After Monday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virtual would likely not be the virtual you had during Covid. From talking with a family friend, her third graders virtual last week was pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid did independently. But the teacher did have an "office" time that a student could log on for help if needed. No class instruction given.

They could do it like the MVA where they had regular full classes. Teachers taught and gave assignments no issue. MCPS has done it for four years. That’s not virtual, that’s independent assignments which is very different. Virtual is a teacher teaching a class online.

Yes, I know what they did during covid, but the county also gave out wifi and had tech services open for families that needed it at that time. They won't do all that for a one off or several day "virtual" emergency day. Due to the equity issues, many counties doing virtual also don't hold the requirement of logging on but instead just submitting the assignments within a reasonable time, often not the same day. So when talking about virtual for emergency days, I think it's better to frame it as what it is, not what it was when there was extended virtual.

[Anonymous]

The high temperature in Rockville today will be 34, so the roads and sidewalks tomorrow will essentially look the same as they look today. MCPS has trapped itself into waiting and waiting. They will probably close Tuesday to help justify the decision to close today.

Bus stops don’t need to be exactly where they usually are. If the usual spot is blocked by ice, just walk 20 or 30 feet to the spot that isn’t blocked. Kids who walk have been walking around my neighborhood without a problem since last Tuesday. For kids with IEPs, if the family hasn’t cleared a path to the street, then they won’t get picked up. How is this different from any other dangerous situation on a student’s property? If your kid needs literal door to door service, then people have to be able to get to your door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The high temperature in Rockville today will be 34, so the roads and sidewalks tomorrow will essentially look the same as they look today. MCPS has trapped itself into waiting and waiting. They will probably close Tuesday to help justify the decision to close today.

Bus stops don’t need to be exactly where they usually are. If the usual spot is blocked by ice, just walk 20 or 30 feet to the spot that isn’t blocked. Kids who walk have been walking around my neighborhood without a problem since last Tuesday. For kids with IEPs, if the family hasn’t cleared a path to the street, then they won’t get picked up. How is this different from any other dangerous situation on a student’s property? If your kid needs literal door to door service, then people have to be able to get to your door.

When a bus gets stuck or a kid on the road gets hit, will you be here still to say it’s ok?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high temperature in Rockville today will be 34, so the roads and sidewalks tomorrow will essentially look the same as they look today. MCPS has trapped itself into waiting and waiting. They will probably close Tuesday to help justify the decision to close today.

Bus stops don’t need to be exactly where they usually are. If the usual spot is blocked by ice, just walk 20 or 30 feet to the spot that isn’t blocked. Kids who walk have been walking around my neighborhood without a problem since last Tuesday. For kids with IEPs, if the family hasn’t cleared a path to the street, then they won’t get picked up. How is this different from any other dangerous situation on a student’s property? If your kid needs literal door to door service, then people have to be able to get to your door.

When a bus gets stuck or a kid on the road gets hit, will you be here still to say it’s ok?

huh. We've had kids struck by buses before. I don't recall snow those days. Was it invisible, high temperature snow? Same for bus breakdowns- are those highly localized cold weather events?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high temperature in Rockville today will be 34, so the roads and sidewalks tomorrow will essentially look the same as they look today. MCPS has trapped itself into waiting and waiting. They will probably close Tuesday to help justify the decision to close today.

Bus stops don’t need to be exactly where they usually are. If the usual spot is blocked by ice, just walk 20 or 30 feet to the spot that isn’t blocked. Kids who walk have been walking around my neighborhood without a problem since last Tuesday. For kids with IEPs, if the family hasn’t cleared a path to the street, then they won’t get picked up. How is this different from any other dangerous situation on a student’s property? If your kid needs literal door to door service, then people have to be able to get to your door.

When a bus gets stuck or a kid on the road gets hit, will you be here still to say it’s ok?

huh. We've had kids struck by buses before. I don't recall snow those days. Was it invisible, high temperature snow? Same for bus breakdowns- are those highly localized cold weather events?

