When should DC drop its school mask mandate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VA and MD are dropping mask mandates in school. Per CDC guidelines, areas such as DMV, with high vaccinations and low hospitalizations should drop masks.

DC will be pressured to follow soon. Then individual families can decide if they want their kid to wear a mask. Schools with high vaccination rates will likely be majority mask free. Schools with low vaccination rates, I predict many kids in masks. School who don’t even know their vaccination rates, you are working in the dark and don’t understand how families don’t demand to know. Ignorance is not bliss.

I hope this is true. This year has been such a cluster f*ck.

I teach in NOVA and our kids can go mask free March 1st. I think many will forgo the masks. Which is fine because they are mostly I’ll fitted and cotton. We don’t know the vaccination rates at my school, but I assume pretty low. Most kids I teach haven’t been vaccinated. But they’ve also mostly all had COVID or live in a house with someone who had it. So we are all moving on.

Curious, what is the reason your school is giving you for not telling teachers and parents the vaccination rate? I don’t understand what valid reason there is for not being transparent about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VA and MD are dropping mask mandates in school. Per CDC guidelines, areas such as DMV, with high vaccinations and low hospitalizations should drop masks.

DC will be pressured to follow soon. Then individual families can decide if they want their kid to wear a mask. Schools with high vaccination rates will likely be majority mask free. Schools with low vaccination rates, I predict many kids in masks. School who don’t even know their vaccination rates, you are working in the dark and don’t understand how families don’t demand to know. Ignorance is not bliss.

I hope this is true. This year has been such a cluster f*ck.

I teach in NOVA and our kids can go mask free March 1st. I think many will forgo the masks. Which is fine because they are mostly I’ll fitted and cotton. We don’t know the vaccination rates at my school, but I assume pretty low. Most kids I teach haven’t been vaccinated. But they’ve also mostly all had COVID or live in a house with someone who had it. So we are all moving on.

Curious, what is the reason your school is giving you for not telling teachers and parents the vaccination rate? I don’t understand what valid reason there is for not being transparent about it.

Honestly, I haven’t really asked about our division vaccination rates but the schools division doesn’t seem to be collecting that information or really pushing for vaccination. It has only become relevant for quarantine, which really hasn’t been an issue post winter break. I know which of my students are vaccinated because they tell me and it’s really not many. I am sure this is true for our school population.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VA and MD are dropping mask mandates in school. Per CDC guidelines, areas such as DMV, with high vaccinations and low hospitalizations should drop masks.

DC will be pressured to follow soon. Then individual families can decide if they want their kid to wear a mask. Schools with high vaccination rates will likely be majority mask free. Schools with low vaccination rates, I predict many kids in masks. School who don’t even know their vaccination rates, you are working in the dark and don’t understand how families don’t demand to know. Ignorance is not bliss.

I hope this is true. This year has been such a cluster f*ck.

I teach in NOVA and our kids can go mask free March 1st. I think many will forgo the masks. Which is fine because they are mostly I’ll fitted and cotton. We don’t know the vaccination rates at my school, but I assume pretty low. Most kids I teach haven’t been vaccinated. But they’ve also mostly all had COVID or live in a house with someone who had it. So we are all moving on.

Curious, what is the reason your school is giving you for not telling teachers and parents the vaccination rate? I don’t understand what valid reason there is for not being transparent about it.

What are you going to do with that information anyway? Stop sending your kids to school? Transfer? Of course you won't.

[Anonymous]

Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

+ 1000

Time to get rid of the mask mandate inside/outside of school and let it be optional!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

What’s the best way to make noise? Asking seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

What’s the best way to make noise? Asking seriously.

I would also like to know. My kids are at a charter, but I'm hoping it'll follow whatever DCPS does. How do we advocate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

What’s the best way to make noise? Asking seriously.

I would also like to know. My kids are at a charter, but I'm hoping it'll follow whatever DCPS does. How do we advocate?

Emails, phone calls, petitions to anyone and everyone involved - the mayor, heath officials, school boards, principals, PTAs, your local ANC reps. Basically anyone you can think of in/near DC government who has any platform to speak out in opposition to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

What’s the best way to make noise? Asking seriously.

I would also like to know. My kids are at a charter, but I'm hoping it'll follow whatever DCPS does. How do we advocate?

Emails, phone calls, petitions to anyone and everyone involved - the mayor, heath officials, school boards, principals, PTAs, your local ANC reps. Basically anyone you can think of in/near DC government who has any platform to speak out in opposition to this.

