Call to Action: Help create a safe learning environment for medically fragile students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I’m sorry for what your child is going through but I think you are placing a highly irrational degree of faith in ventilation and masks. Respiratory illnesses and immune compromised kids existed before covid. Creating some kind of bubble classroom for them was not feasible before and is not feasible now. A child so fragile that they cannot get a respiratory virus probably needs to be homeschooled or put on the medical homecare program.

It’s not faith, or irrational, to understand the studies that have shown that universal masking, proper ventilation, and air filtration can result in significant drops in disease spread. It’s literally the opposite. And to want that safe environment for my child seems like what a normal parent would want.

It’s quite unfortunate that while there are plenty of good faith comments on here, there really seems to be an underlying thread of snark and pettiness that shows up. This thread wasn’t started to give license to random anonymous forum trolls to drop proverbial grenades that are only meant to derail the discussion. I was asking for like-minded parents who would also like a safer environment for their kids to support the cause and raise the issue with MCPS and BoE leadership.

You’re getting snark because you’re asking for special treatment no other kids get that is not feasible and of questionable benefit anyway. The fact that you are looking for “like minded parents” is the tell that you are being irrational about masks and ventilation.

I’m asking for my child, and any other that asks for it, to have safe access to a full education as of required by law. If you don’t care that your child goes to school without the mitigations I am asking for, then kindly go about your business and end the childish, unproductive bloviating.

No, you're asking for others to be forced to pay for measures accommodating your anxiety over covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I’m sorry for what your child is going through but I think you are placing a highly irrational degree of faith in ventilation and masks. Respiratory illnesses and immune compromised kids existed before covid. Creating some kind of bubble classroom for them was not feasible before and is not feasible now. A child so fragile that they cannot get a respiratory virus probably needs to be homeschooled or put on the medical homecare program.

It’s not faith, or irrational, to understand the studies that have shown that universal masking, proper ventilation, and air filtration can result in significant drops in disease spread. It’s literally the opposite. And to want that safe environment for my child seems like what a normal parent would want.

It’s quite unfortunate that while there are plenty of good faith comments on here, there really seems to be an underlying thread of snark and pettiness that shows up. This thread wasn’t started to give license to random anonymous forum trolls to drop proverbial grenades that are only meant to derail the discussion. I was asking for like-minded parents who would also like a safer environment for their kids to support the cause and raise the issue with MCPS and BoE leadership.

You’re getting snark because you’re asking for special treatment no other kids get that is not feasible and of questionable benefit anyway. The fact that you are looking for “like minded parents” is the tell that you are being irrational about masks and ventilation.

I’m asking for my child, and any other that asks for it, to have safe access to a full education as of required by law. If you don’t care that your child goes to school without the mitigations I am asking for, then kindly go about your business and end the childish, unproductive bloviating.

No, you're asking for others to be forced to pay for measures accommodating your anxiety over covid.

This. We expect schools to solve all of our problems. But then we complain when the consequences of them being stretched thin become apparent. Homeschooling is the route here. There is not enough staffing and space available to make this happen, teachers are still covering for each other on a weekly basis, there are no subs, there are still vacancies, many teachers share a classroom because there aren't enough classrooms available. It's not wrong to say, please don't take more resources from our schools because of a rare case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montgomery County parents,
I need your help to advocate with MCPS for a cohort within the county for medically fragile students and teachers, and for those who have medically fragile family members. This cohort will provide safe access to a full education for many kids who have otherwise been unable to safely attend school.
I have a 5 year old daughter with a genetic condition that makes her vulnerable to severe complications from COVID infections. This has prevented her from being able to attend school for her Kindergarten year, and instead she only receives 4 hours of online instruction a week. Unfortunately MVA is phasing out the lower grades and so she cannot attend it this year or next. She is such an eager student and it is heartbreaking to see these important years go by without her having access to a full, safe education.
I cannot believe she is the only student or family in the county in this situation. I know there are families struggling to give their kids safe access to education, either by keeping them out of school or by reluctantly risking their health to attend in person. Those kids, like my daughter, deserve to be able to attend school and not worry about becoming ill with life-threatening or debilitating diseases. And there is a simple solution, to let those that need enhanced medical safety to group up and attend school together.
That’s where you can help! I am working with the Board of Education, the Superintendent’s office, and the MCPS office of well-being to create a cohort of students and teachers that voluntarily mask and that are in classrooms that have enhanced air filtration and ventilation. I have drafted form letters for MoCo families to “sign” and email to BoE members and the Superintendent. All you have to do is put your info in and send it. The letter does not say that you want your kid to join the cohort (though they could when it is created), it just states that you support the creation of one.
Please look at this BoE Map if you need to find out what BoE district you’re in. Then download the letter for your BoE member (District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5), the BoE at large members, and the Superintendent. Fill out your info and email it to the address listed in the letter.
Thank you so much for your consideration to help out. Your small action could mean the world to our daughter and her education. Please reach out if you have any questions or thoughts on this. There is much to do, but we can work together to make this a reality!

