Town Hall today: DCPS is not implementing the protocols that would help to keep schools open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one can keep up with the rapidity of the surge, OP. By the time governments ramp up efforts there will be significant closures because of staff shortages, and then Omicron will recede as rapidly as it came.

Our best bet is to pivot to virtual teaching now while teachers are still not positive and can teach, keep schools open with skeletal day care staff, and those of us who can, work from home the month, to keep EMS and hospital services running. But people don't want that, so we're going to have a disaster instead. Oh well.

This would only delay the inevitable. Teachers and everyone else will eventually get infected, if everyone stays home again now they will get it later and the whole ordeal will be more drawn out. Last time we could say we are waiting for vaccines, this time there is nothing to save us. Yes, drawing it out overall (“flatten the curve”) may help hospitals, but closing schools is going to be a drop in the bucket for that issue. Better keep them running as best we can and avoid the definitive harms closures inflict on children.

No, “let all the kids get covid” is not an acceptable policy.

There’s an easy answer here, and it’s testing.

Testing may slow the spread, but you will need to come to terms with the idea that eventually most people, including kids, will get Covid. I know that’s a tough thing to accept if you’ve been zealous about avoiding the virus for nearly two years. We haven’t caught it yet but I know we will eventually, unless we want to keep up extreme precautions for the rest of our lives. And it will be ok because we are vaccinated.

Even if you believe that catching Omicron/COVID is inevitable, everyone catching it at once certainly isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t like how they avoided answering questions about kids recently coming out of isolation after getting COVID, but did appreciate that they reinforced that schools are an essential service and they’re committed to keeping them open (unavoidable situational closures aside).

So what happens when kids coming out of isolation test positive on Jan 4? Do they go back into isolation until they test negative?

My kids tested positive this week. Our plan (for now) is to let the school know next week and then keep them home until 10 days after their initial positive test. They had mild symptoms which have already gone away.

I suppose if they want us to do something different, they’ll let us know.

Mine is on Day 10 of isolation and still testing positive. We’ve got almost another week, but heaven help me if they try to make us stay home 5+ days past the end of the isolation period DC Health gave us.

The issue with the testing is that you can still test positive on PCRs for 90 days after you initially test positive. So positive PCRs shouldn't be used to extend isolation.

I've read somewhere that there is a similar issue with the antigen tests, but I think the conclusion with those is "no one knows".

You’re right on the PCR but wrong on the antigen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t like how they avoided answering questions about kids recently coming out of isolation after getting COVID, but did appreciate that they reinforced that schools are an essential service and they’re committed to keeping them open (unavoidable situational closures aside).

So what happens when kids coming out of isolation test positive on Jan 4? Do they go back into isolation until they test negative?

My kids tested positive this week. Our plan (for now) is to let the school know next week and then keep them home until 10 days after their initial positive test. They had mild symptoms which have already gone away.

I suppose if they want us to do something different, they’ll let us know.

Why not rapid test them on Tuesday (as DCPS requested) and send them in on Wednesday if the rapids are negative? That would comport with both CDC guidelines (five days) and the general purpose of rapid tests (a snapshot telling you if contagious at the time you take it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if I missed it, but what are the protocols not being implemented? Just not 100% daily testing?

Has OP been back to say what’s not being done? I’m really not sure what anyone wants other than a miracle. I honestly think DCPS should concede that it’s not safe, cancel school for two weeks and tack it on to the end of the school year like snow days. Best of both worlds, honestly. (I’m a WTU member.)

[Anonymous]

so what is the story with kids who are currently positive? They must stay home until they test negative no matter how long that takes??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if I missed it, but what are the protocols not being implemented? Just not 100% daily testing?

Has OP been back to say what’s not being done? I’m really not sure what anyone wants other than a miracle. I honestly think DCPS should concede that it’s not safe, cancel school for two weeks and tack it on to the end of the school year like snow days. Best of both worlds, honestly. (I’m a WTU member.)

Not safe? It's as safe as life generally gets if you are vaccinated. And kids are at very low risk, and even lower if they are vaccinated as well. There is no justification for closing schools anymore, if there ever was. Staff shortages will certainly make things chaotic for a few weeks, but shortened isolation periods per CDC should help with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so what is the story with kids who are currently positive? They must stay home until they test negative no matter how long that takes??

They say you have to take the test regardless of recent diagnoses. Obnoxious. DCPS shouldn't be imposing extra quarantine on kids who tested positive during the winter break.

From the CDC: "Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 can continue to have detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in upper respiratory specimens for up to 3 months after illness onset .... These findings strengthen the justification for relying on a symptom-based rather than test-based strategy for ending isolation of most patients." : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html

But I haven't found information about how long antigen tests come back positive. All I found is that they "may be less likely to give a positive result" - hardly comforting.

