APS: It's too hard to go back 5 days/week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^
Remember the guidelines say than 3 feet while in the classroom BUT 6 ft is required anytime the kids are unmasked. In some schools there are 18 to 20 kids per class that chose hybrid. The classrooms cannot accommodate 6 foot spacing while eating unmasked. Nor can the cafeterias handle that spacing. The only way to get around this is to spend money on a large quantity of tents- which are all apparently on back order. Not trying to be negative Nelly but it is a true hurdle

At our school, unless it is raining, the kids are sitting outside for lunch (elementary), they can easily keep the 6ft distance even if there are more kids in the class. They are just being lazy and don't want to rethink things.

Hello genius, you still need a plan for rainy days.

Half the class on the classroom, half the class sitting on the floor in the hallways. Not ideal, but we are in a pandemic and the kids need an education.

We are in a pandemic. We all want our kids back in school, back to normal. And yes APS could have done a better job this past year. But I am certain no one at APS is going out of their way to destroy kids lives. I thought Duran's discussion of the challenges of 5x a week made sense: bus routes, lunch and rejiggering of classes would in fact be huge issues...and by the time they figured it out there would be what, six weeks of school left? Agree that any school is good school but lots of kids can't adjust to that many changes. We are in a pandemic. Everyone is doing the best they can based on the best information they have. They are committing to 5x a week school in the fall. And I 100 percent expect that to happen.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^
Remember the guidelines say than 3 feet while in the classroom BUT 6 ft is required anytime the kids are unmasked. In some schools there are 18 to 20 kids per class that chose hybrid. The classrooms cannot accommodate 6 foot spacing while eating unmasked. Nor can the cafeterias handle that spacing. The only way to get around this is to spend money on a large quantity of tents- which are all apparently on back order. Not trying to be negative Nelly but it is a true hurdle

At our school, unless it is raining, the kids are sitting outside for lunch (elementary), they can easily keep the 6ft distance even if there are more kids in the class. They are just being lazy and don't want to rethink things.

Hello genius, you still need a plan for rainy days.

Half the class on the classroom, half the class sitting on the floor in the hallways. Not ideal, but we are in a pandemic and the kids need an education.

You would have to stagger class room lunches significantly because adjacent classrooms would overlap if they were in the hallway.

Which would then mess with the ability to teach concurrent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^
Remember the guidelines say than 3 feet while in the classroom BUT 6 ft is required anytime the kids are unmasked. In some schools there are 18 to 20 kids per class that chose hybrid. The classrooms cannot accommodate 6 foot spacing while eating unmasked. Nor can the cafeterias handle that spacing. The only way to get around this is to spend money on a large quantity of tents- which are all apparently on back order. Not trying to be negative Nelly but it is a true hurdle

At our school, unless it is raining, the kids are sitting outside for lunch (elementary), they can easily keep the 6ft distance even if there are more kids in the class. They are just being lazy and don't want to rethink things.

Hello genius, you still need a plan for rainy days.

Half the class on the classroom, half the class sitting on the floor in the hallways. Not ideal, but we are in a pandemic and the kids need an education.

We are in a pandemic. We all want our kids back in school, back to normal. And yes APS could have done a better job this past year. But I am certain no one at APS is going out of their way to destroy kids lives. I thought Duran's discussion of the challenges of 5x a week made sense: bus routes, lunch and rejiggering of classes would in fact be huge issues...and by the time they figured it out there would be what, six weeks of school left? Agree that any school is good school but lots of kids can't adjust to that many changes. We are in a pandemic. Everyone is doing the best they can based on the best information they have. They are committing to 5x a week school in the fall. And I 100 percent expect that to happen.

Where have they committed to 5 days a week in the fall?? They haven't. They will strive for 5 days, but we know what that means. If they can't do it now, fall does not look good for 5 day.

I say this as someone who has a graduating senior so I don't care but you're in lala land if you think 5 days in the fall is definite. You give the school board WAY too much credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Where have they committed to 5 days a week in the fall?? They haven't. They will strive for 5 days, but we know what that means. If they can't do it now, fall does not look good for 5 day.

I say this as someone who has a graduating senior so I don't care but you're in lala land if you think 5 days in the fall is definite. You give the school board WAY too much credit.

