School closure after break?

[Anonymous]

Two hospitals now on trauma bypass. Not good, people. Not good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS should be virtual until Monday, 1/17/21

I can’t believe I’m coming around to this idea, especially because my kids are already driving me crazy on winter break, but I think I agree. I’m not worried about them getting COVID, but school chaos isn’t good. The last three days before break were a mess, and it has gotten a lot worse since then.

Our kids' school wasn't a mess before the break, and I hope the Mayor's conviction not to cave in to a blanket school closure stands. If any individual school is a mess to the point that it can't operate, close that one temporarily. The situation won't be much different on January 17 than it is now, and it's going to be another slippery slope toward a never-ending closure.

You may have a point about individual school closures but the slippery slope argument is completely ridiculous.

Hahahaha aahhhh.... Last time a 2-week closure turned into more than a year for most schools!! Now again, a WTU faction (Core) is advocating for closure and to not reopen until some arbitrary metric with an uncertain date is met. Let's not be naive!

They are NOT advocating for closure! They want the following:

What are the metrics they are asking for? If it’s an impossible standard to meet, that is the same outcome as explicitly calling for closures.

[Anonymous]

I am a DCPS teacher and understand the concerns but the logistics of getting every kid and adult tested within a few days of school opening January 5 seems extremely difficult. There is a shortage of tests and too many people who need to get tested to return to work, daycare, etc. already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Two hospitals now on trauma bypass. Not good, people. Not good.

Closing schools will not help. We have no data to show that it does.

[Anonymous]

The petition explicitly asks for school closure during the Omicron wave (likely at least four weeks) and to remain closed until certain metrics are met:

"DCPS should follow in the steps of PG County and switch to virtual instruction during what is largely predicted to be a quick Omicron wave."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS should be virtual until Monday, 1/17/21

I can’t believe I’m coming around to this idea, especially because my kids are already driving me crazy on winter break, but I think I agree. I’m not worried about them getting COVID, but school chaos isn’t good. The last three days before break were a mess, and it has gotten a lot worse since then.

Our kids' school wasn't a mess before the break, and I hope the Mayor's conviction not to cave in to a blanket school closure stands. If any individual school is a mess to the point that it can't operate, close that one temporarily. The situation won't be much different on January 17 than it is now, and it's going to be another slippery slope toward a never-ending closure.

You may have a point about individual school closures but the slippery slope argument is completely ridiculous.

Hahahaha aahhhh.... Last time a 2-week closure turned into more than a year for most schools!! Now again, a WTU faction (Core) is advocating for closure and to not reopen until some arbitrary metric with an uncertain date is met. Let's not be naive!

They are NOT advocating for closure! They want the following:

What are the metrics they are asking for? If it’s an impossible standard to meet, that is the same outcome as explicitly calling for closures.

“DC’s Community Spread 7-day average must be below 200 new cases to resume in person instruction.“

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS should be virtual until Monday, 1/17/21

I can’t believe I’m coming around to this idea, especially because my kids are already driving me crazy on winter break, but I think I agree. I’m not worried about them getting COVID, but school chaos isn’t good. The last three days before break were a mess, and it has gotten a lot worse since then.

Our kids' school wasn't a mess before the break, and I hope the Mayor's conviction not to cave in to a blanket school closure stands. If any individual school is a mess to the point that it can't operate, close that one temporarily. The situation won't be much different on January 17 than it is now, and it's going to be another slippery slope toward a never-ending closure.

You may have a point about individual school closures but the slippery slope argument is completely ridiculous.

Hahahaha aahhhh.... Last time a 2-week closure turned into more than a year for most schools!! Now again, a WTU faction (Core) is advocating for closure and to not reopen until some arbitrary metric with an uncertain date is met. Let's not be naive!

They are NOT advocating for closure! They want the following:

What are the metrics they are asking for? If it’s an impossible standard to meet, that is the same outcome as explicitly calling for closures.

If you look at Core's online petition, the metric they want to use is a 7-day average of cases and it must be below 200 for in-person. We are currently around 1500 in DC. Most importantly, cases are not a useful metric anymore, when almost all cases are breakthrough, asymptomatic, and/or mild and vaccines/boosters are widely available. The only valid concerns IMO are staffing at schools, hospitals, etc. (and CDC's reduction of isolation and quarantine period will help with that) and metrics related to hospitalization to prevent an overload. An arbitrary case metric (like Core's 200) not tied to actual real-world impacts makes no sense in Jan. 2022.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS should be virtual until Monday, 1/17/21

I can’t believe I’m coming around to this idea, especially because my kids are already driving me crazy on winter break, but I think I agree. I’m not worried about them getting COVID, but school chaos isn’t good. The last three days before break were a mess, and it has gotten a lot worse since then.

Our kids' school wasn't a mess before the break, and I hope the Mayor's conviction not to cave in to a blanket school closure stands. If any individual school is a mess to the point that it can't operate, close that one temporarily. The situation won't be much different on January 17 than it is now, and it's going to be another slippery slope toward a never-ending closure.

You may have a point about individual school closures but the slippery slope argument is completely ridiculous.

Hahahaha aahhhh.... Last time a 2-week closure turned into more than a year for most schools!! Now again, a WTU faction (Core) is advocating for closure and to not reopen until some arbitrary metric with an uncertain date is met. Let's not be naive!

They are NOT advocating for closure! They want the following:

What are the metrics they are asking for? If it’s an impossible standard to meet, that is the same outcome as explicitly calling for closures.

