FCCPS New Mask Policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oh and adding to above- I really appreciated that the school board discussed and voted on this. And I found Noonan's message preachy and offputting. But I find many of his messages to be that way. He comes off as extremely sanctimonious.

Just curious -- what is he supposed to say? What's the crime in appealing to people's better angels and asking people to think of others?

[Anonymous]

I'm a little torn. I have a fifth grader who wears glasses (got them during the pandemic) and would love to be able to lose the mask or pull it down over the nose when it's hard to see far away and needs the glasses. Basically the glasses just don't get worn during the school day, which is not good on the eyes. I haven't quite figured out what I'll do. I'll see how transmission rates are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh and adding to above- I really appreciated that the school board discussed and voted on this. And I found Noonan's message preachy and offputting. But I find many of his messages to be that way. He comes off as extremely sanctimonious.

Just curious -- what is he supposed to say? What's the crime in appealing to people's better angels and asking people to think of others?

I agree with the above poster. What’s he supposed to do? Nothing? Overall I think Noonan has done a great job through the pandemic. Is he perfect, no. How could he have been? But he’s been reasonable, transparent, receptive to feedback around reopening and trying to do right by a lot of different constituencies. This is no small feat. I honestly worry that the criticism is going to drive the good ones like Noonan away and what does that leave us with. Looking on here, the other superintendents are doing much much worse.

[Anonymous]

He also wants folks to know that having unmasked kids in the room creates all kinds of logistical complications for distancing, contact tracing, and quarantining. They don't have the room to do the 6 foot spacing recommended if masks aren't worn (not really sure how relevant that guidance is for Omicron, but it hasn't been updated). I'm not sure that people realize that unmasking their child has so many consequences.

[Anonymous]

It's FCCPS - most people in Falls Church never stopped wearing masks. It's for the crazy person that is a lawyer and may or may not have run for political position and likely would sue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a little torn. I have a fifth grader who wears glasses (got them during the pandemic) and would love to be able to lose the mask or pull it down over the nose when it's hard to see far away and needs the glasses. Basically the glasses just don't get worn during the school day, which is not good on the eyes. I haven't quite figured out what I'll do. I'll see how transmission rates are.

I've found the K95s have a better seal and work well with glasses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh and adding to above- I really appreciated that the school board discussed and voted on this. And I found Noonan's message preachy and offputting. But I find many of his messages to be that way. He comes off as extremely sanctimonious.

Just curious -- what is he supposed to say? What's the crime in appealing to people's better angels and asking people to think of others?

His emails and tweets are not professional. He could state the set policy without all of the extra. He basically said this is the policy and how parents can opt out and then went on and on why they shouldn’t. His #bettertogether messages are filled with language that has divided the community. He has done the exact opposite of bringing people together. Shame and guilt are never the way. I agree with the poster who said he is offputting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh and adding to above- I really appreciated that the school board discussed and voted on this. And I found Noonan's message preachy and offputting. But I find many of his messages to be that way. He comes off as extremely sanctimonious.

Just curious -- what is he supposed to say? What's the crime in appealing to people's better angels and asking people to think of others?

His emails and tweets are not professional. He could state the set policy without all of the extra. He basically said this is the policy and how parents can opt out and then went on and on why they shouldn’t. His #bettertogether messages are filled with language that has divided the community. He has done the exact opposite of bringing people together. Shame and guilt are never the way. I agree with the poster who said he is offputting.

I'd disagree with this given that the two people clearly running against the way he's run the schools lost pretty spectacularly in the school board elections in November. Also, as was said, be careful what you wish for. The previous schools superintendent was hugely divisive and unpopular, and the neighboring superintendents seem to be even more divisive. The nature of the job is that you can't please all the people all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh and adding to above- I really appreciated that the school board discussed and voted on this. And I found Noonan's message preachy and offputting. But I find many of his messages to be that way. He comes off as extremely sanctimonious.

Just curious -- what is he supposed to say? What's the crime in appealing to people's better angels and asking people to think of others?

His emails and tweets are not professional. He could state the set policy without all of the extra. He basically said this is the policy and how parents can opt out and then went on and on why they shouldn’t. His #bettertogether messages are filled with language that has divided the community. He has done the exact opposite of bringing people together. Shame and guilt are never the way. I agree with the poster who said he is offputting.

I'd disagree with this given that the two people clearly running against the way he's run the schools lost pretty spectacularly in the school board elections in November. Also, as was said, be careful what you wish for. The previous schools superintendent was hugely divisive and unpopular, and the neighboring superintendents seem to be even more divisive. The nature of the job is that you can't please all the people all the time.