This. I completely expect that they will back out from five days a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^
Remember the guidelines say than 3 feet while in the classroom BUT 6 ft is required anytime the kids are unmasked. In some schools there are 18 to 20 kids per class that chose hybrid. The classrooms cannot accommodate 6 foot spacing while eating unmasked. Nor can the cafeterias handle that spacing. The only way to get around this is to spend money on a large quantity of tents- which are all apparently on back order. Not trying to be negative Nelly but it is a true hurdle

At our school, unless it is raining, the kids are sitting outside for lunch (elementary), they can easily keep the 6ft distance even if there are more kids in the class. They are just being lazy and don't want to rethink things.

Hello genius, you still need a plan for rainy days.

Half the class on the classroom, half the class sitting on the floor in the hallways. Not ideal, but we are in a pandemic and the kids need an education.

We are in a pandemic. We all want our kids back in school, back to normal. And yes APS could have done a better job this past year. But I am certain no one at APS is going out of their way to destroy kids lives. I thought Duran's discussion of the challenges of 5x a week made sense: bus routes, lunch and rejiggering of classes would in fact be huge issues...and by the time they figured it out there would be what, six weeks of school left? Agree that any school is good school but lots of kids can't adjust to that many changes. We are in a pandemic. Everyone is doing the best they can based on the best information they have. They are committing to 5x a week school in the fall. And I 100 percent expect that to happen.

Where have they committed to 5 days a week in the fall?? They haven't. They will strive for 5 days, but we know what that means. If they can't do it now, fall does not look good for 5 day.

I say this as someone who has a graduating senior so I don't care but you're in lala land if you think 5 days in the fall is definite. You give the school board WAY too much credit.

Are you the same person that keeps posting old info without reading through or listening to the school board meeting? Its right here. What do you want him to pinky promise you?

[Anonymous]

As someone who would have sent my kids back for 5 days/week last fall, I have to say I knew this was not going to happen this school year. This would have meant that APS had a plan at the ready that just hinged on CDC guidance changing to 3'. WHO guidance has already said this, since last summer, and when there was even discussion about changing from 6' to 3' at that time people went ballistic. APS at that time was working hard to make a plan to teach virtually since this was something they did not even attempt in the spring. They have then taken months and months just to come up with concurrent.

I am also concerned about the fall. Planning for 5 days/week of in-person summer school is encouraging although plenty of kids who have struggled this year won't qualify, as PPs have said. Meanwhile there is still a loud crowd of parents who, while appearing to be smaller and smaller, are not going to stop until their kids have a fully virtual education which in every way matches in-person (i.e. if they do an option school, they want virtual school but with all of the benefits of their option school).

The one area in which I am a little encouraged is that the Board last night seemed to push back on some of what was being claimed by Duran. I generally like Duran (not saying I like or agree with his every decision, but I think he has done well in a nightmare scenario in which it is impossible to please even a sliver of the different factions). But I think we do need SB members who will push a bit and ask questions instead of just cheering for the APS teachers and staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^
Remember the guidelines say than 3 feet while in the classroom BUT 6 ft is required anytime the kids are unmasked. In some schools there are 18 to 20 kids per class that chose hybrid. The classrooms cannot accommodate 6 foot spacing while eating unmasked. Nor can the cafeterias handle that spacing. The only way to get around this is to spend money on a large quantity of tents- which are all apparently on back order. Not trying to be negative Nelly but it is a true hurdle

At our school, unless it is raining, the kids are sitting outside for lunch (elementary), they can easily keep the 6ft distance even if there are more kids in the class. They are just being lazy and don't want to rethink things.

Hello genius, you still need a plan for rainy days.

Half the class on the classroom, half the class sitting on the floor in the hallways. Not ideal, but we are in a pandemic and the kids need an education.

We are in a pandemic. We all want our kids back in school, back to normal. And yes APS could have done a better job this past year. But I am certain no one at APS is going out of their way to destroy kids lives. I thought Duran's discussion of the challenges of 5x a week made sense: bus routes, lunch and rejiggering of classes would in fact be huge issues...and by the time they figured it out there would be what, six weeks of school left? Agree that any school is good school but lots of kids can't adjust to that many changes. We are in a pandemic. Everyone is doing the best they can based on the best information they have. They are committing to 5x a week school in the fall. And I 100 percent expect that to happen.

Where have they committed to 5 days a week in the fall?? They haven't. They will strive for 5 days, but we know what that means. If they can't do it now, fall does not look good for 5 day.

I say this as someone who has a graduating senior so I don't care but you're in lala land if you think 5 days in the fall is definite. You give the school board WAY too much credit.

