Who exactly will be managing the CARES classrooms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If people don't want to work with children, they shouldn't have gotten a job with DC public schools. I'm all on board with central office staff working in classrooms. Up to and including the chancellor.

You have an office job, right? If your boss told you that the custodian, or a secretary, or the accountant was out sick and you were going to sub in for them, how would you feel about that? Would you say that, if you didn't want to do accounting or empty trash cans you should not have taken a job at a company? Of course not.

To be clear, I am not denigrating teachers or equating their role with that of custodians or accountants (although, their work is pretty damn important, too). My only point is that your logic is absolutely bonkers.

Not really. If you choose to work in a public school system in central office you should be prepared to be asked to be in a classroom. This isn’t like we are going around to office buildings demanding secretaries and lawyers come and watch kids. I actually think if we demanded central office workers spend more time in and in charge of classrooms there would be significantly better policies coming out of there

What you don’t understand is that the rank and file central office staff have very little to do with these ham handed decisions. The top people at central do not like their authority questioned and tend to get rid of workers who push back. Yet it is the mid level and lower level folks who will be forced into classrooms while the top people who make these dumb decisions will happily continue to work from home

Forced into classrooms? Give me a break. For all the work most of these people do, they should be subbing at least 25% of the time in a normal year. Central office has more people who push paper around and pretend to be working than I have ever seen in a school system. They are bloated.

I agree, most central office staff is bloated, that's why getting rid of a lot of them helped the budget. And surprise surprise everything is running the same even with less people...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You probably don't think that because you can't control your own kids for DL so a room of 11 seems difficult.

Managing DL for 2 kids is one thing, but how is one person supposed to manage, for instance, 11 three-year-olds with 4 separate DL schedules?

At our school, the current schedule for PK3, in order to allow appropriate class sizes, is that each PK3 classroom has 4 different schedules: Groups A and B have class Monday and Tuesday, Groups C and D have class Thursday and Friday.

Since the DL classes will have to increase in size to account for the loss of one teacher but only half a classroom (in-class teaching is limited to 6 to 11 kids), it seems like this type of split schedule will have to continue.

How is the single CARES helper supposed to track the schedule for 11 kids, let alone maintain enough order to have the kids listening and speaking to separate teachers on their computers at the same time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You probably don't think that because you can't control your own kids for DL so a room of 11 seems difficult.

Managing DL for 2 kids is one thing, but how is one person supposed to manage, for instance, 11 three-year-olds with 4 separate DL schedules?

At our school, the current schedule for PK3, in order to allow appropriate class sizes, is that each PK3 classroom has 4 different schedules: Groups A and B have class Monday and Tuesday, Groups C and D have class Thursday and Friday.

Since the DL classes will have to increase in size to account for the loss of one teacher but only half a classroom (in-class teaching is limited to 6 to 11 kids), it seems like this type of split schedule will have to continue.

How is the single CARES helper supposed to track the schedule for 11 kids, let alone maintain enough order to have the kids listening and speaking to separate teachers on their computers at the same time?

I would assume the kids who are in the cares room will all be in the same group since there will only be 6-11 of them. At least that’s what a good principal would do.

[Anonymous]

Our principal said she has gotten 0 guidance on how many CARES classrooms each school is required to host. She says virtually all her questions to downtown have been unanswered. I believe her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our principal said she has gotten 0 guidance on how many CARES classrooms each school is required to host. She says virtually all her questions to downtown have been unanswered. I believe her.

That's a lie, my admin said our school has been scheduled to have 16. Admin have known for a bit now. However it is TRUE that the chancellor has answered almost no questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You probably don't think that because you can't control your own kids for DL so a room of 11 seems difficult.

Managing DL for 2 kids is one thing, but how is one person supposed to manage, for instance, 11 three-year-olds with 4 separate DL schedules?

At our school, the current schedule for PK3, in order to allow appropriate class sizes, is that each PK3 classroom has 4 different schedules: Groups A and B have class Monday and Tuesday, Groups C and D have class Thursday and Friday.

Since the DL classes will have to increase in size to account for the loss of one teacher but only half a classroom (in-class teaching is limited to 6 to 11 kids), it seems like this type of split schedule will have to continue.

How is the single CARES helper supposed to track the schedule for 11 kids, let alone maintain enough order to have the kids listening and speaking to separate teachers on their computers at the same time?

