MCPS will now send kids home for ten days based on symptoms only

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes McKnight look petty and incompetent. She has the power to question the policy provided to her. She either chose not to or rushed and did not care to read, now she’s fingerpointing. My hopes for her just went downhill.

You go to war with the army you have. Not the one you wish you had.

DHHS has been running roughshod over MCPS for a year and a half. About time they got called out for the absurdity.

It’s not DHHS, it’s Gayles. Let’s be clear here. He’s basically just given the county a big F-U on the way out the door. He’s probably hoping this generates hate messages that he can point to as justification.

McKnight isn't playing 12th-dimensional chess here. I'd have to assume that she believed that Gayles was operating in good faith. He wasn't, it's operationally foolish policy, there was already huge blowback, and she quickly levied all the blame on him in this update. However, by saying she's following DHHS guidance, she's effectively laid the groundwork to work with DHHS to start fixing his intentional messes next week. I'd expect some ongoing course corrections over the next few weeks until they land on something that's regionally/nationally consistent.

I'm sure MCPS pushed back on DHHS before publishing DHHS's quarantine protocol. It was asinine on its face and worse on close inspection. MPCS may have problems, but that guidance was unworkable and MCPS generated the blowback needed to get it removed. Pointing a finger at (or giving the finger to) DHHS/Gayles was entirely appropriate.

What makes you so sure?

Honestly, after watching the BOE and MCPS staff closely for the last 18 months, they generally fawn over Gayles and put him up on a pedestal.

If I had to take a guess, the response was "Ok, Travis. We'll do that. Thank you again for all your tireless work. You're an incredible asset to this county and will be sorely missed"

Then a 20 minute round of thanks and congratulations to everyone that was in attendance

[Anonymous]

I’ve attempted to read through the many pages of this thread and am consulting the VERY confusing guidance from my school which does not in any way reference testing a symptomatic child - or even testing at all.

Questions I have that I’d love clarity on (sent these to my school’s principal with no response - yet):

1. If my unvaccinated child (ES) or a classmate have a designated symptom, are they tested at school or is it my responsibility to get them tested?

2. If it’s my responsibility (or parents’ responsibility) to test and my child has a NEGATIVE test, when can they return to school assuming they are not sick - e.g., no fever, diarrhea, vomiting, etc that even pre-Covid would warrant keeping kids home.

3. If my child has a positive test and stays home for 10 days, are they automatically allowed back in school assuming they are asymptomatic? Or do they need to test negative again? And who is responsible for the testing?


I’d value any insights PPs can share. It’s so frustrating that these basic questions aren’t clearly addressed. My school’s guidance literally doesn’t mention testing - the latest email came out yesterday evening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve attempted to read through the many pages of this thread and am consulting the VERY confusing guidance from my school which does not in any way reference testing a symptomatic child - or even testing at all.

Questions I have that I’d love clarity on (sent these to my school’s principal with no response - yet):

1. If my unvaccinated child (ES) or a classmate have a designated symptom, are they tested at school or is it my responsibility to get them tested?

2. If it’s my responsibility (or parents’ responsibility) to test and my child has a NEGATIVE test, when can they return to school assuming they are not sick - e.g., no fever, diarrhea, vomiting, etc that even pre-Covid would warrant keeping kids home.

3. If my child has a positive test and stays home for 10 days, are they automatically allowed back in school assuming they are asymptomatic? Or do they need to test negative again? And who is responsible for the testing?


I’d value any insights PPs can share. It’s so frustrating that these basic questions aren’t clearly addressed. My school’s guidance literally doesn’t mention testing - the latest email came out yesterday evening.

They have no idea because they didn't bother to plan for this. Who could have known they might need to test some kids for Covid? https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-will-use-rapid-covid-19-tests-when-students-have-possible-symptoms/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve attempted to read through the many pages of this thread and am consulting the VERY confusing guidance from my school which does not in any way reference testing a symptomatic child - or even testing at all.

Questions I have that I’d love clarity on (sent these to my school’s principal with no response - yet):

1. If my unvaccinated child (ES) or a classmate have a designated symptom, are they tested at school or is it my responsibility to get them tested?

