Proposed APS Calendar Policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually make that 12/13 min in. Religious holidays were chosen after discussion with religious leaders.

Thank you. Although he didn't cite operational decisions, I suspect most of our problem is that FCPS has those holidays off and it would create a teacher shortage problem. It's why APS is always chasing FCPS calendar. I wish they'd just be transparent about that.

It's pretty BS to suggest that having religious holidays off serves as an education about those holidays. If they want to have education around those holidays, they should have school those days and actually educate about those holidays.

I think you are right that this is the concern, but I am wondering about that, since Fairfax's SACC is open on those days. (Right? I just checked their calendar, and it looks like they have care -- even over the winter break, but that's a different story.) So, APS teachers living in Fairfax would have childcare available to them on days when Fairfax schools are closed but APS is open.

Looking at Fairfax's SACC site, it makes me a little angry that APS is taking the stance that we have to follow Fairfax when we (APS) do not provide parents with the care on those days off that Fairfax does. I mean, how are leaders not taking this into account?

That’s a great point . Fcps has sacc and they are open on those days (but APS extended day will be closed). Fcps is not an operational issue for APS.

I have wondered this for a while. Why is extended day not open on early release days and religious holidays like FCPS is? They are massive and they can do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually make that 12/13 min in. Religious holidays were chosen after discussion with religious leaders.

Thank you. Although he didn't cite operational decisions, I suspect most of our problem is that FCPS has those holidays off and it would create a teacher shortage problem. It's why APS is always chasing FCPS calendar. I wish they'd just be transparent about that.

It's pretty BS to suggest that having religious holidays off serves as an education about those holidays. If they want to have education around those holidays, they should have school those days and actually educate about those holidays.

I think you are right that this is the concern, but I am wondering about that, since Fairfax's SACC is open on those days. (Right? I just checked their calendar, and it looks like they have care -- even over the winter break, but that's a different story.) So, APS teachers living in Fairfax would have childcare available to them on days when Fairfax schools are closed but APS is open.

Looking at Fairfax's SACC site, it makes me a little angry that APS is taking the stance that we have to follow Fairfax when we (APS) do not provide parents with the care on those days off that Fairfax does. I mean, how are leaders not taking this into account?

That’s a great point . Fcps has sacc and they are open on those days (but APS extended day will be closed). Fcps is not an operational issue for APS.

I have wondered this for a while. Why is extended day not open on early release days and religious holidays like FCPS is? They are massive and they can do it?

fairfax county runs their extended day program. If APS wants to add all these holidays, they need to work with the county or figure out some other option to have extended day open for families. The problem is that APS runs extended day and so if APS is closed, extended day is closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually make that 12/13 min in. Religious holidays were chosen after discussion with religious leaders.

Thank you. Although he didn't cite operational decisions, I suspect most of our problem is that FCPS has those holidays off and it would create a teacher shortage problem. It's why APS is always chasing FCPS calendar. I wish they'd just be transparent about that.

It's pretty BS to suggest that having religious holidays off serves as an education about those holidays. If they want to have education around those holidays, they should have school those days and actually educate about those holidays.

I think you are right that this is the concern, but I am wondering about that, since Fairfax's SACC is open on those days. (Right? I just checked their calendar, and it looks like they have care -- even over the winter break, but that's a different story.) So, APS teachers living in Fairfax would have childcare available to them on days when Fairfax schools are closed but APS is open.

Looking at Fairfax's SACC site, it makes me a little angry that APS is taking the stance that we have to follow Fairfax when we (APS) do not provide parents with the care on those days off that Fairfax does. I mean, how are leaders not taking this into account?

That’s a great point . Fcps has sacc and they are open on those days (but APS extended day will be closed). Fcps is not an operational issue for APS.

I have wondered this for a while. Why is extended day not open on early release days and religious holidays like FCPS is? They are massive and they can do it?

fairfax county runs their extended day program. If APS wants to add all these holidays, they need to work with the county or figure out some other option to have extended day open for families. The problem is that APS runs extended day and so if APS is closed, extended day is closed.

Perfect example of a way the County and APS can collaborate and coordinate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually make that 12/13 min in. Religious holidays were chosen after discussion with religious leaders.

