DCPS Employee Return to In Person Work Guidance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a new article that sums up what we know about kids and Covid and schools so far:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/parents-need-facts-kids-covid-19/613744/

Once again, for the friends in the back. This is fine. You can get someone to write anything.
But, make DCPS come up with an ACTUAL plan. With dates and times. Thats it.

If its all good to open up- then make a dammed plan. Why is this so confusing for folks?

All the bored teachers who hang out on DCUM all day are suddenly anti-science when doctors say it’s safe to reopen schools.

Love it.

Parent here. It does no good to harangue teachers that they should suck it up and show up. If teachers don't feel safe no teaching happens, even if they are at less risk than they might think. Period.

It sounds like teachers would be willing to show up if DCPS could show that they will commit and follow a decent plan. If I were the WTU, I'd be asking for a contract for admin as well- that essentially if the cleaning and equipment and monitoring fail to materialize or stay consistent, teachers have the right to take leave and teach from home.

Yes to this, but I don't want to use MY leave when DCPS fails to follow their plan. I will gladly teach from home, but I'm not burning my saved leave just because DCPS is lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a new article that sums up what we know about kids and Covid and schools so far:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/parents-need-facts-kids-covid-19/613744/

Once again, for the friends in the back. This is fine. You can get someone to write anything.
But, make DCPS come up with an ACTUAL plan. With dates and times. Thats it.

If its all good to open up- then make a dammed plan. Why is this so confusing for folks?

All the bored teachers who hang out on DCUM all day are suddenly anti-science when doctors say it’s safe to reopen schools.

Love it.

Parent here. It does no good to harangue teachers that they should suck it up and show up. If teachers don't feel safe no teaching happens, even if they are at less risk than they might think. Period.

It sounds like teachers would be willing to show up if DCPS could show that they will commit and follow a decent plan. If I were the WTU, I'd be asking for a contract for admin as well- that essentially if the cleaning and equipment and monitoring fail to materialize or stay consistent, teachers have the right to take leave and teach from home.

Yes to this, but I don't want to use MY leave when DCPS fails to follow their plan. I will gladly teach from home, but I'm not burning my saved leave just because DCPS is lazy.

PP here. That's what I meant - paid leave. There need to be teeth if DCPS can't hold up their end of the bargain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a new article that sums up what we know about kids and Covid and schools so far:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/parents-need-facts-kids-covid-19/613744/

Once again, for the friends in the back. This is fine. You can get someone to write anything.
But, make DCPS come up with an ACTUAL plan. With dates and times. Thats it.

If its all good to open up- then make a dammed plan. Why is this so confusing for folks?

All the bored teachers who hang out on DCUM all day are suddenly anti-science when doctors say it’s safe to reopen schools.

Love it.

Parent here. It does no good to harangue teachers that they should suck it up and show up. If teachers don't feel safe no teaching happens, even if they are at less risk than they might think. Period.

It sounds like teachers would be willing to show up if DCPS could show that they will commit and follow a decent plan. If I were the WTU, I'd be asking for a contract for admin as well- that essentially if the cleaning and equipment and monitoring fail to materialize or stay consistent, teachers have the right to take leave and teach from home.

Yes to this, but I don't want to use MY leave when DCPS fails to follow their plan. I will gladly teach from home, but I'm not burning my saved leave just because DCPS is lazy.

PP here. That's what I meant - paid leave. There need to be teeth if DCPS can't hold up their end of the bargain.

Well, technically they are offering paid leave--FMLA and the COVID leave that I always forget the name of. FMLA maxes at out $1,000 a week (less than half my salary) and the COVID leave is 2/3 of my salary. I want to work and don't want to be penalized with a salary cut because they don't do what they say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some child care centers never closed during the lockdown. The YMCA has taken care of 40,000 children of essential workers since March. Guess how many coronavirus outbreaks they've had.

Zero.