Sterling High
Takoma Park

FYI this isnot the place fir advocacy. This forum is populated by mcps administrators and pr staff to tamp down parent advocacy. They masquerade as “parents” but as you can see they truly despise parents. Join the special needs parent community and work with actual parents who love and care about their children. Ignore this thread.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is barely able to meet the needs of students without special conditions. What you're asking for it is simply beyond the resources of the county and will take away the schools ability to meet the needs of the majority of students.

I am very sorry for your child, but it's not reasonable to request accommodations like this. There are many other ways in which children's special needs could be accommodated but lines have to be drawn. I'm sorry but this is the reality. This county is not doing a good job at very basic measures of teaching, and what you're proposing is a major distraction from their *core mandate*. The county has a core mandate and what you are asking for is well above and beyond.

You can't ask a public school system to completely alter its operations to meet special needs like this that are so demanding. Kids who are so medically fragile simply should not be in public. schools. Masking will not make a significant difference, there are tons of studies on this

[Anonymous]

If a child is medically fragile and can't risk getting a respiratory infection, they should be able to receive an education at home. Virtual does not work well for young kids and is not appropriate. It is unfortunate that MCPS can't better serve these children. Creating a "bubble" classroom has all sorts of problems though and is not practical.

[Anonymous]

Again, I really appreciate the constructive comments and offers of support on this thread. I was expecting a healthy amount of push back but it really is revealing just how traumatized people are from this pandemic and how visceral they react when others aren’t ready to just move on from it.

Send the letters or don’t, it’s up to y’all. But I’m done responding to the childish one liners.

[Anonymous]

That's tough. You'd think they could continue VA if there's sufficient interest. I would be shocked if MCPS ever setup an in-person space to meet these requirements since they can barely teach reading and math these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I’m sorry for what your child is going through but I think you are placing a highly irrational degree of faith in ventilation and masks. Respiratory illnesses and immune compromised kids existed before covid. Creating some kind of bubble classroom for them was not feasible before and is not feasible now. A child so fragile that they cannot get a respiratory virus probably needs to be homeschooled or put on the medical homecare program.

It’s not faith, or irrational, to understand the studies that have shown that universal masking, proper ventilation, and air filtration can result in significant drops in disease spread. It’s literally the opposite. And to want that safe environment for my child seems like what a normal parent would want.

It’s quite unfortunate that while there are plenty of good faith comments on here, there really seems to be an underlying thread of snark and pettiness that shows up. This thread wasn’t started to give license to random anonymous forum trolls to drop proverbial grenades that are only meant to derail the discussion. I was asking for like-minded parents who would also like a safer environment for their kids to support the cause and raise the issue with MCPS and BoE leadership.

You’re getting snark because you’re asking for special treatment no other kids get that is not feasible and of questionable benefit anyway. The fact that you are looking for “like minded parents” is the tell that you are being irrational about masks and ventilation.

I’m asking for my child, and any other that asks for it, to have safe access to a full education as of required by law. If you don’t care that your child goes to school without the mitigations I am asking for, then kindly go about your business and end the childish, unproductive bloviating.

No, you're asking for others to be forced to pay for measures accommodating your anxiety over covid.

This. It is true.

Sorry you have to deal with all this OP, but this is exactly true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I’m sorry for what your child is going through but I think you are placing a highly irrational degree of faith in ventilation and masks. Respiratory illnesses and immune compromised kids existed before covid. Creating some kind of bubble classroom for them was not feasible before and is not feasible now. A child so fragile that they cannot get a respiratory virus probably needs to be homeschooled or put on the medical homecare program.

It’s not faith, or irrational, to understand the studies that have shown that universal masking, proper ventilation, and air filtration can result in significant drops in disease spread. It’s literally the opposite. And to want that safe environment for my child seems like what a normal parent would want.

It’s quite unfortunate that while there are plenty of good faith comments on here, there really seems to be an underlying thread of snark and pettiness that shows up. This thread wasn’t started to give license to random anonymous forum trolls to drop proverbial grenades that are only meant to derail the discussion. I was asking for like-minded parents who would also like a safer environment for their kids to support the cause and raise the issue with MCPS and BoE leadership.