Thank you. Although he didn't cite operational decisions, I suspect most of our problem is that FCPS has those holidays off and it would create a teacher shortage problem. It's why APS is always chasing FCPS calendar. I wish they'd just be transparent about that.

It's pretty BS to suggest that having religious holidays off serves as an education about those holidays. If they want to have education around those holidays, they should have school those days and actually educate about those holidays.

I think you are right that this is the concern, but I am wondering about that, since Fairfax's SACC is open on those days. (Right? I just checked their calendar, and it looks like they have care -- even over the winter break, but that's a different story.) So, APS teachers living in Fairfax would have childcare available to them on days when Fairfax schools are closed but APS is open.

Looking at Fairfax's SACC site, it makes me a little angry that APS is taking the stance that we have to follow Fairfax when we (APS) do not provide parents with the care on those days off that Fairfax does. I mean, how are leaders not taking this into account?

That’s a great point . Fcps has sacc and they are open on those days (but APS extended day will be closed). Fcps is not an operational issue for APS.

I have wondered this for a while. Why is extended day not open on early release days and religious holidays like FCPS is? They are massive and they can do it?

fairfax county runs their extended day program. If APS wants to add all these holidays, they need to work with the county or figure out some other option to have extended day open for families. The problem is that APS runs extended day and so if APS is closed, extended day is closed.

Perfect example of a way the County and APS can collaborate and coordinate.

I remember APE sent a letter to the county about this awhile back. Others should weigh in too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually make that 12/13 min in. Religious holidays were chosen after discussion with religious leaders.

Thank you. Although he didn't cite operational decisions, I suspect most of our problem is that FCPS has those holidays off and it would create a teacher shortage problem. It's why APS is always chasing FCPS calendar. I wish they'd just be transparent about that.

It's pretty BS to suggest that having religious holidays off serves as an education about those holidays. If they want to have education around those holidays, they should have school those days and actually educate about those holidays.

I think you are right that this is the concern, but I am wondering about that, since Fairfax's SACC is open on those days. (Right? I just checked their calendar, and it looks like they have care -- even over the winter break, but that's a different story.) So, APS teachers living in Fairfax would have childcare available to them on days when Fairfax schools are closed but APS is open.

Looking at Fairfax's SACC site, it makes me a little angry that APS is taking the stance that we have to follow Fairfax when we (APS) do not provide parents with the care on those days off that Fairfax does. I mean, how are leaders not taking this into account?

That’s a great point . Fcps has sacc and they are open on those days (but APS extended day will be closed). Fcps is not an operational issue for APS.

I have wondered this for a while. Why is extended day not open on early release days and religious holidays like FCPS is? They are massive and they can do it?

fairfax county runs their extended day program. If APS wants to add all these holidays, they need to work with the county or figure out some other option to have extended day open for families. The problem is that APS runs extended day and so if APS is closed, extended day is closed.

Perfect example of a way the County and APS can collaborate and coordinate.

I remember APE sent a letter to the county about this awhile back. Others should weigh in too.

Yep. And more collaboration with the County is something Miranda Turner has been campaigning on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This calendar is very unfair to teachers. They are extending the academic school year and shortening the summer. Many teachers, myself included, have summer jobs to supplement income. And to do this in the name of religion is concerning for a public school.

Make sure you tell them. There’s court rulings on this and schools are supposed to have an operational justification for recognizing religious holidays. Not “I talked to religious leaders”.

And they can’t hide behind fcps because falls church is going the other way.

It’s great for central office staff. He gave them Winter Break off, so now they’ll get two weeks? Says he had to do this to be compatible with neighboring school districts who allow their Central Office to telework. FCPS staff do not get Winter nor Spring Break, and telework ends 6/30. This is $$$$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually make that 12/13 min in. Religious holidays were chosen after discussion with religious leaders.

Thank you. Although he didn't cite operational decisions, I suspect most of our problem is that FCPS has those holidays off and it would create a teacher shortage problem. It's why APS is always chasing FCPS calendar. I wish they'd just be transparent about that.

It's pretty BS to suggest that having religious holidays off serves as an education about those holidays. If they want to have education around those holidays, they should have school those days and actually educate about those holidays.

