We are NEVER going back until covid is 100% gone - MCPS has no leadership

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

is there a list of schools and the last time they have been updated or renovated? I'd be curious to know which schools dont have adequate have and their proximity to other underutilized buildings that could act as a temporary replacement. At a.minimum, installing fans and air purifiers in these classrooms will help tremendously. Portable sinks aren't terribly expensive. There are solutions that dont require tearing down buildings, but unless MCPS has taken the step to list out which buildings are clear to return to and which ones need upgrades, there is really no way to address the problems. A real leader would have this information by now. They'd also know who wants f2f and who wants dl. I agree, hybrid shouldn't even be an option.

Yes, it's the MCPS CIP.

If there were simple solutions, they'd already have been done. There are no simple solutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is providing a clear plan except to rant. Older schools don’t have and hvac system and are on a water boiler system. They don’t have the duct for an hvac. Many of these schools need to be torn down like ours but they only get done when things are so bad and they usually only do one at a time. The money goes to the rich schools where parents advocate and some of those schools have had multiple renovations. Your schools are probably ok, ours are not but since they all fall under mcps you cannot open. You need to advocate for the schools not up to standards, not just yours. Instead of all that Astro turf we could have had a new roof and working windows.

Here's a clear plan:

(1) soap in all of the bathrooms, masks required, bus windows open, no band or chorus, PE outside, recess outside (in all weather), lunch in classrooms, extra cleaning staff to clean the classrooms lunch is eaten in, everyone back to school full day five days a week except people enrolled in the statewide distance learning program
(2) a statewide distance learning program

The problem with this plan is not lack of clarity. The problem is that it's politically impossible. MCPS, plenty of teachers, and Hogan won't agree to it.

+1. That's basically the same idea I posted above. Two options. Keep it simple. I don't see how any families can object to this.

the only objection can be from the few teachers that will have to return against their will

PP, if that were the only objection, we'd be doing it already.

Sure, its more nuanced than that. Its probably that the teachers union will object if there are teachers that dont want to return but are forced to, which is the point of unions, I suppose....

What are the other objections? Parents that want a return get a return; parents what want DL get DL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You're being very reasonable and logical. Such thinking has no place in MCPS.

That's why so many MD school districts already have plans for a phase reopening or even have some kids already back, while MCPS doesn't even have a plan and hasn't been preparing at all.

Every excuse people make for MCPS -- overcrowding, old HVAC systems, not enough sinks -- apply to other districts in MD also, and yet they can pull it off.

All the pretty plans in the world don't mean much when students in those other districts are doing exactly what the students in MCPS are doing.

That's because the problem here is not a lack of a plan. The problem here is that there is disagreement among school leadership, school staff, and parents about what to do. In order for kids to go back to school, the leadership has to decide that kids will go back to school, and the school staff has to decide that they will go back to school. Make those decisions, and the rest will follow.

Washington County started phased in-person learning a month ago. They moved to the next phase (more kids back at school) this week.

Anne Arundel will start phased in-person learning next month.

Allegany had preK and K in school since the start of this month. 1st grade went back this week. 2nd grade starts next week.

Garrett has had elementary kids back since the start of this month.

Tell me again how all the other districts in MD are doing what MCPS is doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

is there a list of schools and the last time they have been updated or renovated? I'd be curious to know which schools dont have adequate have and their proximity to other underutilized buildings that could act as a temporary replacement. At a.minimum, installing fans and air purifiers in these classrooms will help tremendously. Portable sinks aren't terribly expensive. There are solutions that dont require tearing down buildings, but unless MCPS has taken the step to list out which buildings are clear to return to and which ones need upgrades, there is really no way to address the problems. A real leader would have this information by now. They'd also know who wants f2f and who wants dl. I agree, hybrid shouldn't even be an option.

Yes, it's the MCPS CIP.

If there were simple solutions, they'd already have been done. There are no simple solutions.

There are simple solutions. But they are trying to please everyone, and in doing so, they are pleasing no one.

They need to show a little backbone and ruffle a few feathers. And also realize that not all risks can be mitigated and some must be accepted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You're being very reasonable and logical. Such thinking has no place in MCPS.

That's why so many MD school districts already have plans for a phase reopening or even have some kids already back, while MCPS doesn't even have a plan and hasn't been preparing at all.

