during these times, it would probably be best to find different childcare arrangements. It isn't that hard.

It is that hard, actually.
Claiming that plenty of other childcare options exist does not make it so.
Rec-center based before/after care option near my elementary does not operate during all the many (many, many, many) MCPS non-student days and early dismissal days.
Home-based care isn’t a good fit for everyone, nor are there sufficient spots under that model for kids current in before/after care in school buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right call to be closed, but terrible call to force childcare to be closed across the entire county for both days.

Not all childcare centers are closed. Yes, the ones in schools, but not every single childcare center is closed. If you have a job that demands you be available during these times, it would probably be best to find different childcare arrangements. It isn't that hard.

Oh it's not? Please tell me where I can find childcare for school-age kids that's open until 6:30pm (no, we don't usually pick them up that late but we do occasionally so need those hours) and does not involve me driving them there after school. People are claiming these unicorn programs exist, please give us a list if it's so easy to find. Literally 100% of the working parents I know at our school who need after-school care use the onsite provide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I come western Europe and have lived in many locations where significant snow or ice events don't happen every winter and therefore cause school closures and general confusion because there is no infrastructure to deal with that.

Maybe it's because I haven't found, or they didn't/don't have internet boards like this one in which nasty trolls can let loose and criticize everything single decision... but I've never seen any community post such insane comments about whether or not to open schools!

Weather events happen. It isn't anyone's fault. Everyone is trying to do the best they can.

Yes, sometimes you need to take leave to look after your children who are not in school.

As a European, I think you should vote for politicians so they can create a better social safety net for workers in the US, with more paid leave for employees.

This is not the fault of the schools. You deserve more paid days off every year, for your mental and physical health, and occasionally, so you can use it for snowstorms.

Thank you for being the voice of sanity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many plows does MCPS have? 4? Not sure why the lots and sidewalks couldn't be salted in advance and then plowed out late Monday and Tuesday. The school down the road had 2 tractors plowing sidewalks and some of the parking lot. Itbwas definitely useable by 2pm when i walked by. The county needs.to make schools the priority.

Our elementary school had a small tractor with a plow stationed outside under an overhang in preparation for the storm. The road was plowed Sunday and Monday, and an initial pass made of the parking lot on Sunday.

But they didn't bother to do a single thing yesterday.

They were able to clear the lots and sidewalks today, but I don't understand why they lost an entire day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right call to be closed, but terrible call to force childcare to be closed across the entire county for both days.

Not all childcare centers are closed. Yes, the ones in schools, but not every single childcare center is closed. If you have a job that demands you be available during these times, it would probably be best to find different childcare arrangements. It isn't that hard.

Oh it's not? Please tell me where I can find childcare for school-age kids that's open until 6:30pm (no, we don't usually pick them up that late but we do occasionally so need those hours) and does not involve me driving them there after school. People are claiming these unicorn programs exist, please give us a list if it's so easy e my to find. Literally 100% of the working parents I know at our school who need after-school care use the onsite provide.

+1 these facilities are not 😏ei

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been said countless times. All grades and students are capable of having some virtual learning days when necessary. It was not going to be every day. They botched virtual learning. This week Tues through Fri could have easily been one of those virtual weeks.

That's not the issue. The issue is whether they can learn enough to justifiably remove the need to add days to the calendar without significantly reducing what can be adequately covered in the class. And many grades and subjects can't.

We're not set up to do virtual. We'd need to have curriculums designed to be able to pivot that way. We'd need to have resources ready to send home for students and parents to learn and teach the material. We don't have that.

Adding half days in June results in basically zero learning, so if kids get even 5 minutes of education on virtual days it's a net gain. And most (no, not all) will learn much more than that,

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Good. Sucks for parts but good call. Many streets haven't even see a plow, too cold to move snow and I bet many teachers are bonding out yet. Many school lots (from friends pictures) are not clean either.

Many lots are cleared and they could let the child care providers decide if they could open in those cases but MCPS doesn't care

None of the downcounty schools in my area are cleared. They prioritized the meal distribution school sites, which makes sense.

It is what it is. I approve the decision from a safety standpoint, but I really wish there was virtual learning for high schoolers: AP exams are in May and the College Board doesn't care how many days schools were closed.