2. If it’s my responsibility (or parents’ responsibility) to test and my child has a NEGATIVE test, when can they return to school assuming they are not sick - e.g., no fever, diarrhea, vomiting, etc that even pre-Covid would warrant keeping kids home.

3. If my child has a positive test and stays home for 10 days, are they automatically allowed back in school assuming they are asymptomatic? Or do they need to test negative again? And who is responsible for the testing?


I’d value any insights PPs can share. It’s so frustrating that these basic questions aren’t clearly addressed. My school’s guidance literally doesn’t mention testing - the latest email came out yesterday evening.

They have no idea because they didn't bother to plan for this. Who could have known they might need to test some kids for Covid? https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-will-use-rapid-covid-19-tests-when-students-have-possible-symptoms/

So reading this, if the symptomatic child doesn’t get a test all the classmates stay quarantined even if they themselves test negative? And it sounds like schools do the testing so if a parent declines a test, tough toenails for the rest of the classroom?

Hopefully, I’m reading that wrong and just confused ….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes McKnight look petty and incompetent. She has the power to question the policy provided to her. She either chose not to or rushed and did not care to read, now she’s fingerpointing. My hopes for her just went downhill.

You go to war with the army you have. Not the one you wish you had.

DHHS has been running roughshod over MCPS for a year and a half. About time they got called out for the absurdity.

It’s not DHHS, it’s Gayles. Let’s be clear here. He’s basically just given the county a big F-U on the way out the door. He’s probably hoping this generates hate messages that he can point to as justification.

McKnight isn't playing 12th-dimensional chess here. I'd have to assume that she believed that Gayles was operating in good faith. He wasn't, it's operationally foolish policy, there was already huge blowback, and she quickly levied all the blame on him in this update. However, by saying she's following DHHS guidance, she's effectively laid the groundwork to work with DHHS to start fixing his intentional messes next week. I'd expect some ongoing course corrections over the next few weeks until they land on something that's regionally/nationally consistent.

I'm sure MCPS pushed back on DHHS before publishing DHHS's quarantine protocol. It was asinine on its face and worse on close inspection. MPCS may have problems, but that guidance was unworkable and MCPS generated the blowback needed to get it removed. Pointing a finger at (or giving the finger to) DHHS/Gayles was entirely appropriate.

What makes you so sure?

Honestly, after watching the BOE and MCPS staff closely for the last 18 months, they generally fawn over Gayles and put him up on a pedestal.

If I had to take a guess, the response was "Ok, Travis. We'll do that. Thank you again for all your tireless work. You're an incredible asset to this county and will be sorely missed"

Then a 20 minute round of thanks and congratulations to everyone that was in attendance

+100000

Even now you won’t find a single person in county government criticizing him. It’s incredible.

[Anonymous]

What is the policy for unvaccinated siblings of kids who are in quarantine? For example, if my 7 year old is quarantined because she or a classmate have a symptom, do I keep my 9 year old home, too. Theoretically she’s on close contact with a child who’s been exposed to COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes McKnight look petty and incompetent. She has the power to question the policy provided to her. She either chose not to or rushed and did not care to read, now she’s fingerpointing. My hopes for her just went downhill.

You go to war with the army you have. Not the one you wish you had.

DHHS has been running roughshod over MCPS for a year and a half. About time they got called out for the absurdity.

It’s not DHHS, it’s Gayles. Let’s be clear here. He’s basically just given the county a big F-U on the way out the door. He’s probably hoping this generates hate messages that he can point to as justification.

McKnight isn't playing 12th-dimensional chess here. I'd have to assume that she believed that Gayles was operating in good faith. He wasn't, it's operationally foolish policy, there was already huge blowback, and she quickly levied all the blame on him in this update. However, by saying she's following DHHS guidance, she's effectively laid the groundwork to work with DHHS to start fixing his intentional messes next week. I'd expect some ongoing course corrections over the next few weeks until they land on something that's regionally/nationally consistent.

