DCPS Employee Return to In Person Work Guidance

[Anonymous]

Also- if you took FMLA/had a baby in the past year you can’t take FMLA:CARES ACT leave again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also this means we’ll be doing distance learning/hybrid for all of the next school year?! That’s nuts.

I'm still unclear are they saying that you have a choice as in MD or that it is hybrid and if you refuse you have to use medical reason? I was about to apply to teach so I'm confused and want to be clear before I commit!

I don't know how MD phrased it, but it definitely seems to me like you only have the option to online teach if you have a medical reason. The option for online teaching is very much leading it to look like you have to take FMLA/ADA/etc not just that you have the option to remote work. Which I'm guessing is intentional to keep everyone from choosing that.

If you take FMLA you are actually off work and they cannot ask/require you to work. So literally the option is come back to in person or take leave ( no online teaching). It appears they are going to try and make teachers do both (online and in person).

Well the option ends up "do not plan to return in person" so it's not fully "I'm taking leave and won't be back." Think of it from DCPS' perspective. If you give people the option, too many teachers will opt for at home teaching. Then they have to go through and see who actually qualifies. The way they worded it, they are clear that you must have a medical exception that would qualify you for FMLA OR you are at higher risk. Once they have the responses they can go through and process FMLA for those who want it, then place those who are at risk in online teaching positions.

What the form doesn't say is whether this decision is binding, or if you can change later if you become high risk, or they don't hold up their end of the bargain.

So they will offer in person and hybrid classes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also this means we’ll be doing distance learning/hybrid for all of the next school year?! That’s nuts.

I'm still unclear are they saying that you have a choice as in MD or that it is hybrid and if you refuse you have to use medical reason? I was about to apply to teach so I'm confused and want to be clear before I commit!

I don't know how MD phrased it, but it definitely seems to me like you only have the option to online teach if you have a medical reason. The option for online teaching is very much leading it to look like you have to take FMLA/ADA/etc not just that you have the option to remote work. Which I'm guessing is intentional to keep everyone from choosing that.

If you take FMLA you are actually off work and they cannot ask/require you to work. So literally the option is come back to in person or take leave ( no online teaching). It appears they are going to try and make teachers do both (online and in person).

Well the option ends up "do not plan to return in person" so it's not fully "I'm taking leave and won't be back." Think of it from DCPS' perspective. If you give people the option, too many teachers will opt for at home teaching. Then they have to go through and see who actually qualifies. The way they worded it, they are clear that you must have a medical exception that would qualify you for FMLA OR you are at higher risk. Once they have the responses they can go through and process FMLA for those who want it, then place those who are at risk in online teaching positions.

What the form doesn't say is whether this decision is binding, or if you can change later if you become high risk, or they don't hold up their end of the bargain.

So they will offer in person and hybrid classes?

They are offering hybrid learning--some days in school, some days at home. Maybe there was an option for parents to choose 100% online? I believe they said the at home days would be independent work, but I'm guessing they will have enough teachers wanting to stay home that they could offer live lessons.

[Anonymous]

Honest questions- which states laws govern return to work? I live in MD & have a child with severe disabilities. Under MD im allowed to Stay at home. Under DC (where I work) regs I’m back to work.

I want to go back- but can’t if moco & my kid are not back in school. This lack of coordination is such a disaster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also this means we’ll be doing distance learning/hybrid for all of the next school year?! That’s nuts.

I'm still unclear are they saying that you have a choice as in MD or that it is hybrid and if you refuse you have to use medical reason? I was about to apply to teach so I'm confused and want to be clear before I commit!

I don't know how MD phrased it, but it definitely seems to me like you only have the option to online teach if you have a medical reason. The option for online teaching is very much leading it to look like you have to take FMLA/ADA/etc not just that you have the option to remote work. Which I'm guessing is intentional to keep everyone from choosing that.

If you take FMLA you are actually off work and they cannot ask/require you to work. So literally the option is come back to in person or take leave ( no online teaching). It appears they are going to try and make teachers do both (online and in person).

Well the option ends up "do not plan to return in person" so it's not fully "I'm taking leave and won't be back." Think of it from DCPS' perspective. If you give people the option, too many teachers will opt for at home teaching. Then they have to go through and see who actually qualifies. The way they worded it, they are clear that you must have a medical exception that would qualify you for FMLA OR you are at higher risk. Once they have the responses they can go through and process FMLA for those who want it, then place those who are at risk in online teaching positions.

