MCPS Coming Back, Better Than Ever

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The CDC says its a priority but they also put in very specific safety precautions as well. They are also probably not looking at MS-HS in MCPS where the schools are 1000-3000K+ students plus staff and very tight classrooms. It may be more doable in ES where they can keep kids separated by classrooms, but in MS, its not as simple. At least in HS, some kids will be vaccinated.

Well, no, The CDC said that the priority is getting kids back in school. If Action X would interfere with kids getting back in school, then school districts shouldn't do Action X; rather, they should get the kids back in school. This is their top "key takeaway":

Students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

Also, I have no idea why you would think that they didn't consider large middle schools and high schools. It's not like MCPS is unique in the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The CDC says its a priority but they also put in very specific safety precautions as well. They are also probably not looking at MS-HS in MCPS where the schools are 1000-3000K+ students plus staff and very tight classrooms. It may be more doable in ES where they can keep kids separated by classrooms, but in MS, its not as simple. At least in HS, some kids will be vaccinated.

Well, no, The CDC said that the priority is getting kids back in school. If Action X would interfere with kids getting back in school, then school districts shouldn't do Action X; rather, they should get the kids back in school. This is their top "key takeaway":

Students benefit from in-person learning, and safely returning to in-person instruction in the fall 2021 is a priority.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html

Also, I have no idea why you would think that they didn't consider large middle schools and high schools. It's not like MCPS is unique in the country.

Biden wants everything open for political reasons so he can claim victory. They simply don't care. The studies the CDC looked at were small rural schools not ones like MCPS. Its going to be a great social experiment with our kids, one I'd prefer not to have my kids participate in.

[Anonymous]

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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.

Your kids are you responsibility. You hire help like the rest of us. Or, you flex your schedule. What do you do in the summer?

Also we’re done with that argument. It’s so last year. Nobody believes it anymore.

You don't believe your kids are your responsibility. Then, drop them off in foster care. So, what do you do summers, holidays?

[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:

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.

Your kids are you responsibility. You hire help like the rest of us. Or, you flex your schedule. What do you do in the summer?

Also we’re done with that argument. It’s so last year. Nobody believes it anymore.

You don't believe your kids are your responsibility. Then, drop them off in foster care. So, what do you do summers, holidays?

It's not that this argument has always been weak, it's no longer even relevant.

[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:

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.

Your kids are you responsibility. You hire help like the rest of us. Or, you flex your schedule. What do you do in the summer?

Way to miss a point. No one has been able to demonstrate that hybrid learning is a successful “mitigation” strategy for covid in kids, and we all know it’s a sucky learning strategy. So who are these people still suggesting it? SAHMs who’d lock their kids in the house on the remote learning days?

It did help as there were fewer kids in the school and many depending on the school remained hybrid so we had 200-300 vs. 1000 students in the school so they could socially distance and keep things safer.

Help how? It’s only successful if the covid related health metrics are significantly lower under hybrid vs. full time. Until I’ve seen a proper data analysis in this, I’m not convinced.

[Anonymous]

MCPS better have a plan B. The Delta variant is spreading like wildfire. There’s no vaccine for children under 12. Breakthrough infections are rising, including hospitalizations and death.

I believe that students should be in school buildings for education. I think MCPS could do that if they would consider changes in the school calendar to allow for breaks during COVID surges and in person learning when cases decline. For next year, that may mean no Spring Break and extending the school year. This would be important for allowing kids under 12 to get vaccinated before starting school this year.

Mitigation measures such as eating lunch outside, masks, and air filters in every classroom should be required. Central Office is on vacation when work is needed to plan for contingencies for the school year. Simple steps like setting up picnic tables and tents for lunch would be steps to getting kids back to the school building safely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Biden wants everything open for political reasons so he can claim victory. They simply don't care. The studies the CDC looked at were small rural schools not ones like MCPS. Its going to be a great social experiment with our kids, one I'd prefer not to have my kids participate in.

That is false information about the CDC, and you should stop repeating it.

MCPS has a Virtual Academy option for people like you, who don't want their kids in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS better have a plan B. The Delta variant is spreading like wildfire. There’s no vaccine for children under 12. Breakthrough infections are rising, including hospitalizations and death.

I believe that students should be in school buildings for education. I think MCPS could do that if they would consider changes in the school calendar to allow for breaks during COVID surges and in person learning when cases decline. For next year, that may mean no Spring Break and extending the school year. This would be important for allowing kids under 12 to get vaccinated before starting school this year.

Mitigation measures such as eating lunch outside, masks, and air filters in every classroom should be required. Central Office is on vacation when work is needed to plan for contingencies for the school year. Simple steps like setting up picnic tables and tents for lunch would be steps to getting kids back to the school building safely.

Maryland is following CDC guidance. MCPS will almost certainly follow Maryland and CDC guidance. If you think the CDC guidance is not good enough, go yell at the CDC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Biden wants everything open for political reasons so he can claim victory. They simply don't care. The studies the CDC looked at were small rural schools not ones like MCPS. Its going to be a great social experiment with our kids, one I'd prefer not to have my kids participate in.

That is false information about the CDC, and you should stop repeating it.

MCPS has a Virtual Academy option for people like you, who don't want their kids in school.

