BOE Fall Plan Meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Excellent first question from new SMOB. (What happens if a student tests positive?)

MCPS and Health department will coordinate. They will do full contact tracing in the building and will identify close contacts to quarantine and spaces that need cleaning. Might be just a classroom, might be the whole school.

My guess is that few people here have been through contact tracing. I have. It is very comprehensive. If I am in the copier room trying to make materials for all of my preps, I will be in there for more than 15 min. Anyone else trying to work in that room, to use the laminator or other equipment would have had sufficient exposure to be told to quarantine for 14 days. As a precaution, we would need to limit work room occupancy to one person at a time. However, our workroom also has all of things a teacher needs to create instructional materials, including printers.

Moreover, all of our teachers except art room share. This means that teachers spend their planning periods camped out in other spaces around the school. I prefer to work in my department office, but two other people are in there at the same time. If I went to the media center or lounge, I would be around even more people for more than 15 min. How can I social distance for my protection and that of others when there’s no available space in the school? Would you recommend that I sit outside of the building and try to plan or create materials sitting on the black top? For 85 min? In all weather?

If all of the teachers have masks on, risk of transmission is remarkably low. Medical folks have been wearing masks and in close proximity for months. If a co-worker tested positive, the remainder of staff was/is not quarantined.

The same would hold true for kids back in school. I agree this would be much harder for younger students, but MS and HS students can wear masks all day and, at least by CDC standards, would not need to be quarantined.

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

[Anonymous]

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

Do you seriously believe that for the duration of the fall semester MS and HS students will be sequestered in their homes not interacting ever with their friends? Do you have eyes, and have you looked around you at the kids playing basketball in the park, picnicking together, etc? (More power to them by the way, I am not troubled by this).

Newsflash: no in-person school does not translate into all teenagers in lockdown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

What the kids are doing outside of school is 100% relevant to the public-health implications of opening school.

And here's what they're doing: most of the same things they do outside of school during normal times, indoors as well as out.

[Anonymous]

Happen to live in a neighborhood with several MCPS teachers across ES, MS, and HS. All saying they doubt any in-person instruction will happen in the fall and they think the hybrid was to app reads parents and community members who want in-person education to resume.

When I asked one of these teachers neighbors if they wanted to return to in-person, their response was “hell no - no one does. In person isn’t happening this school year.”

Take it for what it’s worth but my sense is teachers know more than the rest of us and I’m now planning for zero in person school.

This is really bad for younger students. A few months is one thing - a couple of years is another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

What kids are doing matters because they’re engaging in the very same activities that the school system says aren’t safe and most are doing it without incident. We’re social distancing but can assure you many families are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

What the kids are doing outside of school is 100% relevant to the public-health implications of opening school.

And here's what they're doing: most of the same things they do outside of school during normal times, indoors as well as out.

EXACTLY THIS. MoCo kids are going to freakign sleepaway camp. Open school for those who want it, DL for those who don't. Madness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Happen to live in a neighborhood with several MCPS teachers across ES, MS, and HS. All saying they doubt any in-person instruction will happen in the fall and they think the hybrid was to app reads parents and community members who want in-person education to resume.

When I asked one of these teachers neighbors if they wanted to return to in-person, their response was “hell no - no one does. In person isn’t happening this school year.”

Take it for what it’s worth but my sense is teachers know more than the rest of us and I’m now planning for zero in person school.

This is really bad for younger students. A few months is one thing - a couple of years is another.

If it really is to appease parents, and the #s keep going down, how will they justify changing it? SO MANY PARENTS want hybrid. More than want DL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

According to your explanation, it's not about public health, it's about liability.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

According to your explanation, it's not about public health, it's about liability.

They go hand in hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Happen to live in a neighborhood with several MCPS teachers across ES, MS, and HS. All saying they doubt any in-person instruction will happen in the fall and they think the hybrid was to app reads parents and community members who want in-person education to resume.

When I asked one of these teachers neighbors if they wanted to return to in-person, their response was “hell no - no one does. In person isn’t happening this school year.”

Take it for what it’s worth but my sense is teachers know more than the rest of us and I’m now planning for zero in person school.

This is really bad for younger students. A few months is one thing - a couple of years is another.

If it really is to appease parents, and the #s keep going down, how will they justify changing it? SO MANY PARENTS want hybrid. More than want DL.

Not to mention the AAP says kids should go back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

What the kids are doing outside of school is 100% relevant to the public-health implications of opening school.

And here's what they're doing: most of the same things they do outside of school during normal times, indoors as well as out.

I'm sorry, I have a hard time believing most high school students are spending the summer indoors for 6 hours with 15 or so other kids they don't know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

What the kids are doing outside of school is 100% relevant to the public-health implications of opening school.

And here's what they're doing: most of the same things they do outside of school during normal times, indoors as well as out.

I'm sorry, I have a hard time believing most high school students are spending the summer indoors for 6 hours with 15 or so other kids they don't know.

Maybe you need a refresher course in Stuff Teenagers Do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Except if you have ever been in a middle or high school and spent time in the hallways, you have seen that it is part of the developmental stage for students that age to closely interact. It would be very hard to enforce social distancing and mask wearing in hallways, so that would be a known risk.

I've got news for you about what kids in Montgomery County have been doing, without school.

Irrelevant. That’s not on the school system’s watch. They are responsible for what happens in their schools to their students and staff. Plus, kids playing outside is a completely different level of risk than what happens inside hallways of schools. Also, what adult writes things like, “do you have eyes?” Do you walk around talking like this to people or just write rudely when it’s anonymous. Why not just try to have a productive conversation without adding the insensitive statements? I don’t get it.

What the kids are doing outside of school is 100% relevant to the public-health implications of opening school.

And here's what they're doing: most of the same things they do outside of school during normal times, indoors as well as out.

NP. But they aren’t congregating in groups of 100s or 1000s in poorly ventilated buildings with adults of all ages. That’s what many of MCPS middle and high schools are like, and what would happen in those situations is entirely unknown!