WTU is demanding a "plan & policy for next week & Jan"

[Anonymous]

The problem is that we don't have enough tests.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I’d like to see everyone tested to return but that is a pipe dream.

My school constantly let’s children with 2 or more symptoms in the building. And not all families will test.

You may hate it but I am for 1 week of virtual after winter break. At least to make sure no one is sick. I have already gotten covid this year due to a unvaccinated student and yes, I’m positive it was a student due to my lack of outings and contact tracing.

Obviously I did not die but if death is the bar you all are not only crazy but cruel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. I saw that petition and almost lost my mind. What’s the point of vaccines then? This shit is the same as it’s been. Shame on the media for creating a circus around what’s essentially a predictable spike in cases around the holidays. We know this. We did it already.
Everyone old enough to be in Kindergarten-12th grade is approved to receive a vaccine. Enough.

Can I ask a hypothetical? Co worker tested positive. I found out this morning, and despite my best efforts (10 stores, 4 different pay places), couldn’t find anywhere to get a rapid test. Got a nice scratch in my throat, but this week is a leave restriction week. I have a class of 25, maybe 1/2 are vaxxed. What seems like the best choice from a public health standpoint?

Teacher here. 3 students in my classes tested positive last week. All were double vaxed with boosters scheduled for this week. All are conscientious mask wearers. You need a test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The policy is for all staff to be fully vaccinated. Get your boosters folks, it will protect you. And also for sick kids to stay home, positive cases and close contacts quarantine, everyone wears masks, outdoor lunch and snack wherever possible. That's been the policy, it's still the policy.

Now, if WTU wants to suggest we expand the definition of close contacts, I'd back that up -- a lot of schools are clearly defining them too narrowly and with omicron we can't do that. Let's get behind that.

And I'd also be in favor of a much more specific testing plan that embraces rapid tests and ideally invests in them. Right now families and teachers are being left to figure out testing for themselves with no guidance. It sucks. Especially because the DC Health tests are just too slow to be at all helpful. So people are left to find appropriate testing on their own and the options available are not sufficient. This is something that DC Health needs to get on, not just DCPS. We need better, faster, more convenient testing to keep people safe.

But I'm not loving this rhetoric from WTU because, along with that petition floating around signed by a ton of DCPS teachers and staff, there's definitely an air of "let's shut this thing down again" in the air and I am NOT here for it. I don't like the rumblings. Closing school and "pivoting to virtual" should be a last resort and we're not there.

How can you see who signed the petition?

[Anonymous]

Well I sure am glad we never planned for any virtual learning. Just heads right in the sand was a great choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I sure am glad we never planned for any virtual learning. Just heads right in the sand was a great choice.

Not sure If sarcastic but agree nonetheless

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I sure am glad we never planned for any virtual learning. Just heads right in the sand was a great choice.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. If you spend any kind of time planning a switch to virtual, word gets around and you're crucified before you can explain, and you don't, and a dangerous variant arrives (because it was bound to happen at some point, as scientists told us), people are mad that nothing is in the works, ready to go.

Is anyone surprised that there are any public school teachers left at this point? It's like healthcare workers who quit. There is only so much terrible work conditions a human can take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The policy is for all staff to be fully vaccinated. Get your boosters folks, it will protect you. And also for sick kids to stay home, positive cases and close contacts quarantine, everyone wears masks, outdoor lunch and snack wherever possible. That's been the policy, it's still the policy.

Now, if WTU wants to suggest we expand the definition of close contacts, I'd back that up -- a lot of schools are clearly defining them too narrowly and with omicron we can't do that. Let's get behind that.

And I'd also be in favor of a much more specific testing plan that embraces rapid tests and ideally invests in them. Right now families and teachers are being left to figure out testing for themselves with no guidance. It sucks. Especially because the DC Health tests are just too slow to be at all helpful. So people are left to find appropriate testing on their own and the options available are not sufficient. This is something that DC Health needs to get on, not just DCPS. We need better, faster, more convenient testing to keep people safe.

But I'm not loving this rhetoric from WTU because, along with that petition floating around signed by a ton of DCPS teachers and staff, there's definitely an air of "let's shut this thing down again" in the air and I am NOT here for it. I don't like the rumblings. Closing school and "pivoting to virtual" should be a last resort and we're not there.

How can you see who signed the petition?

Many people choose to leave a comment explaining why they signed. Many of the comments are “DCPS teacher here…”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I’d like to see everyone tested to return but that is a pipe dream.

My school constantly let’s children with 2 or more symptoms in the building. And not all families will test.

You may hate it but I am for 1 week of virtual after winter break. At least to make sure no one is sick. I have already gotten covid this year due to a unvaccinated student and yes, I’m positive it was a student due to my lack of outings and contact tracing.

Obviously I did not die but if death is the bar you all are not only crazy but cruel.

My school district sent home two tests to all students to be taken three days before return in day of return. It is not mandatory but it probably will help a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well I sure am glad we never planned for any virtual learning. Just heads right in the sand was a great choice.

Not sure If sarcastic but agree nonetheless

Clearly sarcastic. Why would a backup plan ever be a bad thing? Especially during a pandemic.

[Anonymous]

I would prefer virtual for 2 weeks in Jan. Everyone and their mother is getting Covid even after vaccination. After holiday travel it will get worse. I don’t want my kids getting Covid just because some parents cannot deal with having their kids home even for a few days

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer virtual for 2 weeks in Jan. Everyone and their mother is getting Covid even after vaccination. After holiday travel it will get worse. I don’t want my kids getting Covid just because some parents cannot deal with having their kids home even for a few days

At least have it available for those who want it or judge it best for their kids.
I don't understand the parents who are dead set against this. Who are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer virtual for 2 weeks in Jan. Everyone and their mother is getting Covid even after vaccination. After holiday travel it will get worse. I don’t want my kids getting Covid just because some parents cannot deal with having their kids home even for a few days

Half of folks with Covid show no symptoms. So -‘you and your child have a really good chance of never knowing you have had Covid. Unless you test all the time - which you can’t - because of the scarcity of the kits.

Deep breathe - unless they are fat - they will be fine.

[Anonymous]

What’s the current DCPS policy on returning to school after a quarantine? Test after day 5 or stay home for 10 days? I’d like to see some combination of that to return to school. Give out the library PCR test kits outside of school if possible.
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, there is not an organization in this city that is worse at contingency planning than DCPS central office. We all knew there would be a winter surge and they should have had plans in place to implement stricter testing regimes, class/grade/school-wide quarantines, short term pivots to virtual, etc. It is so frustrating to want to support public education in this city while it is so poorly organized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would prefer virtual for 2 weeks in Jan. Everyone and their mother is getting Covid even after vaccination. After holiday travel it will get worse. I don’t want my kids getting Covid just because some parents cannot deal with having their kids home even for a few days

At least have it available for those who want it or judge it best for their kids.
I don't understand the parents who are dead set against this. Who are you?

You have that option available already. DCPS is not punishing anybody for keeping their kids home “because Covid”. Who are you that you want to impose this choice on those who judge it best for their kids to be in school?