Call to Action: Help create a safe learning environment for medically fragile students

[Anonymous]

I can't find the question, but someone asked how MCPS accommodated medically fragile children pre-covid.

The thing is the MCPS accommodates medically fragile children every day. Kids with tracheotomies, kids who had heart or lung transplants, kids with rare diseases that suppress their immune systems.

MCPS does that now, but it's also always done that.

What the OP is proposing however is just more than the school district can logistically provide.

The first challenge is that of finding a cohort of on-level or above-grade-level kids for a cohort. A lot of medically fragile kids have other challenges, often quite severe. Not every child with a tracheotomy or a g tube or a j tube or who uses a wheelchair also has intellectual disabilities, but many of them do because sometimes the visible stuff like the g tube is the result of invisible stuff like chromosomal abnormalities.

Those kids have their needs met rather well inside MCPS, which has always done a better job with the kids who need a ton of intervention than it has done with the fringe cases.

But OP's child doesn't sound like they fit in that basket. They are just immunosuppressed, like many other kids before and after COVID who the school district had to figure out how to serve. They would not be served in a classroom with many of the other medically fragile kids, because many of those kids are not diploma track.

So, what do you do with immunocompromised kids who need on-level education? In the past, that usually meant the parent of the impacted child speaking to the other parents at the beginning of the school year and explaining that their child was waiting on a new heart, or had a rare disease, and asking for support. Kids in that specific classroom might wipe down their desks more often, or the parents might be asked to be extra careful about sending their kid in with a sniffle.

The thing is, we actually have a system to deal with immunosuppressed children, but the OP doesn't think that's enough. At the end of the day, the number of typically developing kids whose only issue is a poor immune system, and whose parents are willing to pull them out of their neighborhood school, is probably not even enough to fill a grade level, and certainly not enough to fill a grade level in anything like reasonable busing distance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I’m sorry for what your child is going through but I think you are placing a highly irrational degree of faith in ventilation and masks. Respiratory illnesses and immune compromised kids existed before covid. Creating some kind of bubble classroom for them was not feasible before and is not feasible now. A child so fragile that they cannot get a respiratory virus probably needs to be homeschooled or put on the medical homecare program.

It’s not faith, or irrational, to understand the studies that have shown that universal masking, proper ventilation, and air filtration can result in significant drops in disease spread. It’s literally the opposite. And to want that safe environment for my child seems like what a normal parent would want.

It’s quite unfortunate that while there are plenty of good faith comments on here, there really seems to be an underlying thread of snark and pettiness that shows up. This thread wasn’t started to give license to random anonymous forum trolls to drop proverbial grenades that are only meant to derail the discussion. I was asking for like-minded parents who would also like a safer environment for their kids to support the cause and raise the issue with MCPS and BoE leadership.

You’re getting snark because you’re asking for special treatment no other kids get that is not feasible and of questionable benefit anyway. The fact that you are looking for “like minded parents” is the tell that you are being irrational about masks and ventilation.

I’m asking for my child, and any other that asks for it, to have safe access to a full education as of required by law. If you don’t care that your child goes to school without the mitigations I am asking for, then kindly go about your business and end the childish, unproductive bloviating.

No, you're asking for others to be forced to pay for measures accommodating your anxiety over covid.

NP. PP, if you don't have anything to offer, why not stop attacking a parent of a medically fragile child? Perhaps the OP's kid has cystic fibrosis or some other serious condition that requires constant vigilance. Regardless of whether these ideas are feasible, it's completely understandable that a parent in that position would want to protect their child from a highly contagious respiratory virus that may impair the functions of other organs as much as possible while still allowing some normalcy in education. If you've never been in the shoes of a parent managing a medically vulnerable child, count yourself luck and work on your own COVID rage.

NP. But unless you are creating a class of N95 masks that never get taken off, what OP is asking for doesn't actually work and is just window dressing and a band-aid for anxiety. This virus has long since mutated beyond the cloth masks, open windows, and 6 foot distancing from mid-2020. Children who are genuinely medically fragile are also at serious risk from colds and RSV, yet OP mentions nothing about this, only a fixation on Covid.