Are you the same person that keeps posting old info without reading through or listening to the school board meeting? Its right here. What do you want him to pinky promise you?

IDGAF what he does. Remaining kid is graduating so none of this matters to me. We've been APS long enough that I know how things tend to go. I just think you're kidding yourself if you think they can figure out 5 days for the fall. And no, I don't read any of the BS the school board puts out. We've written of this year so none of it matters to me. But keep on believing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who would have sent my kids back for 5 days/week last fall, I have to say I knew this was not going to happen this school year. This would have meant that APS had a plan at the ready that just hinged on CDC guidance changing to 3'. WHO guidance has already said this, since last summer, and when there was even discussion about changing from 6' to 3' at that time people went ballistic. APS at that time was working hard to make a plan to teach virtually since this was something they did not even attempt in the spring. They have then taken months and months just to come up with concurrent.

I am also concerned about the fall. Planning for 5 days/week of in-person summer school is encouraging although plenty of kids who have struggled this year won't qualify, as PPs have said. Meanwhile there is still a loud crowd of parents who, while appearing to be smaller and smaller, are not going to stop until their kids have a fully virtual education which in every way matches in-person (i.e. if they do an option school, they want virtual school but with all of the benefits of their option school).

The one area in which I am a little encouraged is that the Board last night seemed to push back on some of what was being claimed by Duran. I generally like Duran (not saying I like or agree with his every decision, but I think he has done well in a nightmare scenario in which it is impossible to please even a sliver of the different factions). But I think we do need SB members who will push a bit and ask questions instead of just cheering for the APS teachers and staff.

I agree with everything you said, pp.

I am deeply concerned and could not sleep last night because I am wildly unclear on several points:

1. Having to return from Virtual to Hybrid to Full In Person was always a natural outgrowth of the initial choices to shift to virtual and then hybrid. This is the consequence. It was inevitable that there would eventually have to be a return to in person. To even pretend otherwise or as though there was no need to be prepared is just flat out stupid. Resisting or not fully embracing the need to offer APS children as much education as possible with the time remaining in this school year is foolish and short sighted.

2. What will be radically different between now and fall? COVID will still be here. Transportation issues and distancing will still be the challenges and realities we are facing. This is just passing the buck, and honestly makes me wonder if Duran just plans resign or something and has no intentions of trying to tackle this.

Duran will likely be retired or on his way to retiring when the youngest learners who have been impacted by this nightmare are grappling with college applications and how to make their way in the adult world. This lost year will not be inconsequential. And I regret that he will be likely far enough removed away from it all to not feel the intense sting of the repercussions of these decisions.

[Anonymous]

In the fall, community spread will be dramatically lower. It is not that low now. That’s the difference. It’s pretty simple.

[Anonymous]

In the fall, parents will be vaccinated. Some kids will be vaccinated. We will know a lot more than we do now.

They have said they intend to return to school. Can the 1000 percent guarantee there will be school? No. Can they guarantee there won't be a super variant that strikes kids more than adults? No. But if rates go down, the kids are going to school. The political will to keep them home is gone and they know that.

APS handled this poorly from day one. But I don't think they're doing all they can to avoid sending kids back 5x a week like some on here. I think they're doing all they can to get kids back to school ASAP and safely. The fact that it's not fast enough for me doesn't change that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who would have sent my kids back for 5 days/week last fall, I have to say I knew this was not going to happen this school year. This would have meant that APS had a plan at the ready that just hinged on CDC guidance changing to 3'. WHO guidance has already said this, since last summer, and when there was even discussion about changing from 6' to 3' at that time people went ballistic. APS at that time was working hard to make a plan to teach virtually since this was something they did not even attempt in the spring. They have then taken months and months just to come up with concurrent.

I am also concerned about the fall. Planning for 5 days/week of in-person summer school is encouraging although plenty of kids who have struggled this year won't qualify, as PPs have said. Meanwhile there is still a loud crowd of parents who, while appearing to be smaller and smaller, are not going to stop until their kids have a fully virtual education which in every way matches in-person (i.e. if they do an option school, they want virtual school but with all of the benefits of their option school).

The one area in which I am a little encouraged is that the Board last night seemed to push back on some of what was being claimed by Duran. I generally like Duran (not saying I like or agree with his every decision, but I think he has done well in a nightmare scenario in which it is impossible to please even a sliver of the different factions). But I think we do need SB members who will push a bit and ask questions instead of just cheering for the APS teachers and staff.

