MCPS Coming Back, Better Than Ever

[Anonymous]

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There is no option to choose virtual anymore. We’re left with home school or in person. But how can we do home school with both parents working.

I'm sorry, PP, but that's on you. It would have been prudent for you to choose virtual when that was an option. But you didn't, so now you're stuck with the consequences of your decision.

Well the deadline was too early to make a decision. Everything looks very promising in June and vaccine efficacy was reported to be miraculous. Then suddenly in July Israel has outbreaks and breakthrough infections are more and more common. You can’t blame the parents for making decisions based on the situation. Now I just wish MCPS will consider drastically changed situations to accommodate more virtual students.

This again. PP, I'm sorry you were deluded to think Covid was gone, I really do. There was always going to be a risk that your child would get covid in school- since you can't handle any small uptick in risk, it would have been prudent for you to apply just in case, submitting an application itself was not binding.

Call MCPS- you could always lie and say your kid has a new health issue. Otherwise buck up and figure it out- we had to provide a lot of support with virtual learning last year, I don't know that homeschooling would have been any more of a time sink. It would also give you more flexibility.

I did apply. I don't need to lie as it can go by parent health issues, and I have well documented health issues. Its not a small uptick in risk when they are bring large groups of kids together, no testing or other precautions and kids not vaccinated.

So you’re making excuses for others who were too u decided to apply in time? I’m confused.

I had hoped mops would be more responsible with reopening.

What is it you expect them to do? It's five days in-person. There's no more hiding from the virus with hybrid/virtual-for-all nonsense. They'll mask, and that's the new normal (or better than) across the US.

But are masks even effective with the delta variant, given how much more contagious it is? That's a really big assumption.

What are you suggesting? Another year of virtual? That can't happen. It'll never end.

Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

The reason this isn't going to happen is that it'd double down on the poor educational outcomes from last year and wouldn't work for many (most) families. Are you WFH or a SAHM? People are increasingly return to office buildings now and in fall. Last year was the year of the shutdown. It's not an effective remedy and not in alignment with increasing acceptance that this is as good as it gets.

MCPS has never been great for education. Lucky you if you felt it was good but it was never very good for us and we always supplemented. What ever it is, in our family we will make it work. If our kids need to stay home/virtual another year, we'll make it happen. Their needs, health and safety are our priority. Schools aren't for child care, they are for education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

OK, but that's not going to happen. So make the choice that's best for you from among the options you have.

Agree its not going to happen and with no testing or quarantining or anything, its going to be a hot mess in the fall. The problem is you are left with a bunch of bad options, including in person. How are they going to handle positive cases and kids who have to quarantine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no option to choose virtual anymore. We’re left with home school or in person. But how can we do home school with both parents working.

I'm sorry, PP, but that's on you. It would have been prudent for you to choose virtual when that was an option. But you didn't, so now you're stuck with the consequences of your decision.

Well the deadline was too early to make a decision. Everything looks very promising in June and vaccine efficacy was reported to be miraculous. Then suddenly in July Israel has outbreaks and breakthrough infections are more and more common. You can’t blame the parents for making decisions based on the situation. Now I just wish MCPS will consider drastically changed situations to accommodate more virtual students.

This again. PP, I'm sorry you were deluded to think Covid was gone, I really do. There was always going to be a risk that your child would get covid in school- since you can't handle any small uptick in risk, it would have been prudent for you to apply just in case, submitting an application itself was not binding.

Call MCPS- you could always lie and say your kid has a new health issue. Otherwise buck up and figure it out- we had to provide a lot of support with virtual learning last year, I don't know that homeschooling would have been any more of a time sink. It would also give you more flexibility.

I did apply. I don't need to lie as it can go by parent health issues, and I have well documented health issues. Its not a small uptick in risk when they are bring large groups of kids together, no testing or other precautions and kids not vaccinated.

So you’re making excuses for others who were too u decided to apply in time? I’m confused.

I had hoped mops would be more responsible with reopening.

What is it you expect them to do? It's five days in-person. There's no more hiding from the virus with hybrid/virtual-for-all nonsense. They'll mask, and that's the new normal (or better than) across the US.

But are masks even effective with the delta variant, given how much more contagious it is? That's a really big assumption.

What are you suggesting? Another year of virtual? That can't happen. It'll never end.

Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

The reason this isn't going to happen is that it'd double down on the poor educational outcomes from last year and wouldn't work for many (most) families. Are you WFH or a SAHM? People are increasingly return to office buildings now and in fall. Last year was the year of the shutdown. It's not an effective remedy and not in alignment with increasing acceptance that this is as good as it gets.

MCPS has never been great for education. Lucky you if you felt it was good but it was never very good for us and we always supplemented. What ever it is, in our family we will make it work. If our kids need to stay home/virtual another year, we'll make it happen. Their needs, health and safety are our priority. Schools aren't for child care, they are for education.

Schools are definitely for education, and that's why it's 5 days in-person this fall. If staying home works better for you, sounds like you can make it work. Go for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

OK, but that's not going to happen. So make the choice that's best for you from among the options you have.

Agree its not going to happen and with no testing or quarantining or anything, its going to be a hot mess in the fall. The problem is you are left with a bunch of bad options, including in person. How are they going to handle positive cases and kids who have to quarantine?

That's life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

Please no more hybrid. That was truly awful. Virtual Academy or in person, not hybrid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

Please no more hybrid. That was truly awful. Virtual Academy or in person, not hybrid.

I think a week on/week off is pointless but they could do 1/2 days or another arrangement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

Please no more hybrid. That was truly awful. Virtual Academy or in person, not hybrid.

I think a week on/week off is pointless but they could do 1/2 days or another arrangement.

No, they couldn't, because it also requires concurrent instruction. It's not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

Please no more hybrid. That was truly awful. Virtual Academy or in person, not hybrid.

I think a week on/week off is pointless but they could do 1/2 days or another arrangement.

No, they couldn't, because it also requires concurrent instruction. It's not going to happen.

Not to mention the transportation issues and childcare logistics for the other 1/2 day. It’s just an absurd suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Just end it.

Homeschool, Pods, Virtual or Private.

Tear down the buildings, lay off the entire outdated and astronomically expensive operation. Replace public with outsourced private virtual paid for with a small fraction of the current behemoth. Hopefully this year will break up the lousy public school model for good. Covid may end up being the best thing that could ever have happened for education. There are countless school districts in this country that are so bad that students would be safer and better educated staying home and watching Sesame Street, PBS, Fox Business, Telemundo and You Tube math videos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just end it.

Homeschool, Pods, Virtual or Private.

Tear down the buildings, lay off the entire outdated and astronomically expensive operation. Replace public with outsourced private virtual paid for with a small fraction of the current behemoth. Hopefully this year will break up the lousy public school model for good. Covid may end up being the best thing that could ever have happened for education. There are countless school districts in this country that are so bad that students would be safer and better educated staying home and watching Sesame Street, PBS, Fox Business, Telemundo and You Tube math videos.

This is MCPS. They gladly rent out schools to the county and other private schools. We could reduce some of the overcrowding by using those properties/buildings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just end it.

Homeschool, Pods, Virtual or Private.

Tear down the buildings, lay off the entire outdated and astronomically expensive operation. Replace public with outsourced private virtual paid for with a small fraction of the current behemoth. Hopefully this year will break up the lousy public school model for good. Covid may end up being the best thing that could ever have happened for education. There are countless school districts in this country that are so bad that students would be safer and better educated staying home and watching Sesame Street, PBS, Fox Business, Telemundo and You Tube math videos.

This is MCPS. They gladly rent out schools to the county and other private schools. We could reduce some of the overcrowding by using those properties/buildings.

It's like a Republican fantasy come true! The thinking goes like this all that money is wasted on helping the poor when the only thing taxes should be spent on is protecting private property for the rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No, I look at it with my child's safety. Its really not about my health issues as they aren't going away but i know i don't want to do anything to risk my kids having long term health issues as if you don't have them you really cannot understand it. I don't get why you'd want to take the risk with your kids long term health? If my child was able to be vaccinated it might be different but unvaccinated kids in a large group/mixing groups multiple times a day seems like a really bad idea. MCPS has had a year to make a reopening plan where it would be safe for our unvaccinated kids to return to. News just announced a large group of unvaccinated kids getting covid at a sleep away camp (though the good news was that the vaccinated kids were ok).

MCPS is following the public-health advice. If that's not safe enough for you, then keep your child in Zoom school.