I think you are right that this is the concern, but I am wondering about that, since Fairfax's SACC is open on those days. (Right? I just checked their calendar, and it looks like they have care -- even over the winter break, but that's a different story.) So, APS teachers living in Fairfax would have childcare available to them on days when Fairfax schools are closed but APS is open.

Looking at Fairfax's SACC site, it makes me a little angry that APS is taking the stance that we have to follow Fairfax when we (APS) do not provide parents with the care on those days off that Fairfax does. I mean, how are leaders not taking this into account?

That’s a great point . Fcps has sacc and they are open on those days (but APS extended day will be closed). Fcps is not an operational issue for APS.

I have wondered this for a while. Why is extended day not open on early release days and religious holidays like FCPS is? They are massive and they can do it?

Just a note that extended day is open on early release days. Also, SACC has enormous waiting lists (years) in some places.

[Anonymous]

Have others tried to send feedback on the form? It’s a mess. You can’t even see what you typed in. Should I send an email to school board instead or is this the best place?

I assume don’t really want feedback since they are making this so unusable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have others tried to send feedback on the form? It’s a mess. You can’t even see what you typed in. Should I send an email to school board instead or is this the best place?

I assume don’t really want feedback since they are making this so unusable.

I used the form. I agree it's clear they don't really want feedback given the questions and the character limit, and I said as much, but still gave my feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have others tried to send feedback on the form? It’s a mess. You can’t even see what you typed in. Should I send an email to school board instead or is this the best place?

I assume don’t really want feedback since they are making this so unusable.

absolutely email the board directly. They don't see this surveys and only hear what Duran tells them about them.
I think every SB member should be required to complete every APS survey just so they see how poorly written/useless/biased/limited/disregarded they are!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have others tried to send feedback on the form? It’s a mess. You can’t even see what you typed in. Should I send an email to school board instead or is this the best place?

I assume don’t really want feedback since they are making this so unusable.

absolutely email the board directly. They don't see this surveys and only hear what Duran tells them about them.
I think every SB member should be required to complete every APS survey just so they see how poorly written/useless/biased/limited/disregarded they are!

Agree with PP. I’m not sure the SB will even see these responses and APS has made it almost impossible to provide feedback that they obviously want to ignore. I’m going to send an email to school Board directly.

[Anonymous]

It's completely insane that extended day isn't open on these days off and teacher work days like it is in FCPS. APS makes it completely impossible to be a two working parent family. So much for the women's revolution. APS is taking us back in time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's completely insane that extended day isn't open on these days off and teacher work days like it is in FCPS. APS makes it completely impossible to be a two working parent family. So much for the women's revolution. APS is taking us back in time.

Not if your partner/spouse steps in to help, as they should. Why do you assume that women have to bear the responsibility when school is closed? Maybe your thinking is what is taking us back in time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This calendar is very unfair to teachers. They are extending the academic school year and shortening the summer. Many teachers, myself included, have summer jobs to supplement income. And to do this in the name of religion is concerning for a public school.

Make sure you tell them. There’s court rulings on this and schools are supposed to have an operational justification for recognizing religious holidays. Not “I talked to religious leaders”.

And they can’t hide behind fcps because falls church is going the other way.

For a district that refrained from returning to in person learning longer than other districts in the name of equity for low SES families in particular, I'd like to know exactly which low SES families they think can support this number of days off of school on the regular. The board and APS' twisted logic and routine flip flopping is infuriating!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This calendar is very unfair to teachers. They are extending the academic school year and shortening the summer. Many teachers, myself included, have summer jobs to supplement income. And to do this in the name of religion is concerning for a public school.

Make sure you tell them. There’s court rulings on this and schools are supposed to have an operational justification for recognizing religious holidays. Not “I talked to religious leaders”.

And they can’t hide behind fcps because falls church is going the other way.

For a district that refrained from returning to in person learning longer than other districts in the name of equity for low SES families in particular, I'd like to know exactly which low SES families they think can support this number of days off of school on the regular. The board and APS' twisted logic and routine flip flopping is infuriating!!

This applies to arlington parents too. They love to virtue signal about equity and concern for disadvantaged communities but never directly take on real policies that that further disadvantage them. All these days off and a 2 week winter break are merely an annoyance for my family. For families that struggle to pay for child care or some kids with disabilities who need consistency, these calendar policies are awful.