APS Thursday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is Duran showing everyone how much he prioritizes in-person education.

Exactly. Note that he gave himself and his staff the day off as well. By contrast FCPS didn't give their administrative staff the day off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is Duran showing everyone how much he prioritizes in-person education.

Exactly. Note that he gave himself and his staff the day off as well. By contrast FCPS didn't give their administrative staff the day off.

+1 administrators and teachers should all be telework ready.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Exactly. And if their childcare falls through then they get a taxpayer paid day off while the rest of us burn leave or scramble to find alternative arrangements.

What you are failing to see is that APS is reacting to teachers using their leave as needed. You can’t compare your office drone job that can go on with or without you for a day. If you aren’t there and take a day of leave your company can still operate without you. It’s not APS school staff fault that teachers are using their earned leave for childcare when other districts close which then puts APS in a bind and unable to operate because they can’t operate with less than a certain number of staff to supervise kids. Then APS has to make a decision on if they can operate.

And we can’t act like decisions of other counties, especially one as large as FCPS with over 180,000 students, won’t impact APS which is tiny comparatively. A large portion of APS staff lives in Fairfax and Alexandria.

If you run a public service that must be staffed (which I do, not a school) it is common and understood that the service stays open and not all leave requests get approved. Staff know there has to be coverage for them to have leave approved. Sure they could, on a day like this, lie and call in sick. But when you set the expectations and culture that not all leave requests will be approved, the public service is going to open, your colleagues are showing up and if you don’t you’re leaving them in a lurch… people behave differently and somehow manage to figure it out.

Do you think hospitals, doctor’s offices, libraries, grocery stores, or anything much else will be closed today? No. People who are supposed to work will figure it out.

This. There is now an expectation that if enough of them call out they’ll get the paid snow day. What incentive is there for them to pay for snow day camps, backup sitters, ask their spouse to take off, etc.? We act as if it’s impossible for APS to do what many other organizations do. And don’t just disregard “complainers” as being in the office working class and not understanding. Do you think hourly workers have the luxury of just calling out and not losing their jobs? Somehow grocery stores will manage to stay staffed. Essential workers have to figure out a way to go in.

APS has now created a certain culture of catering to leave requests that could be hard to overcome. We weren’t bound to larger jurisdictions like Fairfax and Loudoun when it came to reopening schools more days last year, but now we are tying our decisions to them when they close.

I guess y’all don’t go to the library much. Not big readers, I take it?

https://library.arlingtonva.us/2022/01/17/operations-update-covid-19-related-staffing-shortages/

The stuff you’re talking about is nonsense. For years and years and years APS has been fully operational during weather events when other districts have not been. In every industry, you have folks that must use their leave to care for their children at some time or another. APS is no different. However, in the middle of a pandemic, things happen, and that closure, that once, did affect their ability of operate that Thursday. You guys are going to believe what you want to, but this stuff about teachers not wanting to come to work is just not true. Flights have been cancelled. Supply chains broken down. But God forbid your children’s teachers should get a pass.

Why would you post that announcement from Arlington Public Library? What point are you making?

We all know there are covid-related staffing issues. We all know that on top of those covid-related staffing issues, if more staff take off due to childcare when a neighbor district is closing, this is now apparently going to tip the scales and we will close too. The point some people are trying to make is to check the underlying assumption that childcare issues on a weather day are an automatic pass for all the teachers. When this is not generally the case in any other industry.

By the way, except for those two locations. Arlington's libraries are open today business as usual. Do you think some of those library staff have school aged children?

You post about libraries being open, but don’t like it when confronted with the reality that they, too, are short-staffed. I’m sure some of them are caring for children. “Only 2” of 10… so 80%? How does that play out in a school environment, do you think? There is a point where I believe it becomes a safety issue, don’t you!

True story - the APS Library director is one of, if not the, highest paid Arlington Co employee. I believe it's close to $200K. All that for sitting at home and making youtube videos. So if you ever think those youtubers can't make good money.......

DP. Will you give it up with the stupid obsessive library posts? They are complete off topic which is rude AF.

Well, I just don’t understand- why don’t we hate them, too? Because we don’t use the library?

I do use the library, and I think you’re an enormous jack wagon. Maybe you should try not being completely self-absorbed for a few minutes - it could be an enlightening experience!

