Anyone from Central Office (or with intel) know why "schools closed/offices open" has disappeared?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing, I think many central office staff are working - I see the school system is distributing meals, I've received some reminder emails and the "things to know" email, Dr. Thomas made his silly videos, I've heard from neighbors who received email replies to questions about magnets -- all of these things happen b/c of people who work in central office. So, just like many of you, even if the building is closed, the work goes on and it seems at least some of the central office staff are professionals and getting things done.

Agree. There's plenty of central office staff who are working. Undoubtedly there are plenty who are not. Or not working as much.

Central office should probably be open but I don't believe - just by what I see with my own eyes - that because central office is closed nobody is working.

I appreciate that some of them are working, but still cannot understand why this isn't a mandatory teleworking situation (or is it? I think the taxpayers deserve to know). I'm a federal worker and I've been working from home since Monday (with the only other option being to take my own personal leave).

+1. Yes, some CO staff are working. But they're not required to, even if their job can be done via telework. That's a very bad look.

Especially given county government has opened on time every day this week except Tuesday. Starting Wednesday they didn't even offer liberal leave. Because if you hadn't dug yourself out by then, you weren't really trying and that's not taxpayers' problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing, I think many central office staff are working - I see the school system is distributing meals, I've received some reminder emails and the "things to know" email, Dr. Thomas made his silly videos, I've heard from neighbors who received email replies to questions about magnets -- all of these things happen b/c of people who work in central office. So, just like many of you, even if the building is closed, the work goes on and it seems at least some of the central office staff are professionals and getting things done.

Agree. There's plenty of central office staff who are working. Undoubtedly there are plenty who are not. Or not working as much.

Central office should probably be open but I don't believe - just by what I see with my own eyes - that because central office is closed nobody is working.

I appreciate that some of them are working, but still cannot understand why this isn't a mandatory teleworking situation (or is it? I think the taxpayers deserve to know). I'm a federal worker and I've been working from home since Monday (with the only other option being to take my own personal leave).

+1. Yes, some CO staff are working. But they're not required to, even if their job can be done via telework. That's a very bad look.

Especially given county government has opened on time every day this week except Tuesday. Starting Wednesday they didn't even offer liberal leave. Because if you hadn't dug yourself out by then, you weren't really trying and that's not taxpayers' problem.

I wonder how many taxpayers realize CO staff weren't working.

[Anonymous]

ICE ICE ICE ICE

Omg we had ice.......

[Anonymous]

So despite the super-important Board of Ed meeting on Monday at 10am where MCPS will present on the new staffing guidelines for next year that will increase class sizes for Title 1 and focus schools in grades K-2... and despite the fact that MCPS is supposed to post materials on the Board website four days before meetings... the presentation is still not up. No opportunity for the public or the Board to review anything before the meeting starts, apparently.

Great job letting down the public by taking all these paid snow days, guys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here's the thing, I think many central office staff are working - I see the school system is distributing meals, I've received some reminder emails and the "things to know" email, Dr. Thomas made his silly videos, I've heard from neighbors who received email replies to questions about magnets -- all of these things happen b/c of people who work in central office. So, just like many of you, even if the building is closed, the work goes on and it seems at least some of the central office staff are professionals and getting things done.

Agree. There's plenty of central office staff who are working. Undoubtedly there are plenty who are not. Or not working as much.

Central office should probably be open but I don't believe - just by what I see with my own eyes - that because central office is closed nobody is working.

I appreciate that some of them are working, but still cannot understand why this isn't a mandatory teleworking situation (or is it? I think the taxpayers deserve to know). I'm a federal worker and I've been working from home since Monday (with the only other option being to take my own personal leave).

+1. Yes, some CO staff are working. But they're not required to, even if their job can be done via telework. That's a very bad look.

Especially given county government has opened on time every day this week except Tuesday. Starting Wednesday they didn't even offer liberal leave. Because if you hadn't dug yourself out by then, you weren't really trying and that's not taxpayers' problem.

I wonder how many taxpayers realize CO staff weren't working.

It's ridiculous that CO staff weren't working. They are perfectly capable of working from home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So despite the super-important Board of Ed meeting on Monday at 10am where MCPS will present on the new staffing guidelines for next year that will increase class sizes for Title 1 and focus schools in grades K-2... and despite the fact that MCPS is supposed to post materials on the Board website four days before meetings... the presentation is still not up. No opportunity for the public or the Board to review anything before the meeting starts, apparently.

Great job letting down the public by taking all these paid snow days, guys.

What, did you expect central office staffers to work on a code red day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So despite the super-important Board of Ed meeting on Monday at 10am where MCPS will present on the new staffing guidelines for next year that will increase class sizes for Title 1 and focus schools in grades K-2... and despite the fact that MCPS is supposed to post materials on the Board website four days before meetings... the presentation is still not up. No opportunity for the public or the Board to review anything before the meeting starts, apparently.

Great job letting down the public by taking all these paid snow days, guys.

What, did you expect central office staffers to work on a code red day?

I mean this might be the entire reason the offices have been closed so long with no telework. It makes no actual sense but it is a good excuse to reduce transparency and public participation which is totally on brand for MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So despite the super-important Board of Ed meeting on Monday at 10am where MCPS will present on the new staffing guidelines for next year that will increase class sizes for Title 1 and focus schools in grades K-2... and despite the fact that MCPS is supposed to post materials on the Board website four days before meetings... the presentation is still not up. No opportunity for the public or the Board to review anything before the meeting starts, apparently.

Great job letting down the public by taking all these paid snow days, guys.

What, did you expect central office staffers to work on a code red day?

That's why it's so stupid that they've all been code red. Taylor is apparently trying to curry favor with central office staff by telling them they didn't have to work, despite the fact that practically all other office workers worked at least some of last week (in many cases the majority of the week) at the expense of the public/students' interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've only heard this third hand so I can't vouch for its accuracy, but if true reportedly a central office staffer had a bad fall on ice a couple years back when offices were open (but schools closed) and threatened to sue.

They should offer unscheduled telework but require central office staffers to work or take leave.

[Anonymous]

Every few weeks someone has to remind everyone that most of central office staff report to schools. For anyone part of the MCEA union, the makeup days at the end of the year will be unpaid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every few weeks someone has to remind everyone that most of central office staff report to schools. For anyone part of the MCEA union, the makeup days at the end of the year will be unpaid.

If they're teleworking, they don't need to report anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every few weeks someone has to remind everyone that most of central office staff report to schools. For anyone part of the MCEA union, the makeup days at the end of the year will be unpaid.

They're not unpaid. They're part of the CBA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every few weeks someone has to remind everyone that most of central office staff report to schools. For anyone part of the MCEA union, the makeup days at the end of the year will be unpaid.

I don't think you understand the meaning of a salaried worker. These comments about unpaid makeup days when you have had the whole freaking week off are unbelievably tone deaf.

[Anonymous]

What code is it tomorrow? Looks like they didn't plan for a day when they can't run the buses but all the schools are ready

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/closings/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What code is it tomorrow? Looks like they didn't plan for a day when they can't run the buses but all the schools are ready

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/closings/

Isn't that Code Orange?