ACPS- Changing from Hybrid to DL?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone seen any official communication & information coming from their schools? It's a month out from general education going back but I've seen nothing other than a link to the ACPS express.

ACPS’s comments on its Facebook page seems to suggest that the teachers are supposed to respond to parent questions. It seems like an inefficient communication approach.

And completely unfair to teachers. It's like ACPS central office WANTS a bad dynamic between parents and teachers.

I thought their communications would improve with the long needed departure of Helen Lloyd. Guess I was wrong.

Helen Lloyd is no longer with ACPS? Are you sure? Everything online seems to suggest she is still there heading up communications. Communication definitely could use improvement. Our elementary school principal recently said that ACPS wanted a consistent message to come from central office and only central office.

Never mind, I now see she moved to FCPS at the end of December. "'Ms. Lloyd has demonstrated proven leadership and has a track record of success in her work with Alexandria City Public Schools,' said Brabrand." I beg to differ.

Having had to watch her in action for a bunch of years...that quote is hilarious! Good luck FCPS!

[Anonymous]

I believe the new ACPS pr person is Julia Burgos, who came from APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe the new ACPS pr person is Julia Burgos, who came from APS.

Yes - she gave quotes a while back to the Alexandria Times that made it appear like she was speaking for the School Board (attacking a group of mainly minority students) prior to the vote on an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe the new ACPS pr person is Julia Burgos, who came from APS.

Yes - she gave quotes a while back to the Alexandria Times that made it appear like she was speaking for the School Board (attacking a group of mainly minority students) prior to the vote on an issue.

The School Board has made itself an extension of ACPS and Hutchings. The SB members don't question and they don't disagree with Hutchings and central office. I've watched their reactions to some of his more insane comments over the past few year. They don't even blink. They just nod in agreement.

So it makes sense that they would allow a staffer to speak for them and attack students in the process. I'm sure they patted her on the back and thanked her profusely. They don't serve their constituents at all and they regularly attack parents in public and in private. It's nothing new.

Unless you are one of the connected parents who sucks up to them....parents have no where to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe the new ACPS pr person is Julia Burgos, who came from APS.

Yes - she gave quotes a while back to the Alexandria Times that made it appear like she was speaking for the School Board (attacking a group of mainly minority students) prior to the vote on an issue.

The School Board has made itself an extension of ACPS and Hutchings. The SB members don't question and they don't disagree with Hutchings and central office. I've watched their reactions to some of his more insane comments over the past few year. They don't even blink. They just nod in agreement.

So it makes sense that they would allow a staffer to speak for them and attack students in the process. I'm sure they patted her on the back and thanked her profusely. They don't serve their constituents at all and they regularly attack parents in public and in private. It's nothing new.

Unless you are one of the connected parents who sucks up to them....parents have no where to go.

This year has been so illuminating. It's depressing. I've fully accepted how much the system is awry and nonsensical, because he has learning challenges and the utter failure of this is easier for me to see. But my friends with neurotypical kids are still hoping for the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe the new ACPS pr person is Julia Burgos, who came from APS.

Yes - she gave quotes a while back to the Alexandria Times that made it appear like she was speaking for the School Board (attacking a group of mainly minority students) prior to the vote on an issue.

The School Board has made itself an extension of ACPS and Hutchings. The SB members don't question and they don't disagree with Hutchings and central office. I've watched their reactions to some of his more insane comments over the past few year. They don't even blink. They just nod in agreement.

So it makes sense that they would allow a staffer to speak for them and attack students in the process. I'm sure they patted her on the back and thanked her profusely. They don't serve their constituents at all and they regularly attack parents in public and in private. It's nothing new.

Unless you are one of the connected parents who sucks up to them....parents have no where to go.

This year has been so illuminating. It's depressing. I've fully accepted how much the system is awry and nonsensical, because he has learning challenges and the utter failure of this is easier for me to see. But my friends with neurotypical kids are still hoping for the best.

Sorry--missed a word there. Meant to say, because my kid has learning challenges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I believe the new ACPS pr person is Julia Burgos, who came from APS.

Yes - she gave quotes a while back to the Alexandria Times that made it appear like she was speaking for the School Board (attacking a group of mainly minority students) prior to the vote on an issue.

The School Board has made itself an extension of ACPS and Hutchings. The SB members don't question and they don't disagree with Hutchings and central office. I've watched their reactions to some of his more insane comments over the past few year. They don't even blink. They just nod in agreement.

So it makes sense that they would allow a staffer to speak for them and attack students in the process. I'm sure they patted her on the back and thanked her profusely. They don't serve their constituents at all and they regularly attack parents in public and in private. It's nothing new.

Unless you are one of the connected parents who sucks up to them....parents have no where to go.

This year has been so illuminating. It's depressing. I've fully accepted how much the system is awry and nonsensical, because he has learning challenges and the utter failure of this is easier for me to see. But my friends with neurotypical kids are still hoping for the best.

I'm so sorry. It's so frustrating.

What I've seen over the years is parents who do see it and even talk about it but never do anything. They get starry eyed with Hutchings and School Board members (which is one of the strangest things I've ever witnessed). They know the failures but they never question. It's so sad. Usually, these are the same people paying for tutors or private classes for their kids.

I think they just want to get thru it. But, I also think they are scared (and with good reason) of the bully parents who INSIST that ACPS is wonderful and act in the most vicious way against people who disagree with them and speak out. Alexandria is a very strange place. And a sad place because all the kids are being failed in some way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone seen any official communication & information coming from their schools? It's a month out from general education going back but I've seen nothing other than a link to the ACPS express.

