ACPS - scant communications on mitigation strategies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm very disappointed in the lunch decision. It's incomprehensible to me that they can't figure out a way to let kids eat outside when that is so obviously the biggest weak link in keeping kids safe.

It's the stupidest thing ever. I went to Hammond and then TC in the '80s. At Hammond you were free to go outside at lunchtime, and when I was TC there was the option of leaving campus for lunch. Many of the schools have plenty of room for outdoor lunch. Look at GW--incredible amount of space. But no one can eat outside--why? Bc at central office there is a complete lack of creativity, will, or imagination--who knows. The end result is the same: an unyielding culture of "no."

The space at GW is going to be used by classroom trailers.

OK, but the interior courtyard and the surrounding area offer a ton of space. More than most schools.

They could at least figure out a way to get 6th graders, many of whom are still too young to be vaxxed, outside for lunch.

[Anonymous]

That's because there are no mitigation strategies besides masks. Get used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm very disappointed in the lunch decision. It's incomprehensible to me that they can't figure out a way to let kids eat outside when that is so obviously the biggest weak link in keeping kids safe.

Not every school will be able to do this. Therefore it isn't equitable. So no.

The only school that arguably has outdoor space challenges is Ferdinand T. Day and ACPS just purchased or is set to soon purchase the empty office building adjacent to it so with a little creativity, they could space students out at lunch time in the extra building or at the very least, use the additional outdoor parking spaces it provides:

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1703-N-Beauregard-St-Alexandria-VA/4071773/

https://alexandria.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5014095&GUID=48B3FADC-29E7-4A68-B019-92076B444959

So it isn't equitable. Why should students at other schools get to do this when Ferdinand Day kids can't?

There was a teacher at our school who didn't let the kids in her classroom use the books because the kids still in virtual couldn't use them so it wasn't equitable. How is this different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm very disappointed in the lunch decision. It's incomprehensible to me that they can't figure out a way to let kids eat outside when that is so obviously the biggest weak link in keeping kids safe.

Not every school will be able to do this. Therefore it isn't equitable. So no.

The only school that arguably has outdoor space challenges is Ferdinand T. Day and ACPS just purchased or is set to soon purchase the empty office building adjacent to it so with a little creativity, they could space students out at lunch time in the extra building or at the very least, use the additional outdoor parking spaces it provides:

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1703-N-Beauregard-St-Alexandria-VA/4071773/

https://alexandria.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5014095&GUID=48B3FADC-29E7-4A68-B019-92076B444959

So it isn't equitable. Why should students at other schools get to do this when Ferdinand Day kids can't?

There was a teacher at our school who didn't let the kids in her classroom use the books because the kids still in virtual couldn't use them so it wasn't equitable. How is this different?

This is sarcasm, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm very disappointed in the lunch decision. It's incomprehensible to me that they can't figure out a way to let kids eat outside when that is so obviously the biggest weak link in keeping kids safe.

Not every school will be able to do this. Therefore it isn't equitable. So no.

The only school that arguably has outdoor space challenges is Ferdinand T. Day and ACPS just purchased or is set to soon purchase the empty office building adjacent to it so with a little creativity, they could space students out at lunch time in the extra building or at the very least, use the additional outdoor parking spaces it provides:

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/1703-N-Beauregard-St-Alexandria-VA/4071773/

https://alexandria.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5014095&GUID=48B3FADC-29E7-4A68-B019-92076B444959

So it isn't equitable. Why should students at other schools get to do this when Ferdinand Day kids can't?

There was a teacher at our school who didn't let the kids in her classroom use the books because the kids still in virtual couldn't use them so it wasn't equitable. How is this different?

This is sarcasm, right?

NP: yes this was the policy at least for a time last year. I know later parents were allowed to request physical textbooks.

[Anonymous]

I am furious that ALXNow reported that Dr. Hutchings said that ACPS is not going to require teachers and staff to be vaccinated. Do you think they are waiting until the vaccine is approved?

[Anonymous]

I do not see why vaccines cannot be mandated now especially when the legal hurdles to doing so have been removed after the Supreme Court chose not to take Indiana University's case. And in that case, it was a mandate in a college environment. In pre-K-12, mandating vaccination or at least routine negative tests is an even more compelling policy because many of the individuals in the environment cannot be vaccinated.

https://www.scotusblog.com/2021/08/barrett-leaves-indiana-universitys-vaccine-mandate-in-place/

[Anonymous]

Not much new in this communication released today as testing specifics are unclear, no outdoor lunch and no mention of vaccine mandate for staff.

https://www.acps.k12.va.us/Page/3738

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not much new in this communication released today as testing specifics are unclear, no outdoor lunch and no mention of vaccine mandate for staff.

https://www.acps.k12.va.us/Page/3738

THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO PREPARE! I AM FURIOUS!

[Anonymous]

We all should email school board members to demand vaccine mandate for all staff and weekly testing for students. They should allow outdoor lunch when weather allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not much new in this communication released today as testing specifics are unclear, no outdoor lunch and no mention of vaccine mandate for staff.

https://www.acps.k12.va.us/Page/3738

THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO PREPARE! I AM FURIOUS!

You can't be surprised though. Unless you are new to ACPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all should email school board members to demand vaccine mandate for all staff and weekly testing for students. They should allow outdoor lunch when weather allowed.

LOL! Don't waste your time. They don't care what parents think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all should email school board members to demand vaccine mandate for all staff and weekly testing for students. They should allow outdoor lunch when weather allowed.

LOL! Don't waste your time. They don't care what parents think.

Yes, for the most part the school board seems to follow ACPS/Hutchings disdain for parents. But, the school board has shown concern for COVID safety so some members may be receptive on this issue.

[Anonymous]

ACPS just announced a positive case at Tucker ES. The email just came through. I hope everyone involved is OK.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is all just horrifying. They’ve had months in time and millions in funding to get ready. I do not feel safe sending my unvaxxed elementary kids into these buildings with unvaxxed staff/teachers and indoor lunches. They released the ACPS staff vaccination rate a few months ago and it wasn’t great. How are we here with only one week until school starts?!

Delta’s RO is 5 - 9, which is a very high attack rate. It means each infected person is likely to infect from 5 - 9 other people. We no longer need “super spreader” events to drive the pandemic. Unvaxxed adults around unvaxxed kids is STUPID.