Fairfax has a plan. Interesting preview of what might come to MCPS

[Anonymous]

FCPS parent again. Default is 2 days in person. Must opt in to 100% DL by July 10.

You are essentially registering for a DL school. Classes will he composed once they have all the numbers in (including teachers who opt to distance teach). No guarantees your teacher or classmates are from base school.

You can’t change your mind afterwards, because they need hard numbers to allocate teachers, resources, buses, etc. Deadline is early, because this is a massive undertaking and figuring out adjusted bus routes (with distancing) and class assignments will take weeks.

So once you are DL or in person, you are locked in for the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS parent again. Default is 2 days in person. Must opt in to 100% DL by July 10.

You are essentially registering for a DL school. Classes will he composed once they have all the numbers in (including teachers who opt to distance teach). No guarantees your teacher or classmates are from base school.

You can’t change your mind afterwards, because they need hard numbers to allocate teachers, resources, buses, etc. Deadline is early, because this is a massive undertaking and figuring out adjusted bus routes (with distancing) and class assignments will take weeks.

So once you are DL or in person, you are locked in for the year.

What do you think is the likelihood that in person will not experience near constant rolling closures? I assume that regardless of the form school takes in September, there will be some families roaming all over maskless who will then send feverish Larla to school under a dose of Tylenol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Wow, this is a huge failure on the part of FCPS, one which I hope MCPS will know to avoid.

This is my biggest fear with remote learning in MCPS - that if I choose remote learning for my kids, it won't be the CES or the APEX programs my kids are in for next year.

Your DC in APEX is mature enough to follow the rules. Send him or her.

What is the maturity level of your CES kid?

PP you replied to. Actually it's my teen in APEX that has the pre-existing medical condition, and logically we would all need to physically distance (telework, online learning) to protect him. DH and I have worked out a telework plan (we might need to come in occasionally for special events, but that's way less risk than daily exposure in the office), so I was hoping MCPS would provide an option to have special programs online as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Decide by July 10??

What if you change your mind after?

Can’t expect parents to decide until at least August, IMO to see what the stats look like.

I know - yikes. I don't envy the parents making this decision. Of course MCPS might do something similar

Someone needs to send them this thread, then

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax has released a plan for 2020-2021

https://fairfaxcountysepta.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/reopening-school-presentation.pdf

Thought it would be good to start a discussion place on what our thoughts are on this.

TL;DR -- Families must choose online only or 2 days in-person with online learning on other 2 days. And they must decide by July 10th.





Quote from p.41 of the PowerPoint: "Understand that FCPS cannot guarantee availability of all programs and course offerings (e.g. immersion, magnet, IB, AP. specialized electives); program/course offerings may be limited due to teacher availability and scheduling constraints."


How are families supposed to make a decision with such a big unknown? I don't know how I could make that decision if we are given it here in MCPS.

I think its better than the giant ball of nada we have. I like the idea that they are trying to get everyone to pick and then they can staff accordingly.

FCPS parent here -- they are having families and parents pick at the same time. So we are picking without having any idea of what the staffing will look like. Kids who opt to go in person may not even be going to their regular school if the numbers don't support it. So, yes, we are choosing but the choice is a blind choice between two horrible options. And, the hybrid option is actually going to be less safe once you realize that three days a week, kids will be in daycares or hanging out with friends that aren't at their school/class, so you are exposed to more germs than if everyone went in 5 days a week.

Oh, but I thought it was the parents' position that kids don't spread the virus? So why should it be a concern if they are in daycare the other days of the week?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax has released a plan for 2020-2021

https://fairfaxcountysepta.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/reopening-school-presentation.pdf

Thought it would be good to start a discussion place on what our thoughts are on this.

TL;DR -- Families must choose online only or 2 days in-person with online learning on other 2 days. And they must decide by July 10th.