ACPS’s comments on its Facebook page seems to suggest that the teachers are supposed to respond to parent questions. It seems like an inefficient communication approach.

And completely unfair to teachers. It's like ACPS central office WANTS a bad dynamic between parents and teachers.

I thought their communications would improve with the long needed departure of Helen Lloyd. Guess I was wrong.

Helen Lloyd is no longer with ACPS? Are you sure? Everything online seems to suggest she is still there heading up communications. Communication definitely could use improvement. Our elementary school principal recently said that ACPS wanted a consistent message to come from central office and only central office.

Never mind, I now see she moved to FCPS at the end of December. "'Ms. Lloyd has demonstrated proven leadership and has a track record of success in her work with Alexandria City Public Schools,' said Brabrand." I beg to differ.

This seriously made me lol. Holy shit FCPS just got screwed.

[Anonymous]

Wasn't she like 104?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can switch from hybrid to DL but not the other way around. Our ACPS elementary school principal told parents at a meeting this week that he is keeping a list of families requesting to switch from DL to hybrid (but made no promises that it would be possible). I still think it’s a good idea for parents to let their principals know and for schools to collect that data and information.

Thank you. Do you know why that is? It doesn't seem fair to ask parents to make a firm decision about the unknown. Many people scared in December might not be now given the increased availability of vaccine.

Honest and serious question...what is the most constructive way to push back on this verdict of your decision in December equals what you get now? Both adults in our family have the vaccine now so we are comfortable with hybrid but in December we didn’t know that and picked distance. I know it’s out of the principals hands at this point, and it’s truly ridiculous we are being held to a December survey. What is the best way to counter this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can switch from hybrid to DL but not the other way around. Our ACPS elementary school principal told parents at a meeting this week that he is keeping a list of families requesting to switch from DL to hybrid (but made no promises that it would be possible). I still think it’s a good idea for parents to let their principals know and for schools to collect that data and information.

Thank you. Do you know why that is? It doesn't seem fair to ask parents to make a firm decision about the unknown. Many people scared in December might not be now given the increased availability of vaccine.

Honest and serious question...what is the most constructive way to push back on this verdict of your decision in December equals what you get now? Both adults in our family have the vaccine now so we are comfortable with hybrid but in December we didn’t know that and picked distance. I know it’s out of the principals hands at this point, and it’s truly ridiculous we are being held to a December survey. What is the best way to counter this?

I don't think you'll have any luck, TBH. But maybe contact the principal directly?

They really messed this up....once again with lack of communication.

[Anonymous]

It’s been misstep after misstep with ACPS. Horrific in terms communication. I still don’t see anything that made clear family’s “preferences” (their language) on the Family Choice form from the fall were considered final and binding. Hard to have any faith left in this system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can switch from hybrid to DL but not the other way around. Our ACPS elementary school principal told parents at a meeting this week that he is keeping a list of families requesting to switch from DL to hybrid (but made no promises that it would be possible). I still think it’s a good idea for parents to let their principals know and for schools to collect that data and information.

Thank you. Do you know why that is? It doesn't seem fair to ask parents to make a firm decision about the unknown. Many people scared in December might not be now given the increased availability of vaccine.

Honest and serious question...what is the most constructive way to push back on this verdict of your decision in December equals what you get now? Both adults in our family have the vaccine now so we are comfortable with hybrid but in December we didn’t know that and picked distance. I know it’s out of the principals hands at this point, and it’s truly ridiculous we are being held to a December survey. What is the best way to counter this?

I don't think you'll have much luck either.

There is a quote on this thread from an old ACPS express that indicates they would work with parents if situations change. I believe that Hutchings said similar things during school board meetings around that time. But honestly, nothing that was said or written matters much to ACPS or the school board.

As someone else suggested, reach out to your principal. But I wouldn't expect any movement on this from them either. I'm sure central office has their hands tied on this.

You could reach out to your school board members (be careful of the link on the ACPS website that emails all the school board members - that goes to Hutchings too. Which is grating because the last time I checked he was supposed to be reporting to the school board) but they all defend everything central office and Hutchings do so don't expect much from them either.

This seems like something the PTAs could get together and say please allow for adjustments like you said you would but...they won't.

Parents truly have no where to go and are on their own. ACPS is very anti-parent and no one advocates for us.

I hate to be so negative but this is years and years of experience talking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s been misstep after misstep with ACPS. Horrific in terms communication. I still don’t see anything that made clear family’s “preferences” (their language) on the Family Choice form from the fall were considered final and binding. Hard to have any faith left in this system.

I have zero faith. I chose hybrid but I'm not sending my kids back. I doubt that they can execute this correctly and safely (hello classroom monitors). If they execute it at all.

We will finish out the year and then we are leaving ACPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s been misstep after misstep with ACPS. Horrific in terms communication. I still don’t see anything that made clear family’s “preferences” (their language) on the Family Choice form from the fall were considered final and binding. Hard to have any faith left in this system.

I have zero faith. I chose hybrid but I'm not sending my kids back. I doubt that they can execute this correctly and safely (hello classroom monitors). If they execute it at all.

We will finish out the year and then we are leaving ACPS.

I also have zero faith and plan to leave after this school year, but I am planning to send my kids, or at least one of them. I know one teacher isn't returning. Still waiting to hear about the other.