Anyone else turning down in person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15% of open DCPS classrooms have covid per DCPS' Ferabee. So yeah happy to turn down a spot. DCPS hasn't figured out how to bring us back safely

This sure is a misleading way to state it, making it sound as if the whole classroom is affected, when it’s probably isolated cases in 15% of the classrooms.

If its one classroom from one person it can a) spread and b) the classroom has to shut down and everyone needs to quarantine.

BTW this is how the Chancellor said it so......

Right. But really all this shows us is there’s tons of COVID going undetected. Classrooms full of kids purposely selected for need in DC should be expected to have at least average community rates of COVID. 15% of classrooms... which could be 2 or 3% of students... is not surprising at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:15% of open DCPS classrooms have covid per DCPS' Ferabee. So yeah happy to turn down a spot. DCPS hasn't figured out how to bring us back safely

This sure is a misleading way to state it, making it sound as if the whole classroom is affected, when it’s probably isolated cases in 15% of the classrooms.

If its one classroom from one person it can a) spread and b) the classroom has to shut down and everyone needs to quarantine.

BTW this is how the Chancellor said it so......

Right. But really all this shows us is there’s tons of COVID going undetected. Classrooms full of kids purposely selected for need in DC should be expected to have at least average community rates of COVID. 15% of classrooms... which could be 2 or 3% of students... is not surprising at all.

It's 10 percent of the adults in schools.

And the CARE classrooms are not based on need all over the city. We have housing insecure and very poor kids not in CARES classrooms but rich, white, two parent households sending theirs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a parent turn down an in person spot. A week later she mentioned that she would reconsider in the spring.

That is not how this works.

We filled the spot and for her students grade level- this is it.

So turn it down, but then you are fully at home until fall 2021

So you’re implying that when all teachers have BOTH doses of vaccine, AND the time needed to be fully immune passes, the school will still it be full time in term 4 ??!! WTF 🤦‍♀️

If the same amount of people qualify for ADA/FMLA where are getting the staff to man these classrooms? Nothing is changing for Term 4. People still qualify for leave. Only 45% of teaching staff was eligible to return. So yes. This is it. I guess you could start a petition to get rid of ADA and FMLA laws, though I don’t know how far that will get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a parent turn down an in person spot. A week later she mentioned that she would reconsider in the spring.

That is not how this works.

We filled the spot and for her students grade level- this is it.

So turn it down, but then you are fully at home until fall 2021

So you’re implying that when all teachers have BOTH doses of vaccine, AND the time needed to be fully immune passes, the school will still it be full time in term 4 ??!! WTF 🤦‍♀️

If the same amount of people qualify for ADA/FMLA where are getting the staff to man these classrooms? Nothing is changing for Term 4. People still qualify for leave. Only 45% of teaching staff was eligible to return. So yes. This is it. I guess you could start a petition to get rid of ADA and FMLA laws, though I don’t know how far that will get.

You don't have to get rid of ADA and FMLA laws for DCPS to require all teachers to return to work. These laws have existed while teachers were required to work in person pre-pandemic. The nature of the job is in-person, so it's not like an accommodation request for say an ergonomic keyboard. DCPS is choosing to allow people with underlying conditions to work from home. They could determine to require them to return to work when the MOA expires. I believe they agreed to this allowance and other terms in the MOA, which is why WTU ultimately signed it.

FMLA isn't granted due to fear of acquiring a disease.

[Anonymous]

Forcing people back to work when it could cause permanent medical damage to their person - wow - you all really show the reason we need a union.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a parent turn down an in person spot. A week later she mentioned that she would reconsider in the spring.

That is not how this works.

We filled the spot and for her students grade level- this is it.

So turn it down, but then you are fully at home until fall 2021

So you’re implying that when all teachers have BOTH doses of vaccine, AND the time needed to be fully immune passes, the school will still it be full time in term 4 ??!! WTF 🤦‍♀️

If the same amount of people qualify for ADA/FMLA where are getting the staff to man these classrooms? Nothing is changing for Term 4. People still qualify for leave. Only 45% of teaching staff was eligible to return. So yes. This is it. I guess you could start a petition to get rid of ADA and FMLA laws, though I don’t know how far that will get.

You don't have to get rid of ADA and FMLA laws for DCPS to require all teachers to return to work. These laws have existed while teachers were required to work in person pre-pandemic. The nature of the job is in-person, so it's not like an accommodation request for say an ergonomic keyboard. DCPS is choosing to allow people with underlying conditions to work from home. They could determine to require them to return to work when the MOA expires. I believe they agreed to this allowance and other terms in the MOA, which is why WTU ultimately signed it.

FMLA isn't granted due to fear of acquiring a disease.

The MOA expires at the end of the pandemic. Anyway, if DC tries to pull ADA during this I think they get a massive amount of lawsuits. We have had 4 teachers quit at my school over coming back. I’m not sure you would get the result you want by forcing teachers back with medical conditions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forcing people back to work when it could cause permanent medical damage to their person - wow - you all really show the reason we need a union.

