DCPS Employee Return to In Person Work Guidance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Thank you!

Some fool trying to gaslight teachers. I'm sure some do feel no in-person til a vaccine, however the MAJORITY just do not trust DCPS to follow through on basic safety precautions. And the poll was worded to reflect that.

We also want to push DCPS on actually providing a clear plan and work with teachers as well as parents in carving that plan.

NP. But doesn't that still mean no operation at full capacity until a vaccine (because "basic safety precautions", to many teachers, mean a 6ft distance between students), and therefore a max of 2 days in school? That is almost as crazy as no in-person until a vaccine. Or is that not the position and they actually just mean reasonable precautions such as PPE and soap?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Thank you!

Some fool trying to gaslight teachers. I'm sure some do feel no in-person til a vaccine, however the MAJORITY just do not trust DCPS to follow through on basic safety precautions. And the poll was worded to reflect that.

We also want to push DCPS on actually providing a clear plan and work with teachers as well as parents in carving that plan.

NP. But doesn't that still mean no operation at full capacity until a vaccine (because "basic safety precautions", to many teachers, mean a 6ft distance between students), and therefore a max of 2 days in school? That is almost as crazy as no in-person until a vaccine. Or is that not the position and they actually just mean reasonable precautions such as PPE and soap?

How’s that Rolling Stones song go....”You can’t always get what you want...But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need”. They are doing hybrid. Based on your freak out post, you better be hoping we don’t go full distance learning again. It’s not going to take much to shut down the schools again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine, but then the teachers union should say they support in-person school with appropriate precautions.

Make the common goal in-person school or it won’t happen.

80% of teachers in DCPS have said they won’t return to in-person work until there’s a vaccine

Source?

WTU call with teachers today. Over 1,000 teachers in attendance. 80% said no in person until a vaccine

that could be never, then what?

I was on the call. There were not over 1,000 teachers because Zoom limits attendance to 1,000. (And of course not all 1,000 attendees were teachers.)

The first survey question said “Given the current conditions, do you feel comfortable signing the DCPS Intent To return to In Person Work Form and returning to the classroom?” This is what received an 80% of “No.”

The second survey given was: “Motion 1: WTU Members will engage in distance learning only until the health protections in the WTU Memorandum or Agreement and set by the CDC and OSSE are fully me and implemented in collaboration with the WTU.” To that, 95% said yes they agreed with that position.

As you can see, neither question said anything about a vaccine or stage 4. What they both showed is that we are not comfortable returning given the current conditions and DCPS’ weak offering of protections. Most people on the call who commented started by saying they WANT to be back.

To be clear AGAIN...this thread is NOT about preventing a return to the classroom. It’s a demand for the protections that will make it safe to do so, and a guarantee that DCPS will provide those protections. We do not trust DCPS.

Thank you, please everyone read this before you comment again...

[Anonymous]

Then lead with the teachers union stating “our first priority is in person school”.

Set that priority!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Thank you!

Some fool trying to gaslight teachers. I'm sure some do feel no in-person til a vaccine, however the MAJORITY just do not trust DCPS to follow through on basic safety precautions. And the poll was worded to reflect that.

We also want to push DCPS on actually providing a clear plan and work with teachers as well as parents in carving that plan.

NP. But doesn't that still mean no operation at full capacity until a vaccine (because "basic safety precautions", to many teachers, mean a 6ft distance between students), and therefore a max of 2 days in school? That is almost as crazy as no in-person until a vaccine. Or is that not the position and they actually just mean reasonable precautions such as PPE and soap?

How’s that Rolling Stones song go....”You can’t always get what you want...But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need”. They are doing hybrid. Based on your freak out post, you better be hoping we don’t go full distance learning again. It’s not going to take much to shut down the schools again.

You didn't answer my question. I know they are doing hybrid if they are doing any in-person school, and I know there will be shutdowns if there is an outbreak at a school (hopefully not an across-the-board shutdown as you gleefully predict). My question is if the teachers' position is that social distancing (and therefore 50% capacity at most) needs to be enforced until we have a vaccine. That seems to be an impossible position given that that might take years, or might never happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The 12 weeks FFCRA leave are not in addition to traditional FMLA. It counts against any traditional FMLA balance. It’s literally titled “expanded FML” and just adds one qualifying reason for FMLA leave: that your kids are home because school is closed.

My kids have been in a daycare for kids of essential workers since the pandemic started. No infections. No closures.

Whoever cited the example of the gym: seriously? An outbreak among a group of adults is not relevant when considering putting a group of kids with one or two adults and the adults can distance from each other. Kids are less likely than adults to get it and pass it on.

Yes, school is childcare and is essential.

Kids, even young kids, will wear masks at school with teacher and peer pressure. Teachers get the kids to do a ton of things they don’t want to do (like line up, clean up, etc.) with guidance and peer pressure.

Re: fecal matter: um, my kid’s PK teachers wouldn’t wipe her butt. PK3 kids have to be potty trained and have to wipe themselves, or no wipe. Exceptions for kids who can’t due to developmental delays can be made.

Specials shouldn’t happen if school reopens. It’s not wise for an art teacher to see 100 students a day. The art teacher, if able to report to school, becomes a main teacher for another small pod of students.