Every excuse people make for MCPS -- overcrowding, old HVAC systems, not enough sinks -- apply to other districts in MD also, and yet they can pull it off.

All the pretty plans in the world don't mean much when students in those other districts are doing exactly what the students in MCPS are doing.

That's because the problem here is not a lack of a plan. The problem here is that there is disagreement among school leadership, school staff, and parents about what to do. In order for kids to go back to school, the leadership has to decide that kids will go back to school, and the school staff has to decide that they will go back to school. Make those decisions, and the rest will follow.

Washington County started phased in-person learning a month ago. They moved to the next phase (more kids back at school) this week.

Anne Arundel will start phased in-person learning next month.

Allegany had preK and K in school since the start of this month. 1st grade went back this week. 2nd grade starts next week.

Garrett has had elementary kids back since the start of this month.

Tell me again how all the other districts in MD are doing what MCPS is doing?

These are all small counties and not even comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

is there a list of schools and the last time they have been updated or renovated? I'd be curious to know which schools dont have adequate have and their proximity to other underutilized buildings that could act as a temporary replacement. At a.minimum, installing fans and air purifiers in these classrooms will help tremendously. Portable sinks aren't terribly expensive. There are solutions that dont require tearing down buildings, but unless MCPS has taken the step to list out which buildings are clear to return to and which ones need upgrades, there is really no way to address the problems. A real leader would have this information by now. They'd also know who wants f2f and who wants dl. I agree, hybrid shouldn't even be an option.

Yes, it's the MCPS CIP.

If there were simple solutions, they'd already have been done. There are no simple solutions.

There are simple solutions. But they are trying to please everyone, and in doing so, they are pleasing no one.

They need to show a little backbone and ruffle a few feathers. And also realize that not all risks can be mitigated and some must be accepted.

What are the simple solutions? Not everyone is in a nice new school? Almost all the schools are overcrowded or at capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is providing a clear plan except to rant. Older schools don’t have and hvac system and are on a water boiler system. They don’t have the duct for an hvac. Many of these schools need to be torn down like ours but they only get done when things are so bad and they usually only do one at a time. The money goes to the rich schools where parents advocate and some of those schools have had multiple renovations. Your schools are probably ok, ours are not but since they all fall under mcps you cannot open. You need to advocate for the schools not up to standards, not just yours. Instead of all that Astro turf we could have had a new roof and working windows.

Here's a clear plan:

(1) soap in all of the bathrooms, masks required, bus windows open, no band or chorus, PE outside, recess outside (in all weather), lunch in classrooms, extra cleaning staff to clean the classrooms lunch is eaten in, everyone back to school full day five days a week except people enrolled in the statewide distance learning program
(2) a statewide distance learning program

The problem with this plan is not lack of clarity. The problem is that it's politically impossible. MCPS, plenty of teachers, and Hogan won't agree to it.

+1. That's basically the same idea I posted above. Two options. Keep it simple. I don't see how any families can object to this.

the only objection can be from the few teachers that will have to return against their will

PP, if that were the only objection, we'd be doing it already.

Sure, its more nuanced than that. Its probably that the teachers union will object if there are teachers that dont want to return but are forced to, which is the point of unions, I suppose....

What are the other objections? Parents that want a return get a return; parents what want DL get DL

Stop blaming the teachers. As a parent we don't want to go back to an unsafe situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is providing a clear plan except to rant. Older schools don’t have and hvac system and are on a water boiler system. They don’t have the duct for an hvac. Many of these schools need to be torn down like ours but they only get done when things are so bad and they usually only do one at a time. The money goes to the rich schools where parents advocate and some of those schools have had multiple renovations. Your schools are probably ok, ours are not but since they all fall under mcps you cannot open. You need to advocate for the schools not up to standards, not just yours. Instead of all that Astro turf we could have had a new roof and working windows.

Here's a clear plan:

(1) soap in all of the bathrooms, masks required, bus windows open, no band or chorus, PE outside, recess outside (in all weather), lunch in classrooms, extra cleaning staff to clean the classrooms lunch is eaten in, everyone back to school full day five days a week except people enrolled in the statewide distance learning program
(2) a statewide distance learning program

The problem with this plan is not lack of clarity. The problem is that it's politically impossible. MCPS, plenty of teachers, and Hogan won't agree to it.

