Should we prepare for virtual schooling starting in January?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is serious as it is highly contagious. How do you know those infected are not seriously sick? What will it take to get you to take Covid seriously? If you want schools to stay open, you need to be part of the solution.

I am part of the solution. Specifically:

1. I am vaccinated + boostered. So is every other person in my family who is eligible for vaccination + booster.
2. I have worn masks in indoor public places since the spring of 2020. So has every other person in my family.
3. I am contacting my elected officials to tell them that schools need to stay open, and I am asking everyone I know to do the same.

You forgot 4.

4. Get an education degree so I can teach in January when teachers are out sick with COVID.

There's no school without teachers.

It is unfortunate that McKnight unilaterally removed the vaccine requirement in MCPS instead of adding a booster requirement. Responsible teachers are not going to get sick in large numbers.

Not at all. I know of so many people who got their booster and now have Covid. On triple-vaccinated person is currently in the hospital.

It’s possible that boosters could make things more complicated, actually. Some are arguing that people should wait for an Omicron specific booster.

From the article:
“The question is, if you keep priming and boosting with a strain, which is basically to make an immune response against the ancestral strain, will that limit your ability then to make an immune response to a virus, which is very much different than the ancestral?” said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/omicron-variant-best-strategy-omicron-boost-original-vaccine-rcna7451

Very, very few experts think that is a credible risk. The overwhelming majority of experts say to get booster as soon as possible. Not only do they reduce severity in medically frail individuals, they significantly reduce the risk of infection in healthier individuals. Teachers could avoid getting sick and could go on working through any potential Omicron surge.

Not when the County has ridiculous quarantine rules! Our kids have to quarantine for close contacts even if they are vaccinated. Our athletes are 100% vaccinated and are still quarantining.

If your kid is vaccinated they don’t have to quarantine for close contact in MCPS. More than once my kid has been in close contact with someone who tested positive and she has never had to quarantine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Making at least the first two weeks of January virtual would make sense. I know families at our school who plan to travel internationally and they are not changing their plans. Covid will get worse in Jan. February should be better hopefully

Why? When it's spreading in the community? And nothing else is closing?

Why do we need things to close to be careful? Our government is not going to fix this so people need to.

But people aren’t going to. That’s reality. So schools should not close either.

If there are outbreaks in school, yes they should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Making at least the first two weeks of January virtual would make sense. I know families at our school who plan to travel internationally and they are not changing their plans. Covid will get worse in Jan. February should be better hopefully

Why? When it's spreading in the community? And nothing else is closing?

Why do we need things to close to be careful? Our government is not going to fix this so people need to.

Why, indeed? Keep the schools open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is serious as it is highly contagious. How do you know those infected are not seriously sick? What will it take to get you to take Covid seriously? If you want schools to stay open, you need to be part of the solution.

I am part of the solution. Specifically:

1. I am vaccinated + boostered. So is every other person in my family who is eligible for vaccination + booster.
2. I have worn masks in indoor public places since the spring of 2020. So has every other person in my family.
3. I am contacting my elected officials to tell them that schools need to stay open, and I am asking everyone I know to do the same.

You forgot 4.

4. Get an education degree so I can teach in January when teachers are out sick with COVID.

There's no school without teachers.

It is unfortunate that McKnight unilaterally removed the vaccine requirement in MCPS instead of adding a booster requirement. Responsible teachers are not going to get sick in large numbers.

Not at all. I know of so many people who got their booster and now have Covid. On triple-vaccinated person is currently in the hospital.

It’s possible that boosters could make things more complicated, actually. Some are arguing that people should wait for an Omicron specific booster.

From the article:
“The question is, if you keep priming and boosting with a strain, which is basically to make an immune response against the ancestral strain, will that limit your ability then to make an immune response to a virus, which is very much different than the ancestral?” said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/omicron-variant-best-strategy-omicron-boost-original-vaccine-rcna7451

Very, very few experts think that is a credible risk. The overwhelming majority of experts say to get booster as soon as possible. Not only do they reduce severity in medically frail individuals, they significantly reduce the risk of infection in healthier individuals. Teachers could avoid getting sick and could go on working through any potential Omicron surge.

Not when the County has ridiculous quarantine rules! Our kids have to quarantine for close contacts even if they are vaccinated. Our athletes are 100% vaccinated and are still quarantining.

That’s not accurate. Fully vaccinated close contacts do not quarantine unless they have symptoms.

Not true at my Kursk’ elementary school.

Under 12 are not fully vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It is serious as it is highly contagious. How do you know those infected are not seriously sick? What will it take to get you to take Covid seriously? If you want schools to stay open, you need to be part of the solution.

