DCPS Employee Return to In Person Work Guidance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think below about 3rd or 4th grade it will not be possible to expect masks to be worn all day.

But all classrooms should employ multiple measures like opening windows, plastic screens, and face shields and masks on teachers.

And if teachers really can’t won’t teach the same grade they should offer to be re-assigned. The ongoing education of the children needs be prioritized, we cannot wait for a vaccine.

Thanks for the suggestions. Teacher here. I’ll make sure to put in for window installation along with my ppe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again , PP use logic : given cost of housing innDC most of the hospital staff, grocery clerks, etc...don’t send their kids to DCPS as they can’t afford to live in DC

Seems that there is resentment here directed at Ward 3 parents “ those are the ones in surveys who want schools open”

Well, as anyone who works in ward 3 knows , a huge portion of the kids at Eaton, Horace Mann , etc are out of bounds kids from other wards

There are about 50k kids in DC who attend DCPS ( public and charter ) and about 15k kids innDC who go to private school

Most , not all, but most of the kids in ward 3 go to Marey, Sidwell, Cathedral Schools, GDS, , Sheridan, Lowell, WIS , Landon , Prep, Holton ....you get the picture

So this idea that it’s a bunch of what do you call us ,”Karens “ who are demanding ward 3 public’s re-open is just you spinning that taped message in your head

I'm wondering why so many parents here are so trusting that DCPS will adhere to protocols? Even with anecdotal evidence from plenty of teachers on this board we have some clear published evidence that they DO NOT.

Hello...we just lost Head Start funding. Or rather or application was pulled, please don't be so daft as to not know the reason why.

As a young, and healthy teacher I am fine with the IDEA of hybrid. In fact I know I have a greater risk as a self-contained teacher with a tiny classroom and students who 100% will not meet social distancing requirements or mask regulations.

Now I am not fine with the reality because like many other teachers said they can't even keep the school clean on a regular basis...you think I want to return under those conditions.
Please don't say I am lazy and I am not passionate, that narrative is so gaslighting and you know it. Even grocery store workers have more protection now, plexiglass and literally constant cleaning! I have never seen Trader Joe's for example so sparkling clean!

We need some guarantees that policies will be followed and if not suing the District is acceptable. Though I'm not even sure that's enough since I know how often they're already sued.

Once again the problem is not hybrid learning but DCPS following actual protocols to the letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not only are there supply and cleaning issues but some of the practices around sick students have to change. I’ve had a kid throw up on the floor and take the whole class outside because it took too long to get a custodian to clean up. I’ve had kids sent back to class with a basin because they didn’t actually throw up in front of the nurse. Kids come back to class if they don’t have a fever or they can’t get in contact with a parent/guardian but are clearly ill. And of course there are the kids who tell you they had a fever or threw up that morning but there they are at school. All of this has become the teacher’s problem and that has to change if we plan to keep students and teachers safe.

I'm a parent and I completely agree, and wish this had never been handled so laxly. When a kid in my kid's class throws up at school (my kids always report this to me) and then is back the next day, I strongly resent their parents for sending them.

Vomit doesn’t always require quarantine. Many vomiting instances are a result of food poisoning which is not contagious. Why the contempt? Kids need to be in school and parents know their kids better than your 3rd hand expertise.

It's DCPS policy to keep your kid home for 24 hours after vomiting, so you can't send them back the next day after they threw up at school.

In the specific, most recent case I'm thinking about, I chatted with the kid's after school nanny about it at pickup, and she said that yeah, the kid had been feeling off and having fevers on and off all week, but the parents sent him anyway.

But it’s actually not “DCPS policy”, it’s not even written anywhere as a recommendation.... can you find that in writing re: vomiting? I had multiple children in my classroom over the course of a week with vomiting or loose stools and the nurse would not call home because they did not have a fever. I was then out for a day vomiting myself..... with no sub. Multiple children impacted and multiple days of learning lost and parents told me they knew their child was sick. That’s not food poisoning.

There’s not clear policy about school exclusion for illness unless a child has a confirmed communicable disease and even then we rely on parent to self-report.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Again , PP use logic : given cost of housing innDC most of the hospital staff, grocery clerks, etc...don’t send their kids to DCPS as they can’t afford to live in DC

Seems that there is resentment here directed at Ward 3 parents “ those are the ones in surveys who want schools open”

Well, as anyone who works in ward 3 knows , a huge portion of the kids at Eaton, Horace Mann , etc are out of bounds kids from other wards

There are about 50k kids in DC who attend DCPS ( public and charter ) and about 15k kids innDC who go to private school

Most , not all, but most of the kids in ward 3 go to Marey, Sidwell, Cathedral Schools, GDS, , Sheridan, Lowell, WIS , Landon , Prep, Holton ....you get the picture

So this idea that it’s a bunch of what do you call us ,”Karens “ who are demanding ward 3 public’s re-open is just you spinning that taped message in your head

I'm wondering why so many parents here are so trusting that DCPS will adhere to protocols? Even with anecdotal evidence from plenty of teachers on this board we have some clear published evidence that they DO NOT.

