McKnight's discussion with health officer about in-person learning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS central office is closed now??!! Who is making the decision to go virtual or not??

We are not going virtual.

[Anonymous]

We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS central office is closed now??!! Who is making the decision to go virtual or not??

We are not going virtual.

Yes they took a vacation head of BOE etc knowing the shi$storm was coming. Typical work from home heads of staff “z

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

If a surge is happening even while school is out, let the surge ride out for the next two weeks without adding fuel to the fire by sending kids back. Don't overwhelm the healthcare system all at once when all the kids go back to school contagious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

If a surge is happening even while school is out, let the surge ride out for the next two weeks without adding fuel to the fire by sending kids back. Don't overwhelm the healthcare system all at once when all the kids go back to school contagious.

School reopening in the past has not significantly increased cases. School closures have significantly decreased learning.

[Anonymous]

Why do people keep acting like opening schools is going to significantly increase cases? This has not happened in the past. This why this county is F-ed. Teacher's unions think they are infectious disease specialists. F the teacher's unions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people keep acting like opening schools is going to significantly increase cases? This has not happened in the past. This why this county is F-ed. Teacher's unions think they are infectious disease specialists. F the teacher's unions.

You’re delusional. Asked absolutely went up when schools opened this fall. I don’t necessarily blame the schools. So many parents have the false mentality of “well, they are already going to school so let’s do all the things now”. If schools were the ONLY thing open then we would know for sure if they are contributing to increased cases. But unfortunately we have all this indoor dining where people hang out unmasked for HOURS breathing the same air as strangers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

If a surge is happening even while school is out, let the surge ride out for the next two weeks without adding fuel to the fire by sending kids back. Don't overwhelm the healthcare system all at once when all the kids go back to school contagious.

Great advice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

If a surge is happening even while school is out, let the surge ride out for the next two weeks without adding fuel to the fire by sending kids back. Don't overwhelm the healthcare system all at once when all the kids go back to school contagious.

School reopening in the past has not significantly increased cases. School closures have significantly decreased learning.

That's wrong. Failing to test and asymptomatic students might've made it seem that way to some but actual studies done in the UK indicated that schools were one of the main drivers of infection. Also, just look at the rates in the community versus what random testing turned up in NYC schools. TLDR: students were 2X-3X more likely to have covid than the community rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

If a surge is happening even while school is out, let the surge ride out for the next two weeks without adding fuel to the fire by sending kids back. Don't overwhelm the healthcare system all at once when all the kids go back to school contagious.

Great advice!

The problem is once we close we KNOW it well never be "safe enough" to reopen. The resistance to a temporary closure is MCEA's fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

If a surge is happening even while school is out, let the surge ride out for the next two weeks without adding fuel to the fire by sending kids back. Don't overwhelm the healthcare system all at once when all the kids go back to school contagious.

School reopening in the past has not significantly increased cases. School closures have significantly decreased learning.

That's wrong. Failing to test and asymptomatic students might've made it seem that way to some but actual studies done in the UK indicated that schools were one of the main drivers of infection. Also, just look at the rates in the community versus what random testing turned up in NYC schools. TLDR: students were 2X-3X more likely to have covid than the community rate.

GTFOOH. Hospitalizations were flat and then decreased after a peak in late August. Opening schools did not overwhelm the hospitals, and certainly did not drive up cases the way that you insist it did. Keeping them closed would have worsened the crisis we have among children and youth who were kept out of school for way too long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

If a surge is happening even while school is out, let the surge ride out for the next two weeks without adding fuel to the fire by sending kids back. Don't overwhelm the healthcare system all at once when all the kids go back to school contagious.

School reopening in the past has not significantly increased cases. School closures have significantly decreased learning.

That's wrong. Failing to test and asymptomatic students might've made it seem that way to some but actual studies done in the UK indicated that schools were one of the main drivers of infection. Also, just look at the rates in the community versus what random testing turned up in NYC schools. TLDR: students were 2X-3X more likely to have covid than the community rate.

GTFOOH. Hospitalizations were flat and then decreased after a peak in late August. Opening schools did not overwhelm the hospitals, and certainly did not drive up cases the way that you insist it did. Keeping them closed would have worsened the crisis we have among children and youth who were kept out of school for way too long.

It’s interesting isn’t it? Schools have been closed since December 22 and yet hospitalizations are surging. How can that be when supposedly the schools are the drivers of the apocalypse?

[Anonymous]

How are we supposed to open on Monday without the staff available to work? Each day I keep getting more and more messages from co-workers who have tested positive or who have kids who have tested positive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are on week 3 of the omicron surge (which began before the holidays & travel). South Africa's surge lasted a month. It may be some schools close next week but after that it's entirely possible this surge will be over. And no, opening schools won't supercharge cases (just as it didn't in September), people are doing a good enough job of that just by living their best lives.

If a surge is happening even while school is out, let the surge ride out for the next two weeks without adding fuel to the fire by sending kids back. Don't overwhelm the healthcare system all at once when all the kids go back to school contagious.

School reopening in the past has not significantly increased cases. School closures have significantly decreased learning.

That's wrong. Failing to test and asymptomatic students might've made it seem that way to some but actual studies done in the UK indicated that schools were one of the main drivers of infection. Also, just look at the rates in the community versus what random testing turned up in NYC schools. TLDR: students were 2X-3X more likely to have covid than the community rate.

GTFOOH. Hospitalizations were flat and then decreased after a peak in late August. Opening schools did not overwhelm the hospitals, and certainly did not drive up cases the way that you insist it did. Keeping them closed would have worsened the crisis we have among children and youth who were kept out of school for way too long.

It’s interesting isn’t it? Schools have been closed since December 22 and yet hospitalizations are surging. How can that be when supposedly the schools are the drivers of the apocalypse?

Well, it's possible repeated COVID infections have rotted your brain to the point where you're barely sentient, but anyone with half a clue knows that people don't instantly catch COVID and rush to the hospital. Hospitalization is a lagging indicator. You're seeing hospitalizations now from Thanksgiving and the weeks since it, including the time schools were open.

And that's the other thing. Repeated COVID exposure is a thing. Especially with omicron. You're not setting your kid up to get it once. If they've had it already they're not done. This goes on and on, made all the worse because people like you refuse to take any personal responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are we supposed to open on Monday without the staff available to work? Each day I keep getting more and more messages from co-workers who have tested positive or who have kids who have tested positive.

You should plan on reporting for work on Monday. MCPS school administrators are on vacation so even if your school exceeds 5%, there’s no one to make a decision to close. See how they dodged the political firestorm?