And the union for kids, who ate certainly suffering permanent damage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Forcing people back to work when it could cause permanent medical damage to their person - wow - you all really show the reason we need a union.

This is tired and old. No is being forced.
Teaching is a blue collar job. I cannot be done remotely.
Love,
DCPS teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a parent turn down an in person spot. A week later she mentioned that she would reconsider in the spring.

That is not how this works.

We filled the spot and for her students grade level- this is it.

So turn it down, but then you are fully at home until fall 2021

So you’re implying that when all teachers have BOTH doses of vaccine, AND the time needed to be fully immune passes, the school will still it be full time in term 4 ??!! WTF 🤦‍♀️

If the same amount of people qualify for ADA/FMLA where are getting the staff to man these classrooms? Nothing is changing for Term 4. People still qualify for leave. Only 45% of teaching staff was eligible to return. So yes. This is it. I guess you could start a petition to get rid of ADA and FMLA laws, though I don’t know how far that will get.

You don't have to get rid of ADA and FMLA laws for DCPS to require all teachers to return to work. These laws have existed while teachers were required to work in person pre-pandemic. The nature of the job is in-person, so it's not like an accommodation request for say an ergonomic keyboard. DCPS is choosing to allow people with underlying conditions to work from home. They could determine to require them to return to work when the MOA expires. I believe they agreed to this allowance and other terms in the MOA, which is why WTU ultimately signed it.

FMLA isn't granted due to fear of acquiring a disease.

The MOA expires at the end of the pandemic. Anyway, if DC tries to pull ADA during this I think they get a massive amount of lawsuits. We have had 4 teachers quit at my school over coming back. I’m not sure you would get the result you want by forcing teachers back with medical conditions.

PP you're responding to here. To clarify, I'm not saying this should happen, just explaining the options that DCPS has. I personally believe that teachers with underlying conditions should be allowed to remain virtual for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forcing people back to work when it could cause permanent medical damage to their person - wow - you all really show the reason we need a union.

And the union for kids, who ate certainly suffering permanent damage?

FFS. Get your kid a therapist if you are worried about that.

Pandemic sucks, being stuck at home with no IPL sucks. Its hard. its hard on the kid and its hard on the parents.

But if you tell your kid how they are suriving the pandemic vs. they are suffering - they might do better.

If you build a routine outside of school they will do better.

If you talk to them about their feelings vs. how well they are doing in school 24/7 and what they are missing maybe they will do better.

Its SUCKS! There is no way around that. But what is worse is having a zoom funeral for a teacher; parent. I've seen kids go through that - its worse than my kid having a tantrum over writing a sentence.

BTW my kid has been suffering for months. I am fine on a cold day not going out - but its not good for him. So I bundle up and take him out for fresh air. It sucks that he doesn't have a backyard or a playroom or a sibling to fight and then I have to be all of those things. But dying is worse; life long lung problems are worse.

Its a pandemic - its not a choice to isolate and distance and mask - its survival.

You can teach your kid the class is always half full or you can teach them to be resilient.

And yes complain constantly to DCPS about the bad vax plans, the bad return to school plans (why haven't we had tents on fields; why isn't there at least outdoor recess by the schools we can take them too) they have known about this for how many months. There should have ben 10 different plans for 10 different situations.

There is more than one solution but going back in person with unvaccinated teachers is not one of them.

DCPS should be working on some kind of summer camp socialization deal - are they ? I doubt it.

Parents have been working from home - everyone has been working from home - but apparently DCPS has lots of people working from home who have done nothing! I have been through the offices on first street. So many people, so so so many people - and apparently they have done nothing!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forcing people back to work when it could cause permanent medical damage to their person - wow - you all really show the reason we need a union.

And the union for kids, who ate certainly suffering permanent damage?

FFS. Get your kid a therapist if you are worried about that.

Pandemic sucks, being stuck at home with no IPL sucks. Its hard. its hard on the kid and its hard on the parents.

But if you tell your kid how they are suriving the pandemic vs. they are suffering - they might do better.

If you build a routine outside of school they will do better.

If you talk to them about their feelings vs. how well they are doing in school 24/7 and what they are missing maybe they will do better.

Its SUCKS! There is no way around that. But what is worse is having a zoom funeral for a teacher; parent. I've seen kids go through that - its worse than my kid having a tantrum over writing a sentence.

BTW my kid has been suffering for months. I am fine on a cold day not going out - but its not good for him. So I bundle up and take him out for fresh air. It sucks that he doesn't have a backyard or a playroom or a sibling to fight and then I have to be all of those things. But dying is worse; life long lung problems are worse.

Its a pandemic - its not a choice to isolate and distance and mask - its survival.

You can teach your kid the class is always half full or you can teach them to be resilient.