[Anonymous]

From DCPS's email RE: Important Update: Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test Required for School

If my student previously tested positive for COVID-19, are they still required to take a rapid antigen test?
All students are staff should be tested irrespective of vaccine status and past infections.


Typical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t like how they avoided answering questions about kids recently coming out of isolation after getting COVID, but did appreciate that they reinforced that schools are an essential service and they’re committed to keeping them open (unavoidable situational closures aside).

So what happens when kids coming out of isolation test positive on Jan 4? Do they go back into isolation until they test negative?

My kids tested positive this week. Our plan (for now) is to let the school know next week and then keep them home until 10 days after their initial positive test. They had mild symptoms which have already gone away.

I suppose if they want us to do something different, they’ll let us know.

Why not rapid test them on Tuesday (as DCPS requested) and send them in on Wednesday if the rapids are negative? That would comport with both CDC guidelines (five days) and the general purpose of rapid tests (a snapshot telling you if contagious at the time you take it).

That’s actually what my spouse wants to do. I don’t feel good about it. An extra 10 days seems absurd, but I would be annoyed if I found out another family had fudged their results. Also, many in our friend group know of our positive tests and that would be awkward.

We are still waiting on the PCR results. The rapid tests this morning were split - one negative, one positive.

[Anonymous]

I was particularly impressed with Mr. Ferebee’s responses to questions about an absent negative test for Middle Schoolers.

Parent: “I’m a parent of a Middle Schooler and was wondering if he shows up to school what the protocol is if he doesn’t have a negative test.”

Ferebee: “We’re only worried about the students who have negative tests.”

The care and concern that he has for the students he oversees is evident in all of his responses. The fact that the mayor handpicked him shows her level of care for DC residents as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if I missed it, but what are the protocols not being implemented? Just not 100% daily testing?

Has OP been back to say what’s not being done? I’m really not sure what anyone wants other than a miracle. I honestly think DCPS should concede that it’s not safe, cancel school for two weeks and tack it on to the end of the school year like snow days. Best of both worlds, honestly. (I’m a WTU member.)

OP here. Thanks to everyone for your perspectives. Chancellor said the 100 percent testing of students and staff is a one-off until it proves necessary to do more (mayor later said the next massive testing will be upon return from end of February break). That was to me the most glaring deficiency. Tests come in a two pack. At a minimum parents could be required to present another test result the following Monday. The omicron peak will certainly occur during the first couple weeks of school when mitigating measures will be crucial. The CDC has also approved and recommends test-to-stay which keeps a maximum of kids in school just as effectively as having them quarantine (Moco and FCPS are doing this - FCPS as a pilot). City has been discussing implementing this for months but no plan is in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was particularly impressed with Mr. Ferebee’s responses to questions about an absent negative test for Middle Schoolers.

Parent: “I’m a parent of a Middle Schooler and was wondering if he shows up to school what the protocol is if he doesn’t have a negative test.”

Ferebee: “We’re only worried about the students who have negative tests.”

The care and concern that he has for the students he oversees is evident in all of his responses. The fact that the mayor handpicked him shows her level of care for DC residents as well.

I hate the mayor and Ferebee but what do you expect him to say? He’s not responsible for health protocols for kids outside of school. That’s on the parents and the DOH. They’re trying to keep kids inside the buildings safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if I missed it, but what are the protocols not being implemented? Just not 100% daily testing?

Has OP been back to say what’s not being done? I’m really not sure what anyone wants other than a miracle. I honestly think DCPS should concede that it’s not safe, cancel school for two weeks and tack it on to the end of the school year like snow days. Best of both worlds, honestly. (I’m a WTU member.)

OP here. Thanks to everyone for your perspectives. Chancellor said the 100 percent testing of students and staff is a one-off until it proves necessary to do more (mayor later said the next massive testing will be upon return from end of February break). That was to me the most glaring deficiency. Tests come in a two pack. At a minimum parents could be required to present another test result the following Monday. The omicron peak will certainly occur during the first couple weeks of school when mitigating measures will be crucial. The CDC has also approved and recommends test-to-stay which keeps a maximum of kids in school just as effectively as having them quarantine (Moco and FCPS are doing this - FCPS as a pilot). City has been discussing implementing this for months but no plan is in place.

I agree about test-to-stay. Ang I agree that they could probably implement greater testing, although more testing = more logistical headaches. This burdens staff and schools, and they are already overburdened. People here constantly complain about the inefficiency of Central Office, so it's not like giving them huge new tasks is going to go perfectly, particularly the first time.