Wow. I’m really disappointed that someone touting how libraries are open, grocery stores are doing great, and all is well thinks poorly of me. Poster doesn’t like that argument any more! It’s not working for them! Make it stop!

Dear lord, learn to read. I am not that poster.

I get it. I need to stop addressing that poster, who clearly thinks teachers are lazy and have it good, compared to the libraries, airlines, grocery stores. Taking leave to care for children, because no other industry does that! That’s not what you would like to talk about. Please, direct the conversation.

I was the original poster who brought up libraries and it's a very good argument and I still like it quite a lot. Teachers do have it good compared to all these other professions.

The fact pattern.

-Libraries are a taxpayer funded service, like schools
-Libraries are staffed by government workers, like schools
-Libraries face covid-related staffing challenges, like schools
-Libraries have been forced to make operational adjustments and sometimes reduce services due to covid--related staffing challenged, like schools

Where is the difference? Libraries still opening up today same as yesterday. Libraries are behaving as if they have some type of obligation to be open to the public. No other profession seems to think it's normal to say out loud to the community that they can't open because their staff have to watch their kids.

Ditto for these other professions.

Ditto for the maintenance workers who when schools close are told to report at their usual times. These are low paid workers who have to get to schools early to shovel walks and ensure the building systems are operating. Sure, they are important. But it grates me that Duran and his bloated office staff get days off when he is requiring the maintenance workers to work. At the least I want to see pictures of Duran and his school board ladies passing out sandwiches and hot chocolate to those maintenance workers.

That man is turning me into a damn socialist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids can be a major inconvenience. They are time and money sucks. They can wreak havoc on a job, especially when they get sick or their school closes for whatever reason. But I chose to have these kids and undertake the inconveniences that go along with them. Sometimes it can really suck, but why is a good faith call, made in reasonable reliance on a region-wide weather advisory alert, the cause of so much complaining? This is part of having a kid.

No need to be an imperious jerk.

Kids are not wreaking havoc on jobs, the ongoing pandemic and lack of safety net wreaks havoc on our jobs. It's harder to find back-up care, and many parents (a disproportionate number of women) have burned through their leave.

I disagree that this was a good faith call so I'm going to complain about it and try to prevent it from happening again. I'm also going to advocate for my kid to have a better education. They deserve better than this.

This is the crux of it. I also disagree with this. I thought the full week closure, while unfortunate was all done in good faith. This one, nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids can be a major inconvenience. They are time and money sucks. They can wreak havoc on a job, especially when they get sick or their school closes for whatever reason. But I chose to have these kids and undertake the inconveniences that go along with them. Sometimes it can really suck, but why is a good faith call, made in reasonable reliance on a region-wide weather advisory alert, the cause of so much complaining? This is part of having a kid.

No need to be an imperious jerk.

Kids are not wreaking havoc on jobs, the ongoing pandemic and lack of safety net wreaks havoc on our jobs. It's harder to find back-up care, and many parents (a disproportionate number of women) have burned through their leave.

I disagree that this was a good faith call so I'm going to complain about it and try to prevent it from happening again. I'm also going to advocate for my kid to have a better education. They deserve better than this.

This is the crux of it. I also disagree with this. I thought the full week closure, while unfortunate was all done in good faith. This one, nope.

I have been a teacher in APS for almost 2 decades now. While I think the call to close schools today was a huge mistake, I do think it was just that--a mistake. I am basing this on all my years of experience and knowing that we have had school canceled for nothing but rain several times before, when COVID and burnout and sub shortages, etc. were not factors. I can remember my first year of teaching, when I was young and single and got up one winter morning and drove myself to school to find out it was a snow day. I'm from the south and used to freak out at the slightest bit of flurries or slush, but the forecast and actual weather were so mild that it hadn't even occurred to me to check to see if school was canceled. (This was before texts from the schools.) We've had other ridiculous "rain days" since then, and we'll have them again. Like I said, this was a terrible call, but no one is out there trying to deprive your child of an education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is Duran showing everyone how much he prioritizes in-person education.

Exactly. Note that he gave himself and his staff the day off as well. By contrast FCPS didn't give their administrative staff the day off.

+1 administrators and teachers should all be telework ready.