And your specific mention of cystic fibrosis actually makes the opposite point. Many people with CF carry drug-resistant bacteria due to all the infections and antibiotics they have to be on frequently. They are actually advised NOT to be together in close quarters because they can spread their own individualized colonies of resistant pathogens to each other. The absolute LAST thing a parent of a child with CF would want is for them to be crammed into a classroom with other CF kids, nor should any of the other medically vulnerable children want to be around that!

None of this passes the smell test. It is a request for a huge use of resources that does not actually accomplish what it claims and isn't scientifically or medically consistent. MCPS is right to say no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I’m sorry for what your child is going through but I think you are placing a highly irrational degree of faith in ventilation and masks. Respiratory illnesses and immune compromised kids existed before covid. Creating some kind of bubble classroom for them was not feasible before and is not feasible now. A child so fragile that they cannot get a respiratory virus probably needs to be homeschooled or put on the medical homecare program.

It’s not faith, or irrational, to understand the studies that have shown that universal masking, proper ventilation, and air filtration can result in significant drops in disease spread. It’s literally the opposite. And to want that safe environment for my child seems like what a normal parent would want.

It’s quite unfortunate that while there are plenty of good faith comments on here, there really seems to be an underlying thread of snark and pettiness that shows up. This thread wasn’t started to give license to random anonymous forum trolls to drop proverbial grenades that are only meant to derail the discussion. I was asking for like-minded parents who would also like a safer environment for their kids to support the cause and raise the issue with MCPS and BoE leadership.

You’re getting snark because you’re asking for special treatment no other kids get that is not feasible and of questionable benefit anyway. The fact that you are looking for “like minded parents” is the tell that you are being irrational about masks and ventilation.

I’m asking for my child, and any other that asks for it, to have safe access to a full education as of required by law. If you don’t care that your child goes to school without the mitigations I am asking for, then kindly go about your business and end the childish, unproductive bloviating.

No, you're asking for others to be forced to pay for measures accommodating your anxiety over covid.

NP. PP, if you don't have anything to offer, why not stop attacking a parent of a medically fragile child? Perhaps the OP's kid has cystic fibrosis or some other serious condition that requires constant vigilance. Regardless of whether these ideas are feasible, it's completely understandable that a parent in that position would want to protect their child from a highly contagious respiratory virus that may impair the functions of other organs as much as possible while still allowing some normalcy in education. If you've never been in the shoes of a parent managing a medically vulnerable child, count yourself luck and work on your own COVID rage.

NP. But unless you are creating a class of N95 masks that never get taken off, what OP is asking for doesn't actually work and is just window dressing and a band-aid for anxiety. This virus has long since mutated beyond the cloth masks, open windows, and 6 foot distancing from mid-2020. Children who are genuinely medically fragile are also at serious risk from colds and RSV, yet OP mentions nothing about this, only a fixation on Covid.

And your specific mention of cystic fibrosis actually makes the opposite point. Many people with CF carry drug-resistant bacteria due to all the infections and antibiotics they have to be on frequently. They are actually advised NOT to be together in close quarters because they can spread their own individualized colonies of resistant pathogens to each other. The absolute LAST thing a parent of a child with CF would want is for them to be crammed into a classroom with other CF kids, nor should any of the other medically vulnerable children want to be around that!

None of this passes the smell test. It is a request for a huge use of resources that does not actually accomplish what it claims and isn't scientifically or medically consistent. MCPS is right to say no.

+1
It does not make sense to put together immunocompromised kids. They are more likely to infect each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

I’m sorry for what your child is going through but I think you are placing a highly irrational degree of faith in ventilation and masks. Respiratory illnesses and immune compromised kids existed before covid. Creating some kind of bubble classroom for them was not feasible before and is not feasible now. A child so fragile that they cannot get a respiratory virus probably needs to be homeschooled or put on the medical homecare program.

It’s not faith, or irrational, to understand the studies that have shown that universal masking, proper ventilation, and air filtration can result in significant drops in disease spread. It’s literally the opposite. And to want that safe environment for my child seems like what a normal parent would want.

It’s quite unfortunate that while there are plenty of good faith comments on here, there really seems to be an underlying thread of snark and pettiness that shows up. This thread wasn’t started to give license to random anonymous forum trolls to drop proverbial grenades that are only meant to derail the discussion. I was asking for like-minded parents who would also like a safer environment for their kids to support the cause and raise the issue with MCPS and BoE leadership.