What the form doesn't say is whether this decision is binding, or if you can change later if you become high risk, or they don't hold up their end of the bargain.

So they will offer in person and hybrid classes?

They are offering hybrid learning--some days in school, some days at home. Maybe there was an option for parents to choose 100% online? I believe they said the at home days would be independent work, but I'm guessing they will have enough teachers wanting to stay home that they could offer live lessons.

Where did they actually say that? Was it in writing? If not, I wouldn’t count on it being accurate. DCPS is not good with keeping their word.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also this means we’ll be doing distance learning/hybrid for all of the next school year?! That’s nuts.

I'm still unclear are they saying that you have a choice as in MD or that it is hybrid and if you refuse you have to use medical reason? I was about to apply to teach so I'm confused and want to be clear before I commit!

I don't know how MD phrased it, but it definitely seems to me like you only have the option to online teach if you have a medical reason. The option for online teaching is very much leading it to look like you have to take FMLA/ADA/etc not just that you have the option to remote work. Which I'm guessing is intentional to keep everyone from choosing that.

If you take FMLA you are actually off work and they cannot ask/require you to work. So literally the option is come back to in person or take leave ( no online teaching). It appears they are going to try and make teachers do both (online and in person).

Well the option ends up "do not plan to return in person" so it's not fully "I'm taking leave and won't be back." Think of it from DCPS' perspective. If you give people the option, too many teachers will opt for at home teaching. Then they have to go through and see who actually qualifies. The way they worded it, they are clear that you must have a medical exception that would qualify you for FMLA OR you are at higher risk. Once they have the responses they can go through and process FMLA for those who want it, then place those who are at risk in online teaching positions.

What the form doesn't say is whether this decision is binding, or if you can change later if you become high risk, or they don't hold up their end of the bargain.

So they will offer in person and hybrid classes?

They are offering hybrid learning--some days in school, some days at home. Maybe there was an option for parents to choose 100% online? I believe they said the at home days would be independent work, but I'm guessing they will have enough teachers wanting to stay home that they could offer live lessons.

Where did they actually say that? Was it in writing? If not, I wouldn’t count on it being accurate. DCPS is not good with keeping their word.

The plan for hybrid learning was said in the email from the chancellor and again in the guidance sent to staff. The number of days home vs. in school is still TBD but we have some clues based on the surveys sent to families and teachers. I said maybe there was an option for 100% distance learning because I'd heard it here. I also said I believe they said at home would be independent because I don't recall where it was said.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious what the bolded means: "DCPS will implement a hybrid learning model for the 2020-21 School Year (SY) that will include continued virtual instruction and in-person instruction for a portion of our students."

I really hope all dcps students who want to have access to in-person instruction are offered it. If it turns out it's only offered to a certain category of children, I really think that's inequitable. Children need the routine and social and emotional benefits that schooling offers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious what the bolded means: "DCPS will implement a hybrid learning model for the 2020-21 School Year (SY) that will include continued virtual instruction and in-person instruction for a portion of our students."

I really hope all dcps students who want to have access to in-person instruction are offered it. If it turns out it's only offered to a certain category of children, I really think that's inequitable. Children need the routine and social and emotional benefits that schooling offers.

DCPS has already stated that in order for it to provide in person schooling with social distancing per the guidelines, they NEED at least 25% or 30% (can’t recall off the top of my head) of students to opt into 100% virtual. Based on the survey responses, they *think* they will get that. But they admittedly do not have enough room if less than that enroll on 100% DL.

[Anonymous]

To be clear- DCPS didn’t give us hybrid options. If they had said Monday, Wednesday, Friday at home and Tuesday/Thursday at school- that’s be one thing.
Instead- what they’ve done is ask us to commit (or not) to a vague ‘hybrid’ model for ‘some of our students’. By July 10.
I know for me my ability to commit is 100% dependent on what Moco does- and they’ve not said sh*t. I’m the mom with the severe SN kid who can’t just ‘get childcare’.

To be clear I want EVERYONE back. Including myself. But it looks like I’ll have to quit my job. So yes- I am panicked

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also- if you took FMLA/had a baby in the past year you can’t take FMLA:CARES ACT leave again.

There are new provisions under the FFCRA through 12/31 that are separate from FMLA/CARES so even if one had taken leave under FMLA, it looks like they may be eligible for up to 10 weeks @ 2/3 pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious what the bolded means: "DCPS will implement a hybrid learning model for the 2020-21 School Year (SY) that will include continued virtual instruction and in-person instruction for a portion of our students."