+1. If you can’t be telework ready due to childcare problems, then you burn a PTO day. Just like the rest of us. And if you call out and the school has to close due to lack of staffing, you also burn a PTO day. When you run out, your leave is unpaid. Just like the rest of us.

[Anonymous]

Capital Weather Gang thinks you're all a-holes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is Duran showing everyone how much he prioritizes in-person education.

Exactly. Note that he gave himself and his staff the day off as well. By contrast FCPS didn't give their administrative staff the day off.

+1 administrators and teachers should all be telework ready.

+1. If you can’t be telework ready due to childcare problems, then you burn a PTO day. Just like the rest of us. And if you call out and the school has to close due to lack of staffing, you also burn a PTO day. When you run out, your leave is unpaid. Just like the rest of us.

You know what? I’m a teacher, and I’m sorry, the occasional snow day is indeed a perk of the job. I feel that I make ip for it other ways, like not being able to go to the bathroom all day, working through my lunch, or writing sub plans when I’ve got a fever of 102. I am sure there are perks of your jobs is he envious of, too, and some of you need to just get over it. Really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is Duran showing everyone how much he prioritizes in-person education.

Exactly. Note that he gave himself and his staff the day off as well. By contrast FCPS didn't give their administrative staff the day off.

+1 administrators and teachers should all be telework ready.

+1. If you can’t be telework ready due to childcare problems, then you burn a PTO day. Just like the rest of us. And if you call out and the school has to close due to lack of staffing, you also burn a PTO day. When you run out, your leave is unpaid. Just like the rest of us.

You know what? I’m a teacher, and I’m sorry, the occasional snow day is indeed a perk of the job. I feel that I make ip for it other ways, like not being able to go to the bathroom all day, working through my lunch, or writing sub plans when I’ve got a fever of 102. I am sure there are perks of your jobs is he envious of, too, and some of you need to just get over it. Really.

Please ignore the typos. I can write, I promise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Capital Weather Gang thinks you're all a-holes.

And they’re right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is Duran showing everyone how much he prioritizes in-person education.

Exactly. Note that he gave himself and his staff the day off as well. By contrast FCPS didn't give their administrative staff the day off.

+1 administrators and teachers should all be telework ready.

+1. If you can’t be telework ready due to childcare problems, then you burn a PTO day. Just like the rest of us. And if you call out and the school has to close due to lack of staffing, you also burn a PTO day. When you run out, your leave is unpaid. Just like the rest of us.

You know what? I’m a teacher, and I’m sorry, the occasional snow day is indeed a perk of the job. I feel that I make ip for it other ways, like not being able to go to the bathroom all day, working through my lunch, or writing sub plans when I’ve got a fever of 102. I am sure there are perks of your jobs is he envious of, too, and some of you need to just get over it. Really.

There's a difference between an actual snow day and schools closing because too many teachers called out. If schools are closing because teachers are requesting leave then they should absolutely be charged leave.

Central office staff also don't fall in any of the categories you mention. They should still be working today just like all other office workers in the region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital Weather Gang thinks you're all a-holes.

And they’re right.

Agreed. I’ve worked in APS long enough to remember parents complaining about the call to delay or close coming in too late (I remember getting one at 6 am…and plenty of parents on this board were livid and swore APS hated their children.) APS listened and now makes calls the night before in order to meet parents’ requests for time to make arrangements, and it’s not enough for some.

I also remember the time that we were the only school district open during a similar tricky forecast…and it actually snowed. There was a bus accident that day, and at least one special needs bus was stuck on the road filled with a few special needs kids that started to have meltdowns. I also remember another time when we were the only ones to open, and the roads weren’t treated. My commute and others were doubled that day…and I had coworkers who had to leave their cars down the road and walk in.

Districts rely on weather professionals to make forecasts. They make decisions based on the information they have at the time that are aligned with policies put in place, such as the evening deadline to get a decision out to the community. Was today a bad call? Should kids be in school? Yes…but the blame should be on the meteorologists, not the school leadership.

[Anonymous]

nony

mous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Exactly. And if their childcare falls through then they get a taxpayer paid day off while the rest of us burn leave or scramble to find alternative arrangements.



What you are failing to see is that APS is reacting to teachers using their leave as needed. You can’t compare your office drone job that can go on with or without you for a day. If you aren’t there and take a day of leave your company can still operate without you. It’s not APS school staff fault that teachers are using their earned leave for childcare when other districts close which then puts APS in a bind and unable to operate because they can’t operate with less than a certain number of staff to supervise kids. Then APS has to make a decision on if they can operate.