From NPR:


https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882316641/what-parents-can-learn-from-child-care-centers-that-stayed-open-during-lockdowns

Fear-mongering teachers and policy makers, please note

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:.... and self assessment? Really? You think parents who send their kids in with fevers, ringworm and lice are going to tell the truth? You’ve got to be kidding

The self-assessment is for teachers at least per the OP.

My bad. I just reread it. I hope they don’t ask parents to assess their kids though I kind of think they will!

OK, PP how about you take all the kids temp at the door.... WHAT?? suddenly its OK the parents do it ?

I already purchased my own thermometer for this reason. Thanks for the advice. No one will enter my classroom with fever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a new article that sums up what we know about kids and Covid and schools so far:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/parents-need-facts-kids-covid-19/613744/

Once again, for the friends in the back. This is fine. You can get someone to write anything.
But, make DCPS come up with an ACTUAL plan. With dates and times. Thats it.

If its all good to open up- then make a dammed plan. Why is this so confusing for folks?

All the bored teachers who hang out on DCUM all day are suddenly anti-science when doctors say it’s safe to reopen schools.

Love it.

Parent here. It does no good to harangue teachers that they should suck it up and show up. If teachers don't feel safe no teaching happens, even if they are at less risk than they might think. Period.

It sounds like teachers would be willing to show up if DCPS could show that they will commit and follow a decent plan. If I were the WTU, I'd be asking for a contract for admin as well- that essentially if the cleaning and equipment and monitoring fail to materialize or stay consistent, teachers have the right to take leave and teach from home.

Yes to this, but I don't want to use MY leave when DCPS fails to follow their plan. I will gladly teach from home, but I'm not burning my saved leave just because DCPS is lazy.

PP here. That's what I meant - paid leave. There need to be teeth if DCPS can't hold up their end of the bargain.

Well, technically they are offering paid leave--FMLA and the COVID leave that I always forget the name of. FMLA maxes at out $1,000 a week (less than half my salary) and the COVID leave is 2/3 of my salary. I want to work and don't want to be penalized with a salary cut because they don't do what they say.

FMLA isn't paid leave; it's unpaid leave that guarantees that your job will still be there when you get back, and guarantees you won't lose your insurance coverage while you're taking unpaid leave. (This is from the DOL website: "The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave." (emphasis mine) DC also offers up to 8 weeks of paid family leave, but it's not clear that this would be approved in this situation necessarily (because that could be a LOT of people who are going to opt for that - as opposed to 2-3 pregnancies/care of elderly family members etc. in a normal school year per school.)

There's also at least four different unions involved in this: WTU, the principals'/managers' union, AFSCME (which covers instructional aides/some staff), Teamsters (the custodial staff), plus I'm not sure whether the security guards and cafeteria workers (maybe in a different union?) are part of it too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some child care centers never closed during the lockdown. The YMCA has taken care of 40,000 children of essential workers since March. Guess how many coronavirus outbreaks they've had.

Zero.

From NPR:


https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882316641/what-parents-can-learn-from-child-care-centers-that-stayed-open-during-lockdowns

Fear-mongering teachers and policy makers, please note

I’m just curious... what were their activities during the day? Were they in classes? Did they play all day outside? Were they propped in front of Movie our computer? Or was there teaching going on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a new article that sums up what we know about kids and Covid and schools so far:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/parents-need-facts-kids-covid-19/613744/

Once again, for the friends in the back. This is fine. You can get someone to write anything.
But, make DCPS come up with an ACTUAL plan. With dates and times. Thats it.

If its all good to open up- then make a dammed plan. Why is this so confusing for folks?

All the bored teachers who hang out on DCUM all day are suddenly anti-science when doctors say it’s safe to reopen schools.

Love it.

Parent here. It does no good to harangue teachers that they should suck it up and show up. If teachers don't feel safe no teaching happens, even if they are at less risk than they might think. Period.

