Why doesn't MCPS seem to have a covid plan for the fall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Parents need to plan so asking for a plan months in advance is reasonable.

MCPS put out a plan months in advance, for parents to plan with, and now DCUM is yelling "BUT DELTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

So my kids have the Delta right now. Its like a bad flu. I’m sure some parents would say, it’s fine, they’ll recover, we want in person no matter what. Others would say that is too much of a risk. I want the option of virtual. I know MCPS has the option for virtual only but that was before we knew about breakthrough cases and the uptick in pediatric cases. I, for one, would like to have a virtual option open to me again. Before you all freak out, I’m not saying it should be all virtual but the hybrid option worked before so maybe we could do that again.

Hybrid worked really well if you weren’t a teacher or a student.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many schools remained open last year through out the country. Right now red states with a high case rates are not even questioning the opening of schools for in-person. What is wrong with the DC area patents? Our area has high vaccination rate plus people are in general cautious. Why can’t we just let our kids go to school ? Why do we have to make this so difficult for mcps that they think about backtracking in person school?
Kids have been in camps all summer. In groups of 25. Yes the counselors were vaccinated and the kids remained safe. We have to try to give our kids a normal school year .. as normal as possible. Stop the hysteria and fear mongering.

I think we all want the same thing. We all want the schools to open! Here’s the difference. Those of us who want a plan and/or want some safety mitigation think if we make schools safer and create thoughtful contingency plans, then schools will actually have a better chance of staying open because transmission will be reduced and mitigated. Others of you just want to open no matter what and think if we plan too much or pay too much attention to safety that somehow this will get in the way of opening. I personally see this POV as irresponsible and lacking in care for our students, school staff and community at large. Communicating protocols in an unprecedented time =/= backtracking in person school!

I don't disagree with the need for a plan, but you are SO condescending that I doubt whatever plan they have would satisfy you. If you are purporting to speak for the "plan" proponents, I'll take my chances with no plan.

Because, yes, putting out a plan months in advance gives people like you the chance to pick it apart and throw a fit when it's not exponentially more restrictive than the CDC or whatever.

MCPS is not following CDC recommendations outside of masking.

I was referring to last school year, when Dr. Gayles mysteriously recommending guidelines that were more restrictive than freaking CHOP, with *zero* justification, and a bunch of us had to fight tooth and nail to get them to change, against the very loud voices of many parents who thought more restrictive than CHOP was better. Again, with no justification.

Dr. Gayles was right. Why don't you go back to your private school board as I don't see why you need to have an opinion on MCPS except to justify privates being open?

My kids attend MCPS, not private.

And, no, Dr. Gayles was not right. He never provided any evidence for his metrics, which should be professionally embarrassing to someone as smart as him.

Yes, he did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Covid is not going away, after delta passes they’ll be some new variant. The vaccines are looking like they’ll be more like flu vaccines, so covid will sometimes spread in schools but hopefully we can minimize it with good ventilation, testing and masks. We need to live with this virus. Kids need in person school not only for academic benefits but for the social benefits too. With virtual school, they lose out on all the socialization that happens during in person school. MCPS absolutely better open 5 days a week with full in person instruction. I personally think any risks of sending my kids in person is far outweighed by the benefit from getting in person instruction and socialization time with their peers.

You want your kids in person school. Some kids need to be in in person school as they have a really bad home life. Others did just fine in virtual. We aren't going to have good ventilation or testing. You may be ok with your child getting it but others of us aren't. I think the rights of in person are not worth it right now as it can be deadly to kids who cannot be vaccinated yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covid is not going away, after delta passes they’ll be some new variant. The vaccines are looking like they’ll be more like flu vaccines, so covid will sometimes spread in schools but hopefully we can minimize it with good ventilation, testing and masks. We need to live with this virus. Kids need in person school not only for academic benefits but for the social benefits too. With virtual school, they lose out on all the socialization that happens during in person school. MCPS absolutely better open 5 days a week with full in person instruction. I personally think any risks of sending my kids in person is far outweighed by the benefit from getting in person instruction and socialization time with their peers.

You want your kids in person school. Some kids need to be in in person school as they have a really bad home life. Others did just fine in virtual. We aren't going to have good ventilation or testing. You may be ok with your child getting it but others of us aren't. I think the rights of in person are not worth it right now as it can be deadly to kids who cannot be vaccinated yet.