To be fair I can’t recall MCPS opening in the past when there was this much ice and snow piled up blocking walkways. Possibly related to this not happening in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virtual would likely not be the virtual you had during Covid. From talking with a family friend, her third graders virtual last week was pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid did independently. But the teacher did have an "office" time that a student could log on for help if needed. No class instruction given.

They could do it like the MVA where they had regular full classes. Teachers taught and gave assignments no issue. MCPS has done it for four years. That’s not virtual, that’s independent assignments which is very different. Virtual is a teacher teaching a class online.

Right, doing worksheets at home is not virtual school. I would be fine with doing two worksheets at home, although I fail to see how that would count as a day of school.

[Anonymous]

If there is not a ton of ice removal, Tuesday will not be any different than today. I thought Monday is off so teachers can finish up the grading they did not do last Monday?! If they open tomorrow, they could have done it today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Virtual would likely not be the virtual you had during Covid. From talking with a family friend, her third graders virtual last week was pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid did independently. But the teacher did have an "office" time that a student could log on for help if needed. No class instruction given.

You realize that when school is in-person on a school day, third graders are also doing "pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid" does "independently"? More of these parents should spend time in their kid's classrooms. Often the kids who need extra support get it leaving the "independent" ones reading, playing games and on the screen.

[Anonymous]

Is there a chance there won't be school all week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virtual would likely not be the virtual you had during Covid. From talking with a family friend, her third graders virtual last week was pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid did independently. But the teacher did have an "office" time that a student could log on for help if needed. No class instruction given.

You realize that when school is in-person on a school day, third graders are also doing "pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid" does "independently"? More of these parents should spend time in their kid's classrooms. Often the kids who need extra support get it leaving the "independent" ones reading, playing games and on the screen.

This isn’t exactly a strong justification for the MCPS budget. I thought we buried “going to school isn’t important” during Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virtual would likely not be the virtual you had during Covid. From talking with a family friend, her third graders virtual last week was pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid did independently. But the teacher did have an "office" time that a student could log on for help if needed. No class instruction given.

You realize that when school is in-person on a school day, third graders are also doing "pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid" does "independently"? More of these parents should spend time in their kid's classrooms. Often the kids who need extra support get it leaving the "independent" ones reading, playing games and on the screen.

This isn’t exactly a strong justification for the MCPS budget. I thought we buried “going to school isn’t important” during Covid.

Let's talk real here. On most days, what is going on in the classroom? In elementary school? Middle schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get that people are frustrated but MCPS acknowledges that one of the reasons they can’t open is that buses can’t fit down all the streets. I live on one of these streets so I’m not surprised. I understand many are not impressed by the sidewalks argument but what do you all make of the bus thing? What’s the obvious solution?

They can possibly modify bus routes so buses can try to avoid the areas they can't get through? It might require students to walk a bit further or further out of their neighborhood.

MCPS may need something smaller for students that actually need to be picked up at their door and might be something to consider to add into their fleet in the future. But doesn't their print shop and maybe IT department have vans or other MCPS fleet vehicles?

[Anonymous]

They can't possibly open this week if the reason for not opening today is the same for the week. Tomorrow same. Wed wee morning hours more snow on top of snow that hasn't melted. Thurs same temps. Fri possibly more snow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a chance there won't be school all week?

Sure. Next week, too. Unless he changes course, Taylor's plan appears to be waiting for the snow to melt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Virtual would likely not be the virtual you had during Covid. From talking with a family friend, her third graders virtual last week was pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid did independently. But the teacher did have an "office" time that a student could log on for help if needed. No class instruction given.

You realize that when school is in-person on a school day, third graders are also doing "pretty much two quick assignments each day the kid" does "independently"? More of these parents should spend time in their kid's classrooms. Often the kids who need extra support get it leaving the "independent" ones reading, playing games and on the screen.

This isn’t exactly a strong justification for the MCPS budget. I thought we buried “going to school isn’t important” during Covid.

Let's talk real here. On most days, what is going on in the classroom? In elementary school? Middle schools?

Then let’s realize the enrollment drop as budget reduction and flatline per student spending. Sound like a good idea to you? I didn’t think so.