+1. That's basically the same idea I posted above. Two options. Keep it simple. I don't see how any families can object to this.

the only objection can be from the few teachers that will have to return against their will

PP, if that were the only objection, we'd be doing it already.

Sure, its more nuanced than that. Its probably that the teachers union will object if there are teachers that dont want to return but are forced to, which is the point of unions, I suppose....

What are the other objections? Parents that want a return get a return; parents what want DL get DL

Stop blaming the teachers. As a parent we don't want to go back to an unsafe situation.

THEN. DON'T. GO.

Honestly why is this so hard to understand? The proposal by a previous poster had a full DL option.

But you do realize how wrong and selfish it is to say "my family does not want to return. thus, no families can return.'

Spoiler alert: you are not the queen of england, and you shall not be treated as such

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is providing a clear plan except to rant. Older schools don’t have and hvac system and are on a water boiler system. They don’t have the duct for an hvac. Many of these schools need to be torn down like ours but they only get done when things are so bad and they usually only do one at a time. The money goes to the rich schools where parents advocate and some of those schools have had multiple renovations. Your schools are probably ok, ours are not but since they all fall under mcps you cannot open. You need to advocate for the schools not up to standards, not just yours. Instead of all that Astro turf we could have had a new roof and working windows.

Here's a clear plan:

(1) soap in all of the bathrooms, masks required, bus windows open, no band or chorus, PE outside, recess outside (in all weather), lunch in classrooms, extra cleaning staff to clean the classrooms lunch is eaten in, everyone back to school full day five days a week except people enrolled in the statewide distance learning program
(2) a statewide distance learning program

The problem with this plan is not lack of clarity. The problem is that it's politically impossible. MCPS, plenty of teachers, and Hogan won't agree to it.

+1. That's basically the same idea I posted above. Two options. Keep it simple. I don't see how any families can object to this.

the only objection can be from the few teachers that will have to return against their will

PP, if that were the only objection, we'd be doing it already.

Sure, its more nuanced than that. Its probably that the teachers union will object if there are teachers that dont want to return but are forced to, which is the point of unions, I suppose....

What are the other objections? Parents that want a return get a return; parents what want DL get DL

Stop blaming the teachers. As a parent we don't want to go back to an unsafe situation.

THEN. DON'T. GO.

Honestly why is this so hard to understand? The proposal by a previous poster had a full DL option.

But you do realize how wrong and selfish it is to say "my family does not want to return. thus, no families can return.'

Spoiler alert: you are not the queen of england, and you shall not be treated as such

You are wrong and selfish to demand we return to school and you cannot say a clear plan to make it happen. Just because you don't want to take care of your kids. You don't care about anyone else but you and your needs. You are selfish. We cannot return because people like you are living their lives as normal and will infect others and not care. It may be fine for your family and you are willing to take that risk but many of us know the consequences of losing a parent or child and aren't willing.

You clearly don't understand the virus, how it spreads or understand the issues involved with the buildings, overcrowding and much more if you don't understand why those are not options.

We cannot do outside learning due to safety issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You're being very reasonable and logical. Such thinking has no place in MCPS.

That's why so many MD school districts already have plans for a phase reopening or even have some kids already back, while MCPS doesn't even have a plan and hasn't been preparing at all.

Every excuse people make for MCPS -- overcrowding, old HVAC systems, not enough sinks -- apply to other districts in MD also, and yet they can pull it off.

All the pretty plans in the world don't mean much when students in those other districts are doing exactly what the students in MCPS are doing.

That's because the problem here is not a lack of a plan. The problem here is that there is disagreement among school leadership, school staff, and parents about what to do. In order for kids to go back to school, the leadership has to decide that kids will go back to school, and the school staff has to decide that they will go back to school. Make those decisions, and the rest will follow.

Washington County started phased in-person learning a month ago. They moved to the next phase (more kids back at school) this week.

Anne Arundel will start phased in-person learning next month.

Allegany had preK and K in school since the start of this month. 1st grade went back this week. 2nd grade starts next week.

Garrett has had elementary kids back since the start of this month.

Tell me again how all the other districts in MD are doing what MCPS is doing?

These are all small counties and not even comparable.

They also have a lot less funding, both overall and per-student. Yet they can pull it off.

