APS Level 2 Return to school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok then stop supporting Duran. He didn’t handle it well and the school board just did nothing. No one is safer or better off with these school closures. Duran is to blame 100 percent.

exactly.. so lazy and not putting our kids first. I'm surprised we haven't heard rumbles of a class-action lawsuit

Because most parents don't think this.

He has handled the pandemic very well.

Clearly you don't have kids in APS.. He's done absolutely nothing but follow FCPS and disregard science, at our kids expense. This is not "handling the pandemic".

That’s not true. He’s been a lot wiser than Braband.

How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s waiting out the pandemic and my kid’s education is suffering. And their complete lack of instructional focus — which was the case before, during and I’m sure after the pandemic — will mean our kids are behind the rest of their APS education.

We are working on alternatives — mainly moving to a cheaper area so we can spend less on a house and more on education.

But parents need to pay attention. They have no plan to address learning loss or wider disparities in knowledge when kids return.

OK bye. Hopefully your new area won't mind that you are disconnected from reality.

Okay. So point me to this plan? My ES kids have teachers who have all told me it is nearly impossible for them to assess writing ability and reading in this virtual environment without dedicated one on one time — which they don’t have. What are their plans to make these assessments? What plan do they have to make up for curriculum that they won’t get to this year?

Just as they did at the beginning of this year, they will shift the curriculum next year to cover any topics that were missed or need to be covered again.

Of course, they will address learning loss. Just as every single school in the US will.

No. Many districts won't have to. There are parts of the country where public schools are open 5 days a week for in-person school. Those schools will not have to deal with a year of lost learning. That's the point. I honestly can't believe that Northern Virginia of all places is letting our kids suffer like this, when my red state home state is managing to have kids educated five days a week and hasn't seen rampant COVID cases.

This. Exactly. 100%. There is this magical thinking going on in the DMV area that our kids are similarly situated to other kids in the country. False. So many kids have been back in school either full time or hybrid since the fall.

Serious efforts to address the learning loss need to be at the forefront of planning and communicated to families if they don’t want people to get fed up and jump ship. Because I tell you what, we are not interested in sticking around for more of this BS that has plagued APS this year...

It makes zero sense that they are not aggressively planning and communicating options around summer school, etc etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He’s waiting out the pandemic and my kid’s education is suffering. And their complete lack of instructional focus — which was the case before, during and I’m sure after the pandemic — will mean our kids are behind the rest of their APS education.

We are working on alternatives — mainly moving to a cheaper area so we can spend less on a house and more on education.

But parents need to pay attention. They have no plan to address learning loss or wider disparities in knowledge when kids return.

OK bye. Hopefully your new area won't mind that you are disconnected from reality.

Okay. So point me to this plan? My ES kids have teachers who have all told me it is nearly impossible for them to assess writing ability and reading in this virtual environment without dedicated one on one time — which they don’t have. What are their plans to make these assessments? What plan do they have to make up for curriculum that they won’t get to this year?

Just as they did at the beginning of this year, they will shift the curriculum next year to cover any topics that were missed or need to be covered again.

Of course, they will address learning loss. Just as every single school in the US will.

No. Many districts won't have to. There are parts of the country where public schools are open 5 days a week for in-person school. Those schools will not have to deal with a year of lost learning. That's the point. I honestly can't believe that Northern Virginia of all places is letting our kids suffer like this, when my red state home state is managing to have kids educated five days a week and hasn't seen rampant COVID cases.

This. Exactly. 100%. There is this magical thinking going on in the DMV area that our kids are similarly situated to other kids in the country. False. So many kids have been back in school either full time or hybrid since the fall.

Serious efforts to address the learning loss need to be at the forefront of planning and communicated to families if they don’t want people to get fed up and jump ship. Because I tell you what, we are not interested in sticking around for more of this BS that has plagued APS this year...

It makes zero sense that they are not aggressively planning and communicating options around summer school, etc etc.

Exactly.. where is the funding and our tax dollars going. What are the SB and Duran doing, besides sitting on the sidelines, waiting to see what FCPS does? We deserve and need to demand more.

[Anonymous]

I just feel like there are parents who will never been satisfied. fully 40% of schools are still virtual. Many private schools are hybrid or in person. Great. Go enroll in one. Duran is announcing return dates for March and he has said he is committed to having teachers/staff vaccinated as much as possible before the return. That's not a bad thing. The return is in sight.

As for summer school, good luck getting teachers to teach. There is no money in the budget to pay for increased salaries that would be necessary (and may not even be successful) in staffing summer school. Teachers work on contracts and summer school isn't included in the contract, it's in addition to the regular school-year contract. APS can't make something out of nothing.