Go home. You’re too reasonable!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who would have sent my kids back for 5 days/week last fall, I have to say I knew this was not going to happen this school year. This would have meant that APS had a plan at the ready that just hinged on CDC guidance changing to 3'. WHO guidance has already said this, since last summer, and when there was even discussion about changing from 6' to 3' at that time people went ballistic. APS at that time was working hard to make a plan to teach virtually since this was something they did not even attempt in the spring. They have then taken months and months just to come up with concurrent.

I am also concerned about the fall. Planning for 5 days/week of in-person summer school is encouraging although plenty of kids who have struggled this year won't qualify, as PPs have said. Meanwhile there is still a loud crowd of parents who, while appearing to be smaller and smaller, are not going to stop until their kids have a fully virtual education which in every way matches in-person (i.e. if they do an option school, they want virtual school but with all of the benefits of their option school).

The one area in which I am a little encouraged is that the Board last night seemed to push back on some of what was being claimed by Duran. I generally like Duran (not saying I like or agree with his every decision, but I think he has done well in a nightmare scenario in which it is impossible to please even a sliver of the different factions). But I think we do need SB members who will push a bit and ask questions instead of just cheering for the APS teachers and staff.

I agree with everything you said, pp.

I am deeply concerned and could not sleep last night because I am wildly unclear on several points:

1. Having to return from Virtual to Hybrid to Full In Person was always a natural outgrowth of the initial choices to shift to virtual and then hybrid. This is the consequence. It was inevitable that there would eventually have to be a return to in person. To even pretend otherwise or as though there was no need to be prepared is just flat out stupid. Resisting or not fully embracing the need to offer APS children as much education as possible with the time remaining in this school year is foolish and short sighted.

2. What will be radically different between now and fall? COVID will still be here. Transportation issues and distancing will still be the challenges and realities we are facing. This is just passing the buck, and honestly makes me wonder if Duran just plans resign or something and has no intentions of trying to tackle this.

Duran will likely be retired or on his way to retiring when the youngest learners who have been impacted by this nightmare are grappling with college applications and how to make their way in the adult world. This lost year will not be inconsequential. And I regret that he will be likely far enough removed away from it all to not feel the intense sting of the repercussions of these decisions.

I agree with you both completely. Who are you supporting for SB? Assuming you’re a Democrat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who would have sent my kids back for 5 days/week last fall, I have to say I knew this was not going to happen this school year. This would have meant that APS had a plan at the ready that just hinged on CDC guidance changing to 3'. WHO guidance has already said this, since last summer, and when there was even discussion about changing from 6' to 3' at that time people went ballistic. APS at that time was working hard to make a plan to teach virtually since this was something they did not even attempt in the spring. They have then taken months and months just to come up with concurrent.

I am also concerned about the fall. Planning for 5 days/week of in-person summer school is encouraging although plenty of kids who have struggled this year won't qualify, as PPs have said. Meanwhile there is still a loud crowd of parents who, while appearing to be smaller and smaller, are not going to stop until their kids have a fully virtual education which in every way matches in-person (i.e. if they do an option school, they want virtual school but with all of the benefits of their option school).

The one area in which I am a little encouraged is that the Board last night seemed to push back on some of what was being claimed by Duran. I generally like Duran (not saying I like or agree with his every decision, but I think he has done well in a nightmare scenario in which it is impossible to please even a sliver of the different factions). But I think we do need SB members who will push a bit and ask questions instead of just cheering for the APS teachers and staff.

I agree with everything you said, pp.

I am deeply concerned and could not sleep last night because I am wildly unclear on several points:

1. Having to return from Virtual to Hybrid to Full In Person was always a natural outgrowth of the initial choices to shift to virtual and then hybrid. This is the consequence. It was inevitable that there would eventually have to be a return to in person. To even pretend otherwise or as though there was no need to be prepared is just flat out stupid. Resisting or not fully embracing the need to offer APS children as much education as possible with the time remaining in this school year is foolish and short sighted.

2. What will be radically different between now and fall? COVID will still be here. Transportation issues and distancing will still be the challenges and realities we are facing. This is just passing the buck, and honestly makes me wonder if Duran just plans resign or something and has no intentions of trying to tackle this.

Duran will likely be retired or on his way to retiring when the youngest learners who have been impacted by this nightmare are grappling with college applications and how to make their way in the adult world. This lost year will not be inconsequential. And I regret that he will be likely far enough removed away from it all to not feel the intense sting of the repercussions of these decisions.

