MCPS Community COVID update

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2023-2024/Community-message-20230906.html

This is a nice sentiment, but we can’t all stay home when we are sick. I am an MCPS employee and I need my sick days for doctor’s visits for myself and children.

Our society only supports certain professions staying home when we don’t feel well. Do they really think all of the teachers and kids with a stuffy nose and cough are going to stay home for over a week until they feel better? Lots of people COVID Meg but walking around sick.

Please don't come to school when you have covid. Or flu. I would prefer not to use my sick days visiting my 90-year-old parents in the hospital after my kid or I infect them with a virus my kid got infected with in school.

I already had COVID twice this summer. But both of my kids have coughs and head congestion. Testing negative everyday, but sending them to school. I have many students in my classes with similar symptoms. They are all coming to school “sick”

Are they sick? Keep 'em home. Do they have coughs and stuffy noses, but they're not sick any more, or it's allergies? Send 'em to school.

Most people don't develop allergies all of the sudden and have them every year. Let's be real. If you test positive for covid regardless of symptoms you ARE sick. If you have a runny nose and cough, you are sick. If you cough, you spew germs everywhere.

Eh? Lots of people do. Two members of my immediate family did. Seasonal allergies.

Also I doubt there are very many people who are testing for covid anymore, in the absence of symptoms. Or even in the presence of symptoms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2023-2024/Community-message-20230906.html

This is a nice sentiment, but we can’t all stay home when we are sick. I am an MCPS employee and I need my sick days for doctor’s visits for myself and children.

Our society only supports certain professions staying home when we don’t feel well. Do they really think all of the teachers and kids with a stuffy nose and cough are going to stay home for over a week until they feel better? Lots of people COVID Meg but walking around sick.

Please don't come to school when you have covid. Or flu. I would prefer not to use my sick days visiting my 90-year-old parents in the hospital after my kid or I infect them with a virus my kid got infected with in school.

I already had COVID twice this summer. But both of my kids have coughs and head congestion. Testing negative everyday, but sending them to school. I have many students in my classes with similar symptoms. They are all coming to school “sick”

Are they sick? Keep 'em home. Do they have coughs and stuffy noses, but they're not sick any more, or it's allergies? Send 'em to school.

Most people don't develop allergies all of the sudden and have them every year. Let's be real. If you test positive for covid regardless of symptoms you ARE sick. If you have a runny nose and cough, you are sick. If you cough, you spew germs everywhere.

Eh? Lots of people do. Two members of my immediate family did. Seasonal allergies.

Also I doubt there are very many people who are testing for covid anymore, in the absence of symptoms. Or even in the presence of symptoms.

Sure, it's ok if you need to call a cold or covid, allergies. But, let's not pretend they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2023-2024/Community-message-20230906.html

This is a nice sentiment, but we can’t all stay home when we are sick. I am an MCPS employee and I need my sick days for doctor’s visits for myself and children.

Our society only supports certain professions staying home when we don’t feel well. Do they really think all of the teachers and kids with a stuffy nose and cough are going to stay home for over a week until they feel better? Lots of people COVID Meg but walking around sick.

Please don't come to school when you have covid. Or flu. I would prefer not to use my sick days visiting my 90-year-old parents in the hospital after my kid or I infect them with a virus my kid got infected with in school.

I already had COVID twice this summer. But both of my kids have coughs and head congestion. Testing negative everyday, but sending them to school. I have many students in my classes with similar symptoms. They are all coming to school “sick”

Are they sick? Keep 'em home. Do they have coughs and stuffy noses, but they're not sick any more, or it's allergies? Send 'em to school.

Most people don't develop allergies all of the sudden and have them every year. Let's be real. If you test positive for covid regardless of symptoms you ARE sick. If you have a runny nose and cough, you are sick. If you cough, you spew germs everywhere.

Eh? Lots of people do. Two members of my immediate family did. Seasonal allergies.

Also I doubt there are very many people who are testing for covid anymore, in the absence of symptoms. Or even in the presence of symptoms.

Sure, it's ok if you need to call a cold or covid, allergies. But, let's not pretend they are.

As though it weren't enough to have covid-deniers and mask-deniers on the thread, now we have an allergies-denier too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My contract time doesn’t end until 3:15 but I’m required to do certain after school activities until 4:15. Good luck getting to a doctor’s appointment on time from one end of the county to another let alone getting on the doctor’s schedule for a time that works. Many doctors have specific times of day they do certain appointments. New patients only before 10, skin cancer screenings only before 2, sick visits this time, etc. you clearly aren’t someone that has to see multiple doctors or take multiple family members to the doctor.

This is on you. You knew this was the case when you took the job. This is not new information

New teacher responding here - yes, I knew this was the case when I took the job. I get 10 sick days per year. I try to schedule all possible doctors appointments for myself and my family in the summer or during holidays (we don't leave town for any vacations) but still end up using most of my sick leave for drs appointments. I do go to work sick unless feverish. I expect most workers do!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2023-2024/Community-message-20230906.html

This is a nice sentiment, but we can’t all stay home when we are sick. I am an MCPS employee and I need my sick days for doctor’s visits for myself and children.