Hello...we just lost Head Start funding. Or rather or application was pulled, please don't be so daft as to not know the reason why.

As a young, and healthy teacher I am fine with the IDEA of hybrid. In fact I know I have a greater risk as a self-contained teacher with a tiny classroom and students who 100% will not meet social distancing requirements or mask regulations.

Now I am not fine with the reality because like many other teachers said they can't even keep the school clean on a regular basis...you think I want to return under those conditions.
Please don't say I am lazy and I am not passionate, that narrative is so gaslighting and you know it. Even grocery store workers have more protection now, plexiglass and literally constant cleaning! I have never seen Trader Joe's for example so sparkling clean!

We need some guarantees that policies will be followed and if not suing the District is acceptable. Though I'm not even sure that's enough since I know how often they're already sued.

Once again the problem is not hybrid learning but DCPS following actual protocols to the letter.

Completely agree. I don't even have faith that they will be able to abide by the student / staff ratios. Every year I have more than 25 kids in my classes, even though DCPS has signed a contract that limits classes to 25. This year I had a class of 31. Last year I had a class of 34. This is routine practice at my school. (HS)
Do I trust them when they say classes will be limited to 10. Nope.
They might have good intentions, but what happens when teachers are sick, or symptomatic and need to call out. There wont be subs and they will divide kids up into the classes that are already at ratio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do think below about 3rd or 4th grade it will not be possible to expect masks to be worn all day.

But all classrooms should employ multiple measures like opening windows, plastic screens, and face shields and masks on teachers.

And if teachers really can’t won’t teach the same grade they should offer to be re-assigned. The ongoing education of the children needs be prioritized, we cannot wait for a vaccine.

I would be irate if I were a teacher because of posters like this. So, teachers should bear the entire burden? You think them reading a story to your kid with a face mask AND shield is perfectly fine and that they have to be as normal as possible, despite worrying about their family and health. Where are these teachers coming from? Do you want a HS PE teacher teaching 3rd grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do think below about 3rd or 4th grade it will not be possible to expect masks to be worn all day.

But all classrooms should employ multiple measures like opening windows, plastic screens, and face shields and masks on teachers.

And if teachers really can’t won’t teach the same grade they should offer to be re-assigned. The ongoing education of the children needs be prioritized, we cannot wait for a vaccine.

I would be irate if I were a teacher because of posters like this. So, teachers should bear the entire burden? You think them reading a story to your kid with a face mask AND shield is perfectly fine and that they have to be as normal as possible, despite worrying about their family and health. Where are these teachers coming from? Do you want a HS PE teacher teaching 3rd grade?

How much do you think my kids are learning while they're at home watching television as I try to work? Adult supervision with some teaching so I can go back into the office when I'm told to would be a miracle at this point. It's not one that I expect, but I don't know why anyone thinks my kids being in school half of the time while I find some other kind of childcare the other half of the time (so, more exposure to more people for my kids) is going to be safer for teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said no specials because of 100 kids... As a science teacher I teach 120 a day. Your solution isn’t feasible at the middle and high school level.


To the poster above:
Art teachers can see up to 180 students in a day. Every day is a new set of classes. So if you teacher 500 students in Art in a given week you are exposed to 500 students, sometimes they come twice weekly. My understanding of Middle and High school is that you see a fraction of that many students weekly. Obviously, still not a safe situation either.

Ok fine. You both get trophies.

Stop it! I'm a parent with high schoolers and I don't want to have my kids miss 2+ weeks of math class because their teacher got COVID. At this point, I think it's easier to be 100% online. The hybrid model presents a lot of disruption and half-assed teaching. If it were all online, teachers could be planning and have daily classes. How are our kids going to be in a class with 10 kids? It will completely water down teaching at the MS and HS level, as this teacher pointed out.

[Anonymous]

Happy 4th to all of my favorite Karens!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said no specials because of 100 kids... As a science teacher I teach 120 a day. Your solution isn’t feasible at the middle and high school level.


To the poster above:
Art teachers can see up to 180 students in a day. Every day is a new set of classes. So if you teacher 500 students in Art in a given week you are exposed to 500 students, sometimes they come twice weekly. My understanding of Middle and High school is that you see a fraction of that many students weekly. Obviously, still not a safe situation either.

Ok fine. You both get trophies.