It sounds like teachers would be willing to show up if DCPS could show that they will commit and follow a decent plan. If I were the WTU, I'd be asking for a contract for admin as well- that essentially if the cleaning and equipment and monitoring fail to materialize or stay consistent, teachers have the right to take leave and teach from home.

Yes to this, but I don't want to use MY leave when DCPS fails to follow their plan. I will gladly teach from home, but I'm not burning my saved leave just because DCPS is lazy.

PP here. That's what I meant - paid leave. There need to be teeth if DCPS can't hold up their end of the bargain.

Well, technically they are offering paid leave--FMLA and the COVID leave that I always forget the name of. FMLA maxes at out $1,000 a week (less than half my salary) and the COVID leave is 2/3 of my salary. I want to work and don't want to be penalized with a salary cut because they don't do what they say.

FMLA isn't paid leave; it's unpaid leave that guarantees that your job will still be there when you get back, and guarantees you won't lose your insurance coverage while you're taking unpaid leave. (This is from the DOL website: "The FMLA entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons with continuation of group health insurance coverage under the same terms and conditions as if the employee had not taken leave." (emphasis mine) DC also offers up to 8 weeks of paid family leave, but it's not clear that this would be approved in this situation necessarily (because that could be a LOT of people who are going to opt for that - as opposed to 2-3 pregnancies/care of elderly family members etc. in a normal school year per school.)

There's also at least four different unions involved in this: WTU, the principals'/managers' union, AFSCME (which covers instructional aides/some staff), Teamsters (the custodial staff), plus I'm not sure whether the security guards and cafeteria workers (maybe in a different union?) are part of it too.

PPP here. Again I didn't say it right! If the schools don't follow their own health guidance, teachers should be able to switch to all DL and/or take additional leave (not personal leave) until the school gets its act together. This is what I am trying to say, but failing!

[Anonymous]

Let’s not forget bus drivers. They deserve to stay safe also!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some child care centers never closed during the lockdown. The YMCA has taken care of 40,000 children of essential workers since March. Guess how many coronavirus outbreaks they've had.

Zero.

From NPR:


https://www.npr.org/2020/06/24/882316641/what-parents-can-learn-from-child-care-centers-that-stayed-open-during-lockdowns

Funny that what they did is all teachers are asking DCPS to promise to do (and spell out our options for when they don't):

"no more than nine children with each adult."
"Pods didn't mix"
"They did temperature checks and symptom screenings on each child coming in each day, with staff members wearing masks, gloves and gowns where available. Children with symptoms were urged to stay home."
"Staff came up with creative ways to reinforce frequent and thorough hand-washing." (NOTE: I'm assuming all the Ys had soap to wash with, though it doesn't specify.)
"And children get their own materials, such as art supplies, to use from day to day, rather than sharing."

In NYC:
"Face coverings are mandatory for all,"
"Social distancing is maintained as much as possible"
" daily temperature checks of everyone coming in the building are done by school nurses"

For those who didn't read to the end:
""These experiences illustrate that it's possible to bring kids together without a guarantee of an outbreak or a serious situation developing," he explains. On the other hand, they don't guarantee the opposite."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s not forget bus drivers. They deserve to stay safe also!

There are very few DCPS buses.

[Anonymous]

Fine, but then the teachers union should say they support in-person school with appropriate precautions.

Make the common goal in-person school or it won’t happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fine, but then the teachers union should say they support in-person school with appropriate precautions.

Make the common goal in-person school or it won’t happen.

80% of teachers in DCPS have said they won’t return to in-person work until there’s a vaccine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine, but then the teachers union should say they support in-person school with appropriate precautions.

Make the common goal in-person school or it won’t happen.

80% of teachers in DCPS have said they won’t return to in-person work until there’s a vaccine

Well, they’re nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine, but then the teachers union should say they support in-person school with appropriate precautions.

Make the common goal in-person school or it won’t happen.

80% of teachers in DCPS have said they won’t return to in-person work until there’s a vaccine

Source?