Our society only supports certain professions staying home when we don’t feel well. Do they really think all of the teachers and kids with a stuffy nose and cough are going to stay home for over a week until they feel better? Lots of people COVID Meg but walking around sick.

Please don't come to school when you have covid. Or flu. I would prefer not to use my sick days visiting my 90-year-old parents in the hospital after my kid or I infect them with a virus my kid got infected with in school.

I already had COVID twice this summer. But both of my kids have coughs and head congestion. Testing negative everyday, but sending them to school. I have many students in my classes with similar symptoms. They are all coming to school “sick”

Are they sick? Keep 'em home. Do they have coughs and stuffy noses, but they're not sick any more, or it's allergies? Send 'em to school.

Most people don't develop allergies all of the sudden and have them every year. Let's be real. If you test positive for covid regardless of symptoms you ARE sick. If you have a runny nose and cough, you are sick. If you cough, you spew germs everywhere.

Eh? Lots of people do. Two members of my immediate family did. Seasonal allergies.

Also I doubt there are very many people who are testing for covid anymore, in the absence of symptoms. Or even in the presence of symptoms.

Sure, it's ok if you need to call a cold or covid, allergies. But, let's not pretend they are.

As though it weren't enough to have covid-deniers and mask-deniers on the thread, now we have an allergies-denier too.

I come from a family of allergy suffers and have my fair share. Its very different from covid or a cold and not generally a sudden onset except if you move and different environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2023-2024/Community-message-20230906.html

This is a nice sentiment, but we can’t all stay home when we are sick. I am an MCPS employee and I need my sick days for doctor’s visits for myself and children.

Our society only supports certain professions staying home when we don’t feel well. Do they really think all of the teachers and kids with a stuffy nose and cough are going to stay home for over a week until they feel better? Lots of people COVID Meg but walking around sick.

This is a little dramatic. If you are a 10 month employee, you could schedule many of those appointments during summer break. Even if you’re not, school gets out earlier in the afternoon than many other jobs, and you can schedule appointments in the late afternoon. Or you children’s other parent, if there is one, could take them to some of their appointments. I get that sometimes it’s unavoidable to schedule outside school hours, but if you’re organized, you can minimize the impact to your sick day allocation.

You are assuming I’m in perfect health and only need to see a doctor once a year. I am in my 40’s with a history of skin cancer and arthritis. I see a dermatologist as often as my dentist, a Rheumetologist and podiatrist every 3 months. my kids also have specialists they need to see more than once a year. And I’m at the whim of these providers having a schedule that matches mine. Many offices are now closed on Fridays or federal holidays. Doctors can cancel appointments last minute like it’s no big deal. Heaven forbid I need to call a medical office during the school year! No cell service and no time during the day except lunch when most medical offices are closed for at least an hour. Keep shaming teachers and see where it gets you!

Your kids Dad can handle that or your spouse can handle calls for you. Never seen a doctors office closed Friday and they should be closed Federal Holidays. Dentists closed one day a week, yes, but never doctors.

Maybe you should just MYOB and send your kids with masks if you’re afraid of Covid (or any other virus). Just a thought, I doubt anonymously shaming anonymous teachers in DCUM will do anything for your cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2023-2024/Community-message-20230906.html

This is a nice sentiment, but we can’t all stay home when we are sick. I am an MCPS employee and I need my sick days for doctor’s visits for myself and children.

Our society only supports certain professions staying home when we don’t feel well. Do they really think all of the teachers and kids with a stuffy nose and cough are going to stay home for over a week until they feel better? Lots of people COVID Meg but walking around sick.

This is a little dramatic. If you are a 10 month employee, you could schedule many of those appointments during summer break. Even if you’re not, school gets out earlier in the afternoon than many other jobs, and you can schedule appointments in the late afternoon. Or you children’s other parent, if there is one, could take them to some of their appointments. I get that sometimes it’s unavoidable to schedule outside school hours, but if you’re organized, you can minimize the impact to your sick day allocation.

You are assuming I’m in perfect health and only need to see a doctor once a year. I am in my 40’s with a history of skin cancer and arthritis. I see a dermatologist as often as my dentist, a Rheumetologist and podiatrist every 3 months. my kids also have specialists they need to see more than once a year. And I’m at the whim of these providers having a schedule that matches mine. Many offices are now closed on Fridays or federal holidays. Doctors can cancel appointments last minute like it’s no big deal. Heaven forbid I need to call a medical office during the school year! No cell service and no time during the day except lunch when most medical offices are closed for at least an hour. Keep shaming teachers and see where it gets you!

Your kids Dad can handle that or your spouse can handle calls for you. Never seen a doctors office closed Friday and they should be closed Federal Holidays. Dentists closed one day a week, yes, but never doctors.

Maybe you should just MYOB and send your kids with masks if you’re afraid of Covid (or any other virus). Just a thought, I doubt anonymously shaming anonymous teachers in DCUM will do anything for your cause.

