Write a letter to oppose the waiver

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typically, teachers have the grades done already prior to the work-day. At least, that's how it is at my child's ES. I had no clue until I went in once to retrieve a left-behind jacket... had to track down a custodian to let me in her room. Custodian was VERY forthcoming about how few people go in and why. Of course, I could already tell the school was empty except for the on-site child care.

Just because teachers are not in the building does not mean that their grades are completed. Today was a telework day. Teachers are allowed to complete their grading and report card preparation at home.

I'm the poster you quoted. Just because teacher's can telework doesn't mean they are. My child's teacher went on a vacation during the January workday. Actually, she took the whole week off. They went to Panama.... and gladly shared pictures with the class!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IN response to the PP about some VA schools: Students in Loudoun County Public Schools attend school six hours a day, at minimum, for 180 days, a policy held since 1990. So snow and ice would have to cause the cancellation of more than 15 days school days in Loudoun before students had to make up any of their instructional hours.
Arlington County has announced that it will change a teacher grade preparation day on March 31 into a full school day and that some elementary schools and a secondary program that have scheduled early release days on Wednesday are losing those early release days to make up programming time.
MCPS has not tried to make ANY days up=weak!

I suspect Loudoun has more than 4 days built into their calendar. But their website is really weak and I couldn't find any contingency information about excess closures. It's easily available from Fairfax Co., MCPS, and PGCPS.

Regarding MCPS, Starr had in his original letter that we'd be going on June 13. So they've tried for 1 day.

The fact that MCPS cannot use various holidays and teacher workdays is a problem with the state of Maryland (holidays) and teacher union contract (workdays). Get in touch with the Board of Ed.

[Anonymous]

I took the day off today and a teacher friend of mine called asking if we could hang out. I tolde her I thought she would be working today. She laughed and said - i did a couple things this morning, but somehow I'll get it done next week. I just want to hang today.

[Anonymous]

Anne Arundel county's waiver was denied today and it seems likely that MCPS' will be too because neither District sought to make up the days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took the day off today and a teacher friend of mine called asking if we could hang out. I tolde her I thought she would be working today. She laughed and said - i did a couple things this morning, but somehow I'll get it done next week. I just want to hang today.

I seriously doubt this. Grades were due TODAY. Any MCPS teacher who is trying to enter grades on Monday will find him or herself up sh*t's creek since Pinnacle) the electronic gradebook) will be locked so that the grades can be printed. You can't even take attendance electronically or print out the seating charts from gradebook on Monday. Your friend's principal will be spending quality time with her next week to ask why her grades weren't in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yeah, they had plenty of time home this 3rd quarter. Another day home and a missed school day yet again is pathetic. MANY other jobs besides teachers work outside their 9-5 time. Oh wait, I mean 9-3 slot.

What about end of unit tests is difficult to understand. Days home in February and early March doesn't mean there aren't five paragraph essays and 50 point County tests to grade at the end of March.

Just because you were teleworking while home with your kids on the snow days, doesn't mean that you didn't have work to do today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Typically, teachers have the grades done already prior to the work-day. At least, that's how it is at my child's ES. I had no clue until I went in once to retrieve a left-behind jacket... had to track down a custodian to let me in her room. Custodian was VERY forthcoming about how few people go in and why. Of course, I could already tell the school was empty except for the on-site child care.

Maybe at your school. The parking lot at East Silver Spring ES was packed today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typically, teachers have the grades done already prior to the work-day. At least, that's how it is at my child's ES. I had no clue until I went in once to retrieve a left-behind jacket... had to track down a custodian to let me in her room. Custodian was VERY forthcoming about how few people go in and why. Of course, I could already tell the school was empty except for the on-site child care.

Maybe at your school. The parking lot at East Silver Spring ES was packed today.

Ha! I live next to a teacher from Westland. He was at home all day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took the day off today and a teacher friend of mine called asking if we could hang out. I tolde her I thought she would be working today. She laughed and said - i did a couple things this morning, but somehow I'll get it done next week. I just want to hang today.

I seriously doubt this. Grades were due TODAY. Any MCPS teacher who is trying to enter grades on Monday will find him or herself up sh*t's creek since Pinnacle) the electronic gradebook) will be locked so that the grades can be printed. You can't even take attendance electronically or print out the seating charts from gradebook on Monday. Your friend's principal will be spending quality time with her next week to ask why her grades weren't in.

Could be that she was supposed to work on lesson plans, do a theme board, etc. Just because it's a workday doesn't mean they are working on grades, esp. if they were already taken care of!

I'd be THRILLED with a designated "work day" at my office. No meetings, no interruptions. WORK!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anne Arundel county's waiver was denied today and it seems likely that MCPS' will be too because neither District sought to make up the days.

I don't follow the logic. If the state has said they will issue waivers of 1-5 days, why would they deny a school system that actually applies? What was the given reason?

[Anonymous]

Here's a link about Anne Arundel.

http://www.wbaltv.com/education/district-state-denies-anne-arundels-request-for-5day-waiver/25216208

It says one thing they will now be doing is going to school on Monday, April 21 - Easter Monday - which is a one of those mandated state holidays. Bizarre.

[Anonymous]

I didn't see that the article explained the reason for denying the waiver.

[Anonymous]

In other articles, the explanation is that Anne Arundel didn't show that it did enough to otherwise make up for the lost time. It also said that they could reapply. I don't think this means that MCPS will be denied. St. Mary's County has already been granted a 5 day waiver. Also, contrary to some statements here, the state has granted proposals to make up time on the Monday after Easter in the past, and several school districts held school on President's day to make up time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yeah, they had plenty of time home this 3rd quarter. Another day home and a missed school day yet again is pathetic. MANY other jobs besides teachers work outside their 9-5 time. Oh wait, I mean 9-3 slot.

What about end of unit tests is difficult to understand. Days home in February and early March doesn't mean there aren't five paragraph essays and 50 point County tests to grade at the end of March.

Just because you were teleworking while home with your kids on the snow days, doesn't mean that you didn't have work to do today.

I only telecommuted 3 of the 10 days. I had and paid a babysitter the other days. I also have work to do at home in my bed. Writing up proposals. I usually work 10hrs a day minimum and never get a "work" day. No pity for the "professional" days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typically, teachers have the grades done already prior to the work-day. At least, that's how it is at my child's ES. I had no clue until I went in once to retrieve a left-behind jacket... had to track down a custodian to let me in her room. Custodian was VERY forthcoming about how few people go in and why. Of course, I could already tell the school was empty except for the on-site child care.

Maybe at your school. The parking lot at East Silver Spring ES was packed today.

I teach ES and I worked my usual 8-5 today in the building, along with most of my colleagues. I did eat lunch though, so I can't say I was working the WHOLE time.