Do I want my kids to return-yes. I want COVID to be over. I want everyone (including my kids) to be vaccinated so I feel they are safe in the return as well. I am okay with sending them back because I feel that research shows that it can be done safely but I'm not blind to the risks there are for adults and so I want them vaccinated. But overall my kids are doing okay and learning and progressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like there are parents who will never been satisfied. fully 40% of schools are still virtual. Many private schools are hybrid or in person. Great. Go enroll in one. Duran is announcing return dates for March and he has said he is committed to having teachers/staff vaccinated as much as possible before the return. That's not a bad thing. The return is in sight.

As for summer school, good luck getting teachers to teach. There is no money in the budget to pay for increased salaries that would be necessary (and may not even be successful) in staffing summer school. Teachers work on contracts and summer school isn't included in the contract, it's in addition to the regular school-year contract. APS can't make something out of nothing.

Do I want my kids to return-yes. I want COVID to be over. I want everyone (including my kids) to be vaccinated so I feel they are safe in the return as well. I am okay with sending them back because I feel that research shows that it can be done safely but I'm not blind to the risks there are for adults and so I want them vaccinated. But overall my kids are doing okay and learning and progressing.

Many are NOT OK with DL and putting our kids in front of screens for days/hours/months on end is terrible for growing brains and has negative effects on eyesight. All the experts are saying vaccines are not necessary for a safe return - masks and social distancing are. Parents are frustrated because Duran and the SB ignore the experts and have their own agenda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like there are parents who will never been satisfied. fully 40% of schools are still virtual. Many private schools are hybrid or in person. Great. Go enroll in one. Duran is announcing return dates for March and he has said he is committed to having teachers/staff vaccinated as much as possible before the return. That's not a bad thing. The return is in sight.

As for summer school, good luck getting teachers to teach. There is no money in the budget to pay for increased salaries that would be necessary (and may not even be successful) in staffing summer school. Teachers work on contracts and summer school isn't included in the contract, it's in addition to the regular school-year contract. APS can't make something out of nothing.

Do I want my kids to return-yes. I want COVID to be over. I want everyone (including my kids) to be vaccinated so I feel they are safe in the return as well. I am okay with sending them back because I feel that research shows that it can be done safely but I'm not blind to the risks there are for adults and so I want them vaccinated. But overall my kids are doing okay and learning and progressing.

If only it were that easy. EVERY private school in the area is full. Not everyone who wants to leave can. There is no where to go. That's why parents are so frustrated. They have no options.

Great your kids are doing ok. A LOT are not. There are a lot of kids just turning the ipad on and tuning out. It's going to take years to dig out of this disaster the SB created. Public school kids in this area are at a HUGE disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

They're alive, though, and so are most of their families. yay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're alive, though, and so are most of their families. yay.

please don't feed the troll..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like there are parents who will never been satisfied. fully 40% of schools are still virtual. Many private schools are hybrid or in person. Great. Go enroll in one. Duran is announcing return dates for March and he has said he is committed to having teachers/staff vaccinated as much as possible before the return. That's not a bad thing. The return is in sight.

As for summer school, good luck getting teachers to teach. There is no money in the budget to pay for increased salaries that would be necessary (and may not even be successful) in staffing summer school. Teachers work on contracts and summer school isn't included in the contract, it's in addition to the regular school-year contract. APS can't make something out of nothing.

Do I want my kids to return-yes. I want COVID to be over. I want everyone (including my kids) to be vaccinated so I feel they are safe in the return as well. I am okay with sending them back because I feel that research shows that it can be done safely but I'm not blind to the risks there are for adults and so I want them vaccinated. But overall my kids are doing okay and learning and progressing.

If only it were that easy. EVERY private school in the area is full. Not everyone who wants to leave can. There is no where to go. That's why parents are so frustrated. They have no options.

Great your kids are doing ok. A LOT are not. There are a lot of kids just turning the ipad on and tuning out. It's going to take years to dig out of this disaster the SB created. Public school kids in this area are at a HUGE disadvantage.

Such a sad, horrible situation the SB has put the APS families in. This isn't right. I just wish I knew more of what I can actually do about it, other than uprooting my family and moving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like there are parents who will never been satisfied. fully 40% of schools are still virtual. Many private schools are hybrid or in person. Great. Go enroll in one. Duran is announcing return dates for March and he has said he is committed to having teachers/staff vaccinated as much as possible before the return. That's not a bad thing. The return is in sight.