And we can’t act like decisions of other counties, especially one as large as FCPS with over 180,000 students, won’t impact APS which is tiny comparatively. A large portion of APS staff lives in Fairfax and Alexandria.



If you run a public service that must be staffed (which I do, not a school) it is common and understood that the service stays open and not all leave requests get approved. Staff know there has to be coverage for them to have leave approved. Sure they could, on a day like this, lie and call in sick. But when you set the expectations and culture that not all leave requests will be approved, the public service is going to open, your colleagues are showing up and if you don’t you’re leaving them in a lurch… people behave differently and somehow manage to figure it out.

Do you think hospitals, doctor’s offices, libraries, grocery stores, or anything much else will be closed today? No. People who are supposed to work will figure it out.



This. There is now an expectation that if enough of them call out they’ll get the paid snow day. What incentive is there for them to pay for snow day camps, backup sitters, ask their spouse to take off, etc.? We act as if it’s impossible for APS to do what many other organizations do. And don’t just disregard “complainers” as being in the office working class and not understanding. Do you think hourly workers have the luxury of just calling out and not losing their jobs? Somehow grocery stores will manage to stay staffed. Essential workers have to figure out a way to go in.

APS has now created a certain culture of catering to leave requests that could be hard to overcome. We weren’t bound to larger jurisdictions like Fairfax and Loudoun when it came to reopening schools more days last year, but now we are tying our decisions to them when they close.



I guess y’all don’t go to the library much. Not big readers, I take it?

https://library.arlingtonva.us/2022/01/17/operatio...19-related-staffing-shortages/

The stuff you’re talking about is nonsense. For years and years and years APS has been fully operational during weather events when other districts have not been. In every industry, you have folks that must use their leave to care for their children at some time or another. APS is no different. However, in the middle of a pandemic, things happen, and that closure, that once, did affect their ability of operate that Thursday. You guys are going to believe what you want to, but this stuff about teachers not wanting to come to work is just not true. Flights have been cancelled. Supply chains broken down. But God forbid your children’s teachers should get a pass.



Why would you post that announcement from Arlington Public Library? What point are you making?

We all know there are covid-related staffing issues. We all know that on top of those covid-related staffing issues, if more staff take off due to childcare when a neighbor district is closing, this is now apparently going to tip the scales and we will close too. The point some people are trying to make is to check the underlying assumption that childcare issues on a weather day are an automatic pass for all the teachers. When this is not generally the case in any other industry.

By the way, except for those two locations. Arlington's libraries are open today business as usual. Do you think some of those library staff have school aged children?



You post about libraries being open, but don’t like it when confronted with the reality that they, too, are short-staffed. I’m sure some of them are caring for children. “Only 2” of 10… so 80%? How does that play out in a school environment, do you think? There is a point where I believe it becomes a safety issue, don’t you!



True story - the APS Library director is one of, if not the, highest paid Arlington Co employee. I believe it's close to $200K. All that for sitting at home and making youtube videos. So if you ever think those youtubers can't make good money.......


DP. Will you give it up with the stupid obsessive library posts? They are complete off topic which is rude AF.



Well, I just don’t understand- why don’t we hate them, too? Because we don’t use the library?



I do use the library, and I think you’re an enormous jack wagon. Maybe you should try not being completely self-absorbed for a few minutes - it could be an enlightening experience!



Wow. I’m really disappointed that someone touting how libraries are open, grocery stores are doing great, and all is well thinks poorly of me. Poster doesn’t like that argument any more! It’s not working for them! Make it stop!



Dear lord, learn to read. I am not that poster.



I get it. I need to stop addressing that poster, who clearly thinks teachers are lazy and have it good, compared to the libraries, airlines, grocery stores. Taking leave to care for children, because no other industry does that! That’s not what you would like to talk about. Please, direct the conversation.



I was the original poster who brought up libraries and it's a very good argument and I still like it quite a lot. Teachers do have it good compared to all these other professions.

The fact pattern.