You’re getting snark because you’re asking for special treatment no other kids get that is not feasible and of questionable benefit anyway. The fact that you are looking for “like minded parents” is the tell that you are being irrational about masks and ventilation.

I’m asking for my child, and any other that asks for it, to have safe access to a full education as of required by law. If you don’t care that your child goes to school without the mitigations I am asking for, then kindly go about your business and end the childish, unproductive bloviating.

No, you're asking for others to be forced to pay for measures accommodating your anxiety over covid.

NP. PP, if you don't have anything to offer, why not stop attacking a parent of a medically fragile child? Perhaps the OP's kid has cystic fibrosis or some other serious condition that requires constant vigilance. Regardless of whether these ideas are feasible, it's completely understandable that a parent in that position would want to protect their child from a highly contagious respiratory virus that may impair the functions of other organs as much as possible while still allowing some normalcy in education. If you've never been in the shoes of a parent managing a medically vulnerable child, count yourself luck and work on your own COVID rage.

NP. But unless you are creating a class of N95 masks that never get taken off, what OP is asking for doesn't actually work and is just window dressing and a band-aid for anxiety. This virus has long since mutated beyond the cloth masks, open windows, and 6 foot distancing from mid-2020. Children who are genuinely medically fragile are also at serious risk from colds and RSV, yet OP mentions nothing about this, only a fixation on Covid.

And your specific mention of cystic fibrosis actually makes the opposite point. Many people with CF carry drug-resistant bacteria due to all the infections and antibiotics they have to be on frequently. They are actually advised NOT to be together in close quarters because they can spread their own individualized colonies of resistant pathogens to each other. The absolute LAST thing a parent of a child with CF would want is for them to be crammed into a classroom with other CF kids, nor should any of the other medically vulnerable children want to be around that!

None of this passes the smell test. It is a request for a huge use of resources that does not actually accomplish what it claims and isn't scientifically or medically consistent. MCPS is right to say no.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Those kids have their needs met rather well inside MCPS, which has always done a better job with the kids who need a ton of intervention than it has done with the fringe cases.

Where did you get this idea? It's really horrifying how many times I come on this board and read parents say this. It's not based in reality at all.

I'm equally baffled by the idea that the vast majority of medically fragile kids aren't eligible for diplomas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Those kids have their needs met rather well inside MCPS, which has always done a better job with the kids who need a ton of intervention than it has done with the fringe cases.

Where did you get this idea? It's really horrifying how many times I come on this board and read parents say this. It's not based in reality at all.

I'm equally baffled by the idea that the vast majority of medically fragile kids aren't eligible for diplomas.

The poster may have been referring to the School Based Community program (SCB). They are not diploma bound as students in this program have significant medical diagnoses. They have different goals and benchmarks to reach. This would not be a suitable program for OP in any way. Most children in SCB are not capable of masking either.

[Anonymous]

I see a lot of comments about costs and troubles making a cohort. A cohort that OP is talking about could very well be a cohort of kids in the same grade at the same school. They don’t have to be medically fragile themselves - maybe they have medically fragile family, or maybe they just prefer to take certain precautions. For example, if there are 100 kids divided into 4 classes for 5th grade at a school, perhaps the school, with parents’ permission, could send a communication to the parents of 5th graders to gauge interest in having their child assigned to a classroom that takes pre auctions to help protect a medically vulnerable classmate. If that works out, there would still be 100 students and four teachers. I believe TKPK Elementary had such a classroom cohort pertaining to allergies last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of comments about costs and troubles making a cohort. A cohort that OP is talking about could very well be a cohort of kids in the same grade at the same school. They don’t have to be medically fragile themselves - maybe they have medically fragile family, or maybe they just prefer to take certain precautions. For example, if there are 100 kids divided into 4 classes for 5th grade at a school, perhaps the school, with parents’ permission, could send a communication to the parents of 5th graders to gauge interest in having their child assigned to a classroom that takes pre auctions to help protect a medically vulnerable classmate. If that works out, there would still be 100 students and four teachers. I believe TKPK Elementary had such a classroom cohort pertaining to allergies last year.

There aren't that many families that are actually going to act like covid, and or other respiratory illnesses, are major risks.