I am part of the solution. Specifically:

1. I am vaccinated + boostered. So is every other person in my family who is eligible for vaccination + booster.
2. I have worn masks in indoor public places since the spring of 2020. So has every other person in my family.
3. I am contacting my elected officials to tell them that schools need to stay open, and I am asking everyone I know to do the same.

You forgot 4.

4. Get an education degree so I can teach in January when teachers are out sick with COVID.

There's no school without teachers.

It is unfortunate that McKnight unilaterally removed the vaccine requirement in MCPS instead of adding a booster requirement. Responsible teachers are not going to get sick in large numbers.

Not at all. I know of so many people who got their booster and now have Covid. On triple-vaccinated person is currently in the hospital.

It’s possible that boosters could make things more complicated, actually. Some are arguing that people should wait for an Omicron specific booster.

From the article:
“The question is, if you keep priming and boosting with a strain, which is basically to make an immune response against the ancestral strain, will that limit your ability then to make an immune response to a virus, which is very much different than the ancestral?” said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/omicron-variant-best-strategy-omicron-boost-original-vaccine-rcna7451

Very, very few experts think that is a credible risk. The overwhelming majority of experts say to get booster as soon as possible. Not only do they reduce severity in medically frail individuals, they significantly reduce the risk of infection in healthier individuals. Teachers could avoid getting sick and could go on working through any potential Omicron surge.

Not when the County has ridiculous quarantine rules! Our kids have to quarantine for close contacts even if they are vaccinated. Our athletes are 100% vaccinated and are still quarantining.

That’s not accurate. Fully vaccinated close contacts do not quarantine unless they have symptoms.

Not true at my Kursk’ elementary school.

Under 12 are not fully vaccinated.

My 10 year old is. Maybe some aren’t because they didn’t get the vaccine right away, but those who did are fully vaccinated now (more than 2 weeks Post-second shot).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

Because mcps failed to hire enough substitute teachers despite the fact that they knew we don't have enough. Failure of leadership.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

Not going to happen. People refuse restrictions here. The vaccines are not fully approved for kids. Most in mcps are vaccinated so it’s not that simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

Mandatory vax? For what?

It is mandatory that all athletes are vaccinated and they are the ones catching Covid right now at our HS.

If MCPS tries pushing a vaccine mandate for my 9 year old to attend school, I’ll be the first one in line with a lawsuit.

Also, LAUSD had so much non-compliance with their bogus 12+ vaccine mandate that they had to reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

Because mcps failed to hire enough substitute teachers despite the fact that they knew we don't have enough. Failure of leadership.

? there are shortages everywhere, not just in MD. I don't want schools to close, and we are vaxxed. But, MCPS' inability to hire more subs is not really their fault.

Also, many of the existing subs aren't coming back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

Link for how the LAUSD had to back down from their ridiculous mandate.

https://news.yahoo.com/lausd-backs-down-vaccine-mandate-033045059.html

Also, indoor youth sports are NOT a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

Because mcps failed to hire enough substitute teachers despite the fact that they knew we don't have enough. Failure of leadership.

? there are shortages everywhere, not just in MD. I don't want schools to close, and we are vaxxed. But, MCPS' inability to hire more subs is not really their fault.

Also, many of the existing subs aren't coming back.

It is absolutely MCPS’s fault if they don’t substantially increase sub pay. We got plenty of covid funds to be able to pay $300/day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Making at least the first two weeks of January virtual would make sense. I know families at our school who plan to travel internationally and they are not changing their plans. Covid will get worse in Jan. February should be better hopefully

Why? When it's spreading in the community? And nothing else is closing?

Why do we need things to close to be careful? Our government is not going to fix this so people need to.

Why, indeed? Keep the schools open.

Close to a million dead but who's counting...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

Because mcps failed to hire enough substitute teachers despite the fact that they knew we don't have enough. Failure of leadership.

? there are shortages everywhere, not just in MD. I don't want schools to close, and we are vaxxed. But, MCPS' inability to hire more subs is not really their fault.

Also, many of the existing subs aren't coming back.

It is absolutely MCPS’s fault if they don’t substantially increase sub pay. We got plenty of covid funds to be able to pay $300/day.

I don't think most people are going to risk their lives for $5 or $10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people jump to closures?! Why can’t we try other things first. Here are some ideas: mandatory vax and boosters for everyone eligible; weekly testing (LAUSD has done this since August); no indoor sports (sorry but it’s a problem); close the bars.

Link for how the LAUSD had to back down from their ridiculous mandate.

https://news.yahoo.com/lausd-backs-down-vaccine-mandate-033045059.html

Also, indoor youth sports are NOT a problem.

Really? I seem to recall reading about all these outbreaks with team sports in MCPS just this year.