I would assume the kids who are in the cares room will all be in the same group since there will only be 6-11 of them. At least that’s what a good principal would do.

In an ideal world it would be done like that, but there is no guarentee. At the moment you have no idea who will and who won't send their child into a CARES classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our principal said she has gotten 0 guidance on how many CARES classrooms each school is required to host. She says virtually all her questions to downtown have been unanswered. I believe her.

That's a lie, my admin said our school has been scheduled to have 16. Admin have known for a bit now. However it is TRUE that the chancellor has answered almost no questions.

So, the pp wasn’t lying then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You probably don't think that because you can't control your own kids for DL so a room of 11 seems difficult.

Managing DL for 2 kids is one thing, but how is one person supposed to manage, for instance, 11 three-year-olds with 4 separate DL schedules?

At our school, the current schedule for PK3, in order to allow appropriate class sizes, is that each PK3 classroom has 4 different schedules: Groups A and B have class Monday and Tuesday, Groups C and D have class Thursday and Friday.

Since the DL classes will have to increase in size to account for the loss of one teacher but only half a classroom (in-class teaching is limited to 6 to 11 kids), it seems like this type of split schedule will have to continue.

How is the single CARES helper supposed to track the schedule for 11 kids, let alone maintain enough order to have the kids listening and speaking to separate teachers on their computers at the same time?

I would assume the kids who are in the cares room will all be in the same group since there will only be 6-11 of them. At least that’s what a good principal would do.

In an ideal world it would be done like that, but there is no guarentee. At the moment you have no idea who will and who won't send their child into a CARES classroom.

But all the groups will be switched anyway. Why wouldn’t the principal say all of the cares kids are with this teacher and in this group. It’s stupid not to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our principal said she has gotten 0 guidance on how many CARES classrooms each school is required to host. She says virtually all her questions to downtown have been unanswered. I believe her.

That's a lie, my admin said our school has been scheduled to have 16. Admin have known for a bit now. However it is TRUE that the chancellor has answered almost no questions.

Doesn’t mean they have provided information to every school.
The Chancellor won’t answer one damn question about anything. Stonewalling is his specialty.

[Anonymous]

I agree central office is bloated and inefficient. That is because almost all the deputy chiefs and higher are pretty bad. The good ones never last. They either get pushed out or leave because they can’t take the constant churn and dysfunction. I need to get out for my sanity but need to wait until the economy improves. There are some good people but they get burnt out. I was at the all staff meeting yesterday and people were very upset. There was a question about virus testing but chancellor basically said there is no money for that. He kept saying everyone has to sacrifice and he has not had a vacation since March. I couldn’t believe he said that. He makes over $300k and I’m sorry but stress and responsibility comes with this job. I have had one week off since Jan 2020. Someone asked if staff are sent to schools then who will do their central office jobs and he said colleagues will have to take over and do double duty. Someone asked about health protections or extra coverage if you get exposed at school and get sick. He wouldn’t answer directly but it sounds like you just have to use up your own sick leave. Let’s just say no one left happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree central office is bloated and inefficient. That is because almost all the deputy chiefs and higher are pretty bad. The good ones never last. They either get pushed out or leave because they can’t take the constant churn and dysfunction. I need to get out for my sanity but need to wait until the economy improves. There are some good people but they get burnt out. I was at the all staff meeting yesterday and people were very upset. There was a question about virus testing but chancellor basically said there is no money for that. He kept saying everyone has to sacrifice and he has not had a vacation since March. I couldn’t believe he said that. He makes over $300k and I’m sorry but stress and responsibility comes with this job. I have had one week off since Jan 2020. Someone asked if staff are sent to schools then who will do their central office jobs and he said colleagues will have to take over and do double duty. Someone asked about health protections or extra coverage if you get exposed at school and get sick. He wouldn’t answer directly but it sounds like you just have to use up your own sick leave. Let’s just say no one left happy.