I’ve lived here a long time, too. I agree that you can’t please everyone. I also have observed that FCCPS is no longer the welcoming community it was 1-2 decades ago. The previous superintendents all had their issues. No one is perfect. The current climate everywhere is politically charged and that is bleeding into the schools. Perhaps that’s unavoidable. My older children went through this district and we could discuss how things have changed under the current superintendent but that’s a different discussion. Some like the changes happening here and others do not. You are correct, residents keep voting for the same so perhaps it’s time for those of us who do not agree to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He also wants folks to know that having unmasked kids in the room creates all kinds of logistical complications for distancing, contact tracing, and quarantining. They don't have the room to do the 6 foot spacing recommended if masks aren't worn (not really sure how relevant that guidance is for Omicron, but it hasn't been updated). I'm not sure that people realize that unmasking their child has so many consequences.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh and adding to above- I really appreciated that the school board discussed and voted on this. And I found Noonan's message preachy and offputting. But I find many of his messages to be that way. He comes off as extremely sanctimonious.

Just curious -- what is he supposed to say? What's the crime in appealing to people's better angels and asking people to think of others?

His emails and tweets are not professional. He could state the set policy without all of the extra. He basically said this is the policy and how parents can opt out and then went on and on why they shouldn’t. His #bettertogether messages are filled with language that has divided the community. He has done the exact opposite of bringing people together. Shame and guilt are never the way. I agree with the poster who said he is offputting.

I'd disagree with this given that the two people clearly running against the way he's run the schools lost pretty spectacularly in the school board elections in November. Also, as was said, be careful what you wish for. The previous schools superintendent was hugely divisive and unpopular, and the neighboring superintendents seem to be even more divisive. The nature of the job is that you can't please all the people all the time.

I’ve lived here a long time, too. I agree that you can’t please everyone. I also have observed that FCCPS is no longer the welcoming community it was 1-2 decades ago. The previous superintendents all had their issues. No one is perfect. The current climate everywhere is politically charged and that is bleeding into the schools. Perhaps that’s unavoidable. My older children went through this district and we could discuss how things have changed under the current superintendent but that’s a different discussion. Some like the changes happening here and others do not. You are correct, residents keep voting for the same so perhaps it’s time for those of us who do not agree to leave.

The only good thing is that tyranny of the majority also brings higher real estate values (as the ones who think like the majority will pay big bucks to feel superior and be validated among their new neighbors ) so you won't loose any money selling. I think we have all seen the limits of democracy.

[Anonymous]

The masks aren’t the problem, it’s you sheep who do whatever your told.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you unhappy because it feels like masks will come off sooner than is safe? Or are you unhappy because parents can't opt out on Monday?

I think either way, very very few kids are going to opt out. Even the most anti-mask families I know are planning to keep their kids masked until Feb 14. I do appreciate at that our district doesn't plan to deny education to kids whose parents opt them out of masking. In most cases, this is not the kid's decision and they shouldn't be denied an education. There are ways to mitigate the impact of a handful of kids showing up without masks, all of which can be implemented without illegally denying a child the right to an education.

My kids will be masked for as long as the mandate remains in place and until they feel like they want to opt out. As of now, they have zero desire to drop masks and said that they'll wear them all year. Note that we don't have KN95s because they're backordered everywhere, so my kids are in facial decorations, as the CDC would call them. I think this is a bunch of security theater unless/until we can get kids into better masks, but whatever keeps the kids in school is fine with me.

Vida is shipping within a week. Not back ordered. Bluna is harder to find.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you unhappy because it feels like masks will come off sooner than is safe? Or are you unhappy because parents can't opt out on Monday?

I think either way, very very few kids are going to opt out. Even the most anti-mask families I know are planning to keep their kids masked until Feb 14. I do appreciate at that our district doesn't plan to deny education to kids whose parents opt them out of masking. In most cases, this is not the kid's decision and they shouldn't be denied an education. There are ways to mitigate the impact of a handful of kids showing up without masks, all of which can be implemented without illegally denying a child the right to an education.

My kids will be masked for as long as the mandate remains in place and until they feel like they want to opt out. As of now, they have zero desire to drop masks and said that they'll wear them all year. Note that we don't have KN95s because they're backordered everywhere, so my kids are in facial decorations, as the CDC would call them. I think this is a bunch of security theater unless/until we can get kids into better masks, but whatever keeps the kids in school is fine with me.

Vida is shipping within a week. Not back ordered. Bluna is harder to find.

I have been ordering Vida masks for kids and getting them quickly. I ordered ahead anticipating delays and now have more than I need for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:oh and adding to above- I really appreciated that the school board discussed and voted on this. And I found Noonan's message preachy and offputting. But I find many of his messages to be that way. He comes off as extremely sanctimonious.

Just curious -- what is he supposed to say? What's the crime in appealing to people's better angels and asking people to think of others?

I agree with the above poster. What’s he supposed to do? Nothing? Overall I think Noonan has done a great job through the pandemic. Is he perfect, no. How could he have been? But he’s been reasonable, transparent, receptive to feedback around reopening and trying to do right by a lot of different constituencies. This is no small feat. I honestly worry that the criticism is going to drive the good ones like Noonan away and what does that leave us with. Looking on here, the other superintendents are doing much much worse.

Agree with this-I think Noonan has done as good a job as can be expected under really difficult circumstances. Not everyone was going to be pleased because there are at least 2 sides to every issue in the pandemic.