Quote from p.41 of the PowerPoint: "Understand that FCPS cannot guarantee availability of all programs and course offerings (e.g. immersion, magnet, IB, AP. specialized electives); program/course offerings may be limited due to teacher availability and scheduling constraints."


How are families supposed to make a decision with such a big unknown? I don't know how I could make that decision if we are given it here in MCPS.

I think its better than the giant ball of nada we have. I like the idea that they are trying to get everyone to pick and then they can staff accordingly.

FCPS parent here -- they are having families and parents pick at the same time. So we are picking without having any idea of what the staffing will look like. Kids who opt to go in person may not even be going to their regular school if the numbers don't support it. So, yes, we are choosing but the choice is a blind choice between two horrible options. And, the hybrid option is actually going to be less safe once you realize that three days a week, kids will be in daycares or hanging out with friends that aren't at their school/class, so you are exposed to more germs than if everyone went in 5 days a week.

Oh, but I thought it was the parents' position that kids don't spread the virus? So why should it be a concern if they are in daycare the other days of the week?

The point is, whether kids spread the virus or not, the hybrid option isn't really limiting contacts so we would be just as well going full time 5 days per week. Ideally only half the kids would be exposed in the classroom if someone is sick. But, the teacher will be there every day, so if she catches it from half the class, she could spread it to the other half on the other days.

The 100% distance learning option helps, though, becasue many people will choose that and stay out of the buildings completely.

[Anonymous]

I hope FCPS has better tech in place this time around!

9F

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS parent again. Default is 2 days in person. Must opt in to 100% DL by July 10.

You are essentially registering for a DL school. Classes will he composed once they have all the numbers in (including teachers who opt to distance teach). No guarantees your teacher or classmates are from base school.

You can’t change your mind afterwards, because they need hard numbers to allocate teachers, resources, buses, etc. Deadline is early, because this is a massive undertaking and figuring out adjusted bus routes (with distancing) and class assignments will take weeks.

So once you are DL or in person, you are locked in for the year.

What do you think is the likelihood that in person will not experience near constant rolling closures? I assume that regardless of the form school takes in September, there will be some families roaming all over maskless who will then send feverish Larla to school under a dose of Tylenol.

No idea. If kids are wearing masks in schools and are spaced out at desks all facing forward, there should be minimal spread (though I don’t assume zero). Superintendent says they will crack down hard on sick kids in school (Tylenol will wear off). Execution is everything. We’ll see.

Young elementary parents have a different set of challenges than I do when making their decisions. My inattentive/anxious 9th grader needs to be in class as much as possible. Unfortunately, she doesn’t learn well through the computer and the Q4 was a complete waste for her, even though she logged in for every class.

Honestly, I think there’s a good chance of a second wave shut down. I want to give DD at least a couple months to meet her new teachers and classmates and go into the building of her new school (going from middle to high).

[Anonymous]

By the time Tylenol wears off 2-3 hours later, the student has already interacted with scores of other people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS parent again. Default is 2 days in person. Must opt in to 100% DL by July 10.

You are essentially registering for a DL school. Classes will he composed once they have all the numbers in (including teachers who opt to distance teach). No guarantees your teacher or classmates are from base school.

You can’t change your mind afterwards, because they need hard numbers to allocate teachers, resources, buses, etc. Deadline is early, because this is a massive undertaking and figuring out adjusted bus routes (with distancing) and class assignments will take weeks.

So once you are DL or in person, you are locked in for the year.

What do you think is the likelihood that in person will not experience near constant rolling closures? I assume that regardless of the form school takes in September, there will be some families roaming all over maskless who will then send feverish Larla to school under a dose of Tylenol.

No idea. If kids are wearing masks in schools and are spaced out at desks all facing forward, there should be minimal spread (though I don’t assume zero). Superintendent says they will crack down hard on sick kids in school (Tylenol will wear off). Execution is everything. We’ll see.