I really hope all dcps students who want to have access to in-person instruction are offered it. If it turns out it's only offered to a certain category of children, I really think that's inequitable. Children need the routine and social and emotional benefits that schooling offers.

I am hoping this means that they might offer more in person instruction for the younger grades. Somebody who works in APS told me that’s what they are considering there. But I have no inside knowledge what DCPS is talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I will say this. This entire experience has really opened my eyes to what parents think of me. I work in a JKLM and have always worked hard to provide the best experience and education to my students and parents. I can’t believe some of the things parents are saying about teachers in an anonymous forum. It hurts my heart and makes me feel that you really don’t respect me at all as a professional and a person. I won’t forget this treatment when we go back to school. I will always remember what you actually think of me when you aren’t in front of my face.

JKLM teacher here. We are their babysitters and they are over dealing with their own children. Many of them have rarely met a problem they couldn't just throw money at.

Nice to know how shallow, uninformed, and self-centered you both are. This is a major issue and not about "dealing with our own children." Many of us have had been laid off or had to give up income because our children are not at school. It's lovely how you were paid 100% to stay home all winter and spring. And that you still have all your benefits, retirement and other add-ons. And then you sit and point fingers at how we are not respecting you.

So sorry your job is now asking you to show up - mine has been asking that of its employees since April, for those who aren't already fired.

This is exactly the point. Rather than just make a statement you had to add in how uninformed, shallow and self centered we are. There is no reason for name calling. We don’t allow it from our children and we shouldn’t allow it from ourselves. That goes for parents and teachers.

It's not name calling; it's a description evidenced by the posts. Name calling would be to lump you into a group, institution, or negative concept. Regardless, you must see that saying "they are over dealing with their children" is just baloney, and as much name calling as what I posted.

Here's what we need to do:

1) Survey teachers on:
Who is willing to be in person
Will not be in person regardless of the plan
Would be willing to be in person if a better health plan was in place

Also ask the parents the same thing- not based on preferences but on what they expect they will do.

Then work from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be clear- DCPS didn’t give us hybrid options. If they had said Monday, Wednesday, Friday at home and Tuesday/Thursday at school- that’s be one thing.
Instead- what they’ve done is ask us to commit (or not) to a vague ‘hybrid’ model for ‘some of our students’. By July 10.
I know for me my ability to commit is 100% dependent on what Moco does- and they’ve not said sh*t. I’m the mom with the severe SN kid who can’t just ‘get childcare’.

To be clear I want EVERYONE back. Including myself. But it looks like I’ll have to quit my job. So yes- I am panicked

This is another thing. DCPS should be working hand in hand with MoCo and PG - where so many of their teachers live.

[Anonymous]

Teachers do care about education. We don't trust the district or the parents to keep us safe. Parents are saying their kids should not be required to wear masks, but they want schools to open full time. Give me a break.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Why does every thread turn into teacher bashing?? Why?? We get it you hate teachers and think we are dumb as a box of rocks. The thread is about the letter DCPS sent out. No one is asking you your opinion of teachers. No one is asking you to post the AAP article. Literally no one. Can we stick to the topic? You can start your own thread about the terrible people that schools employ, but leave this one alone.

Because teachers are 100 percent wrong? Because they’re fighting to suspend public education in this country even as health experts say it’s safe to reopen? Oh, and teachers want to continue to be paid while they fight to keep schools closed? If you don’t want to do your job then do us all a favor and quit.[/quote




Honest question: do you feel it is safe to return to school in Texas, Arizona and Florida?

We don’t live there. The number of coronavirus cases in DC is tiny. About 30 cases per day.

I understand we don’t live there. I am asking you would you open schools in that situation?

Not PP, but, no. We can't apply the same solution everywhere. In those states, people are openly defying mask guidance on political principle or whatever. They don't deserve schools open.

Here, we are almost all following strict guidance, and it is working, but we're in a crisis. I think we need schools open and we will work with schools to be very, very safe at home (if not, we should accept distance learning). I think there are plenty of steps the city government needs to take in order to make it safe as possible. Don't forget we also put ourselves at risk by sending our children. The risk is all around us, we can only mitigate it.

No need to take a few teachers and parents on an anonymous board too seriously. These rude ones are the outliers, at least among parents I know most of us do are a lot about safety of the school staff, but there are a lot of things to weigh here.