As for summer school, good luck getting teachers to teach. There is no money in the budget to pay for increased salaries that would be necessary (and may not even be successful) in staffing summer school. Teachers work on contracts and summer school isn't included in the contract, it's in addition to the regular school-year contract. APS can't make something out of nothing.

Do I want my kids to return-yes. I want COVID to be over. I want everyone (including my kids) to be vaccinated so I feel they are safe in the return as well. I am okay with sending them back because I feel that research shows that it can be done safely but I'm not blind to the risks there are for adults and so I want them vaccinated. But overall my kids are doing okay and learning and progressing.

If only it were that easy. EVERY private school in the area is full. Not everyone who wants to leave can. There is no where to go. That's why parents are so frustrated. They have no options.

Great your kids are doing ok. A LOT are not. There are a lot of kids just turning the ipad on and tuning out. It's going to take years to dig out of this disaster the SB created. Public school kids in this area are at a HUGE disadvantage.

Such a sad, horrible situation the SB has put the APS families in. This isn't right. I just wish I knew more of what I can actually do about it, other than uprooting my family and moving.

Yes, there are no viable options for families.

And enough for the people for whom virtual learning is working. Great. We're glad it's working for you. NO ONE IS SAYING YOU HAVE TO PICK IN PERSON LEARNING! So, stop trying to force those of us for whom virtual learning is not working to feel bad or be shamed simply because it does not work for our children or our families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like there are parents who will never been satisfied. fully 40% of schools are still virtual. Many private schools are hybrid or in person. Great. Go enroll in one. Duran is announcing return dates for March and he has said he is committed to having teachers/staff vaccinated as much as possible before the return. That's not a bad thing. The return is in sight.

As for summer school, good luck getting teachers to teach. There is no money in the budget to pay for increased salaries that would be necessary (and may not even be successful) in staffing summer school. Teachers work on contracts and summer school isn't included in the contract, it's in addition to the regular school-year contract. APS can't make something out of nothing.

Do I want my kids to return-yes. I want COVID to be over. I want everyone (including my kids) to be vaccinated so I feel they are safe in the return as well. I am okay with sending them back because I feel that research shows that it can be done safely but I'm not blind to the risks there are for adults and so I want them vaccinated. But overall my kids are doing okay and learning and progressing.

If only it were that easy. EVERY private school in the area is full. Not everyone who wants to leave can. There is no where to go. That's why parents are so frustrated. They have no options.

Great your kids are doing ok. A LOT are not. There are a lot of kids just turning the ipad on and tuning out. It's going to take years to dig out of this disaster the SB created. Public school kids in this area are at a HUGE disadvantage.

Such a sad, horrible situation the SB has put the APS families in. This isn't right. I just wish I knew more of what I can actually do about it, other than uprooting my family and moving.

Yes, there are no viable options for families.

And enough for the people for whom virtual learning is working. Great. We're glad it's working for you. NO ONE IS SAYING YOU HAVE TO PICK IN PERSON LEARNING! So, stop trying to force those of us for whom virtual learning is not working to feel bad or be shamed simply because it does not work for our children or our families.

We need an "opt-out" of virtual learning option. Something just seems off that we are forced to put our kids in front of screens for months on end and call it an education. This is not an education and can potentially have negative long-term effects on our kids brains and vision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious about the situations of the people on here who are adamant that teachers and kids of middle and high schoolers should immediately or near-immediately return to school? Are the people who are having a really rough time with this here:

* work from home parents who have high powered jobs and are having trouble either balancing everything or hiring additional people to come in and managing that exposure (or maybe pay their nannies more);
* same, except essential workers who have to report to work;
* parents who have lost their jobs and need everything to get back to normal so they can find work;
* stay at home parents who are good people but are just out of their depth assisting with virtual school;
* parents who are working relatively low wage jobs and cannot afford to go on like this much longer;
* parents who have seen their kids academic performance severely deteriorate and just really need help from teachers to get things back on track.
* parents of three or more kids who could manage this for a while but all the demands, all the meals at home, all the homework help, all the tech help, multiplied by however many kids there is just too much at this point.

Wow I fit multiple of your criteria:
— work from home but demanding job and having trouble balancing. Already took a step back at work and getting very close to quitting. Can’t afford to lose my salary though and still live here.
— one of my kids who used to be advanced in reading is now below grade level. Not sure how to help. His teacher is too overwhelmed to offer any concrete paths forward.
— having trouble managing my three kids distance learning (and my preschooler who at least is out of the house). Lunch, homework help, etc is just difficult to manage during the work day without blowing off work.

