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.

+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.

The county's standardized testing clearly show that this notion that DL had poor educational outcomes is a complete myth.

[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.

This. You want a surefilre way to make a teacher shortage even worse? Force them to do concurrent- I know of several who would move to other districts if MCPS forced that this year.

[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:

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.

The county's standardized testing clearly show that this notion that DL had poor educational outcomes is a complete myth.

The curriculum was watered down and slowed down. Yes, the education was poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The county's standardized testing clearly show that this notion that DL had poor educational outcomes is a complete myth.

PP can you explain further? I'd like to know more about our standardized testing, what it tested this past year, and what the data has been showing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The county's standardized testing clearly show that this notion that DL had poor educational outcomes is a complete myth.

It did? When did it do that? Please provide more specific information.

[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.

Damn you, Poe's Law!

[Anonymous]

MCPS is building back better! So glad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The county's standardized testing clearly show that this notion that DL had poor educational outcomes is a complete myth.

It did? When did it do that? Please provide more specific information.

Or you could provide information to substantiate your claims but you won't because you know they're false.

[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:

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.

The county's standardized testing clearly show that this notion that DL had poor educational outcomes is a complete myth.

The curriculum was watered down and slowed down. Yes, the education was poor.

By about 40%. That's a huge dropoff. Terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The county's standardized testing clearly show that this notion that DL had poor educational outcomes is a complete myth.

It did? When did it do that? Please provide more specific information.

Or you could provide information to substantiate your claims but you won't because you know they're false.

Whom are you addressing? If you're the one who said that this notion is a complete myth, what are you basing that statement on?

[Anonymous]

I think there is actually quite a bit of evidence that flimsy cloth masks are not effective with delta. Israel and the UK reinstated mask mandates weeks ago and it had no impact on their case numbers. They continued going up at the same rates. Those numbers are finally just starting to go back down, suggesting that delta will just burn through as it wants until herd immunity. Fortunately for MoCo, the high vaccine rate lowers the point until we get there. Unfortunately, no kids under 12 are in that group. But I do think flimsy masks with slipshod enforcement of actually keeping the thing on your mouth and nose is security theater.

This is not to say we shouldn’t do 5 days in person. We should. Covid is less dangerous to kids than flu or RSV and we don’t shut the world down for that. This isn’t going away and we have to learn to live with it. But at least know accurately what you are risking. I fully believe schools are going to be awash in virus and pretty much everyone will get it. But nobody’s going to test and it’s so contagious now that contact tracing is stupid and if they’re not doing separated cohorts then we might as well bury our heads and keep going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is actually quite a bit of evidence that flimsy cloth masks are not effective with delta. Israel and the UK reinstated mask mandates weeks ago and it had no impact on their case numbers. They continued going up at the same rates. Those numbers are finally just starting to go back down, suggesting that delta will just burn through as it wants until herd immunity. Fortunately for MoCo, the high vaccine rate lowers the point until we get there. Unfortunately, no kids under 12 are in that group. But I do think flimsy masks with slipshod enforcement of actually keeping the thing on your mouth and nose is security theater.

This is not to say we shouldn’t do 5 days in person. We should. Covid is less dangerous to kids than flu or RSV and we don’t shut the world down for that. This isn’t going away and we have to learn to live with it. But at least know accurately what you are risking. I fully believe schools are going to be awash in virus and pretty much everyone will get it. But nobody’s going to test and it’s so contagious now that contact tracing is stupid and if they’re not doing separated cohorts then we might as well bury our heads and keep going.

Maybe that's because, notwithstanding the mask mandates, people are not wearing masks where they're transmitting the virus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there is actually quite a bit of evidence that flimsy cloth masks are not effective with delta. Israel and the UK reinstated mask mandates weeks ago and it had no impact on their case numbers. They continued going up at the same rates. Those numbers are finally just starting to go back down, suggesting that delta will just burn through as it wants until herd immunity. Fortunately for MoCo, the high vaccine rate lowers the point until we get there. Unfortunately, no kids under 12 are in that group. But I do think flimsy masks with slipshod enforcement of actually keeping the thing on your mouth and nose is security theater.

This is not to say we shouldn’t do 5 days in person. We should. Covid is less dangerous to kids than flu or RSV and we don’t shut the world down for that. This isn’t going away and we have to learn to live with it. But at least know accurately what you are risking. I fully believe schools are going to be awash in virus and pretty much everyone will get it. But nobody’s going to test and it’s so contagious now that contact tracing is stupid and if they’re not doing separated cohorts then we might as well bury our heads and keep going.

Maybe that's because, notwithstanding the mask mandates, people are not wearing masks where they're transmitting the virus.

Maybe. But similar measures with the exact same population had at least some impact before and did not now. Even without anybody vaccinated. With how large of a viral load delta produces compared to the alpha variant we had before, it is not surprising that non-medical grade masks may not work well. The blessing was that they worked before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is actually quite a bit of evidence that flimsy cloth masks are not effective with delta. Israel and the UK reinstated mask mandates weeks ago and it had no impact on their case numbers. They continued going up at the same rates. Those numbers are finally just starting to go back down, suggesting that delta will just burn through as it wants until herd immunity. Fortunately for MoCo, the high vaccine rate lowers the point until we get there. Unfortunately, no kids under 12 are in that group. But I do think flimsy masks with slipshod enforcement of actually keeping the thing on your mouth and nose is security theater.

This is not to say we shouldn’t do 5 days in person. We should. Covid is less dangerous to kids than flu or RSV and we don’t shut the world down for that. This isn’t going away and we have to learn to live with it. But at least know accurately what you are risking. I fully believe schools are going to be awash in virus and pretty much everyone will get it. But nobody’s going to test and it’s so contagious now that contact tracing is stupid and if they’re not doing separated cohorts then we might as well bury our heads and keep going.

This is how I feel. I don’t hope my kids get covid but I’m not expecting masks to protect them like some of my friends who seem to think as long as there are masks anything is “safe.” But I’d rather they get covid and go to school tha not get covid and sit on a chromebook. Life is full of trade offs. People seem to think they can have it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is actually quite a bit of evidence that flimsy cloth masks are not effective with delta. Israel and the UK reinstated mask mandates weeks ago and it had no impact on their case numbers. They continued going up at the same rates. Those numbers are finally just starting to go back down, suggesting that delta will just burn through as it wants until herd immunity. Fortunately for MoCo, the high vaccine rate lowers the point until we get there. Unfortunately, no kids under 12 are in that group. But I do think flimsy masks with slipshod enforcement of actually keeping the thing on your mouth and nose is security theater.

This is not to say we shouldn’t do 5 days in person. We should. Covid is less dangerous to kids than flu or RSV and we don’t shut the world down for that. This isn’t going away and we have to learn to live with it. But at least know accurately what you are risking. I fully believe schools are going to be awash in virus and pretty much everyone will get it. But nobody’s going to test and it’s so contagious now that contact tracing is stupid and if they’re not doing separated cohorts then we might as well bury our heads and keep going.

I believe we should ask for better mitigation strategies at school. For example, lunch is still eaten at cafeteria. Why can’t MCPS make cohorts and let kids eat lunch in the classroom? Or outdoor is even better.