I really think returning to hybrid is the best choice for the current situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covid is not going away, after delta passes they’ll be some new variant. The vaccines are looking like they’ll be more like flu vaccines, so covid will sometimes spread in schools but hopefully we can minimize it with good ventilation, testing and masks. We need to live with this virus. Kids need in person school not only for academic benefits but for the social benefits too. With virtual school, they lose out on all the socialization that happens during in person school. MCPS absolutely better open 5 days a week with full in person instruction. I personally think any risks of sending my kids in person is far outweighed by the benefit from getting in person instruction and socialization time with their peers.

You want your kids in person school. Some kids need to be in in person school as they have a really bad home life. Others did just fine in virtual. We aren't going to have good ventilation or testing. You may be ok with your child getting it but others of us aren't. I think the rights of in person are not worth it right now as it can be deadly to kids who cannot be vaccinated yet.

Well, then, isn't it great that the Virtual Academy is an option for you (assuming you applied in time).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covid is not going away, after delta passes they’ll be some new variant. The vaccines are looking like they’ll be more like flu vaccines, so covid will sometimes spread in schools but hopefully we can minimize it with good ventilation, testing and masks. We need to live with this virus. Kids need in person school not only for academic benefits but for the social benefits too. With virtual school, they lose out on all the socialization that happens during in person school. MCPS absolutely better open 5 days a week with full in person instruction. I personally think any risks of sending my kids in person is far outweighed by the benefit from getting in person instruction and socialization time with their peers.

You want your kids in person school. Some kids need to be in in person school as they have a really bad home life. Others did just fine in virtual. We aren't going to have good ventilation or testing. You may be ok with your child getting it but others of us aren't. I think the rights of in person are not worth it right now as it can be deadly to kids who cannot be vaccinated yet.

So I assume when your kids were babies you kept them totally isolated from going anywhere and everything until they were vaccinated for the flu, and until they were well passed the danger zone for getting seriously ill from rsv? Those were both likely way more dangerous to your kids as babies than covid is to your elementary age kids. I am not saying anyone wants their kid to get covid, but I don’t think parents are being very rational about what they allow their kids to do with covid (now that the most at risk population of adults has been vaccinated) vs what they allowed before covid when all these other viruses that cause serious illness in some were circulating with no precautions at all in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covid is not going away, after delta passes they’ll be some new variant. The vaccines are looking like they’ll be more like flu vaccines, so covid will sometimes spread in schools but hopefully we can minimize it with good ventilation, testing and masks. We need to live with this virus. Kids need in person school not only for academic benefits but for the social benefits too. With virtual school, they lose out on all the socialization that happens during in person school. MCPS absolutely better open 5 days a week with full in person instruction. I personally think any risks of sending my kids in person is far outweighed by the benefit from getting in person instruction and socialization time with their peers.

You want your kids in person school. Some kids need to be in in person school as they have a really bad home life. Others did just fine in virtual. We aren't going to have good ventilation or testing. You may be ok with your child getting it but others of us aren't. I think the rights of in person are not worth it right now as it can be deadly to kids who cannot be vaccinated yet.

Well, then, isn't it great that the Virtual Academy is an option for you (assuming you applied in time).

We are still waiting to hear if its an option for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covid is not going away, after delta passes they’ll be some new variant. The vaccines are looking like they’ll be more like flu vaccines, so covid will sometimes spread in schools but hopefully we can minimize it with good ventilation, testing and masks. We need to live with this virus. Kids need in person school not only for academic benefits but for the social benefits too. With virtual school, they lose out on all the socialization that happens during in person school. MCPS absolutely better open 5 days a week with full in person instruction. I personally think any risks of sending my kids in person is far outweighed by the benefit from getting in person instruction and socialization time with their peers.

You want your kids in person school. Some kids need to be in in person school as they have a really bad home life. Others did just fine in virtual. We aren't going to have good ventilation or testing. You may be ok with your child getting it but others of us aren't. I think the rights of in person are not worth it right now as it can be deadly to kids who cannot be vaccinated yet.

So I assume when your kids were babies you kept them totally isolated from going anywhere and everything until they were vaccinated for the flu, and until they were well passed the danger zone for getting seriously ill from rsv? Those were both likely way more dangerous to your kids as babies than covid is to your elementary age kids. I am not saying anyone wants their kid to get covid, but I don’t think parents are being very rational about what they allow their kids to do with covid (now that the most at risk population of adults has been vaccinated) vs what they allowed before covid when all these other viruses that cause serious illness in some were circulating with no precautions at all in place.

