Parents protest having two different school calendars for children in the same house

[Anonymous]

The teachers probably don't like it because they aren't being paid as 12 month employees. They are 10 month employees with 30 days of summer supplemental pay. Not worth it in my opinion especially if you have kids.

[Anonymous]

I think there are a lot of folks on this thread who are just trying to better understand the various issues.

The OP is a link to an anonymous open letter that claims to have more than 200 signatures. That's great, but the open letter itself is contradictory, which makes it hard to understand the root issues.

The first item is the lack of transparency about outcomes and results of the ISY model, but the second item is a link to a publicly-available evaluation.

The third item is about the response from the BOE, which seems absolutely credible. It would be helpful, though, to better understand what the Roscoe Nix parents want from the general public. If the BoE isn't listening to actual parents from the school, why would they listen to people who would have to identify as not being affiliated with either school community?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Protest of MCPS Innovative School Calendar
Strain on Working Families: The unconventional calendar throws childcare arrangements into disarray, forcing working parents to scramble for solutions during half-days and closures that do not align with the traditional MCPS school calendar. The ISY program has been especially burdensome for parents with children at Roscoe Nix (Pre-K - 2) and its partner school, Cresthaven (3-5), which follows a traditional calendar. This creates undue stress and financial burdens for families, potentially impacting employment and overall well-being.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2024/01/breaking-roscoe-nix-elementary-parents.html

More information today with a link to a parent and teacher giving public testimony to the BOE in September.

https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2024/01/part-ii-with-video-roscoe-nix.html?m=0

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Do parents of kids at the innovative schools have the option to send them to a traditional school if they don't want the longer school year?

No. This is similar to the language immersion programs, which I think is a mistake on MCPS's part.

We know people at a TWI school and they have an alternative option. They don't advertise it, so you need to ask. I'll bet you it's the same with the innovative school calendars.

LOL so secret even the teachers don’t know about it?

The parents certainly can initiate it. Not sure why the teachers would care.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I hate to say this but at this point I can't believe anything posted on that website. It is a constant gripe. So much so that one begins to wonder if it is even real.

Do not read it. It is for people that care about public schools.

Roscoe Nix parents and teachers have already made their positions known to the BOE and MCPS. If you do not want to read their words, then don’t.

It is for people who care about criticizing every thing that MCPS does, doesn't do, says, or doesn't say.

Just say you hate MCPS parents and teachers. Make it clear that parents and teachers are not allowed to be involved in their child's school or their place of employment and aren't allowed to have a thought. Trump hasn't been re-elected yet, but when he is you will be in your glory shutting out democracy and silencing parents and teachers.

This thread is about hundreds of parents and teachers who are speaking out about an MCPS "pilot".

The "Montgomery County Parents Coalition"^^^

Is that what you call hundreds of parents and teachers? That's a good title for their advocacy.

"Montgomery County Parents Coalition" is what one person in Potomac, who hasn't been an MCPS parent in many years, calls themself.

I genuinely think this person may very well have a mental illness. Her hobby is this advocacy that she thinks is representative of parents but she is really just delusional.

Why do you hate the Roscoe Nix teachers?

You know that’s not a wise way to respond to the allegation above, right?

[Anonymous]

This seems like a non issue for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a non issue for most people.

Yes, most people do not care when the BOE spends millions on a pilot that fails. Why should any parents care about the waste of funding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a non issue for most people.

Yes, most people do not care when the BOE spends millions on a pilot that fails. Why should any parents care about the waste of funding?

I'm actually grateful they keep trying to improve MCPS with these trials. Sure, sometimes it doesn't work out, but their efforts have made MCPS one of the finest schools systems in the USA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a non issue for most people.

Yes, most people do not care when the BOE spends millions on a pilot that fails. Why should any parents care about the waste of funding?

I'm actually grateful they keep trying to improve MCPS with these trials. Sure, sometimes it doesn't work out, but their efforts have made MCPS one of the finest schools systems in the USA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a non issue for most people.

Yes, most people do not care when the BOE spends millions on a pilot that fails. Why should any parents care about the waste of funding?

I'm actually grateful they keep trying to improve MCPS with these trials. Sure, sometimes it doesn't work out, but their efforts have made MCPS one of the finest schools systems in the USA!

Says who?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:That does sound like an undue burden.

It would make sense that families who utilize different school systems choose to take on different schedules, but families who have no choice because of where they live, and MCPS has just decided to switch their school over to a new schedule? Not fair.

Having said that, I am 100% on board with year-round school. An extended summer break does not make any sense because it does lead to learning loss, and families aren't tied to harvest times in this century. Additionally, because of climate change, summer is a mosquito-filled scorcher anyway and a lot of kids who cannot travel just end up staying inside in the A/C, on screens. It would make SO MUCH MORE SENSE to have equal breaks every quarter. Workplaces would be better off (no long summer where parents need more flexibility), those who can afford to travel can travel at every season because every break is at least 2 weeks, and those who cannot travel can let their kids play outside at non-scorching periods of the year.

I understand trade and tourism industries in the western hemisphere are still under the impression that tourism would be hurt if summer vacation was shorter, but what they're not understanding is that global warming makes other seasons a lot more attractive for tourism right now!

+1. I would love to see MCPS move to a different schedule, specifically one that starts earlier and includes an earlier break in the Spring semesters even if just a 4-5 day break including weekends.

That really only works for younger kids.

No it works for all kids. Plenty of other districts in the nation have schedules that do just this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a non issue for most people.

Yes, most people do not care when the BOE spends millions on a pilot that fails. Why should any parents care about the waste of funding?

I'm actually grateful they keep trying to improve MCPS with these trials. Sure, sometimes it doesn't work out, but their efforts have made MCPS one of the finest schools systems in the USA!

So you want them to ignore issues and not try anything new???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a non issue for most people.

Yes, most people do not care when the BOE spends millions on a pilot that fails. Why should any parents care about the waste of funding?

I'm actually grateful they keep trying to improve MCPS with these trials. Sure, sometimes it doesn't work out, but their efforts have made MCPS one of the finest schools systems in the USA!

So you want them to ignore issues and not try anything new???

The kool-aid is in reference to the ridiculous “finest school systems in the USA” propaganda that was thrown out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This seems like a non issue for most people.

Yes, most people do not care when the BOE spends millions on a pilot that fails. Why should any parents care about the waste of funding?

I'm actually grateful they keep trying to improve MCPS with these trials. Sure, sometimes it doesn't work out, but their efforts have made MCPS one of the finest schools systems in the USA!

So you want them to ignore issues and not try anything new???

They tried it. It failed. But the BOE keeps it going and keeps pouring millions into a failing program.

Keep drinking and paying for the Kool-Aid.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand why Cresthaven wasn't included in the innovative school year from the start. Arcola is K through 5. Roscoe Nix is K-2. Full disclosure, my kids went to Roscoe Nix and Cresthaven. It is easier on families when the schools are on the same schedule. The schools don't start at the same time ether. They pitched the program as preventing learning loss, but since the results do not support the experiment, they should end the program. Prior to the innovative calendar, there was a summer program, but it was not mandatory. They don't care about inconveniencing working parents. They often held parent meetings during the school/work day.