I was hoping they could have zoom school at school. It would be the best of all worlds!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No, I look at it with my child's safety. Its really not about my health issues as they aren't going away but i know i don't want to do anything to risk my kids having long term health issues as if you don't have them you really cannot understand it. I don't get why you'd want to take the risk with your kids long term health? If my child was able to be vaccinated it might be different but unvaccinated kids in a large group/mixing groups multiple times a day seems like a really bad idea. MCPS has had a year to make a reopening plan where it would be safe for our unvaccinated kids to return to. News just announced a large group of unvaccinated kids getting covid at a sleep away camp (though the good news was that the vaccinated kids were ok).

MCPS is following the public-health advice. If that's not safe enough for you, then keep your child in Zoom school.

I was hoping they could have zoom school at school. It would be the best of all worlds!

My kids are also far more engaged when school is on a screen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No, I look at it with my child's safety. Its really not about my health issues as they aren't going away but i know i don't want to do anything to risk my kids having long term health issues as if you don't have them you really cannot understand it. I don't get why you'd want to take the risk with your kids long term health? If my child was able to be vaccinated it might be different but unvaccinated kids in a large group/mixing groups multiple times a day seems like a really bad idea. MCPS has had a year to make a reopening plan where it would be safe for our unvaccinated kids to return to. News just announced a large group of unvaccinated kids getting covid at a sleep away camp (though the good news was that the vaccinated kids were ok).

MCPS is following the public-health advice. If that's not safe enough for you, then keep your child in Zoom school.

I was hoping they could have zoom school at school. It would be the best of all worlds!

My kids are also far more engaged when school is on a screen.

That’s great for your kids! I hope you applied for the Virtual Academy since it was so wonderful for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

There is no option to choose virtual anymore. We’re left with home school or in person. But how can we do home school with both parents working.

I'm sorry, PP, but that's on you. It would have been prudent for you to choose virtual when that was an option. But you didn't, so now you're stuck with the consequences of your decision.

Well the deadline was too early to make a decision. Everything looks very promising in June and vaccine efficacy was reported to be miraculous. Then suddenly in July Israel has outbreaks and breakthrough infections are more and more common. You can’t blame the parents for making decisions based on the situation. Now I just wish MCPS will consider drastically changed situations to accommodate more virtual students.

This again. PP, I'm sorry you were deluded to think Covid was gone, I really do. There was always going to be a risk that your child would get covid in school- since you can't handle any small uptick in risk, it would have been prudent for you to apply just in case, submitting an application itself was not binding.

Call MCPS- you could always lie and say your kid has a new health issue. Otherwise buck up and figure it out- we had to provide a lot of support with virtual learning last year, I don't know that homeschooling would have been any more of a time sink. It would also give you more flexibility.

I did apply. I don't need to lie as it can go by parent health issues, and I have well documented health issues. Its not a small uptick in risk when they are bring large groups of kids together, no testing or other precautions and kids not vaccinated.

So you’re making excuses for others who were too u decided to apply in time? I’m confused.

I had hoped mops would be more responsible with reopening.

What is it you expect them to do? It's five days in-person. There's no more hiding from the virus with hybrid/virtual-for-all nonsense. They'll mask, and that's the new normal (or better than) across the US.

But are masks even effective with the delta variant, given how much more contagious it is? That's a really big assumption.

What are you suggesting? Another year of virtual? That can't happen. It'll never end.

Masks help, but its still an issue. MCPS had a year to make a plan for reopening to make it safe for our unvaccinated kids. I'd like a hybrid or even 1/2 day in person so the groups are smaller.

The reason this isn't going to happen is that it'd double down on the poor educational outcomes from last year and wouldn't work for many (most) families. Are you WFH or a SAHM? People are increasingly return to office buildings now and in fall. Last year was the year of the shutdown. It's not an effective remedy and not in alignment with increasing acceptance that this is as good as it gets.

+1. Also, I don't understand people who are still suggesting hybrid and thinking it would be safer. We both work- do you know where my kids would be the rest of the week if they were only in school 2 days? In a distance learning hub, mingling with a completely different group of kids (and anyone who went to one last year knows the kids were allowed to mingle). Others would be in pods, return to in-home daycares, etc. for those days. Then you have a complex network of kids that could be affected by a positive case.