Going to school sick and infecting others is not ok. That's the point. If they refuse to use sick leave, when they are sick, that's really terrible. If they need to take off for doctor's appointments, no problem but they are using the doctors appointments as an excuse to go to work sick, and that's not ok.

[Anonymous]

All of you concerned parents should write the BOE and ask for staff to get covid leave again then. Otherwise you cannot guarantee that staff will be able to or willing to use their personal sick leave to stay home the full five days. Personally if I was having mild or no symptoms I’d have to come to work. My sick leave balance is low due to my kids being sick a lot and requiring a lot of appts due to my sons medical condition. I need to save as much leave as possible

[Anonymous]

For most jobs here in the US, if you took 5 consecutive days off of work—unless you were hospitalized—you’re at great risk of losing your job. Students face similar treatment. At the jobs I’ve worked, taking vacation days also put you on the chopping block. If you want people to stop coming to work and school sick, we need a cultural shift so that people can take care of themselves and their families.

[Anonymous]

My kid sneezes a ton & keeps rubbing his eyes on a daily basis for the last 2 months. He has allergy diagnosis, and he is not willing to take OTC medicine makes him a bit drowsy at school. No one is sick or have developed any symptoms around him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For most jobs here in the US, if you took 5 consecutive days off of work—unless you were hospitalized—you’re at great risk of losing your job. Students face similar treatment. At the jobs I’ve worked, taking vacation days also put you on the chopping block. If you want people to stop coming to work and school sick, we need a cultural shift so that people can take care of themselves and their families.

I mean “many”, not “most” jobs. Most jobs I have personally worked would put me up to be fired if I took that many sick days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For most jobs here in the US, if you took 5 consecutive days off of work—unless you were hospitalized—you’re at great risk of losing your job. Students face similar treatment. At the jobs I’ve worked, taking vacation days also put you on the chopping block. If you want people to stop coming to work and school sick, we need a cultural shift so that people can take care of themselves and their families.

Then you take 2 days, your spouse takes two days or you hire a caregiver for your kids. It's part of being a parent. Maybe you should take less vacation and have that available for your kids. Or, maybe don't have kids if you aren't willing to take care of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid sneezes a ton & keeps rubbing his eyes on a daily basis for the last 2 months. He has allergy diagnosis, and he is not willing to take OTC medicine makes him a bit drowsy at school. No one is sick or have developed any symptoms around him.

You see the difference, your child has a diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2023-2024/Community-message-20230906.html

This is a nice sentiment, but we can’t all stay home when we are sick. I am an MCPS employee and I need my sick days for doctor’s visits for myself and children.

Our society only supports certain professions staying home when we don’t feel well. Do they really think all of the teachers and kids with a stuffy nose and cough are going to stay home for over a week until they feel better? Lots of people COVID Meg but walking around sick.

This is a little dramatic. If you are a 10 month employee, you could schedule many of those appointments during summer break. Even if you’re not, school gets out earlier in the afternoon than many other jobs, and you can schedule appointments in the late afternoon. Or you children’s other parent, if there is one, could take them to some of their appointments. I get that sometimes it’s unavoidable to schedule outside school hours, but if you’re organized, you can minimize the impact to your sick day allocation.

You are assuming I’m in perfect health and only need to see a doctor once a year. I am in my 40’s with a history of skin cancer and arthritis. I see a dermatologist as often as my dentist, a Rheumetologist and podiatrist every 3 months. my kids also have specialists they need to see more than once a year. And I’m at the whim of these providers having a schedule that matches mine. Many offices are now closed on Fridays or federal holidays. Doctors can cancel appointments last minute like it’s no big deal. Heaven forbid I need to call a medical office during the school year! No cell service and no time during the day except lunch when most medical offices are closed for at least an hour. Keep shaming teachers and see where it gets you!

Your kids Dad can handle that or your spouse can handle calls for you. Never seen a doctors office closed Friday and they should be closed Federal Holidays. Dentists closed one day a week, yes, but never doctors.

Maybe you should just MYOB and send your kids with masks if you’re afraid of Covid (or any other virus). Just a thought, I doubt anonymously shaming anonymous teachers in DCUM will do anything for your cause.

If you are sending in your kids sick or the teacher is sick and it impacts my family, then yes, it is my business. So, you don't want to miss a week of work or school, yet you are ok subjecting other families to missing a week of school and work without any concern to others. It's sad that people are parenting their kids this way. Kids cannot count on their parents to be there when they need them nor are taught proper behavior for the community good. And, yes, we still mask. But, one person masking only helps so much especially when colds and flu are on surfaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For most jobs here in the US, if you took 5 consecutive days off of work—unless you were hospitalized—you’re at great risk of losing your job. Students face similar treatment. At the jobs I’ve worked, taking vacation days also put you on the chopping block. If you want people to stop coming to work and school sick, we need a cultural shift so that people can take care of themselves and their families.

It depends on the job. For most people, they can take off but they'd rather use that vacation time for vacation, not illness so they max out their vacation and don't save any for illness. Mostly people get PTO now and it's combined sick/vacation.