You’re getting snark because you’re asking for special treatment no other kids get that is not feasible and of questionable benefit anyway. The fact that you are looking for “like minded parents” is the tell that you are being irrational about masks and ventilation.

I’m asking for my child, and any other that asks for it, to have safe access to a full education as of required by law. If you don’t care that your child goes to school without the mitigations I am asking for, then kindly go about your business and end the childish, unproductive bloviating.

No, you're asking for others to be forced to pay for measures accommodating your anxiety over covid.

NP. PP, if you don't have anything to offer, why not stop attacking a parent of a medically fragile child? Perhaps the OP's kid has cystic fibrosis or some other serious condition that requires constant vigilance. Regardless of whether these ideas are feasible, it's completely understandable that a parent in that position would want to protect their child from a highly contagious respiratory virus that may impair the functions of other organs as much as possible while still allowing some normalcy in education. If you've never been in the shoes of a parent managing a medically vulnerable child, count yourself luck and work on your own COVID rage.

[Anonymous]

How will they be safe at school when medically fragile? How do they get to school and what would be in place to actually keep them from getting sick? Won't being around other people be a huge risk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Again, I really appreciate the constructive comments and offers of support on this thread. I was expecting a healthy amount of push back but it really is revealing just how traumatized people are from this pandemic and how visceral they react when others aren’t ready to just move on from it.

Send the letters or don’t, it’s up to y’all. But I’m done responding to the childish one liners.

Every post of yours confirms that your agenda is making some kind of socio-political point and not actually about the education of disabled kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I’m sorry for what your child is going through but I think you are placing a highly irrational degree of faith in ventilation and masks. Respiratory illnesses and immune compromised kids existed before covid. Creating some kind of bubble classroom for them was not feasible before and is not feasible now. A child so fragile that they cannot get a respiratory virus probably needs to be homeschooled or put on the medical homecare program.

It’s not faith, or irrational, to understand the studies that have shown that universal masking, proper ventilation, and air filtration can result in significant drops in disease spread. It’s literally the opposite. And to want that safe environment for my child seems like what a normal parent would want.

It’s quite unfortunate that while there are plenty of good faith comments on here, there really seems to be an underlying thread of snark and pettiness that shows up. This thread wasn’t started to give license to random anonymous forum trolls to drop proverbial grenades that are only meant to derail the discussion. I was asking for like-minded parents who would also like a safer environment for their kids to support the cause and raise the issue with MCPS and BoE leadership.

You’re getting snark because you’re asking for special treatment no other kids get that is not feasible and of questionable benefit anyway. The fact that you are looking for “like minded parents” is the tell that you are being irrational about masks and ventilation.

I’m asking for my child, and any other that asks for it, to have safe access to a full education as of required by law. If you don’t care that your child goes to school without the mitigations I am asking for, then kindly go about your business and end the childish, unproductive bloviating.

No, you're asking for others to be forced to pay for measures accommodating your anxiety over covid.

NP. PP, if you don't have anything to offer, why not stop attacking a parent of a medically fragile child? Perhaps the OP's kid has cystic fibrosis or some other serious condition that requires constant vigilance. Regardless of whether these ideas are feasible, it's completely understandable that a parent in that position would want to protect their child from a highly contagious respiratory virus that may impair the functions of other organs as much as possible while still allowing some normalcy in education. If you've never been in the shoes of a parent managing a medically vulnerable child, count yourself luck and work on your own COVID rage.

kids with cystic fibrosis were vulnerable to pathogens before the pandemic too, and there was not any consensus on mask use: https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1164/rccm.201807-1248LE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How will they be safe at school when medically fragile? How do they get to school and what would be in place to actually keep them from getting sick? Won't being around other people be a huge risk?

Not to mention, what kind of restrictions are you going to impose on the teachers and adults who have to service this cohort of medically fragile kids and how will you manage for that?

[Anonymous]

OP, what is your kid’s diagnosis? Maybe people can offer more specific advice for your actual situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I already knew you were one of those parents but this confirms it. Good luck to you. You're gonna need it.

Exactly. Those of us that watched in real time our kids endure the kind of restrictions that OP is asking for in public schools during the pandemic know this is not the road forward. Making kids wear mask poorly affected students.
We know this is not something that is in best interest of 95% of students.
OP, if you truly believe your kid is this fragile, keep them at home. If you believe that masks work, put your kid in a mask. But keep the rest of us out of it.
Life isn't fair, I know.

We get it. Its very hard for you to be a decent human and care about someone else's child or to teach your child empathy.

I still find it fascinating that Covidians only believe in one-way empathy. Not surprised, just gobsmacked by the lack of self awareness.