How can you expect schools to reopen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife’s metro stop is still closed. Can’t blame schools for that.

Which Metro Stop is closed? Due to Covid or construction? Weird

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not being snarky, but how can you expect schools to reopen when the majority of dc offices have announced telework until 2021?

My office and upwards of 20 other fed agencies, nonprofits, firms, etc. (plus the thread in the jobs forum) have already announced they’ll reevaluate in 2021.

I understand many people still must go to offices/hospitals/etc., but you must realize the seriousness of the situation when DC offices that never allowed telework are now mandating it through 2021.

Can everyone just stop criticizing the schools and focus on planning for the Fall? You critics sound ridiculous. Like Chuck Woolery.

Offices are announcing telework BECAUSE schools are closed. So that they're not telling their employees who have children who aren't in school and need childcare, "Sorry, you've been teleworking, but that's enough of that, it's not our problem if your children aren't in school, you have to come in anyway."

Not mine. Mine offered opportunities to take leave with reduced pay but the decision to keep office closed was based on health concerns.

So you're not being paid at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not being snarky, but how can you expect schools to reopen when the majority of dc offices have announced telework until 2021?

My office and upwards of 20 other fed agencies, nonprofits, firms, etc. (plus the thread in the jobs forum) have already announced they’ll reevaluate in 2021.

I understand many people still must go to offices/hospitals/etc., but you must realize the seriousness of the situation when DC offices that never allowed telework are now mandating it through 2021.

Can everyone just stop criticizing the schools and focus on planning for the Fall? You critics sound ridiculous. Like Chuck Woolery.

Offices are announcing telework BECAUSE schools are closed. So that they're not telling their employees who have children who aren't in school and need childcare, "Sorry, you've been teleworking, but that's enough of that, it's not our problem if your children aren't in school, you have to come in anyway."

That's just not true. Both my husband and I were told in June that we should plan on continuing to telework until 2021. His office just announced that unless you have a private office with a door you may not come in at all. Those with cubicles had their belongings boxed up and put in storage so that the office could be disinfected. I am permitted to come in and collect materials but only with permission to ensure that there are no more than 3 people in the office at a time. He works in DC and I work in MD.

There's a meaningful difference between "this is not true for my personal situation" and "this is not true."

This is my situation as well. DC office with 200+ staff that never really embraced telework before implemented a strict protocol mandating telework unless you were deemed a critical employee. Staff haven’t been permitted to access the office without prior written approval, and they needed a critical business purpose and to be in their own office. We announced telework through the end of the year a month ago, and we’ve precluded business travel and in person meetings through 2020 (and are already exploring cancelations in 2021).

We’ve had positive COVID cases and exposure thanks to staff and cleaners in the building early on (March/April) which prompted the tight restrictions.

I’m focusing on planning for distance learning for the entire school year. I’ll set my own goals for my kids and buy supplemental resources. I’ll arrange my work schedule to accommodate better supporting my kids.

[Anonymous]

I agree! People are so ungrateful like if they were to continue with hybrid all would be complaining.. it makes no sense. This is a public health crisis.. it's a matter of safety for everyone!!!

[Anonymous]

I think it's strange that people expect schools to be able to be flexible and accommodating, but don't think that businesses should. The public school system is a behemoth with extremely complex issues: our members are children and therefore are not "rational actors", we provide transportation to and from school (offices do not have to consider that), schools are overcrowded, schools are underfunded, schools have outdated infrastructure, etc. Why do you assume that in a crisis schools can just turn on a dime to continue providing you with reliable childcare?

[Anonymous]

My employer is asking employees to come back to the office starting next week. Clearly this is happening for more and more folks as metro is increasing the frequency of its service.

Also, at my company employees who cannot do their jobs by telework (only a few) have been going into the office daily.

I’m also tired of folks complaining about having to work on-site during the pandemic. With adjusted protocols and masks, many of us are doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My wife’s metro stop is still closed. Can’t blame schools for that.

Not Covid related. Regularly scheduled maintenance. There are shuttle buses. Even if there were no Covid, her metro stop would have been closed for the maintenance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree! People are so ungrateful like if they were to continue with hybrid all would be complaining.. it makes no sense. This is a public health crisis.. it's a matter of safety for everyone!!!

It clearly is NOT a matter of safety for everyone. If it were, a lot of things that are currently open would be closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people that works in DC use public transportation. Do you know how difficult it is to have 6 feet of social distancing on a metro train or bus? You can’t.

Tell that to people in New York City. Their schools are open with a hybrid model!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree! People are so ungrateful like if they were to continue with hybrid all would be complaining.. it makes no sense. This is a public health crisis.. it's a matter of safety for everyone!!!

It clearly is NOT a matter of safety for everyone. If it were, a lot of things that are currently open would be closed.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My employer is asking employees to come back to the office starting next week. Clearly this is happening for more and more folks as metro is increasing the frequency of its service.

Also, at my company employees who cannot do their jobs by telework (only a few) have been going into the office daily.

I’m also tired of folks complaining about having to work on-site during the pandemic. With adjusted protocols and masks, many of us are doing it.

Yep. Lots of us have been back at work, in person, with adjusted protocols for over a month now. This is our new reality until the virus runs its course.

[Anonymous]

Because schools are essential and teachers can’t do their jobs effectively online, at least for ES. You will notice that other essential jobs, Luke grocery workers and Metro drivers, are also showing up at work and are not teleworking. My husband is a Fed and he has to go into work because his job requires it. It is based on job function, and teachers have a job that can only be done effectively in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My employer is asking employees to come back to the office starting next week. Clearly this is happening for more and more folks as metro is increasing the frequency of its service.

Also, at my company employees who cannot do their jobs by telework (only a few) have been going into the office daily.

I’m also tired of folks complaining about having to work on-site during the pandemic. With adjusted protocols and masks, many of us are doing it.

Yep. Lots of us have been back at work, in person, with adjusted protocols for over a month now. This is our new reality until the virus runs its course.

Yes. My husband never stopped working (inspector) and I only stopped briefly (child care).

I think we need to start thinking about what will happen if there is no easy fix like a vaccine, or if a vaccine is not fully effective. What then. Are we just going to never send kids back to school?

[Anonymous]

It’s adaptation. Schools that can and will adapt to get the kids in school will prosper. Those that don’t won’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My employer is asking employees to come back to the office starting next week. Clearly this is happening for more and more folks as metro is increasing the frequency of its service.

Also, at my company employees who cannot do their jobs by telework (only a few) have been going into the office daily.

I’m also tired of folks complaining about having to work on-site during the pandemic. With adjusted protocols and masks, many of us are doing it.

Yep. Lots of us have been back at work, in person, with adjusted protocols for over a month now. This is our new reality until the virus runs its course.

Yes. My husband never stopped working (inspector) and I only stopped briefly (child care).

I think we need to start thinking about what will happen if there is no easy fix like a vaccine, or if a vaccine is not fully effective. What then. Are we just going to never send kids back to school?

The longer schools are closed, the more likely that outcome becomes. Especially because it's a lot cheaper to run a public school system when you don't have to have buildings, transportation, or extracurriculars for most students, and one person can "dispense" education to many children over a screen without concern about class size.