Yes, I did keep mine home when they were little and was very careful. You may not think some of us are being rational but our kids aren't vaccinated and covid is ramping up. I think its disappointing that parents like you think its no big deal and don't understand your choices impact our kids health which force us to make difficult choices, including keeping ours home. If you read the treads, at least one (or multiple) parents have been clear that they will send their kids if they have covid and opt out of testing. There are also a lot of breakthrough cases so it puts us adults who are vaccinated at risk too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covid is not going away, after delta passes they’ll be some new variant. The vaccines are looking like they’ll be more like flu vaccines, so covid will sometimes spread in schools but hopefully we can minimize it with good ventilation, testing and masks. We need to live with this virus. Kids need in person school not only for academic benefits but for the social benefits too. With virtual school, they lose out on all the socialization that happens during in person school. MCPS absolutely better open 5 days a week with full in person instruction. I personally think any risks of sending my kids in person is far outweighed by the benefit from getting in person instruction and socialization time with their peers.

You want your kids in person school. Some kids need to be in in person school as they have a really bad home life. Others did just fine in virtual. We aren't going to have good ventilation or testing. You may be ok with your child getting it but others of us aren't. I think the rights of in person are not worth it right now as it can be deadly to kids who cannot be vaccinated yet.

I really think returning to hybrid is the best choice for the current situation.

It would depend on what hybrid looks like. I'd be fine with hybrid if the groups were much smaller and more safety precautions were in place but MCPS has been clear there will be no hybrid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Parents need to plan so asking for a plan months in advance is reasonable.

MCPS put out a plan months in advance, for parents to plan with, and now DCUM is yelling "BUT DELTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

So my kids have the Delta right now. Its like a bad flu. I’m sure some parents would say, it’s fine, they’ll recover, we want in person no matter what. Others would say that is too much of a risk. I want the option of virtual. I know MCPS has the option for virtual only but that was before we knew about breakthrough cases and the uptick in pediatric cases. I, for one, would like to have a virtual option open to me again. Before you all freak out, I’m not saying it should be all virtual but the hybrid option worked before so maybe we could do that again.

Hybrid worked really well if you weren’t a teacher or a student.

Or the working parent of an elementary school kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Covid is not going away, after delta passes they’ll be some new variant. The vaccines are looking like they’ll be more like flu vaccines, so covid will sometimes spread in schools but hopefully we can minimize it with good ventilation, testing and masks. We need to live with this virus. Kids need in person school not only for academic benefits but for the social benefits too. With virtual school, they lose out on all the socialization that happens during in person school. MCPS absolutely better open 5 days a week with full in person instruction. I personally think any risks of sending my kids in person is far outweighed by the benefit from getting in person instruction and socialization time with their peers.

You want your kids in person school. Some kids need to be in in person school as they have a really bad home life. Others did just fine in virtual. We aren't going to have good ventilation or testing. You may be ok with your child getting it but others of us aren't. I think the rights of in person are not worth it right now as it can be deadly to kids who cannot be vaccinated yet.

Well, then, isn't it great that the Virtual Academy is an option for you (assuming you applied in time).

We are still waiting to hear if its an option for us.

Maybe it would be prudent to start looking around for alternative virtual options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Parents need to plan so asking for a plan months in advance is reasonable.

MCPS put out a plan months in advance, for parents to plan with, and now DCUM is yelling "BUT DELTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

So my kids have the Delta right now. Its like a bad flu. I’m sure some parents would say, it’s fine, they’ll recover, we want in person no matter what. Others would say that is too much of a risk. I want the option of virtual. I know MCPS has the option for virtual only but that was before we knew about breakthrough cases and the uptick in pediatric cases. I, for one, would like to have a virtual option open to me again. Before you all freak out, I’m not saying it should be all virtual but the hybrid option worked before so maybe we could do that again.

Hybrid worked really well if you weren’t a teacher or a student.

No one is saying it was ideal but it kept my kids safe. I don’t trust other parents about sending sick kids to school. My DS had constant congestion and sickness precovid, quite frankly it was nice to see him not sick for over a year.

Or the working parent of an elementary school kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rumors we will know details on Friday from admin. Lots of rumors right now though. Most agree hybrid sucked the most and was ineffective.

That's the issue. Such poor communication by MCPS so it fuels the rumor mill. They should state their plans clearly, even if it's "We'll release our plan on XX date".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rumors we will know details on Friday from admin. Lots of rumors right now though. Most agree hybrid sucked the most and was ineffective.

What’s in the Friday announcement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rumors we will know details on Friday from admin. Lots of rumors right now though. Most agree hybrid sucked the most and was ineffective.

That's the issue. Such poor communication by MCPS so it fuels the rumor mill. They should state their plans clearly, even if it's "We'll release our plan on XX date".

Nope nope nope. MCPS is not responsible for DCUM rumormongering. DCUM posters are responsible for DCUM rumormongering.