APS: It's too hard to go back 5 days/week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bet Duran gets canned. Then, good luck to him trying to get another Superintendent job anywhere.

He's making a public embarrassment of himself and APS. APS will be tarnished for his lack of planning and creativity. He should act NOW to fix this or he's going to have a very hard time finding another job.

I don’t think he’ll get fired. Too hard to find a new person. He made the classic Arlington mistake of listening to the loudest voices instead of looking at the big picture.

The loudest voices were APEs.

Smart Restart, esp ventliation lady, were extremely vocal with strong teacher support. And, I think Duran LOVED Smart Restart because it supported his lack of effort to get kids back in class until 2022.

APE's targeting of Smart Restart is just so very odd. Smart Restart advocates for safety so we can all return to school. A lot of people in the group have their kids in school right now.

On the one hand, APE claims to have advocated for safety (which no one believes), they tried to take credit for the air cleaners in classrooms (ha!) but then they also try to paint SR as stay closed people. Which makes no sense because why would stay closed people want safety things like HEPA filters or outside lunch?

APE just wants to attack, attack, attack, complain, complain, complain. They target teachers, school board, Duran, other parents, Smart Restart, literally anyone. This group is increasingly unhinged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a post to note that the voices posting in here now are not representative of me or the parents I talk to in APS. Most (though not all) of the APS parents I know are mildly worried about another surge and in any case not looking to get their kids in school more days a week before summer. These are mostly folks who are already working from home and have this year down to a routine and are not keen to play mix up the teachers or have their kids taking additional risks this year just before everyone gets vaccinated, whatever the CDC says about 3 feet.

But comment after comment in here is parent with a pitchfork and a clear agenda. Okay, but that's not what I'm seeing among my friends fwiw.

+1000

The only people screaming about 5 days and 3 feet are APEs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a post to note that the voices posting in here now are not representative of me or the parents I talk to in APS. Most (though not all) of the APS parents I know are mildly worried about another surge and in any case not looking to get their kids in school more days a week before summer. These are mostly folks who are already working from home and have this year down to a routine and are not keen to play mix up the teachers or have their kids taking additional risks this year just before everyone gets vaccinated, whatever the CDC says about 3 feet.

But comment after comment in here is parent with a pitchfork and a clear agenda. Okay, but that's not what I'm seeing among my friends fwiw.

+1000

The only people screaming about 5 days and 3 feet are APEs.

I'm not in that group. I think that k-2 should be in school 4-5 days/week ASAP. Grades 3-5 probably should as well. Grades 6-12 are a lot harder and I have no opinion on the feasibility of 5 days for them. There is a lot of support for more days for elementary school from non-crazy people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a post to note that the voices posting in here now are not representative of me or the parents I talk to in APS. Most (though not all) of the APS parents I know are mildly worried about another surge and in any case not looking to get their kids in school more days a week before summer. These are mostly folks who are already working from home and have this year down to a routine and are not keen to play mix up the teachers or have their kids taking additional risks this year just before everyone gets vaccinated, whatever the CDC says about 3 feet.

But comment after comment in here is parent with a pitchfork and a clear agenda. Okay, but that's not what I'm seeing among my friends fwiw.

+1000

The only people screaming about 5 days and 3 feet are APEs.

Totally inaccurate. The entire country, including our President, is pushing for kids to return to the classroom for in-person learning. APS is way behind the eight ball here, which is the biggest problem. These tough conversations should have been happening last summer in getting plans in place.

[Anonymous]

I'm not in that group. I think that k-2 should be in school 4-5 days/week ASAP. Grades 3-5 probably should as well. Grades 6-12 are a lot harder and I have no opinion on the feasibility of 5 days for them. There is a lot of support for more days for elementary school from non-crazy people.

I feel like I'm pretty middle of the road and totally agree with this. It's inexcusable that they're not trying to get K-2 more days in person. K-2 got nothing last spring and learned very little by DL this year. They need to go back for more days. And none of the putting them on iPads on in person day that some schools are pulling (ahem, Glebe), but real in person education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not in that group. I think that k-2 should be in school 4-5 days/week ASAP. Grades 3-5 probably should as well. Grades 6-12 are a lot harder and I have no opinion on the feasibility of 5 days for them. There is a lot of support for more days for elementary school from non-crazy people.