Young elementary parents have a different set of challenges than I do when making their decisions. My inattentive/anxious 9th grader needs to be in class as much as possible. Unfortunately, she doesn’t learn well through the computer and the Q4 was a complete waste for her, even though she logged in for every class.

Honestly, I think there’s a good chance of a second wave shut down. I want to give DD at least a couple months to meet her new teachers and classmates and go into the building of her new school (going from middle to high).

I hear you! My child's going to a magnet middle school (6th grade), and while she doesn't have any diagnosis, she also doesn't learn well through the computer. Might be just immaturity, I don't know, but I can clearly see that my child isn't 'thriving' online, she's regressing. So I'd choose 2 days in person without hesitation.

But why is this the plan for the entire year? Didn't they say that by February, life will be back to normal with the vaccine available?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS parent again. Default is 2 days in person. Must opt in to 100% DL by July 10.

You are essentially registering for a DL school. Classes will he composed once they have all the numbers in (including teachers who opt to distance teach). No guarantees your teacher or classmates are from base school.

You can’t change your mind afterwards, because they need hard numbers to allocate teachers, resources, buses, etc. Deadline is early, because this is a massive undertaking and figuring out adjusted bus routes (with distancing) and class assignments will take weeks.

So once you are DL or in person, you are locked in for the year.

What do you think is the likelihood that in person will not experience near constant rolling closures? I assume that regardless of the form school takes in September, there will be some families roaming all over maskless who will then send feverish Larla to school under a dose of Tylenol.

No idea. If kids are wearing masks in schools and are spaced out at desks all facing forward, there should be minimal spread (though I don’t assume zero). Superintendent says they will crack down hard on sick kids in school (Tylenol will wear off). Execution is everything. We’ll see.

Young elementary parents have a different set of challenges than I do when making their decisions. My inattentive/anxious 9th grader needs to be in class as much as possible. Unfortunately, she doesn’t learn well through the computer and the Q4 was a complete waste for her, even though she logged in for every class.

Honestly, I think there’s a good chance of a second wave shut down. I want to give DD at least a couple months to meet her new teachers and classmates and go into the building of her new school (going from middle to high).

I hear you! My child's going to a magnet middle school (6th grade), and while she doesn't have any diagnosis, she also doesn't learn well through the computer. Might be just immaturity, I don't know, but I can clearly see that my child isn't 'thriving' online, she's regressing. So I'd choose 2 days in person without hesitation.

But why is this the plan for the entire year? Didn't they say that by February, life will be back to normal with the vaccine available?

I think there are several threads on your last point in the Health section. 😀 I don’t know who said life will be back to normal in February. In fact, I keep hearing about a second wave in late fall. Even if vaccine trials are completely done by February, it will take a long time to roll them out to everyone.

I think it is technically possible for us to be in sine sort of Phase 4 or 5 by then. That would be great. Then all kids would be back in school (assuming they could staff school - many teachers are vulnerable and do not want to go back). The plan is for the full year because you can’t switch between the two groups. They will staff based on the July 10 decisions, and they won’t be able to deal with 1000 kids wanting to go in person instead of DL after a few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former MCPS and current FCPS parent here.

Our options are slightly different from the first post.

1. 100% distance learning. Live instruction four days/week. High School may have reduced course selection (AP/IB not guaranteed)/few electives will be offered (only what is required for graduation).

2. Two days/week in person instruction. Social distancing in classroom. Other days are ALL asynchronous. No live zoom classes, etc.

So option 1 is 4 days of live instruction via internet and option 2 is 2 days of live instruction in person. Good luck navigating through the online “resources” and assignments on the other days.

Parents seem to be split. Decisions for the entire year must be made by July 10 - no take-backsies.

MCPS parent here. These would be reasonable options IF students/parents can change their choice. Say at the end of every marking period. Rather than commit to the entire year. Likewise, the school can also revisit choices they offer after every marking period. Why do we need to commit to a year long decision when things are changing so rapidly? School systems need to be more nimble than this, get some of the bureaucratic mess out of the way.