If you look at Core's online petition, the metric they want to use is a 7-day average of cases and it must be below 200 for in-person. We are currently around 1500 in DC. Most importantly, cases are not a useful metric anymore, when almost all cases are breakthrough, asymptomatic, and/or mild and vaccines/boosters are widely available. The only valid concerns IMO are staffing at schools, hospitals, etc. (and CDC's reduction of isolation and quarantine period will help with that) and metrics related to hospitalization to prevent an overload. An arbitrary case metric (like Core's 200) not tied to actual real-world impacts makes no sense in Jan. 2022.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS should be virtual until Monday, 1/17/21

I can’t believe I’m coming around to this idea, especially because my kids are already driving me crazy on winter break, but I think I agree. I’m not worried about them getting COVID, but school chaos isn’t good. The last three days before break were a mess, and it has gotten a lot worse since then.

Our kids' school wasn't a mess before the break, and I hope the Mayor's conviction not to cave in to a blanket school closure stands. If any individual school is a mess to the point that it can't operate, close that one temporarily. The situation won't be much different on January 17 than it is now, and it's going to be another slippery slope toward a never-ending closure.

You may have a point about individual school closures but the slippery slope argument is completely ridiculous.

Hahahaha aahhhh.... Last time a 2-week closure turned into more than a year for most schools!! Now again, a WTU faction (Core) is advocating for closure and to not reopen until some arbitrary metric with an uncertain date is met. Let's not be naive!

They are NOT advocating for closure! They want the following:

What are the metrics they are asking for? If it’s an impossible standard to meet, that is the same outcome as explicitly calling for closures.

If you look at Core's online petition, the metric they want to use is a 7-day average of cases and it must be below 200 for in-person. We are currently around 1500 in DC. Most importantly, cases are not a useful metric anymore, when almost all cases are breakthrough, asymptomatic, and/or mild and vaccines/boosters are widely available. The only valid concerns IMO are staffing at schools, hospitals, etc. (and CDC's reduction of isolation and quarantine period will help with that) and metrics related to hospitalization to prevent an overload. An arbitrary case metric (like Core's 200) not tied to actual real-world impacts makes no sense in Jan. 2022.

Well said.

They should follow public health guidance (CDC) that says that schools should be open right now. Schools are essential institutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two hospitals now on trauma bypass. Not good, people. Not good.

Closing schools will not help. We have no data to show that it does.

+1

Also, it was never merited and it certainly isn't now, post-vaccine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS should be virtual until Monday, 1/17/21

I can’t believe I’m coming around to this idea, especially because my kids are already driving me crazy on winter break, but I think I agree. I’m not worried about them getting COVID, but school chaos isn’t good. The last three days before break were a mess, and it has gotten a lot worse since then.

Our kids' school wasn't a mess before the break, and I hope the Mayor's conviction not to cave in to a blanket school closure stands. If any individual school is a mess to the point that it can't operate, close that one temporarily. The situation won't be much different on January 17 than it is now, and it's going to be another slippery slope toward a never-ending closure.

You may have a point about individual school closures but the slippery slope argument is completely ridiculous.

Hahahaha aahhhh.... Last time a 2-week closure turned into more than a year for most schools!! Now again, a WTU faction (Core) is advocating for closure and to not reopen until some arbitrary metric with an uncertain date is met. Let's not be naive!

They are NOT advocating for closure! They want the following:

What are the metrics they are asking for? If it’s an impossible standard to meet, that is the same outcome as explicitly calling for closures.

If you look at Core's online petition, the metric they want to use is a 7-day average of cases and it must be below 200 for in-person. We are currently around 1500 in DC. Most importantly, cases are not a useful metric anymore, when almost all cases are breakthrough, asymptomatic, and/or mild and vaccines/boosters are widely available. The only valid concerns IMO are staffing at schools, hospitals, etc. (and CDC's reduction of isolation and quarantine period will help with that) and metrics related to hospitalization to prevent an overload. An arbitrary case metric (like Core's 200) not tied to actual real-world impacts makes no sense in Jan. 2022.

Which in practice would likely mean virtual for the rest of rhe year.

[Anonymous]

What does WTU say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS should be virtual until Monday, 1/17/21

I can’t believe I’m coming around to this idea, especially because my kids are already driving me crazy on winter break, but I think I agree. I’m not worried about them getting COVID, but school chaos isn’t good. The last three days before break were a mess, and it has gotten a lot worse since then.

Our kids' school wasn't a mess before the break, and I hope the Mayor's conviction not to cave in to a blanket school closure stands. If any individual school is a mess to the point that it can't operate, close that one temporarily. The situation won't be much different on January 17 than it is now, and it's going to be another slippery slope toward a never-ending closure.

You may have a point about individual school closures but the slippery slope argument is completely ridiculous.

Why exactly? We attend a charter that once closed wasn't able to figure out, without the most absurdly complex and not particularly well thought out plans, how to open again.

[Anonymous]

Cant believe how many kids caught Covid in DCPS b4 break. Plus the shoddy reportage - so irresponsible.

[Anonymous]

Regarding hospital data:

Please look at the actual data, which is here: https://coronavirus.dc.gov/data

The shows that hospital beds are not at capacity, and are pretty much the same as in June, 2021.

While the number of hospitalized patients has increased, it is still of a similar level as Sept., 2021 (about 115 patients as of Dec. 20, 2021).

Remember that the finding has been that in more-vaccinated places, cases have become uncoupled from hospitalization numbers.