And yes complain constantly to DCPS about the bad vax plans, the bad return to school plans (why haven't we had tents on fields; why isn't there at least outdoor recess by the schools we can take them too) they have known about this for how many months. There should have ben 10 different plans for 10 different situations.

There is more than one solution but going back in person with unvaccinated teachers is not one of them.

DCPS should be working on some kind of summer camp socialization deal - are they ? I doubt it.

Parents have been working from home - everyone has been working from home - but apparently DCPS has lots of people working from home who have done nothing! I have been through the offices on first street. So many people, so so so many people - and apparently they have done nothing!!!

Teachers aren’t going to start dropping dead because school partly reopens. You are being way dramatic and unscientific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Forcing people back to work when it could cause permanent medical damage to their person - wow - you all really show the reason we need a union.

And the union for kids, who ate certainly suffering permanent damage?

FFS. Get your kid a therapist if you are worried about that.

Pandemic sucks, being stuck at home with no IPL sucks. Its hard. its hard on the kid and its hard on the parents.

But if you tell your kid how they are suriving the pandemic vs. they are suffering - they might do better.

If you build a routine outside of school they will do better.

If you talk to them about their feelings vs. how well they are doing in school 24/7 and what they are missing maybe they will do better.

Its SUCKS! There is no way around that. But what is worse is having a zoom funeral for a teacher; parent. I've seen kids go through that - its worse than my kid having a tantrum over writing a sentence.

BTW my kid has been suffering for months. I am fine on a cold day not going out - but its not good for him. So I bundle up and take him out for fresh air. It sucks that he doesn't have a backyard or a playroom or a sibling to fight and then I have to be all of those things. But dying is worse; life long lung problems are worse.

Its a pandemic - its not a choice to isolate and distance and mask - its survival.

You can teach your kid the class is always half full or you can teach them to be resilient.

And yes complain constantly to DCPS about the bad vax plans, the bad return to school plans (why haven't we had tents on fields; why isn't there at least outdoor recess by the schools we can take them too) they have known about this for how many months. There should have ben 10 different plans for 10 different situations.

There is more than one solution but going back in person with unvaccinated teachers is not one of them.

DCPS should be working on some kind of summer camp socialization deal - are they ? I doubt it.

Parents have been working from home - everyone has been working from home - but apparently DCPS has lots of people working from home who have done nothing! I have been through the offices on first street. So many people, so so so many people - and apparently they have done nothing!!!

Teachers aren’t going to start dropping dead because school partly reopens. You are being way dramatic and unscientific.

You are right teachers aren't going to start dropping dead. The timing would work that they could die over the summer.

But yes probably not the majority of teachers who get covid will die.

So be selfish about your own kid - Feb 1 you start and Feb 4 you find out your child was exposed or the teacher can't return because she's ill or exposed. Then what Feb 5 your kid is back with you and might be at home with no DL for 3 weeks. What will that do to learning loss? What does this do to your schedule or parents who don't have WFH jobs? You get a call during the day or at 8:15 saying school is cancelled due to Covid?

If they had subs - they don't. If they had ways to rapid test the class room every am - they don't. Then this would be different.

BTW most schools don't notify the next day - which is absurd in a pandemic? That is one thing I would have thought they got right ASAP.

I hope it works with IPL and I'm wrong. I hope I made the wrong choice to stay home and potentially loose a spot for Q4.

I just don't think I will be.


If everyone took it seriously day one and really hunkered down (not really DC folks we weren't stupid, but the rest of the country) in the beginning. If we had a lockdown and testing the last two weeks of January - where people didn't fly or travel to air bnbs - just be overly cautious. Then it would be different. But the whine of but its been to look, and I need this, and we are super careful - yeah the virus knows how careful you have been and they don't care you are tired. (royal you not people specifically) is why this has taken so long.

[Anonymous]

My child's private school (in DC) is testing the entire student body (students and teachers) prior to any return to in-person learning. The school has about 575 kids (grades 4-12) in two cohorts.
They tested cohort 1 ten days ago and came up with one positive.
They tested cohort 2 last week and camp up with zero positives.

They use PCR testing.This is a student body who travelled over the break (many went out of town against advice) and continually does travel sports.

I found it very encouraging that there was so little virus among the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child's private school (in DC) is testing the entire student body (students and teachers) prior to any return to in-person learning. The school has about 575 kids (grades 4-12) in two cohorts.
They tested cohort 1 ten days ago and came up with one positive.
They tested cohort 2 last week and camp up with zero positives.

They use PCR testing.This is a student body who travelled over the break (many went out of town against advice) and continually does travel sports.

I found it very encouraging that there was so little virus among the kids.

Our DCPS, Brent elementary on Capitol Hill, tested the entire student body (students and teachers) after winter break.

More than 100 kids are back in-person at Brent. Zero positives. Totally worth it to have our kids back in school, one 5 days a week with IEP, one starting hybrid on Mon.

[Anonymous]

^ Reality vs......scaremongering, panic, pandering to healthy teachers who'd rather teach from home.