The only people who have a say on this matter are LaQuandra Nesbitt at DC Health and (possibly to a lesser extent) the mayor. [e-mail]

[Anonymous]

I’m thinking the mask mandate in schools will be in place until Mayor Bowser’s daughter can be vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

What’s the best way to make noise? Asking seriously.

I would also like to know. My kids are at a charter, but I'm hoping it'll follow whatever DCPS does. How do we advocate?

Emails, phone calls, petitions to anyone and everyone involved - the mayor, heath officials, school boards, principals, PTAs, your local ANC reps. Basically anyone you can think of in/near DC government who has any platform to speak out in opposition to this.

The only people who have a say on this matter are LaQuandra Nesbitt at DC Health and (possibly to a lesser extent) the mayor. [e-mail]

Yes, believe it or not, she (LaQuandra) alone is pretty much the opinion on this. Bowser will listen to her. I have worked with Dr Nesbitt in the past on other issues and have found her to be reasonable and very responsive. Not sure why she is dragging her feet on this issue, but the lobbying from citizens needs to escalate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

What’s the best way to make noise? Asking seriously.

I would also like to know. My kids are at a charter, but I'm hoping it'll follow whatever DCPS does. How do we advocate?

Emails, phone calls, petitions to anyone and everyone involved - the mayor, heath officials, school boards, principals, PTAs, your local ANC reps. Basically anyone you can think of in/near DC government who has any platform to speak out in opposition to this.

The only people who have a say on this matter are LaQuandra Nesbitt at DC Health and (possibly to a lesser extent) the mayor. [e-mail]

When I send an email to her at that address I get the below note. And that contact Tanya d also not there. Seems like they have no interest in hearing from anyone.

Thank you for your email. I continue to receive a high volume of email at this address. I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as response times may be delayed.

All questions regarding the notice of non-compliance with the District of Columbia Department of Health Vaccination mandate filing requirement, and to inquire about the status of your filing with the Department, your email must be directed to [e-mail].

All questions related to COVID-19 should be sent to [e-mail] and a member of the District of Columbia's Emergency Operations Center will triage the email to the appropriate subject matter expert for a timely response. For the most up to date information regarding COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and other resources, please visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/.

To schedule an appointment/request a meeting, contact Ms. Tanya Bethel, Executive Assistant, at [e-mail].

[Anonymous]

NYC ends mask mandate for schools:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/27/world/new-york-mask-mandate-schools.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just got an email from our dcps school that masks are still required for staff, students and visitors on school grounds - outside and inside. So let me get this straight - starting March 1 I can stop wearing my mask inside the grocery store but have to put it back on to pick up my kid from school outside?!?! Does the mayor have the power to stop this nonsense or is it DCPS?

You can thank the parents for this. DCPS wouldn’t feel confident being entirely in opposition to CDC guidelines if they didn’t think the majority of parents were supportive of it.

Time to start making noise if you want things to change.

What’s the best way to make noise? Asking seriously.

I would also like to know. My kids are at a charter, but I'm hoping it'll follow whatever DCPS does. How do we advocate?

Emails, phone calls, petitions to anyone and everyone involved - the mayor, heath officials, school boards, principals, PTAs, your local ANC reps. Basically anyone you can think of in/near DC government who has any platform to speak out in opposition to this.

The only people who have a say on this matter are LaQuandra Nesbitt at DC Health and (possibly to a lesser extent) the mayor. [e-mail]

When I send an email to her at that address I get the below note. And that contact Tanya d also not there. Seems like they have no interest in hearing from anyone.

Thank you for your email. I continue to receive a high volume of email at this address. I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as response times may be delayed.

All questions regarding the notice of non-compliance with the District of Columbia Department of Health Vaccination mandate filing requirement, and to inquire about the status of your filing with the Department, your email must be directed to [e-mail].

All questions related to COVID-19 should be sent to [e-mail] and a member of the District of Columbia's Emergency Operations Center will triage the email to the appropriate subject matter expert for a timely response. For the most up to date information regarding COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and other resources, please visit https://coronavirus.dc.gov/.

To schedule an appointment/request a meeting, contact Ms. Tanya Bethel, Executive Assistant, at [e-mail].

LaQuandra Nesbitt has been completely unresponsive to parents' concerns throughout the pandemic. When citizens asked for metrics / off-ramps for COVID restrictions in schools this year, including masks and long quarantines, not only did she refuse to provide any, but she claimed she was being "bullied." She is a joke and after writing to her office many times, (as did many other parents I know) she only sends that same canned response. She needs to be held accountable for the fact that she is refusing to provide basic information to the public (parents in particular).