Stop it! I'm a parent with high schoolers and I don't want to have my kids miss 2+ weeks of math class because their teacher got COVID. At this point, I think it's easier to be 100% online. The hybrid model presents a lot of disruption and half-assed teaching. If it were all online, teachers could be planning and have daily classes. How are our kids going to be in a class with 10 kids? It will completely water down teaching at the MS and HS level, as this teacher pointed out.

I genuinely think they should be trying for 100% distance learning for MS & HS and 100% in person for ES. The logistics of hybrid seem basically impossible for MS/HS and proper DL = real learning; for ES, the logistics are pretty easy -- 2x the teachers and 2x the classrooms; maybe specials either remotely or not at all -- and DL is virtually pointless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said no specials because of 100 kids... As a science teacher I teach 120 a day. Your solution isn’t feasible at the middle and high school level.


To the poster above:
Art teachers can see up to 180 students in a day. Every day is a new set of classes. So if you teacher 500 students in Art in a given week you are exposed to 500 students, sometimes they come twice weekly. My understanding of Middle and High school is that you see a fraction of that many students weekly. Obviously, still not a safe situation either.

Ok fine. You both get trophies.

Stop it! I'm a parent with high schoolers and I don't want to have my kids miss 2+ weeks of math class because their teacher got COVID. At this point, I think it's easier to be 100% online. The hybrid model presents a lot of disruption and half-assed teaching. If it were all online, teachers could be planning and have daily classes. How are our kids going to be in a class with 10 kids? It will completely water down teaching at the MS and HS level, as this teacher pointed out.

I genuinely think they should be trying for 100% distance learning for MS & HS and 100% in person for ES. The logistics of hybrid seem basically impossible for MS/HS and proper DL = real learning; for ES, the logistics are pretty easy -- 2x the teachers and 2x the classrooms; maybe specials either remotely or not at all -- and DL is virtually pointless.

I’m pp and agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said no specials because of 100 kids... As a science teacher I teach 120 a day. Your solution isn’t feasible at the middle and high school level.


To the poster above:
Art teachers can see up to 180 students in a day. Every day is a new set of classes. So if you teacher 500 students in Art in a given week you are exposed to 500 students, sometimes they come twice weekly. My understanding of Middle and High school is that you see a fraction of that many students weekly. Obviously, still not a safe situation either.

Ok fine. You both get trophies.

Stop it! I'm a parent with high schoolers and I don't want to have my kids miss 2+ weeks of math class because their teacher got COVID. At this point, I think it's easier to be 100% online. The hybrid model presents a lot of disruption and half-assed teaching. If it were all online, teachers could be planning and have daily classes. How are our kids going to be in a class with 10 kids? It will completely water down teaching at the MS and HS level, as this teacher pointed out.

I genuinely think they should be trying for 100% distance learning for MS & HS and 100% in person for ES. The logistics of hybrid seem basically impossible for MS/HS and proper DL = real learning; for ES, the logistics are pretty easy -- 2x the teachers and 2x the classrooms; maybe specials either remotely or not at all -- and DL is virtually pointless.

It makes sense but where are double the number of teachers coming from?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said no specials because of 100 kids... As a science teacher I teach 120 a day. Your solution isn’t feasible at the middle and high school level.


To the poster above:
Art teachers can see up to 180 students in a day. Every day is a new set of classes. So if you teacher 500 students in Art in a given week you are exposed to 500 students, sometimes they come twice weekly. My understanding of Middle and High school is that you see a fraction of that many students weekly. Obviously, still not a safe situation either.

Ok fine. You both get trophies.

Stop it! I'm a parent with high schoolers and I don't want to have my kids miss 2+ weeks of math class because their teacher got COVID. At this point, I think it's easier to be 100% online. The hybrid model presents a lot of disruption and half-assed teaching. If it were all online, teachers could be planning and have daily classes. How are our kids going to be in a class with 10 kids? It will completely water down teaching at the MS and HS level, as this teacher pointed out.

I genuinely think they should be trying for 100% distance learning for MS & HS and 100% in person for ES. The logistics of hybrid seem basically impossible for MS/HS and proper DL = real learning; for ES, the logistics are pretty easy -- 2x the teachers and 2x the classrooms; maybe specials either remotely or not at all -- and DL is virtually pointless.

I’m pp and agree.

No way will DL for specials fly with GenEd F2F. It would be considered inequitable by the GenEd teachers and open a can of worms for the administrators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said no specials because of 100 kids... As a science teacher I teach 120 a day. Your solution isn’t feasible at the middle and high school level.


To the poster above:
Art teachers can see up to 180 students in a day. Every day is a new set of classes. So if you teacher 500 students in Art in a given week you are exposed to 500 students, sometimes they come twice weekly. My understanding of Middle and High school is that you see a fraction of that many students weekly. Obviously, still not a safe situation either.

