what does 'flexible scheduling' for DC teachers mean?

[Anonymous]

I'm a bit lost as to what is being proposed wrt DC teachers and flexible scheduling.

e.g. here: https://wjla.com/news/local/dc-public-schools-dcps-teachers-leaving-turnover-problems-overworked-understaffed-violence-council-member-robert-white-introduces-bill-educator-retention-incentives-paid-mental-health-flexible-schedules-district-education

"White’s bill would require OSSE to establish a flexible scheduling pilot program and launch a task force that addresses compensation."

Does that just mean more subs? A 4-day week (ala this proposal: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-01-10-teaching-must-get-more-flexible-before-it-falls-apart)? More virtual?

[Anonymous]

I believe it means that a teacher could go to Dr.'s appt from 10-11am (let's just say that their planning time) and instead of being docked an hour of PTO, make it up by staying from 3:30-4:30 for their planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a bit lost as to what is being proposed wrt DC teachers and flexible scheduling.

e.g. here: https://wjla.com/news/local/dc-public-schools-dcps-teachers-leaving-turnover-problems-overworked-understaffed-violence-council-member-robert-white-introduces-bill-educator-retention-incentives-paid-mental-health-flexible-schedules-district-education

"White’s bill would require OSSE to establish a flexible scheduling pilot program and launch a task force that addresses compensation."

Does that just mean more subs? A 4-day week (ala this proposal: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2022-01-10-teaching-must-get-more-flexible-before-it-falls-apart)? More virtual?

Here is the bill here.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rjlmk6awknfdlwz/Educator%20Retention%20for%20Student%20Success%20Act%20of%202023.pdf?dl=0

If you don't want to read the bill, you can read about it here:

https://www.washingtoninformer.com/new-legislation-tackles-teacher-retention-problem/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe it means that a teacher could go to Dr.'s appt from 10-11am (let's just say that their planning time) and instead of being docked an hour of PTO, make it up by staying from 3:30-4:30 for their planning.

When can you go to a doctor's appointment and back in an hour?

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe it means that a teacher could go to Dr.'s appt from 10-11am (let's just say that their planning time) and instead of being docked an hour of PTO, make it up by staying from 3:30-4:30 for their planning.

When can you go to a doctor's appointment and back in an hour?

PP here. More importantly, the council should quit passing bills to micromanage the schools. While I appreciate their goals, they are not in a position to set managerial policy, so their 'solutions' can create as many problems as they solve. You would think they could have learned something after the stupidno-expulsions, no-suspensions law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe it means that a teacher could go to Dr.'s appt from 10-11am (let's just say that their planning time) and instead of being docked an hour of PTO, make it up by staying from 3:30-4:30 for their planning.

When can you go to a doctor's appointment and back in an hour?

if you have an appointment, many places.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

No
Ma’am. They are required to give input.
Schools had better start offering work settings that mirror the work from home perks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

No
Ma’am. They are required to give input.
Schools had better start offering work settings that mirror the work from home perks.

THIS. 30% of DC teachers left the classroom last year. You can hate on these new initiatives or just admit that DC gov has to do something to retain people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

No
Ma’am. They are required to give input.
Schools had better start offering work settings that mirror the work from home perks.

An IEP meeting has to include a sped teacher and a gen ed teacher unless the parent excuses them. And there are some jobs that can't be done from home -- classroom teaching is one such job. Along with most doctors, nurses, bus drivers, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

No
Ma’am. They are required to give input.
Schools had better start offering work settings that mirror the work from home perks.

Teaching is by its nature not a flexible job. And teachers are usually free by 3:15 and all summer … not to mention three weeks of break during the school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

No
Ma’am. They are required to give input.
Schools had better start offering work settings that mirror the work from home perks.

Teaching is by its nature not a flexible job. And teachers are usually free by 3:15 and all summer … not to mention three weeks of break during the school year.

I’m so tired of hearing this. That simply means that at 3:15, I can pick my own time to do the extra 4 hours of work I still have to get done that day. (Kind of like weekends. I still have to work 10-12 hours, but I can actually pick which hours. Lucky me.) And summers? I figure that’s my break for the 60-70 hour weeks I’ve been working all year. Summer is the only time I can take care of my own needs: my own appointments, my rare chance to get to the gym, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

No
Ma’am. They are required to give input.
Schools had better start offering work settings that mirror the work from home perks.

Teaching is by its nature not a flexible job. And teachers are usually free by 3:15 and all summer … not to mention three weeks of break during the school year.

I’m so tired of hearing this. That simply means that at 3:15, I can pick my own time to do the extra 4 hours of work I still have to get done that day. (Kind of like weekends. I still have to work 10-12 hours, but I can actually pick which hours. Lucky me.) And summers? I figure that’s my break for the 60-70 hour weeks I’ve been working all year. Summer is the only time I can take care of my own needs: my own appointments, my rare chance to get to the gym, etc.

You have all summer off and 3 weeks during the year. If you don’t like the schedule that’s fine, but unless schools are going to increase staff time or decrease instructional time, it’s not feasible to make the job “flexible.” Presumably you chose teaching for a reason rather than a desk job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

No
Ma’am. They are required to give input.
Schools had better start offering work settings that mirror the work from home perks.

Teaching is by its nature not a flexible job. And teachers are usually free by 3:15 and all summer … not to mention three weeks of break during the school year.

I’m so tired of hearing this. That simply means that at 3:15, I can pick my own time to do the extra 4 hours of work I still have to get done that day. (Kind of like weekends. I still have to work 10-12 hours, but I can actually pick which hours. Lucky me.) And summers? I figure that’s my break for the 60-70 hour weeks I’ve been working all year. Summer is the only time I can take care of my own needs: my own appointments, my rare chance to get to the gym, etc.

You have all summer off and 3 weeks during the year. If you don’t like the schedule that’s fine, but unless schools are going to increase staff time or decrease instructional time, it’s not feasible to make the job “flexible.” Presumably you chose teaching for a reason rather than a desk job.

My reason was I wanted to teach, and I’m very, very good at it. I did not sign on to being a martyr, which we now expect of teachers.

I will be quitting, just like many of my coworkers. I shouldn’t be expected to work absurd hours because… summers off. Yes, there is a solution to this problem. Give me work time to get work done. Don’t demand the sacrifice of my nights and weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like a nightmare for schools. How are they going to cover teachers regularly being out for half a day? My kid has an IEP and the teachers are legally required to be present for the meetings, and it's hard enough to coordinate coverage for that.

No
Ma’am. They are required to give input.
Schools had better start offering work settings that mirror the work from home perks.

THIS. 30% of DC teachers left the classroom last year. You can hate on these new initiatives or just admit that DC gov has to do something to retain people.

If DCPS wants to retain teachers they need to pay them more, provide more wrap around supports to high risk kids, more aids in classrooms with a wide range of abilities.