Just look at what is happening in the Southern states. This is summer, and cases are still rising. And the virus was supposed to die down in summer and pick back up in winter. There is still no vaccine. Or cure. And kids are often asymptotic carriers. What a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former MCPS and current FCPS parent here.

Our options are slightly different from the first post.

1. 100% distance learning. Live instruction four days/week. High School may have reduced course selection (AP/IB not guaranteed)/few electives will be offered (only what is required for graduation).

2. Two days/week in person instruction. Social distancing in classroom. Other days are ALL asynchronous. No live zoom classes, etc.

So option 1 is 4 days of live instruction via internet and option 2 is 2 days of live instruction in person. Good luck navigating through the online “resources” and assignments on the other days.

Parents seem to be split. Decisions for the entire year must be made by July 10 - no take-backsies.

MCPS parent here. These would be reasonable options IF students/parents can change their choice. Say at the end of every marking period. Rather than commit to the entire year. Likewise, the school can also revisit choices they offer after every marking period. Why do we need to commit to a year long decision when things are changing so rapidly? School systems need to be more nimble than this, get some of the bureaucratic mess out of the way.

Just look at what is happening in the Southern states. This is summer, and cases are still rising. And the virus was supposed to die down in summer and pick back up in winter. There is still no vaccine. Or cure. And kids are often asymptotic carriers. What a mess.

There’s no way to give families that choice every quarter without giving it to staff as well. Not just teachers, but bus drivers, paras, speech specialists and OTs. Every quarter would require restaffing the entire system. That’s an enormous amount of work for admin and central offices at the same time that will have all of the usual school year business to handle. Plus, if you ask teachers in the middle of the October second wave if they are interested in teaching F2F during MP 2, more will say no. And it would hit right when there’s normally testing for the HS magnets and the seniors asking for recommendations. Why add even more drama to the lives of students and staff by asking them to decide again. Everyone knows the second wave is coming. We see other countries experiencing it now. Some of them are preparing for wave 3.0 in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Decide by July 10??

What if you change your mind after?

Can’t expect parents to decide until at least August, IMO to see what the stats look like.

They can't require kids to come in during a pandemic. My gut says that if you pick hybrid and then have to switch to dl, they have to accommodate you. Right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Decide by July 10??

What if you change your mind after?

Can’t expect parents to decide until at least August, IMO to see what the stats look like.

They can't require kids to come in during a pandemic. My gut says that if you pick hybrid and then have to switch to dl, they have to accommodate you. Right?

OP here, and MCPS parent.

The PowerPoint explicitly sets up the 100% online option as the fallback that the whole school would go into should the epidemic become critical in the area. So there is that.

I also got the impression from the PowerPoint that committing to the Distance Learning option was a full year commitment. It didn't explicitly say the same for choosing the 2 day in person 2 day online option. I don't have any idea what FCPS parents are actually seeing, however. I would hazard a guess that they would accept a change toward 100% DL at least in extenuating circumstances. Seriously, if any county in 2020-21 experiences the sorts of upticks that FL/TX/AZ have in the last couple weeks, there will be a flood of requests to go 100% online and then any school district will likely take the whole system 100% online for some period of time.



Some people have questioned why only 2 days a week. It is pretty clear in the PowerPoint that the choice to go 2 days a week instead of 4 is purely for social distancing purposes. (The schools are simply not "empty enough" to accommodate social distancing unless about half the students are missing.) They say that depending on how many choose to go 100% online, they may add additional in-person days to the week.

I can only imagine that means if, say half the population were to choose 100% online, the other half could maybe be in school 4 days a week. This would be even more feasible if a significant number who are attending in person will not be riding the buses.



Clearly, FCPS can't tell parents exactly what things are going to look like (which classes/programs will be available) until they know how many students will opt for 100% online. But how are parents supposed to make the decision when so much is still in the air?