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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Should we prepare for virtual schooling starting in January?
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Anonymous
Agree. Nice to have actual numbers. But 5% via testing probably represents a true much higher percentage of infected individuals who haven't bothered to get tested. McKnight practically begging everyone to sign up for testing, |
Anonymous
| Monifa gets an A on the rational policy and clear communication on this, imo. |
Anonymous
It's funny. I've been so accustomed to respond to MCPS announcements with anger and frustration, that when they put out a rational and clear policy...I don't know how to respond. |
Anonymous
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Here is the press release:
MCPS Commits to Keep Schools Open December 20, 2021 COVID-19 Testing, Face Coverings, Stressing Vaccinations and a Request to the Community to Follow Mitigation Strategies is Focus of MCPS Approach to Recent Positive Case Rise In line with national and statewide trends, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is experiencing a substantial increase in COVID-19 cases. The district has seen more student and staff cases in December than in the first three months of the school year combined. Nonetheless, positive case rates in MCPS are still one of the lowest in the state of Maryland. As MCPS confronts this concerning pattern, the district remains committed to keeping schools open for fully in-person learning. Maintaining in-person instruction provides students with the best environment for addressing the learning disruptions that resulted from virtual and hybrid learning in the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 school years. During a December 20 press conference, Dr. Monifa B. McKnight, Interim Superintendent of Schools, reaffirmed the commitment to keeping schools open. Dr. McKnight was joined by Dr. James Bridgers, acting county health officer for the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). MCPS has partnered with DHHS through the pandemic, and their recommendations have guided MCPS for the past 21 months. “This past summer, our staff worked incredibly hard to be able to welcome students back to school five days a week for in-person instruction because we know that in-person learning is what is best for students,” said Dr. McKnight. “I am very grateful for the hard work of all staff, our partnership with our employee associations and our entire community to make this happen. We must do what is right for each and every one of our students and that is to teach, in-person.” The following parameter will require the consideration of individual school closures. To ensure the safety of students and staff, MCPS will be following DHHS guidance around individual school outbreaks as defined by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). Beginning in January, if 5 percent or more of unrelated students/teachers/staff (minimum of 10 unrelated students/teachers/staff) test positive in a 14-day period, then DHHS and MCPS will work together to determine if the school should be closed for 14 days and the students would transition to virtual learning. Upholding the commitment to in-person instruction requires the entire Montgomery County community to remain vigilant to all health and safety measures available. Those strategies are: Get the shot. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and available for everyone ages 5 and older. Get the booster shot. The third shot to ensure you are sufficiently protected is now available for everyone 16 and above. Wear a face covering over your nose and mouth whenever you are in an MCPS building or in public buildings. Wash your hands frequently before and after eating or touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Say Yes to the Test. Give permission for the random and rapid COVID-19 screening programs in MCPS schools. This is critical to identifying cases and reducing the number of students in quarantine. Socialize outdoors. If you meet with others indoors, avoid crowded, poorly ventilated spaces. See more recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Planning to travel? Know what the CDC has to say about how to do that safely. Although as a community we may be experiencing pandemic fatigue, it is crucial that we continue practicing the preventive behaviors that have helped to keep our community safe. Important Resources Need the shot? Visit the Montgomery County Health and Human Services website to find a clinic and to register for a free vaccine. https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/vaccine/ Say Yes to the Test COVID-19 Testing Information, Forms and Flyers: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus/random-testing.aspx English PSA https://youtu.be/5bWVDTZNL4A Spanish PSA https://youtu.be/UtJ8ikU4hcU Say Yes to The Test Flyers: English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Korean, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Amharic Do you have symptoms? Did you travel? Did you gather with others? Get a free test. https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/testing.html Latest news and information about COVID-19 in Montgomery County https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/news/index.html |
Anonymous
Whenever I see a post that refers to Dr. McKnight as Monifa, I know the poster is an a** and anything they're saying has to be complete BS. |
Anonymous
They should make this a requirement for in-person school. |
Anonymous
Mmm. Ok. That's a pretty big leap, but you do you. But I also referred to Dr. Smith as Jack. Or, Presidents Trump and Obama, as Donald and Barry. I didn't realize we were supposed to be so formal here on DCUM that we couldn't use first names |
Anonymous
I don't agree with the tone of the person you are responding to, but I did do a doubletake at the use of the first name as well. Maybe not you, but I have noticed that people tend to only use first names when referring to women in prominence, and rarely men. You hear a lot more "Hillary, Kamala, Nancy" than you do "Joe, Donald, Chuck, Mitch," etc. |
Anonymous
You are being a Miranda. We all called Dr. Smith Jack and trolled him for making school decisions in Moco based on his grandson’s heart condition where the boy lived in Maine, was a preschooler, and schools were open in Maine. We aren’t being racist or sexist. We are just being normal DCUM. |
Anonymous
| I refer to her as Monifa because Monifa is a beautiful name and it just tools of the tongue so beautifully |
Anonymous
Agree! McKnight did a good job with this- both the policy and the delivery, which was clear and to the point. Bridgers still bungled his parts- both attempting to explain the closure policy and attempting to justify the extracurricular/sports policies. |
Anonymous
Barry? No regular citizen calls him that. |
Anonymous
agreed |
Anonymous
So does that make me an irregular citizen? I honestly did call him that. I also called Trump: Donny. I do refer to Pelosi as Nancy and McConnel as Mitch. I guess I never really thought of it until now, but I prefer to use first names. |
Anonymous
What sort of doublespeak is that? Surveillance and rapid testing are only used to identify *more* kids to send into quarantine. They do nothing to reduce the number of students in quarantine. If you want to encourage (or argue to force) people to sign up, that's your prerogative, but don't blatantly lie to do it. |