I'm sure MCPS pushed back on DHHS before publishing DHHS's quarantine protocol. It was asinine on its face and worse on close inspection. MPCS may have problems, but that guidance was unworkable and MCPS generated the blowback needed to get it removed. Pointing a finger at (or giving the finger to) DHHS/Gayles was entirely appropriate.

What makes you so sure?

Honestly, after watching the BOE and MCPS staff closely for the last 18 months, they generally fawn over Gayles and put him up on a pedestal.

If I had to take a guess, the response was "Ok, Travis. We'll do that. Thank you again for all your tireless work. You're an incredible asset to this county and will be sorely missed"

Then a 20 minute round of thanks and congratulations to everyone that was in attendance

+100000

Even now you won’t find a single person in county government criticizing him. It’s incredible.

I don't know how you read this and think MCPS pushed back on Gayles. They don't question him or think anything through. They sent out vague guidance to individual schools before they made the public announcement on Friday. If this was some kind of chess move they would have announced it publicly first, and let parents freak out and demand it be rescinded https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools...udents-have-possible-symptoms/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the policy for unvaccinated siblings of kids who are in quarantine? For example, if my 7 year old is quarantined because she or a classmate have a symptom, do I keep my 9 year old home, too. Theoretically she’s on close contact with a child who’s been exposed to COVID.

The CDC says contacts of a contact don’t need to quarantine unless the original contact eventually tests positive or shows symptoms.

Just keep a close eye on everyone for symptoms, and get the quarantined kid a test within 3-5 days of their exposure. If they test positive, then the whole family needs to quarantine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So everyone who doesn't opt in now gets their kids sent hope with symptoms.

Better opt in if you want your kid staying in school.

No, because the way the current system works is that people are released from quarantine only when the person who had symptoms tests negative. They can't release themselves from quarantine from a negative test. So if the current guidance stays, and the symptomatic student hasn't opted into tested, then everyone is forced to quarantine.

They still need to rescind the guidance and go back to CDC/MD standard.

Majority of parents don't want testing or they'd opt in. So, these are the rules. Deal with it. Many parents will send their sick kids to school.

Nah. People are just lazy.

+1. Opt in requires effort. There are also many who don’t see the value in asymptomatic testing, but do see the value in testing symptomatic students. The problem is that now there is a lot of confusion with two different testing programs and procedures, and policies that seem to change every day.

Yes. I do want my symptomatic kid to be tested before the entire class gets quarantined (assuming I actually sent him to school, which I wouldn't!). I do not see value in testing asymptomatic kids.

+1

[Anonymous]

Just want to point out they’re not even informing the school community when a class is quarantined for symptoms rather than a positive test. So it fuels the gossip train and creates a lot more confusion with the lack of transparency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve attempted to read through the many pages of this thread and am consulting the VERY confusing guidance from my school which does not in any way reference testing a symptomatic child - or even testing at all.

Questions I have that I’d love clarity on (sent these to my school’s principal with no response - yet):

1. If my unvaccinated child (ES) or a classmate have a designated symptom, are they tested at school or is it my responsibility to get them tested?

2. If it’s my responsibility (or parents’ responsibility) to test and my child has a NEGATIVE test, when can they return to school assuming they are not sick - e.g., no fever, diarrhea, vomiting, etc that even pre-Covid would warrant keeping kids home.

3. If my child has a positive test and stays home for 10 days, are they automatically allowed back in school assuming they are asymptomatic? Or do they need to test negative again? And who is responsible for the testing?


I’d value any insights PPs can share. It’s so frustrating that these basic questions aren’t clearly addressed. My school’s guidance literally doesn’t mention testing - the latest email came out yesterday evening.

They have no idea because they didn't bother to plan for this. Who could have known they might need to test some kids for Covid? https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-will-use-rapid-covid-19-tests-when-students-have-possible-symptoms/

Come on, now. These are unprecedented times. The pandemic is a rapidly changing situation and requires the flexibility to pivot. We are acting out of an abundance of caution and following the science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes McKnight look petty and incompetent. She has the power to question the policy provided to her. She either chose not to or rushed and did not care to read, now she’s fingerpointing. My hopes for her just went downhill.

You go to war with the army you have. Not the one you wish you had.