So those schools can't open child care but others could, preventing parents from losing income and workplaces people like you and me rely on from being short staffed. But MCPS doesn't care

MCPS cares, but less about your work than about the childcare workers who need to commute. I've never had to use MCPS childcare, so I'm just guessing here. Most people are still digging out their driveways, so I think this debate is moot.

I don't like how every time something doesn't go your way, or every time you think there's blood in the water, you start critizing MCPS, and others start critizing "Bethesda". The reflexive "bash the rich" or "bash the establishment" is puerile.

MCPS does not give one single f&ck about child care workers. They don't know them, haven't talked to them. They just trot out the phrase "child care workers" to justify the decisions that give them more time off but notably take away income from these workers.

You don’t care about those workers either. You just want them on the job for yourself.

We pay hundreds of dollars for them to provide backup care for situations like this one, knowing that MCPS likes to keep schools closed long past when the rest of the economy has opened. If you think people are going to pay for backup care that isn't usable, and that these workers are going to be happy being unemployed, feel free to send donations their way.

Are you still pretending to care about these workers?

Are you making up their wages during this unnecessary forced closure?

Why don’t you hire one and pay for uber back and forth.

So, I take it you don't want to let them work nor will you make up their lost wages. How big of you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This has been said countless times. All grades and students are capable of having some virtual learning days when necessary. It was not going to be every day. They botched virtual learning. This week Tues through Fri could have easily been one of those virtual weeks.

That's not the issue. The issue is whether they can learn enough to justifiably remove the need to add days to the calendar without significantly reducing what can be adequately covered in the class. And many grades and subjects can't.

We're not set up to do virtual. We'd need to have curriculums designed to be able to pivot that way. We'd need to have resources ready to send home for students and parents to learn and teach the material. We don't have that.

Adding half days in June results in basically zero learning, so if kids get even 5 minutes of education on virtual days it's a net gain. And most (no, not all) will learn much more than that,

The obvious answer then is to add real days, particularly using the make-up days in the calendar before the end of the year. There's no reason to only add days in the absolute worst way possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They advised families to prepare for the possibility of an extended closure.

They did.

And yet a loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Bethesda. There was not a single house where someone did not feel inconvenienced by having to care for their own children.

This is less likely a big deal for folks and Bethesda. They are more likely to have white collar jobs where you can work from home. They also are more likely to have the means to be able to pay for alternative childcare without it being a huge financial hit.

Although you love to pretend that it is the Rich complaining, this decision is actually more a burden on folks with lesser means.

On FB, the only people I see complaining are “MoCo Rich”. I.E. not really wealthy, (in fact, often very house poor) but hella entitled.

Everyone else is making child care arrangements with neighbors, friends, and family.

[Anonymous]

I wish teachers email out homework packets as optional to let parents decide for their kids to do at home. My two ES kids are at home bugging me and screaming while I work from home. The only thing to shut them down is unlimited screentime and one kid do not take screentime (not sure if it is blessing) keep bugging me. Our school childcare is out. Any suggestions what to do with them the next 2 days at least?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They advised families to prepare for the possibility of an extended closure.

They did.

And yet a loud wailing was heard throughout the land of Bethesda. There was not a single house where someone did not feel inconvenienced by having to care for their own children.

This is less likely a big deal for folks and Bethesda. They are more likely to have white collar jobs where you can work from home. They also are more likely to have the means to be able to pay for alternative childcare without it being a huge financial hit.

Although you love to pretend that it is the Rich complaining, this decision is actually more a burden on folks with lesser means.

On FB, the only people I see complaining are “MoCo Rich”. I.E. not really wealthy, (in fact, often very house poor) but hella entitled.

Everyone else is making child care arrangements with neighbors, friends, and family.

No. Lots of people are losing wages or leaving kids alone who shouldn't be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish teachers email out homework packets as optional to let parents decide for their kids to do at home. My two ES kids are at home bugging me and screaming while I work from home. The only thing to shut them down is unlimited screentime and one kid do not take screentime (not sure if it is blessing) keep bugging me. Our school childcare is out. Any suggestions what to do with them the next 2 days at least?

What sort of optional packets do you think teachers keep on hand?