I agree with you both completely. Who are you supporting for SB? Assuming you’re a Democrat.

I’m one of those PPs. I’m not registered with any party affiliation and never have been but lean way left. I actually think Arlington Dems should stay out of the school board race. Most of their members do not have kids in APS and have not for decades, if ever. Not committed to either of the SB candidates yet but I think that discussion of full-time, in-person school has to be top priority. I was glad to hear some pushback this week from Kanninen and Priddy. For much of the last year the Board meetings have been cheering sessions for how great they’re doing (and, they’re not doing great).

[Anonymous]

Duran needs to set the parameters and let individual principals figure out what works best for their schools. Focusing on elementary schools here b/c I am most familiar and this is the most urgent.
needed parameters
1. return to 5 full days of instruction- with regular school hours, not shortened by an hour and 20 minutes.
2. plan on outdoor lunch when at all feasible, come up with a plan for indoor lunch. such a plan could include;
a. sending 1/2 the class out to the hallway to eat and staggering lunch times by room rather than by grade.
b. sending every other class to the cafeteria, and splitting classes into the other room.
c. use spaces like gym, music room, art room, etc for lunch on these rainy days.
d. purchasing tents.
the point is, there are lots of ways to solve the 'lunch problem' but what the optimum way to solve it is may vary by school.
3. Give principals the flexibility to ditch concurrent teaching and consolidate classes as makes sense.

for transportation;
1. tell them to open the windows mask the kids and fill up the busses. They can assign seats, siblings can sit together. These are short bus rides, they can make it work. Possibly jettison transportation for the option schools if this is the real sticking point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who would have sent my kids back for 5 days/week last fall, I have to say I knew this was not going to happen this school year. This would have meant that APS had a plan at the ready that just hinged on CDC guidance changing to 3'. WHO guidance has already said this, since last summer, and when there was even discussion about changing from 6' to 3' at that time people went ballistic. APS at that time was working hard to make a plan to teach virtually since this was something they did not even attempt in the spring. They have then taken months and months just to come up with concurrent.

I am also concerned about the fall. Planning for 5 days/week of in-person summer school is encouraging although plenty of kids who have struggled this year won't qualify, as PPs have said. Meanwhile there is still a loud crowd of parents who, while appearing to be smaller and smaller, are not going to stop until their kids have a fully virtual education which in every way matches in-person (i.e. if they do an option school, they want virtual school but with all of the benefits of their option school).

The one area in which I am a little encouraged is that the Board last night seemed to push back on some of what was being claimed by Duran. I generally like Duran (not saying I like or agree with his every decision, but I think he has done well in a nightmare scenario in which it is impossible to please even a sliver of the different factions). But I think we do need SB members who will push a bit and ask questions instead of just cheering for the APS teachers and staff.

I agree with everything you said, pp.

I am deeply concerned and could not sleep last night because I am wildly unclear on several points:

1. Having to return from Virtual to Hybrid to Full In Person was always a natural outgrowth of the initial choices to shift to virtual and then hybrid. This is the consequence. It was inevitable that there would eventually have to be a return to in person. To even pretend otherwise or as though there was no need to be prepared is just flat out stupid. Resisting or not fully embracing the need to offer APS children as much education as possible with the time remaining in this school year is foolish and short sighted.

2. What will be radically different between now and fall? COVID will still be here. Transportation issues and distancing will still be the challenges and realities we are facing. This is just passing the buck, and honestly makes me wonder if Duran just plans resign or something and has no intentions of trying to tackle this.

Duran will likely be retired or on his way to retiring when the youngest learners who have been impacted by this nightmare are grappling with college applications and how to make their way in the adult world. This lost year will not be inconsequential. And I regret that he will be likely far enough removed away from it all to not feel the intense sting of the repercussions of these decisions.

I agree with you both completely. Who are you supporting for SB? Assuming you’re a Democrat.

I’m one of those PPs. I’m not registered with any party affiliation and never have been but lean way left. I actually think Arlington Dems should stay out of the school board race. Most of their members do not have kids in APS and have not for decades, if ever. Not committed to either of the SB candidates yet but I think that discussion of full-time, in-person school has to be top priority. I was glad to hear some pushback this week from Kanninen and Priddy. For much of the last year the Board meetings have been cheering sessions for how great they’re doing (and, they’re not doing great).

I’m the other PP. My vote is for Miranda Turner. I have engaged with her on schools and others issues and have found her to be thoughtful, articulate, sharp, and ready and willing to have the hard discussions.