I don’t blame you all for being angry!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree central office is bloated and inefficient. That is because almost all the deputy chiefs and higher are pretty bad. The good ones never last. They either get pushed out or leave because they can’t take the constant churn and dysfunction. I need to get out for my sanity but need to wait until the economy improves. There are some good people but they get burnt out. I was at the all staff meeting yesterday and people were very upset. There was a question about virus testing but chancellor basically said there is no money for that. He kept saying everyone has to sacrifice and he has not had a vacation since March. I couldn’t believe he said that. He makes over $300k and I’m sorry but stress and responsibility comes with this job. I have had one week off since Jan 2020. Someone asked if staff are sent to schools then who will do their central office jobs and he said colleagues will have to take over and do double duty. Someone asked about health protections or extra coverage if you get exposed at school and get sick. He wouldn’t answer directly but it sounds like you just have to use up your own sick leave. Let’s just say no one left happy.

Teacher here. Did you have the same outrage when teachers were going back into these conditions? Or just only concerned now that you are going in?
It’ll be humbling for you to walk a mile in our shoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree central office is bloated and inefficient. That is because almost all the deputy chiefs and higher are pretty bad. The good ones never last. They either get pushed out or leave because they can’t take the constant churn and dysfunction. I need to get out for my sanity but need to wait until the economy improves. There are some good people but they get burnt out. I was at the all staff meeting yesterday and people were very upset. There was a question about virus testing but chancellor basically said there is no money for that. He kept saying everyone has to sacrifice and he has not had a vacation since March. I couldn’t believe he said that. He makes over $300k and I’m sorry but stress and responsibility comes with this job. I have had one week off since Jan 2020. Someone asked if staff are sent to schools then who will do their central office jobs and he said colleagues will have to take over and do double duty. Someone asked about health protections or extra coverage if you get exposed at school and get sick. He wouldn’t answer directly but it sounds like you just have to use up your own sick leave. Let’s just say no one left happy.

Teacher here. Did you have the same outrage when teachers were going back into these conditions? Or just only concerned now that you are going in?
It’ll be humbling for you to walk a mile in our shoes.

How would you like to be reassigned without option to her job at Central?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree central office is bloated and inefficient. That is because almost all the deputy chiefs and higher are pretty bad. The good ones never last. They either get pushed out or leave because they can’t take the constant churn and dysfunction. I need to get out for my sanity but need to wait until the economy improves. There are some good people but they get burnt out. I was at the all staff meeting yesterday and people were very upset. There was a question about virus testing but chancellor basically said there is no money for that. He kept saying everyone has to sacrifice and he has not had a vacation since March. I couldn’t believe he said that. He makes over $300k and I’m sorry but stress and responsibility comes with this job. I have had one week off since Jan 2020. Someone asked if staff are sent to schools then who will do their central office jobs and he said colleagues will have to take over and do double duty. Someone asked about health protections or extra coverage if you get exposed at school and get sick. He wouldn’t answer directly but it sounds like you just have to use up your own sick leave. Let’s just say no one left happy.

Teacher here. Did you have the same outrage when teachers were going back into these conditions? Or just only concerned now that you are going in?
It’ll be humbling for you to walk a mile in our shoes.

How would you like to be reassigned without option to her job at Central?

Well I’m a math specialist being reassigned as a in person classroom teacher and it sucks. But no one cares about that. So no I don’t feel sorry for her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree central office is bloated and inefficient. That is because almost all the deputy chiefs and higher are pretty bad. The good ones never last. They either get pushed out or leave because they can’t take the constant churn and dysfunction. I need to get out for my sanity but need to wait until the economy improves. There are some good people but they get burnt out. I was at the all staff meeting yesterday and people were very upset. There was a question about virus testing but chancellor basically said there is no money for that. He kept saying everyone has to sacrifice and he has not had a vacation since March. I couldn’t believe he said that. He makes over $300k and I’m sorry but stress and responsibility comes with this job. I have had one week off since Jan 2020. Someone asked if staff are sent to schools then who will do their central office jobs and he said colleagues will have to take over and do double duty. Someone asked about health protections or extra coverage if you get exposed at school and get sick. He wouldn’t answer directly but it sounds like you just have to use up your own sick leave. Let’s just say no one left happy.

Teacher here. Did you have the same outrage when teachers were going back into these conditions? Or just only concerned now that you are going in?
It’ll be humbling for you to walk a mile in our shoes.

How would you like to be reassigned without option to her job at Central?

Well I’m a math specialist being reassigned as a in person classroom teacher and it sucks. But no one cares about that. So no I don’t feel sorry for her.

Thank you for your service.