I feel like I'm pretty middle of the road and totally agree with this. It's inexcusable that they're not trying to get K-2 more days in person. K-2 got nothing last spring and learned very little by DL this year. They need to go back for more days. And none of the putting them on iPads on in person day that some schools are pulling (ahem, Glebe), but real in person education.

Okay, and again I'm the parent of a middle schooler, but this isn't language I'm hearing from any of my friends. "Inexcusable"? Kids "got nothing" from DL? This is way over the top for me and it has not been my experience. We are still in the middle of a pandemic and while it's not ideal, DL has been working out for my family and most of my friends at APS. Nobody I know is talking about firing Duran.

It's like there are two completely separate worlds: parents of elementary kids who are furious with the status quo and want more kids in more seats more days STAT and then parents of older kids who are either mostly fine (or whose parents aren't on DCUM expressing their opinion).

I know there are people who are actually upset over this but I'm just saying that there are a lot of people who are not upset and continue to coast along but aren't really posting that here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not in that group. I think that k-2 should be in school 4-5 days/week ASAP. Grades 3-5 probably should as well. Grades 6-12 are a lot harder and I have no opinion on the feasibility of 5 days for them. There is a lot of support for more days for elementary school from non-crazy people.

I feel like I'm pretty middle of the road and totally agree with this. It's inexcusable that they're not trying to get K-2 more days in person. K-2 got nothing last spring and learned very little by DL this year. They need to go back for more days. And none of the putting them on iPads on in person day that some schools are pulling (ahem, Glebe), but real in person education.

Okay, and again I'm the parent of a middle schooler, but this isn't language I'm hearing from any of my friends. "Inexcusable"? Kids "got nothing" from DL? This is way over the top for me and it has not been my experience. We are still in the middle of a pandemic and while it's not ideal, DL has been working out for my family and most of my friends at APS. Nobody I know is talking about firing Duran.

It's like there are two completely separate worlds: parents of elementary kids who are furious with the status quo and want more kids in more seats more days STAT and then parents of older kids who are either mostly fine (or whose parents aren't on DCUM expressing their opinion).

I know there are people who are actually upset over this but I'm just saying that there are a lot of people who are not upset and continue to coast along but aren't really posting that here.

Yeah... so why would you try to block more days for elementary? Do you not believe the parents who actually have younger kids who say it isn’t working?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friends and I are parents of middle schoolers and above, though, so YMMV as a parent of an elementary school child.

As a parent of a kindergartner I am livid. The WHO has been saying 3 feet in schools for a while now. There should have been a plan on standby for the 3 feet guidance. It seems like APS is always behind the ball and just waiting out the school year clock instead of doing anything proactive. I can promise you the early elementary parents want kids back as many days as possible ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friends and I are parents of middle schoolers and above, though, so YMMV as a parent of an elementary school child.

As a parent of a kindergartner I am livid. The WHO has been saying 3 feet in schools for a while now. There should have been a plan on standby for the 3 feet guidance. It seems like APS is always behind the ball and just waiting out the school year clock instead of doing anything proactive. I can promise you the early elementary parents want kids back as many days as possible ASAP.

Most parents do. Those on here saying that's not true are basically the same parents over and over. Nobody with young kids wants them sitting in front of an ipad instead of school unless there are certain medical risks. It's absolute BS what has happened to APS this year. Lazy lazy lazy..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friends and I are parents of middle schoolers and above, though, so YMMV as a parent of an elementary school child.

As a parent of a kindergartner I am livid. The WHO has been saying 3 feet in schools for a while now. There should have been a plan on standby for the 3 feet guidance. It seems like APS is always behind the ball and just waiting out the school year clock instead of doing anything proactive. I can promise you the early elementary parents want kids back as many days as possible ASAP.

Exactly. And maybe that's the push. At least elementary, or at least early elementary. SOMETHING.

Return to five days a week of in person school is a natural outgrowth of virtual and hybrid. There would always be a point where they would have to pivot and shift. This has never not been an inevitable conclusion. So, why on earth has there not been robust planning for this phase????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not in that group. I think that k-2 should be in school 4-5 days/week ASAP. Grades 3-5 probably should as well. Grades 6-12 are a lot harder and I have no opinion on the feasibility of 5 days for them. There is a lot of support for more days for elementary school from non-crazy people.

I feel like I'm pretty middle of the road and totally agree with this. It's inexcusable that they're not trying to get K-2 more days in person. K-2 got nothing last spring and learned very little by DL this year. They need to go back for more days. And none of the putting them on iPads on in person day that some schools are pulling (ahem, Glebe), but real in person education.

