ACPS- Changing from Hybrid to DL?

[Anonymous]

ACPS communication has been ineffective throughout. So many of the issues stem from lack of clear communication. As pointed out above, the language used with the form gave families the impression it was not a final choice and that there would be flexibility. At that point they were also using completely different metrics, which now suddenly appear to have been scrapped.

[Anonymous]

I say this as someone with many years in this system: Some parents will defend it no matter how illogical and no matter how contrary the evidence of their position. They paid a lot for their houses, and they are invested in believing what they believe. That, and they have no idea how thin most of the curriculum is.

[Anonymous]

I totally get why people are upset and frustrated. They should not have done this after representing that choices were non-binding. At the same time, the hybrid plan doesn't sound great, and there is not much of the school year left. If DH and I did not both have to go into work, I would not send my 6th grader. But, we elected hybrid because he cannot stay alone all day every day for 9 hours, there is no group care for him due to his age, and doing hybrid makes it possible for us to trade off child care with another family.

[Anonymous]

And no communication from ACPS central office, yet everyday they send multiple texts and emails about where to get free food. So bizarre.

Anyway, the media will absolutely pick this up once a select few start getting their friends involved. Several of the local news outlets' reporters are ACPS connected. And once again, Hutchings will be the laughing stock, only now instead of being a hypocrite about yanking his daughter from TC and sending her to BI, it will be him defending the denial of hybrid access- all while his daughter attends class in person every other day...

[Anonymous]

And once again, Hutchings will be the laughing stock, only now instead of being a hypocrite about yanking his daughter from TC and sending her to BI, it will be him defending the denial of hybrid access- all while his daughter attends class in person every other day...

You are missing the point. People don't care what he does with his daughter in relation to private school. People care that he has treated parents in ACPS unfairly and made little effort to open schools effectively.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And once again, Hutchings will be the laughing stock, only now instead of being a hypocrite about yanking his daughter from TC and sending her to BI, it will be him defending the denial of hybrid access- all while his daughter attends class in person every other day...

You are missing the point. People don't care what he does with his daughter in relation to private school. People care that he has treated parents in ACPS unfairly and made little effort to open schools effectively.

Parents also care that he shamed them for keeping their kids in ACPS and starting learning pods, not to get them ahead but to keep them from falling further behind (and to be able to work etc). He told them they would be responsible for the learning gap. And that they were privileged for keeping their kids in the system but forming pods to survive. And then he pulled his kid, put her in open private and never apologized for what he said in the summer. THAT is what privilege looks like.

It was absolutely terrible communication and communication management. If he'd had a moment of humility when the student reporters broke that news and apologized...it would have gone a long way.

And if he acknowledged his and ACPS' previous statements indicating flexibility with the Family Choice form, it would have gone a long way. But now it's too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

And once again, Hutchings will be the laughing stock, only now instead of being a hypocrite about yanking his daughter from TC and sending her to BI, it will be him defending the denial of hybrid access- all while his daughter attends class in person every other day...

You are missing the point. People don't care what he does with his daughter in relation to private school. People care that he has treated parents in ACPS unfairly and made little effort to open schools effectively.

I understand quite clearly. And you are woefully mistaken if you don't think people care about his daughter being afforded in person instruction while he denies it to those in the system he leads. It's one and the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say this as someone with many years in this system: Some parents will defend it no matter how illogical and no matter how contrary the evidence of their position. They paid a lot for their houses, and they are invested in believing what they believe. That, and they have no idea how thin most of the curriculum is.

+1 I hope that the parent shamers reconsider how they treat their neighbors and fellow parents in their quest to protect their home values. I hope they consider advocating for an actual quality school system instead of protecting the subpar system and curriculum we have now.

And maybe take a look at all the "kindness" signs posted in some areas of town and really try to live that.

[Anonymous]

And that they were privileged for keeping their kids in the system but forming pods to survive. And then he pulled his kid, put her in open private and never apologized for what he said in the summer. THAT is what privilege looks like.

This. So much this.

[Anonymous]

You are missing the point. People don't care what he does with his daughter in relation to private school. People care that he has treated parents in ACPS unfairly and made little effort to open schools effectively.


I understand quite clearly. And you are woefully mistaken if you don't think people care about his daughter being afforded in person instruction while he denies it to those in the system he leads. It's one and the same.

That's a waste of energy, but you do you. I am going to focus on why this system can't be improved, rather than what he is doing with his kid, which does not affect me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You are missing the point. People don't care what he does with his daughter in relation to private school. People care that he has treated parents in ACPS unfairly and made little effort to open schools effectively.


I understand quite clearly. And you are woefully mistaken if you don't think people care about his daughter being afforded in person instruction while he denies it to those in the system he leads. It's one and the same.

That's a waste of energy, but you do you. I am going to focus on why this system can't be improved, rather than what he is doing with his kid, which does not affect me.

People are allowed to be annoyed about this, even though it's arguably irrelevant to how badly the rest of it has been handled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

And once again, Hutchings will be the laughing stock, only now instead of being a hypocrite about yanking his daughter from TC and sending her to BI, it will be him defending the denial of hybrid access- all while his daughter attends class in person every other day...

You are missing the point. People don't care what he does with his daughter in relation to private school. People care that he has treated parents in ACPS unfairly and made little effort to open schools effectively.

Parents also care that he shamed them for keeping their kids in ACPS and starting learning pods, not to get them ahead but to keep them from falling further behind (and to be able to work etc). He told them they would be responsible for the learning gap. And that they were privileged for keeping their kids in the system but forming pods to survive. And then he pulled his kid, put her in open private and never apologized for what he said in the summer. THAT is what privilege looks like.

It was absolutely terrible communication and communication management. If he'd had a moment of humility when the student reporters broke that news and apologized...it would have gone a long way.

And if he acknowledged his and ACPS' previous statements indicating flexibility with the Family Choice form, it would have gone a long way. But now it's too late.

I agree wholeheartedly. Hutchings’s comments about parents forming pods was offensive. The statements in the December 2020 parent choice form were either a LIE or he needs to acknowledge they were a mistake and apologize to parents stuck with a decision that they no longer prefer. But Hutchings appears to be incapable of apologizing. I say this as someone who does not want to change the choice for my family and cannot see hybrid will work very well.

[Anonymous]

When public officials lie or display hypocrisy, they should be called out. I don’t care if it’s Ted Cruz or Dr. Hutchings. You work for the public and should be held to a higher standard. If you’re a dishonest hypocrite, be prepared to be held accountable.

[Anonymous]

I agree wholeheartedly. Hutchings’s comments about parents forming pods was offensive. The statements in the December 2020 parent choice form were either a LIE or he needs to acknowledge they were a mistake and apologize to parents stuck with a decision that they no longer prefer. But Hutchings appears to be incapable of apologizing. I say this as someone who does not want to change the choice for my family and cannot see hybrid will work very well.

+1000. We won't change our choice, but is super annoyed by the direct lie they threw at us.

[Anonymous]

I actually don't think they were lying on the Dec form. I think they never planned to return this year and so the entire exercise was theatre. When they pivoted after political pressure at the state level, they needed to throw it into gear,. And they didn't have enough time--or the will?--to re-survey parents in a gesture that was more date-gathering than performative.

I, too, never planned to return hybrid, so I could care less about this. But it is galling that they now won't even make a waiting list for kids who want to return.