Ok fine. You both get trophies.

Stop it! I'm a parent with high schoolers and I don't want to have my kids miss 2+ weeks of math class because their teacher got COVID. At this point, I think it's easier to be 100% online. The hybrid model presents a lot of disruption and half-assed teaching. If it were all online, teachers could be planning and have daily classes. How are our kids going to be in a class with 10 kids? It will completely water down teaching at the MS and HS level, as this teacher pointed out.

I genuinely think they should be trying for 100% distance learning for MS & HS and 100% in person for ES. The logistics of hybrid seem basically impossible for MS/HS and proper DL = real learning; for ES, the logistics are pretty easy -- 2x the teachers and 2x the classrooms; maybe specials either remotely or not at all -- and DL is virtually pointless.

I’m pp and agree.

No way will DL for specials fly with GenEd F2F. It would be considered inequitable by the GenEd teachers and open a can of worms for the administrators.

So specials teachers act as regular classroom teachers until the pandemic is over or we can go back to regular school. At this point music and art can be sacrificed for classroom learning. Not that I don’t think those are important, it’s just that being in school every day and learning to read and write are more important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said no specials because of 100 kids... As a science teacher I teach 120 a day. Your solution isn’t feasible at the middle and high school level.


To the poster above:
Art teachers can see up to 180 students in a day. Every day is a new set of classes. So if you teacher 500 students in Art in a given week you are exposed to 500 students, sometimes they come twice weekly. My understanding of Middle and High school is that you see a fraction of that many students weekly. Obviously, still not a safe situation either.

Ok fine. You both get trophies.

Stop it! I'm a parent with high schoolers and I don't want to have my kids miss 2+ weeks of math class because their teacher got COVID. At this point, I think it's easier to be 100% online. The hybrid model presents a lot of disruption and half-assed teaching. If it were all online, teachers could be planning and have daily classes. How are our kids going to be in a class with 10 kids? It will completely water down teaching at the MS and HS level, as this teacher pointed out.

I genuinely think they should be trying for 100% distance learning for MS & HS and 100% in person for ES. The logistics of hybrid seem basically impossible for MS/HS and proper DL = real learning; for ES, the logistics are pretty easy -- 2x the teachers and 2x the classrooms; maybe specials either remotely or not at all -- and DL is virtually pointless.

I’m pp and agree.

No way will DL for specials fly with GenEd F2F. It would be considered inequitable by the GenEd teachers and open a can of worms for the administrators.

So specials teachers act as regular classroom teachers until the pandemic is over or we can go back to regular school. At this point music and art can be sacrificed for classroom learning. Not that I don’t think those are important, it’s just that being in school every day and learning to read and write are more important.

Yes, this. Also, all grades that have aides are already close to covered just by splitting the class in half. At lots of schools, that’s through K or 1st grade. All extra staff that can’t do their jobs or aren’t essential in the short term — e.g., instructional support, literacy specialists — become classroom teachers too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person who said no specials because of 100 kids... As a science teacher I teach 120 a day. Your solution isn’t feasible at the middle and high school level.


To the poster above:
Art teachers can see up to 180 students in a day. Every day is a new set of classes. So if you teacher 500 students in Art in a given week you are exposed to 500 students, sometimes they come twice weekly. My understanding of Middle and High school is that you see a fraction of that many students weekly. Obviously, still not a safe situation either.

Ok fine. You both get trophies.

Stop it! I'm a parent with high schoolers and I don't want to have my kids miss 2+ weeks of math class because their teacher got COVID. At this point, I think it's easier to be 100% online. The hybrid model presents a lot of disruption and half-assed teaching. If it were all online, teachers could be planning and have daily classes. How are our kids going to be in a class with 10 kids? It will completely water down teaching at the MS and HS level, as this teacher pointed out.

I genuinely think they should be trying for 100% distance learning for MS & HS and 100% in person for ES. The logistics of hybrid seem basically impossible for MS/HS and proper DL = real learning; for ES, the logistics are pretty easy -- 2x the teachers and 2x the classrooms; maybe specials either remotely or not at all -- and DL is virtually pointless.

I’m pp and agree.

No way will DL for specials fly with GenEd F2F. It would be considered inequitable by the GenEd teachers and open a can of worms for the administrators.

So specials teachers act as regular classroom teachers until the pandemic is over or we can go back to regular school. At this point music and art can be sacrificed for classroom learning. Not that I don’t think those are important, it’s just that being in school every day and learning to read and write are more important.

That’s fine but that doesn’t solve staffing issues. There are maybe 4/5? Specials teachers in the school. Adding one per grade level (grades 1-5) doesn’t really do anything. And to be honest....I’m not sure how good an art/pe/Spanish teacher is going to be at teaching reading.