Plus I think this board really just doesn't think about the majority of DCPS parents who aren't nearly as concerned, or aren't following guidance, like everyone here. I'm not judging them. It's just that if you have A LOT of parents that aren't following guidance, this is going to lead to logistical problems, which creates headaches again for school staff and uses resources. Plus there are optics to it all.

People just need to adjust their expectations for a major metropolitan city public school system, where like three-quarters of students are 'at risk'.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if I missed it, but what are the protocols not being implemented? Just not 100% daily testing?

Has OP been back to say what’s not being done? I’m really not sure what anyone wants other than a miracle. I honestly think DCPS should concede that it’s not safe, cancel school for two weeks and tack it on to the end of the school year like snow days. Best of both worlds, honestly. (I’m a WTU member.)

OP here. Thanks to everyone for your perspectives. Chancellor said the 100 percent testing of students and staff is a one-off until it proves necessary to do more (mayor later said the next massive testing will be upon return from end of February break). That was to me the most glaring deficiency. Tests come in a two pack. At a minimum parents could be required to present another test result the following Monday. The omicron peak will certainly occur during the first couple weeks of school when mitigating measures will be crucial. The CDC has also approved and recommends test-to-stay which keeps a maximum of kids in school just as effectively as having them quarantine (Moco and FCPS are doing this - FCPS as a pilot). City has been discussing implementing this for months but no plan is in place.

I agree about test-to-stay. Ang I agree that they could probably implement greater testing, although more testing = more logistical headaches. This burdens staff and schools, and they are already overburdened. People here constantly complain about the inefficiency of Central Office, so it's not like giving them huge new tasks is going to go perfectly, particularly the first time.

Plus I think this board really just doesn't think about the majority of DCPS parents who aren't nearly as concerned, or aren't following guidance, like everyone here. I'm not judging them. It's just that if you have A LOT of parents that aren't following guidance, this is going to lead to logistical problems, which creates headaches again for school staff and uses resources. Plus there are optics to it all.

People just need to adjust their expectations for a major metropolitan city public school system, where like three-quarters of students are 'at risk'.

Not disagreeing w you except all kids are at risk. Seeing lots of umc families traveling in unvaxxed zones, not masking, acting like there is no covid. These people also love the excuse of we don’t do x, y and x because of covid. They are all vaxxed but omnicron spreads like crazy.

If we say virtual school then parents who can travel will. I would too but I’d travel to isolate elsewhere. we didn’t travel this holiday because of the omnicron

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry if I missed it, but what are the protocols not being implemented? Just not 100% daily testing?

Has OP been back to say what’s not being done? I’m really not sure what anyone wants other than a miracle. I honestly think DCPS should concede that it’s not safe, cancel school for two weeks and tack it on to the end of the school year like snow days. Best of both worlds, honestly. (I’m a WTU member.)

OP here. Thanks to everyone for your perspectives. Chancellor said the 100 percent testing of students and staff is a one-off until it proves necessary to do more (mayor later said the next massive testing will be upon return from end of February break). That was to me the most glaring deficiency. Tests come in a two pack. At a minimum parents could be required to present another test result the following Monday. The omicron peak will certainly occur during the first couple weeks of school when mitigating measures will be crucial. The CDC has also approved and recommends test-to-stay which keeps a maximum of kids in school just as effectively as having them quarantine (Moco and FCPS are doing this - FCPS as a pilot). City has been discussing implementing this for months but no plan is in place.

I agree about test-to-stay. Ang I agree that they could probably implement greater testing, although more testing = more logistical headaches. This burdens staff and schools, and they are already overburdened. People here constantly complain about the inefficiency of Central Office, so it's not like giving them huge new tasks is going to go perfectly, particularly the first time.

Plus I think this board really just doesn't think about the majority of DCPS parents who aren't nearly as concerned, or aren't following guidance, like everyone here. I'm not judging them. It's just that if you have A LOT of parents that aren't following guidance, this is going to lead to logistical problems, which creates headaches again for school staff and uses resources. Plus there are optics to it all.

People just need to adjust their expectations for a major metropolitan city public school system, where like three-quarters of students are 'at risk'.

Not disagreeing w you except all kids are at risk. Seeing lots of umc families traveling in unvaxxed zones, not masking, acting like there is no covid. These people also love the excuse of we don’t do x, y and x because of covid. They are all vaxxed but omnicron spreads like crazy.

If we say virtual school then parents who can travel will. I would too but I’d travel to isolate elsewhere. we didn’t travel this holiday because of the omnicron

But for the holiday anyway, the people that went elsewhere were potentially less likely to be exposed. I really, really wouldn't blame umc families for covid, though, particularly talking about "travelling to unvaccinated areas". There's a huge contingent in DC that's unvaccinated, and you don't have to leave the city to be around them.