I’m an essential worker and cannot take off of work to stay home and care for/manage distance learning for my kids. I am expected to go to work. Teachers are essential too. I’m afraid I do not support teachers who don’t feel comfortable going to work, unless they are in an at-risk category.

Schools should have a hybrid model. Teachers who are at-risk can lead the remote learning.

Re PK3 potty training - that’s not even remotely true. My child went to PK3 at School Without Walls and when they started over half the kids were not potty trained. Potty training was part of the curriculum. Teachers did wipe their butts, but of course they use gloves so I’m not sure why this would be a big concern. And FWIW, all kids were potty trained by mid-October tHanks to those amazing teachers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The 12 weeks FFCRA leave are not in addition to traditional FMLA. It counts against any traditional FMLA balance. It’s literally titled “expanded FML” and just adds one qualifying reason for FMLA leave: that your kids are home because school is closed.

My kids have been in a daycare for kids of essential workers since the pandemic started. No infections. No closures.

Whoever cited the example of the gym: seriously? An outbreak among a group of adults is not relevant when considering putting a group of kids with one or two adults and the adults can distance from each other. Kids are less likely than adults to get it and pass it on.

Yes, school is childcare and is essential.

Kids, even young kids, will wear masks at school with teacher and peer pressure. Teachers get the kids to do a ton of things they don’t want to do (like line up, clean up, etc.) with guidance and peer pressure.

Re: fecal matter: um, my kid’s PK teachers wouldn’t wipe her butt. PK3 kids have to be potty trained and have to wipe themselves, or no wipe. Exceptions for kids who can’t due to developmental delays can be made.

Specials shouldn’t happen if school reopens. It’s not wise for an art teacher to see 100 students a day. The art teacher, if able to report to school, becomes a main teacher for another small pod of students.

I’m an essential worker and cannot take off of work to stay home and care for/manage distance learning for my kids. I am expected to go to work. Teachers are essential too. I’m afraid I do not support teachers who don’t feel comfortable going to work, unless they are in an at-risk category.

Schools should have a hybrid model. Teachers who are at-risk can lead the remote learning.

Re PK3 potty training - that’s not even remotely true. My child went to PK3 at School Without Walls and when they started over half the kids were not potty trained. Potty training was part of the curriculum. Teachers did wipe their butts, but of course they use gloves so I’m not sure why this would be a big concern. And FWIW, all kids were potty trained by mid-October tHanks to those amazing teachers

Agree, and will add that teachers should always have been wearing not only gloves but masks when changing poopy diapers or wiping butts due to norovirus, which is much more transmissible by fecal-oral than Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Thank you!

Some fool trying to gaslight teachers. I'm sure some do feel no in-person til a vaccine, however the MAJORITY just do not trust DCPS to follow through on basic safety precautions. And the poll was worded to reflect that.

We also want to push DCPS on actually providing a clear plan and work with teachers as well as parents in carving that plan.

NP. But doesn't that still mean no operation at full capacity until a vaccine (because "basic safety precautions", to many teachers, mean a 6ft distance between students), and therefore a max of 2 days in school? That is almost as crazy as no in-person until a vaccine. Or is that not the position and they actually just mean reasonable precautions such as PPE and soap?

How’s that Rolling Stones song go....”You can’t always get what you want...But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need”. They are doing hybrid. Based on your freak out post, you better be hoping we don’t go full distance learning again. It’s not going to take much to shut down the schools again.

You didn't answer my question. I know they are doing hybrid if they are doing any in-person school, and I know there will be shutdowns if there is an outbreak at a school (hopefully not an across-the-board shutdown as you gleefully predict). My question is if the teachers' position is that social distancing (and therefore 50% capacity at most) needs to be enforced until we have a vaccine. That seems to be an impossible position given that that might take years, or might never happen.

I’m not gleefully predicting it. But it’s easier to acknowledge that it will most likely happen, that way when it does, it’s something I have already processed and wrapped my mind around. Anyway, I don’t think this will last past the 2020-2021 school year vaccine or not. I think by August 2021 vaccine or not things will go back to normal. People will have lived with the virus and will have become used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Thank you!

Some fool trying to gaslight teachers. I'm sure some do feel no in-person til a vaccine, however the MAJORITY just do not trust DCPS to follow through on basic safety precautions. And the poll was worded to reflect that.

We also want to push DCPS on actually providing a clear plan and work with teachers as well as parents in carving that plan.

NP. But doesn't that still mean no operation at full capacity until a vaccine (because "basic safety precautions", to many teachers, mean a 6ft distance between students), and therefore a max of 2 days in school? That is almost as crazy as no in-person until a vaccine. Or is that not the position and they actually just mean reasonable precautions such as PPE and soap?

How’s that Rolling Stones song go....”You can’t always get what you want...But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need”. They are doing hybrid. Based on your freak out post, you better be hoping we don’t go full distance learning again. It’s not going to take much to shut down the schools again.