MCPS has more funding, more staff, more resources... but can't do a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You are wrong and selfish to demand we return to school and you cannot say a clear plan to make it happen. Just because you don't want to take care of your kids. You don't care about anyone else but you and your needs. You are selfish. We cannot return because people like you are living their lives as normal and will infect others and not care. It may be fine for your family and you are willing to take that risk but many of us know the consequences of losing a parent or child and aren't willing.

You clearly don't understand the virus, how it spreads or understand the issues involved with the buildings, overcrowding and much more if you don't understand why those are not options.

Offer a DL option for those who want it.

More children in MoCo have died from falling out of windows this year than from Coronavirus.

Suicides among MCPS students are up 60% compared to last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are wrong and selfish to demand we return to school and you cannot say a clear plan to make it happen. Just because you don't want to take care of your kids. You don't care about anyone else but you and your needs. You are selfish. We cannot return because people like you are living their lives as normal and will infect others and not care. It may be fine for your family and you are willing to take that risk but many of us know the consequences of losing a parent or child and aren't willing.

You clearly don't understand the virus, how it spreads or understand the issues involved with the buildings, overcrowding and much more if you don't understand why those are not options.

Offer a DL option for those who want it.

More children in MoCo have died from falling out of windows this year than from Coronavirus.

Suicides among MCPS students are up 60% compared to last year.

Its not just about dying. Its about life long health issues.

What is your plan to get the schools renovated and proper spacing? Lets start with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You're being very reasonable and logical. Such thinking has no place in MCPS.

That's why so many MD school districts already have plans for a phase reopening or even have some kids already back, while MCPS doesn't even have a plan and hasn't been preparing at all.

Every excuse people make for MCPS -- overcrowding, old HVAC systems, not enough sinks -- apply to other districts in MD also, and yet they can pull it off.

All the pretty plans in the world don't mean much when students in those other districts are doing exactly what the students in MCPS are doing.

That's because the problem here is not a lack of a plan. The problem here is that there is disagreement among school leadership, school staff, and parents about what to do. In order for kids to go back to school, the leadership has to decide that kids will go back to school, and the school staff has to decide that they will go back to school. Make those decisions, and the rest will follow.

Washington County started phased in-person learning a month ago. They moved to the next phase (more kids back at school) this week.

Anne Arundel will start phased in-person learning next month.

Allegany had preK and K in school since the start of this month. 1st grade went back this week. 2nd grade starts next week.

Garrett has had elementary kids back since the start of this month.

Tell me again how all the other districts in MD are doing what MCPS is doing?

These are all small counties and not even comparable.

They also have a lot less funding, both overall and per-student. Yet they can pull it off.

MCPS has more funding, more staff, more resources... but can't do a thing.

Mismanagement has been an issue for 50+ years. No one holds them accountable. Same with county spending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You are wrong and selfish to demand we return to school and you cannot say a clear plan to make it happen. Just because you don't want to take care of your kids. You don't care about anyone else but you and your needs. You are selfish. We cannot return because people like you are living their lives as normal and will infect others and not care. It may be fine for your family and you are willing to take that risk but many of us know the consequences of losing a parent or child and aren't willing.

You clearly don't understand the virus, how it spreads or understand the issues involved with the buildings, overcrowding and much more if you don't understand why those are not options.

Offer a DL option for those who want it.

More children in MoCo have died from falling out of windows this year than from Coronavirus.

Suicides among MCPS students are up 60% compared to last year.

For the bazillionth time - children do not live in isolation, children live in society. Here in Montgomery County, in the society our children live in, 820 people have died from covid since March: 14 people aged 30-39, 28 people aged 40-49, 55 people aged 50-59, 115 people aged 60-69, 166 people aged 70-79, and 438 people aged 80+. 377 non-Hispanic white people, 178 non-Hispanic Black people, 71 non-Hispanic Asian-American people, 168 Hispanic people, 22 "other" people.

Also, your statement about suicides is based on gossip and hearsay.

It's possible to be in favor of children going back to school without demonstrating comprehensive disregard for the people who have become sick and died.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Its not just about dying. Its about life long health issues.

What is your plan to get the schools renovated and proper spacing? Lets start with that?

If the kids can't go back to school until the schools are renovated, then the kids will never go back to school. Covid didn't create that problem, and if covid magically disappeared tomorrow, that problem would still exist.