DHHS has been running roughshod over MCPS for a year and a half. About time they got called out for the absurdity.

It’s not DHHS, it’s Gayles. Let’s be clear here. He’s basically just given the county a big F-U on the way out the door. He’s probably hoping this generates hate messages that he can point to as justification.

McKnight isn't playing 12th-dimensional chess here. I'd have to assume that she believed that Gayles was operating in good faith. He wasn't, it's operationally foolish policy, there was already huge blowback, and she quickly levied all the blame on him in this update. However, by saying she's following DHHS guidance, she's effectively laid the groundwork to work with DHHS to start fixing his intentional messes next week. I'd expect some ongoing course corrections over the next few weeks until they land on something that's regionally/nationally consistent.

I'm sure MCPS pushed back on DHHS before publishing DHHS's quarantine protocol. It was asinine on its face and worse on close inspection. MPCS may have problems, but that guidance was unworkable and MCPS generated the blowback needed to get it removed. Pointing a finger at (or giving the finger to) DHHS/Gayles was entirely appropriate.

What makes you so sure?

Honestly, after watching the BOE and MCPS staff closely for the last 18 months, they generally fawn over Gayles and put him up on a pedestal.

If I had to take a guess, the response was "Ok, Travis. We'll do that. Thank you again for all your tireless work. You're an incredible asset to this county and will be sorely missed"

Then a 20 minute round of thanks and congratulations to everyone that was in attendance

Who wouldn't fawn over Gayles? The guy did a great job keeping people safe and standing up to the open at all costs crowd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just want to point out they’re not even informing the school community when a class is quarantined for symptoms rather than a positive test. So it fuels the gossip train and creates a lot more confusion with the lack of transparency.

You are free and even encouraged to get a test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just want to point out they’re not even informing the school community when a class is quarantined for symptoms rather than a positive test. So it fuels the gossip train and creates a lot more confusion with the lack of transparency.

You are free and even encouraged to get a test.

What I meant was, if a third grade class is quarantined at my school and my child is in a different class, the school doesn’t even tell me there was a symptomatic situation in the building. Maybe my child played with the child at recess, maybe the kid vomited in the art room and my kid was in there the next period. Maybe I would get a test if I were informed!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This makes McKnight look petty and incompetent. She has the power to question the policy provided to her. She either chose not to or rushed and did not care to read, now she’s fingerpointing. My hopes for her just went downhill.

You go to war with the army you have. Not the one you wish you had.

DHHS has been running roughshod over MCPS for a year and a half. About time they got called out for the absurdity.

It’s not DHHS, it’s Gayles. Let’s be clear here. He’s basically just given the county a big F-U on the way out the door. He’s probably hoping this generates hate messages that he can point to as justification.

McKnight isn't playing 12th-dimensional chess here. I'd have to assume that she believed that Gayles was operating in good faith. He wasn't, it's operationally foolish policy, there was already huge blowback, and she quickly levied all the blame on him in this update. However, by saying she's following DHHS guidance, she's effectively laid the groundwork to work with DHHS to start fixing his intentional messes next week. I'd expect some ongoing course corrections over the next few weeks until they land on something that's regionally/nationally consistent.

I'm sure MCPS pushed back on DHHS before publishing DHHS's quarantine protocol. It was asinine on its face and worse on close inspection. MPCS may have problems, but that guidance was unworkable and MCPS generated the blowback needed to get it removed. Pointing a finger at (or giving the finger to) DHHS/Gayles was entirely appropriate.

What makes you so sure?

Honestly, after watching the BOE and MCPS staff closely for the last 18 months, they generally fawn over Gayles and put him up on a pedestal.

If I had to take a guess, the response was "Ok, Travis. We'll do that. Thank you again for all your tireless work. You're an incredible asset to this county and will be sorely missed"

Then a 20 minute round of thanks and congratulations to everyone that was in attendance

Who wouldn't fawn over Gayles? The guy did a great job keeping people safe and standing up to the open at all costs crowd.

Can you explain exactly what he did that was superior to Fairfax, Howard or Frederick counties that led to better outcomes. Just one thing? Because I’m pretty sure that Moco had more cases per capita than those jurisdictions.