You didn't answer my question. I know they are doing hybrid if they are doing any in-person school, and I know there will be shutdowns if there is an outbreak at a school (hopefully not an across-the-board shutdown as you gleefully predict). My question is if the teachers' position is that social distancing (and therefore 50% capacity at most) needs to be enforced until we have a vaccine. That seems to be an impossible position given that that might take years, or might never happen.

I’m not gleefully predicting it. But it’s easier to acknowledge that it will most likely happen, that way when it does, it’s something I have already processed and wrapped my mind around. Anyway, I don’t think this will last past the 2020-2021 school year vaccine or not. I think by August 2021 vaccine or not things will go back to normal. People will have lived with the virus and will have become used to it.

Good to see that you are capable of a reasonable response to a reasonable question on your second attempt. I think we all know that the next year will be a mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Thank you!

Some fool trying to gaslight teachers. I'm sure some do feel no in-person til a vaccine, however the MAJORITY just do not trust DCPS to follow through on basic safety precautions. And the poll was worded to reflect that.

We also want to push DCPS on actually providing a clear plan and work with teachers as well as parents in carving that plan.

NP. But doesn't that still mean no operation at full capacity until a vaccine (because "basic safety precautions", to many teachers, mean a 6ft distance between students), and therefore a max of 2 days in school? That is almost as crazy as no in-person until a vaccine. Or is that not the position and they actually just mean reasonable precautions such as PPE and soap?

How’s that Rolling Stones song go....”You can’t always get what you want...But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need”. They are doing hybrid. Based on your freak out post, you better be hoping we don’t go full distance learning again. It’s not going to take much to shut down the schools again.

You didn't answer my question. I know they are doing hybrid if they are doing any in-person school, and I know there will be shutdowns if there is an outbreak at a school (hopefully not an across-the-board shutdown as you gleefully predict). My question is if the teachers' position is that social distancing (and therefore 50% capacity at most) needs to be enforced until we have a vaccine. That seems to be an impossible position given that that might take years, or might never happen.

The teachers’ position is NOT distance learning until vaccine. See the post quoted by 9:54. We want a clear listing of protocols and protections and to know our options when we go back and DCPS doesn’t follow through.

[Anonymous]

Have people read the responses from teachers? People work in buildings where soap and cleaning supplies are rarely provided. Many school buildings are not cleaned regularly at all. Dust piles up on baseboards, white boards, the floor, etc. How many of you would work in a building without soap in the bathrooms under normal circumstances? What teachers are asking for is not crazy, and they are right to worry DCPS won't follow through. I can't even get tissues for my classroom on a regular basis. I watch kids pick their noses then hand me their tests. I'm not doing that during a pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Not only are there supply and cleaning issues but some of the practices around sick students have to change. I’ve had a kid throw up on the floor and take the whole class outside because it took too long to get a custodian to clean up. I’ve had kids sent back to class with a basin because they didn’t actually throw up in front of the nurse. Kids come back to class if they don’t have a fever or they can’t get in contact with a parent/guardian but are clearly ill. And of course there are the kids who tell you they had a fever or threw up that morning but there they are at school. All of this has become the teacher’s problem and that has to change if we plan to keep students and teachers safe.

[Anonymous]

In addition to issues relating to in-school hygiene and distancing, there are also issues relating to transportation. Many students in DC attend schools other than their neighborhood school. When my DC attended Deal, I was so proud to see all the packed dedicated to Deal WMTA buses arrive in the mourning and depart in the afternoon. Deal at that time educated 20% of the public middle school students in the District, coming from many different neighborhoods.

Other students took Metro, or other city bus lines.

Will it be possible to socially distance students on city buses? What about cleaning, ventilation? Why about the health of drivers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not only are there supply and cleaning issues but some of the practices around sick students have to change. I’ve had a kid throw up on the floor and take the whole class outside because it took too long to get a custodian to clean up. I’ve had kids sent back to class with a basin because they didn’t actually throw up in front of the nurse. Kids come back to class if they don’t have a fever or they can’t get in contact with a parent/guardian but are clearly ill. And of course there are the kids who tell you they had a fever or threw up that morning but there they are at school. All of this has become the teacher’s problem and that has to change if we plan to keep students and teachers safe.

I'm a parent and I completely agree, and wish this had never been handled so laxly. When a kid in my kid's class throws up at school (my kids always report this to me) and then is back the next day, I strongly resent their parents for sending them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not only are there supply and cleaning issues but some of the practices around sick students have to change. I’ve had a kid throw up on the floor and take the whole class outside because it took too long to get a custodian to clean up. I’ve had kids sent back to class with a basin because they didn’t actually throw up in front of the nurse. Kids come back to class if they don’t have a fever or they can’t get in contact with a parent/guardian but are clearly ill. And of course there are the kids who tell you they had a fever or threw up that morning but there they are at school. All of this has become the teacher’s problem and that has to change if we plan to keep students and teachers safe.

I'm a parent and I completely agree, and wish this had never been handled so laxly. When a kid in my kid's class throws up at school (my kids always report this to me) and then is back the next day, I strongly resent their parents for sending them.

Vomit doesn’t always require quarantine. Many vomiting instances are a result of food poisoning which is not contagious. Why the contempt? Kids need to be in school and parents know their kids better than your 3rd hand expertise.