Again MCPS never made virtual academy as an option for people with no extenuating circumstances. And the deadline has passed. So it’s not even relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS better have a plan B. The Delta variant is spreading like wildfire. There’s no vaccine for children under 12. Breakthrough infections are rising, including hospitalizations and death.

I believe that students should be in school buildings for education. I think MCPS could do that if they would consider changes in the school calendar to allow for breaks during COVID surges and in person learning when cases decline. For next year, that may mean no Spring Break and extending the school year. This would be important for allowing kids under 12 to get vaccinated before starting school this year.

Mitigation measures such as eating lunch outside, masks, and air filters in every classroom should be required. Central Office is on vacation when work is needed to plan for contingencies for the school year. Simple steps like setting up picnic tables and tents for lunch would be steps to getting kids back to the school building safely.

Well said. Don’t understand why so many people don’t care about school mitigation strategies at all. What’s wrong by asking MCPS for better mitigation strategies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS better have a plan B. The Delta variant is spreading like wildfire. There’s no vaccine for children under 12. Breakthrough infections are rising, including hospitalizations and death.

I believe that students should be in school buildings for education. I think MCPS could do that if they would consider changes in the school calendar to allow for breaks during COVID surges and in person learning when cases decline. For next year, that may mean no Spring Break and extending the school year. This would be important for allowing kids under 12 to get vaccinated before starting school this year.

Mitigation measures such as eating lunch outside, masks, and air filters in every classroom should be required. Central Office is on vacation when work is needed to plan for contingencies for the school year. Simple steps like setting up picnic tables and tents for lunch would be steps to getting kids back to the school building safely.

Maryland is following CDC guidance. MCPS will almost certainly follow Maryland and CDC guidance. If you think the CDC guidance is not good enough, go yell at the CDC.

CDC guidelines have a lot of wiggle rooms. Screen testing is in the CDC guidelines but MCPS already said there will be no attestation form nor in school testing. MCPS is just doing the bare minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Biden wants everything open for political reasons so he can claim victory. They simply don't care. The studies the CDC looked at were small rural schools not ones like MCPS. Its going to be a great social experiment with our kids, one I'd prefer not to have my kids participate in.

That is false information about the CDC, and you should stop repeating it.

MCPS has a Virtual Academy option for people like you, who don't want their kids in school.

Again MCPS never made virtual academy as an option for people with no extenuating circumstances. And the deadline has passed. So it’s not even relevant.

It was your responsibility to apply in time for the deadline.

If you didn't apply for the Virtual Academy, and you also don't consider MCPS safe enough to send your child, then you will either have to find a different option, or send your child to MCPS anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Biden wants everything open for political reasons so he can claim victory. They simply don't care. The studies the CDC looked at were small rural schools not ones like MCPS. Its going to be a great social experiment with our kids, one I'd prefer not to have my kids participate in.

That is false information about the CDC, and you should stop repeating it.

MCPS has a Virtual Academy option for people like you, who don't want their kids in school.

Again MCPS never made virtual academy as an option for people with no extenuating circumstances. And the deadline has passed. So it’s not even relevant.

It was your responsibility to apply in time for the deadline.

If you didn't apply for the Virtual Academy, and you also don't consider MCPS safe enough to send your child, then you will either have to find a different option, or send your child to MCPS anyway.

Stop blaming other parents who have a second thought. And it was not easy to apply as you need supporting documents to demonstrate extenuating circumstances. Many people couldn’t get any supporting documents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Biden wants everything open for political reasons so he can claim victory. They simply don't care. The studies the CDC looked at were small rural schools not ones like MCPS. Its going to be a great social experiment with our kids, one I'd prefer not to have my kids participate in.

That is false information about the CDC, and you should stop repeating it.

MCPS has a Virtual Academy option for people like you, who don't want their kids in school.

Again MCPS never made virtual academy as an option for people with no extenuating circumstances. And the deadline has passed. So it’s not even relevant.

It was your responsibility to apply in time for the deadline.

If you didn't apply for the Virtual Academy, and you also don't consider MCPS safe enough to send your child, then you will either have to find a different option, or send your child to MCPS anyway.

Stop blaming other parents who have a second thought. And it was not easy to apply as you need supporting documents to demonstrate extenuating circumstances. Many people couldn’t get any supporting documents.

I'm the PP you're responding to, and I'm not blaming. I'm just stating facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Biden wants everything open for political reasons so he can claim victory. They simply don't care. The studies the CDC looked at were small rural schools not ones like MCPS. Its going to be a great social experiment with our kids, one I'd prefer not to have my kids participate in.

That is false information about the CDC, and you should stop repeating it.

MCPS has a Virtual Academy option for people like you, who don't want their kids in school.

Again MCPS never made virtual academy as an option for people with no extenuating circumstances. And the deadline has passed. So it’s not even relevant.

It was your responsibility to apply in time for the deadline.

If you didn't apply for the Virtual Academy, and you also don't consider MCPS safe enough to send your child, then you will either have to find a different option, or send your child to MCPS anyway.

Stop blaming other parents who have a second thought. And it was not easy to apply as you need supporting documents to demonstrate extenuating circumstances. Many people couldn’t get any supporting documents.

I'm the PP you're responding to, and I'm not blaming. I'm just stating facts.

I’m also stating a fact that virtual academy was not really an option for families with no extenuating circumstances.