-Libraries are a taxpayer funded service, like schools
-Libraries are staffed by government workers, like schools
-Libraries face covid-related staffing challenges, like schools
-Libraries have been forced to make operational adjustments and sometimes reduce services due to covid--related staffing challenged, like schools

Where is the difference? Libraries still opening up today same as yesterday. Libraries are behaving as if they have some type of obligation to be open to the public. No other profession seems to think it's normal to say out loud to the community that they can't open because their staff have to watch their kids.

Ditto for these other professions.



First, no one is saying the above. They cancelled because we were supposed to get snow, which we didn't, but that's a weatherperson fail. They cancelled to protect your children from harm as walkers and bus riders. That is why they cancel on a weather day.
Next, show me a librarian at a public library who is responsible for teaching and supervising a group of 25 kids all day, or groups of 25-50 kids all day long as part of their job. I'll wait.



Wait, jumping in here. I am a public librarian. I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Are you suggesting public librarians have easy jobs that can't compare to teachers? Possibly you are genuinely not aware of what public librarians deal with interacting with the general public in an urban environment.

Um, no. I am saying that the jobs are not directly comparable, as a PP was trying to suggest. I am aware that librarians have difficult jobs, but their jobs do not involve direct, minute-to-minute supervision and teaching of children for extended periods of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capital Weather Gang thinks you're all a-holes.

And they’re right.

Agreed. I’ve worked in APS long enough to remember parents complaining about the call to delay or close coming in too late (I remember getting one at 6 am…and plenty of parents on this board were livid and swore APS hated their children.) APS listened and now makes calls the night before in order to meet parents’ requests for time to make arrangements, and it’s not enough for some.

I also remember the time that we were the only school district open during a similar tricky forecast…and it actually snowed. There was a bus accident that day, and at least one special needs bus was stuck on the road filled with a few special needs kids that started to have meltdowns. I also remember another time when we were the only ones to open, and the roads weren’t treated. My commute and others were doubled that day…and I had coworkers who had to leave their cars down the road and walk in.

Districts rely on weather professionals to make forecasts. They make decisions based on the information they have at the time that are aligned with policies put in place, such as the evening deadline to get a decision out to the community. Was today a bad call? Should kids be in school? Yes…but the blame should be on the meteorologists, not the school leadership.

x1 million

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids can be a major inconvenience. They are time and money sucks. They can wreak havoc on a job, especially when they get sick or their school closes for whatever reason. But I chose to have these kids and undertake the inconveniences that go along with them. Sometimes it can really suck, but why is a good faith call, made in reasonable reliance on a region-wide weather advisory alert, the cause of so much complaining? This is part of having a kid.

No need to be an imperious jerk.

Kids are not wreaking havoc on jobs, the ongoing pandemic and lack of safety net wreaks havoc on our jobs. It's harder to find back-up care, and many parents (a disproportionate number of women) have burned through their leave.

I disagree that this was a good faith call so I'm going to complain about it and try to prevent it from happening again. I'm also going to advocate for my kid to have a better education. They deserve better than this.

This is the crux of it. I also disagree with this. I thought the full week closure, while unfortunate was all done in good faith. This one, nope.

I have been a teacher in APS for almost 2 decades now. While I think the call to close schools today was a huge mistake, I do think it was just that--a mistake. I am basing this on all my years of experience and knowing that we have had school canceled for nothing but rain several times before, when COVID and burnout and sub shortages, etc. were not factors. I can remember my first year of teaching, when I was young and single and got up one winter morning and drove myself to school to find out it was a snow day. I'm from the south and used to freak out at the slightest bit of flurries or slush, but the forecast and actual weather were so mild that it hadn't even occurred to me to check to see if school was canceled. (This was before texts from the schools.) We've had other ridiculous "rain days" since then, and we'll have them again. Like I said, this was a terrible call, but no one is out there trying to deprive your child of an education.

x1000 Same. I have 20+ years in another NoVa district. Today was a case of they were darned if they did and they were darned if they didn't. I am glad they erred on the side of caution. No one wants buses sliding around or kids walking on icy streets because they live on roads without sidewalks to get to school.

Stop with the teacher bashing. The constant vilification is driving away all of the teachers. None of our schools are fully staffed and it is a daily struggle to get people in to even monitor classrooms. What will you do when we cannot even do that?

The teachers who are left are the ones who are committed. At some point even we will give up against the constant degradation. This is just a job. It isn't worth what you're putting us through for other peoples' decisions.