Official word—no more masks as of 3/1/22

[Anonymous]

The FCPS letter emailed today was just hysterical. They apparently need a full day to prepare for this?? So.Much.Drama.

"Monday will be a day to prepare for this transition. Students and staff will have the day to get answers to questions and prepare for the change. We will share additional information tomorrow that will help us all prepare.

The decision to wear a mask or not is a personal one for our staff and families, based on many factors. The FCPS community values our Caring Culture, and we will see that value in action as we treat each other with respect and understanding during this transition. "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The FCPS letter emailed today was just hysterical. They apparently need a full day to prepare for this?? So.Much.Drama.

"Monday will be a day to prepare for this transition. Students and staff will have the day to get answers to questions and prepare for the change. We will share additional information tomorrow that will help us all prepare.

The decision to wear a mask or not is a personal one for our staff and families, based on many factors. The FCPS community values our Caring Culture, and we will see that value in action as we treat each other with respect and understanding during this transition. "

+1 utterly ridiculous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.edu/blog/changes-universal-masking-all-set-march-1

As a teacher, I’m so happy they made it optional for staff as well.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live that teachers have the option too. It will make it easier for kids to unmask.

+1. It was dumb to say that teachers still had to wear it when kids didn't.

You may think it was dumb, but FCPS had to follow the law.
Teachers were under a different rule set by the Virginia Department of Labor. The legislation that passed recently only applied to students and went into effect on Tuesday. Now that the CDC has adjusted its guidelines, employees are no longer required to mask.

Arlington is still requiring all staff to mask, as far as I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has so much egg on their face it’s not even funny!

This is such a strange statement. They have always said they are following the guidance of the CDC and the CDC changed the guidance. It is totally consistent. Now the problem is that chap’s bill prevents them from mandating masks in the future when there is a need. The CDC guidance makes clear that they may become necessary again when do conditions change but Virginia took that important tool away from all districts. It was a really stupid law.

FCPS begrudgingly acknowledged the law. After saying universal masking was popular and heh hoped people would continue. Now suddenly it’s ok! Lol.

It’s okay because, for the 100th time, the CDC changed its guidance. They’ve always said they were obligated to follow it per SB 1303. Still confused by the LOL. Then again, I wonder if you’re the kind the person who laughs when someone trips and falls.

They were still obligated to comply with the state law before the CDC changed their guidance. They are happy CDC changed their guidance because it makes it look as if it was their decision, when in reality they had no choice but taco comply with the law.

Curse that taco compliance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Completely asinine. CDC changes how it calculates transmission levels and all of a sudden we are low when it is just as high as ever.

I will keep masking as will my child, and most of the other teachers I know.

Numbers have plummeted the past few weeks.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/?itid=hp_pandemic_gfx/&state=US

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live that teachers have the option too. It will make it easier for kids to unmask.

I think majority of teachers will keep masking at least till spring break. There are many immunocompromised, pregnant or teachers with little ones at home. My teammate and I just discussed and we both plan on masking for a little while longer.

+1, I’m not risking my spring break travel. So my kids will make until then as will I when I am around students.

So you think masks actually work? Lol.

Yes, well fitting N95 and KF94 masks work. Which is why I and my family have not had COVID despite working at a school with lots of infected staff and students. Masks work and I will keep masking.

That’s fine. But most people are going to keep masking with their old navy or other cloth mask because they think that’s protecting them. People feel safe wearing them.

My Old Navy masks do work, just not as well as the others. They're much more comfortable and actually fit tighter to my face. When infection rates are higher, I wear two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely asinine. CDC changes how it calculates transmission levels and all of a sudden we are low when it is just as high as ever.

I will keep masking as will my child, and most of the other teachers I know.

Numbers have plummeted the past few weeks.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/?itid=hp_pandemic_gfx/&state=US

Stop trying to convince people to unmask. Everyone has different comfort levels. If everyone is yammering about choice, then people can choose to wear a mask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live that teachers have the option too. It will make it easier for kids to unmask.

I think majority of teachers will keep masking at least till spring break. There are many immunocompromised, pregnant or teachers with little ones at home. My teammate and I just discussed and we both plan on masking for a little while longer.

Then they should get the vaccine.

There are many, many vaccinated people who still need to be concerned about breakthrough cases, which can have significantly more dire consequences for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The FCPS letter emailed today was just hysterical. They apparently need a full day to prepare for this?? So.Much.Drama.

"Monday will be a day to prepare for this transition. Students and staff will have the day to get answers to questions and prepare for the change. We will share additional information tomorrow that will help us all prepare.

The decision to wear a mask or not is a personal one for our staff and families, based on many factors. The FCPS community values our Caring Culture, and we will see that value in action as we treat each other with respect and understanding during this transition. "

Yeah, until you've run a company that has over 200,000 employees and clients in close contact with one another on a daily basis, you should withhold your judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has so much egg on their face it’s not even funny!

This is such a strange statement. They have always said they are following the guidance of the CDC and the CDC changed the guidance. It is totally consistent. Now the problem is that chap’s bill prevents them from mandating masks in the future when there is a need. The CDC guidance makes clear that they may become necessary again when do conditions change but Virginia took that important tool away from all districts. It was a really stupid law.

FCPS begrudgingly acknowledged the law. After saying universal masking was popular and heh hoped people would continue. Now suddenly it’s ok! Lol.

It’s okay because, for the 100th time, the CDC changed its guidance. They’ve always said they were obligated to follow it per SB 1303. Still confused by the LOL. Then again, I wonder if you’re the kind the person who laughs when someone trips and falls.

It’s not good enough when the Gov says it - but miraculously it’s ok when the CDC says it.
The CDC should have said it sooner. Luckily the Govs forced their hand.

The gov isn't a health agency. VDH is, FCDH is, the CDC is.

Who do you want to take health advice from?

I don’t mind taking it from the Gov when they’re doing better than the CDC. This whole thing shows the CDC doesn’t matter - the Govs were right to make decisions before the CDC. The CDC is shown to be political too. It’s a real trust problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Completely asinine. CDC changes how it calculates transmission levels and all of a sudden we are low when it is just as high as ever.

I will keep masking as will my child, and most of the other teachers I know.

Numbers have plummeted the past few weeks.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/?itid=hp_pandemic_gfx/&state=US

Stop trying to convince people to unmask. Everyone has different comfort levels. If everyone is yammering about choice, then people can choose to wear a mask.

What in my statement led you to believe I was trying to convince people to unmask? I was just saying it's not 'asinine' to allow a choice, and transmission levels are not 'just as high as ever'.

[Anonymous]

Word around town is that…. Covid panic is over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Word around town is that…. Covid panic is over.

Word around the country is that Covid panic ended months ago for many people and school districts. The DMV is way far behind with comfort level of giving up the masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The FCPS letter emailed today was just hysterical. They apparently need a full day to prepare for this?? So.Much.Drama.

"Monday will be a day to prepare for this transition. Students and staff will have the day to get answers to questions and prepare for the change. We will share additional information tomorrow that will help us all prepare.

The decision to wear a mask or not is a personal one for our staff and families, based on many factors. The FCPS community values our Caring Culture, and we will see that value in action as we treat each other with respect and understanding during this transition. "

+1 utterly ridiculous

+2
I'm surprised they didn't cancel school today/Monday so staff and teachers could have a day to "prepare".