The prospect of kids not going back to school until 2021

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS just emailed out their weekly update:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2019-2020/coronavirus-update-20200614.html

Some highlights:

I want to assure you that we have not made any decisions regarding plans for the fall.

In the coming weeks, we will launch a survey to provide you with an opportunity to share your ideas and preferences for how students should engage in learning during next school year.

School is due to start in 10 weeks.. and they haven't even developed a survey about this? What kind of timeline are they operating on?

Pretty in line with where other districts are. They have to develop a number of plans, since we don’t know what will be happening with the virus in two months. But soliciting parent input is a good thing.

If they outlined a decision now, it would likely have to change before fall as more info about the virus unfolds.

+1
First we have to finish the school year, including returning/picking up materials and belongings. Then they need to get summer school up and running. Some parents are having trouble keeping up with information right now.

A survey in two weeks is fine. I hope they ask for specifics for each child and what parent preferences are. Some kids did well in DL (and even better without social distractions) and some did not, even within the same family. Meanwhile, it's not like they aren't preparing for many different options, and for things to be different by grade/school level. I know that the county is continuing online curriculum development over the summer. Schools are in process on orders for next year, which include DL supports for teachers (like doc cams) and PPE for school. Lots of training options are available to teachers - we don't have full options/requirements yet. There is definitely a lot of work happening behind the scenes.

You act like MCPS can't multi-task. The people in charge of material return/pick-up probably have nothing to do with designing a survey to be sent to parents. Why couldn't they send out that survey 2 weeks ago, so they have all the data already today?

I'm fine if they are not ready to make a decision, but it seems like they are behind on all the tasks that lead up to making a decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS just emailed out their weekly update:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2019-2020/coronavirus-update-20200614.html

Some highlights:

I want to assure you that we have not made any decisions regarding plans for the fall.

In the coming weeks, we will launch a survey to provide you with an opportunity to share your ideas and preferences for how students should engage in learning during next school year.

School is due to start in 10 weeks.. and they haven't even developed a survey about this? What kind of timeline are they operating on?

Pretty in line with where other districts are. They have to develop a number of plans, since we don’t know what will be happening with the virus in two months. But soliciting parent input is a good thing.

If they outlined a decision now, it would likely have to change before fall as more info about the virus unfolds.

In fact we still have 11 weeks. Lots can change in 11 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS just emailed out their weekly update:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2019-2020/coronavirus-update-20200614.html

Some highlights:

I want to assure you that we have not made any decisions regarding plans for the fall.

In the coming weeks, we will launch a survey to provide you with an opportunity to share your ideas and preferences for how students should engage in learning during next school year.

School is due to start in 10 weeks.. and they haven't even developed a survey about this? What kind of timeline are they operating on?

Pretty in line with where other districts are. They have to develop a number of plans, since we don’t know what will be happening with the virus in two months. But soliciting parent input is a good thing.

If they outlined a decision now, it would likely have to change before fall as more info about the virus unfolds.

+1
First we have to finish the school year, including returning/picking up materials and belongings. Then they need to get summer school up and running. Some parents are having trouble keeping up with information right now.

A survey in two weeks is fine. I hope they ask for specifics for each child and what parent preferences are. Some kids did well in DL (and even better without social distractions) and some did not, even within the same family. Meanwhile, it's not like they aren't preparing for many different options, and for things to be different by grade/school level. I know that the county is continuing online curriculum development over the summer. Schools are in process on orders for next year, which include DL supports for teachers (like doc cams) and PPE for school. Lots of training options are available to teachers - we don't have full options/requirements yet. There is definitely a lot of work happening behind the scenes.

You act like MCPS can't multi-task. The people in charge of material return/pick-up probably have nothing to do with designing a survey to be sent to parents. Why couldn't they send out that survey 2 weeks ago, so they have all the data already today?

I'm fine if they are not ready to make a decision, but it seems like they are behind on all the tasks that lead up to making a decision.

Actually, from a survey design perspective, they are on target. They wouldn’t want to get parent input much earlier than now, as people’s perspectives are changing each week as new info is discovered about the virus. What parents wanted a month ago is likely different from what they will want when they are asked by survey in June. You want the results to be up to date and capturing as much of current perspectives as possible. Other districts are just rolling out surveys now, as well. From a researcher point of view, this is good timing.

[Anonymous]

Are they going to roll put Benchmark in all ES next year? (I think the plan was already to do that with Eureka.) we were at a school still using 2.0 for both ELA and math, and it was jarring for the kids and teachers to have to change curricula in the middle of the year.

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher and a parent. I’d like to know the format sooner rather than later so that I can be prepared to meet both roles.

As a teacher, this summer I have to learn Synergy and Canvas. I also need to alter the lessons meant for F2F if we will DL instead. I would also like to buy a better laptop that I’ll be sure to use just for school because the Chromebooks are trash.

I’ll also need to invest in new laptops for the two teens at home. Plus, we have a bit of gnarly custody-related situation for one child that would be most easily resolved if MCPS doesn’t do any wacky hybrid schedule. A hybrid would send us to court, which is a huge distraction on top of everything else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a teacher and a parent. I’d like to know the format sooner rather than later so that I can be prepared to meet both roles.

As a teacher, this summer I have to learn Synergy and Canvas. I also need to alter the lessons meant for F2F if we will DL instead. I would also like to buy a better laptop that I’ll be sure to use just for school because the Chromebooks are trash.

I’ll also need to invest in new laptops for the two teens at home. Plus, we have a bit of gnarly custody-related situation for one child that would be most easily resolved if MCPS doesn’t do any wacky hybrid schedule. A hybrid would send us to court, which is a huge distraction on top of everything else.

We'd all like to know now what's going to happen on August 31. But it's not possible to know that.

[Anonymous]

Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

I do not want to "dump my kids in school."

I want my kids to go to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

If there is even a 10% salary cut for DL teaching, I will guarantee you that there will be an abundance of teachers in school buildings. Some people really enjoy this as long as they collect their paychecks - at the expense of others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

If there is even a 10% salary cut for DL teaching, I will guarantee you that there will be an abundance of teachers in school buildings. Some people really enjoy this as long as they collect their paychecks - at the expense of others.

People want their children to get a decent education. If you think that makes you a martyr as a teacher, do something else. Kids are not vectors. Closing schools is not the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

If there is even a 10% salary cut for DL teaching, I will guarantee you that there will be an abundance of teachers in school buildings. Some people really enjoy this as long as they collect their paychecks - at the expense of others.

But there won’t be a paycut. I haven’t even seen that thrown out as a discussion topic.

If they make an exception for people at risk or with an at risk family member, virtually everyone will be able to claim that status, especially given that they won’t want to challenge anyone on their self-categorization.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

If there is even a 10% salary cut for DL teaching, I will guarantee you that there will be an abundance of teachers in school buildings. Some people really enjoy this as long as they collect their paychecks - at the expense of others.

I've known managers who took the punitive approach you're suggesting. They were not effective managers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids won't be back in classroom until January, at the earliest. Do you want to dump your kids in school or do you want the kids, teachers, and staff to be safe?

They are basically one and the same, as long as those who are vulnerable (obese, over 65) isolate themselves.

Who do you think is going to be left to run and teach in this school? Serious, non-snarky question. Once you remove everyone with high risk for COVID, who is left?

PP, in my anecdotal experience at least, there are plenty of teachers in MCPS who are not obese and/or over 65.