Okay, and again I'm the parent of a middle schooler, but this isn't language I'm hearing from any of my friends. "Inexcusable"? Kids "got nothing" from DL? This is way over the top for me and it has not been my experience. We are still in the middle of a pandemic and while it's not ideal, DL has been working out for my family and most of my friends at APS. Nobody I know is talking about firing Duran.

It's like there are two completely separate worlds: parents of elementary kids who are furious with the status quo and want more kids in more seats more days STAT and then parents of older kids who are either mostly fine (or whose parents aren't on DCUM expressing their opinion).

I know there are people who are actually upset over this but I'm just saying that there are a lot of people who are not upset and continue to coast along but aren't really posting that here.

Yeah... so why would you try to block more days for elementary? Do you not believe the parents who actually have younger kids who say it isn’t working?

Wut -- I'm not trying to block you! But we're in two different worlds where you're talking about firing a guy whose policies have been working for me. You seem super upset, but the parents I know are mostly coasting at this point so your viewpoint (which I see over and over here, post after post) is not representative of the majority of parents I talk to, who are okay with holding off on more changes until Fall 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not in that group. I think that k-2 should be in school 4-5 days/week ASAP. Grades 3-5 probably should as well. Grades 6-12 are a lot harder and I have no opinion on the feasibility of 5 days for them. There is a lot of support for more days for elementary school from non-crazy people.

I feel like I'm pretty middle of the road and totally agree with this. It's inexcusable that they're not trying to get K-2 more days in person. K-2 got nothing last spring and learned very little by DL this year. They need to go back for more days. And none of the putting them on iPads on in person day that some schools are pulling (ahem, Glebe), but real in person education.

Okay, and again I'm the parent of a middle schooler, but this isn't language I'm hearing from any of my friends. "Inexcusable"? Kids "got nothing" from DL? This is way over the top for me and it has not been my experience. We are still in the middle of a pandemic and while it's not ideal, DL has been working out for my family and most of my friends at APS. Nobody I know is talking about firing Duran.

It's like there are two completely separate worlds: parents of elementary kids who are furious with the status quo and want more kids in more seats more days STAT and then parents of older kids who are either mostly fine (or whose parents aren't on DCUM expressing their opinion).

I know there are people who are actually upset over this but I'm just saying that there are a lot of people who are not upset and continue to coast along but aren't really posting that here.

Yeah... so why would you try to block more days for elementary? Do you not believe the parents who actually have younger kids who say it isn’t working?

Wut -- I'm not trying to block you! But we're in two different worlds where you're talking about firing a guy whose policies have been working for me. You seem super upset, but the parents I know are mostly coasting at this point so your viewpoint (which I see over and over here, post after post) is not representative of the majority of parents I talk to, who are okay with holding off on more changes until Fall 2021.

Ok then, glad to have you on board for more days for elementary. We need them. Please write in that you are happy to wait until fall for middle school changes and that elementary planning should be prioritized. Tell all your friends to do the same!

[Anonymous]

I have kids in secondary and many friends with kids in elementary. Some are virtual and some are hybrid and I literally know no one who is pushing for more days in person at this time. Actually high schoolers are leaving hybrid and going virtual, so it's the other way around. It's just APE pushing for more in person days. Normal people get that we can't have normal bc it's a freakin pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids in secondary and many friends with kids in elementary. Some are virtual and some are hybrid and I literally know no one who is pushing for more days in person at this time. Actually high schoolers are leaving hybrid and going virtual, so it's the other way around. It's just APE pushing for more in person days. Normal people get that we can't have normal bc it's a freakin pandemic.

Then you must know zero kindergarten parents because literally everyone I know with a kid K-2 wants more days of in-person learning. Falls Church City kids are going back 5 days per week after spring break. Is COVID magically less dangerous one zip code over or is it that APS has been incompetent in handling reopening of elementary schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have kids in secondary and many friends with kids in elementary. Some are virtual and some are hybrid and I literally know no one who is pushing for more days in person at this time. Actually high schoolers are leaving hybrid and going virtual, so it's the other way around. It's just APE pushing for more in person days. Normal people get that we can't have normal bc it's a freakin pandemic.

Only because HS hybrid is absolutely miserable for the kids. I think everyone should be back 5 days but my senior went back to virtual because hybrid was so bad.