I have a similar situation to the above. I'm about to hire someone to help with distance learning, which will not only be an added financial burden, but an added risk now that I have to allow someone outside our family to be in my house on a daily basis. When the kids *SHOULD* be in school with masks and social distancing, School would be such a safer option. Sadly that's not even possible.

I just wanted to say that I am the poster who said my kid was doing okay and I was fine with Duran's plan, and also the poster of the first asterisk list above, and I have a lot of sympathy for the parents who have responded above. They have their hands full and their lives are a lot harder than mine or my kid's right now. The risk isn't really work the benefit FOR MY FAMILY right now to return, but I hope teachers can get vaccinated quickly (and schools can get their ventilation and safety plans worked out) and hybrid options will open up for families like these so that their kids can go back in before next school year and these parents can start to feel some sense of normalcy. It's hard to be under all of that pressure for such a long period of time, especially, I can imagine, with multiple kids. Good luck * stay strong *

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like there are parents who will never been satisfied. fully 40% of schools are still virtual. Many private schools are hybrid or in person. Great. Go enroll in one. Duran is announcing return dates for March and he has said he is committed to having teachers/staff vaccinated as much as possible before the return. That's not a bad thing. The return is in sight.

As for summer school, good luck getting teachers to teach. There is no money in the budget to pay for increased salaries that would be necessary (and may not even be successful) in staffing summer school. Teachers work on contracts and summer school isn't included in the contract, it's in addition to the regular school-year contract. APS can't make something out of nothing.

Do I want my kids to return-yes. I want COVID to be over. I want everyone (including my kids) to be vaccinated so I feel they are safe in the return as well. I am okay with sending them back because I feel that research shows that it can be done safely but I'm not blind to the risks there are for adults and so I want them vaccinated. But overall my kids are doing okay and learning and progressing.

If only it were that easy. EVERY private school in the area is full. Not everyone who wants to leave can. There is no where to go. That's why parents are so frustrated. They have no options.

Great your kids are doing ok. A LOT are not. There are a lot of kids just turning the ipad on and tuning out. It's going to take years to dig out of this disaster the SB created. Public school kids in this area are at a HUGE disadvantage.

Such a sad, horrible situation the SB has put the APS families in. This isn't right. I just wish I knew more of what I can actually do about it, other than uprooting my family and moving.

Yes, there are no viable options for families.

And enough for the people for whom virtual learning is working. Great. We're glad it's working for you. NO ONE IS SAYING YOU HAVE TO PICK IN PERSON LEARNING! So, stop trying to force those of us for whom virtual learning is not working to feel bad or be shamed simply because it does not work for our children or our families.

We need an "opt-out" of virtual learning option. Something just seems off that we are forced to put our kids in front of screens for months on end and call it an education. This is not an education and can potentially have negative long-term effects on our kids brains and vision.

That’s called “homeschooling”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just feel like there are parents who will never been satisfied. fully 40% of schools are still virtual. Many private schools are hybrid or in person. Great. Go enroll in one. Duran is announcing return dates for March and he has said he is committed to having teachers/staff vaccinated as much as possible before the return. That's not a bad thing. The return is in sight.

As for summer school, good luck getting teachers to teach. There is no money in the budget to pay for increased salaries that would be necessary (and may not even be successful) in staffing summer school. Teachers work on contracts and summer school isn't included in the contract, it's in addition to the regular school-year contract. APS can't make something out of nothing.

Do I want my kids to return-yes. I want COVID to be over. I want everyone (including my kids) to be vaccinated so I feel they are safe in the return as well. I am okay with sending them back because I feel that research shows that it can be done safely but I'm not blind to the risks there are for adults and so I want them vaccinated. But overall my kids are doing okay and learning and progressing.

There certainly is. There's lots of CARES money. And Northam was talking about summer school, the state budget is in better shape than we all feared.

If we wanted to do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the people who defend Duran fail to acknowledge that we are in the 38 percent in the country in which offer only DL. 62 percent of the country has offered at least some in person learning. Private schools have been in person since September. You don’t need to look too far away for the proof schools are safe even if you don’t want to read the medical literature. Duran has not even offered in person education to special needs kindergarten students!! He has been a pathetic leader just waiting on other school districts. There is absolute no health reason or data to suggest schools should be closed until every single teacher is vaccinated! Northam and Hogan both stated the same. As a healthcare worker, l have been in the office since March. I never once asked for a vaccine as a condition to do my job. Fairfax County knows that and is putting kids first. The APS teachers have had a free paycheck all year at our children’s expense. Its high time we call a spade a spade here. Duran should have brought K through 3 back in December and middle and high school this month.

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