Sure, you might be able to fill up such a class, but most students and families aren't going to be doing anything special. And they're still going to be mixing with other students at various times throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of comments about costs and troubles making a cohort. A cohort that OP is talking about could very well be a cohort of kids in the same grade at the same school. They don’t have to be medically fragile themselves - maybe they have medically fragile family, or maybe they just prefer to take certain precautions. For example, if there are 100 kids divided into 4 classes for 5th grade at a school, perhaps the school, with parents’ permission, could send a communication to the parents of 5th graders to gauge interest in having their child assigned to a classroom that takes pre auctions to help protect a medically vulnerable classmate. If that works out, there would still be 100 students and four teachers. I believe TKPK Elementary had such a classroom cohort pertaining to allergies last year.

That seems like it will not provide the level of certainty that OP is looking for. What you are suggesting would be totally voluntary. What are the odds that exactly 25 families volunteer? What if only 10 do? Do you make the other classes larger? Or just say too bad we can't accommodate you this year? And that's assuming a teacher volunteers to teach masked all year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How will they be safe at school when medically fragile? How do they get to school and what would be in place to actually keep them from getting sick? Won't being around other people be a huge risk?

Not to mention, what kind of restrictions are you going to impose on the teachers and adults who have to service this cohort of medically fragile kids and how will you manage for that?

I will mask but any decent adult who knew a child was at risk would mask vs argue over it? Ever consider what kind of person y are if you cannot mask around a child with health issues and more importantly would argue and rationalize why they shouldn’t. Why would you want to make anyone sick let alone a child or person Ready struggling with their health. A cold, flu or Covid is no big deal to you but those of us with health issues can end up in the hospital or it takes weeks to get over a simple cold.

[Anonymous]

Put your kid in a bubble and keep them home if you’re that concerned.

Except: No one whose kid is actually at risk of dying from a common cold is agitating to put the kid in a public school with hundreds of other kids and nothing but a cloth mask policy to protect them.

This whole thread is either some elaborate schtick or indicative of a deeply unwell OP who is at a minimum a hypochondriac and very possibly a Munchausen case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

30% of households are not dealing with long COVID.

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/long-covid-19-symptoms-reported.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of comments about costs and troubles making a cohort. A cohort that OP is talking about could very well be a cohort of kids in the same grade at the same school. They don’t have to be medically fragile themselves - maybe they have medically fragile family, or maybe they just prefer to take certain precautions. For example, if there are 100 kids divided into 4 classes for 5th grade at a school, perhaps the school, with parents’ permission, could send a communication to the parents of 5th graders to gauge interest in having their child assigned to a classroom that takes pre auctions to help protect a medically vulnerable classmate. If that works out, there would still be 100 students and four teachers. I believe TKPK Elementary had such a classroom cohort pertaining to allergies last year.

That seems like it will not provide the level of certainty that OP is looking for. What you are suggesting would be totally voluntary. What are the odds that exactly 25 families volunteer? What if only 10 do? Do you make the other classes larger? Or just say too bad we can't accommodate you this year? And that's assuming a teacher volunteers to teach masked all year.

All fair questions. Looks like they made it work in VA - maybe MCPS could use a similar strategy?
https://dcist.com/story/22/03/24/virginia-mask-mandate-ada-ruling/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate the constructive comments, both supportive and challenging to this notion. I fully understand that this is an unorthodox approach, but given the road my family, as well as others, have been on to get here, it's almost literally the only safe path forward.

Yes, it is difficulty for the school to figure this problem out.
Yes, there is a lot of leg work for us to do in order to build support within the community and with MCPS administration.

But it is demonstrable that schools are currently ill-equipped to mitigate the spread of COVID (and other airborne diseases). It is also the case that kids are affected by this disease and it's complications, including disability and death. Furthermore, there are an estimated 30% of households dealing with the complications of long-COVID which directly correlates with the rise in chronic absenteeism in MCPS.

My point is, it is actually imperative that the school begins to address this issue lest we as a county/society choose to accept the medical burden we are placing on our kids for literally their entire lives.

But more specifically to my daughter, she is guaranteed, by law, free and safe access to a full education in the least-restrictive manner possible. In-person schooling is currently NOT safe; at home IIS services currently are not a full education; virtual schooling is currently not an option (nor will it be next year). It is upon the school to ensure that access, that is what this cohort is trying to achieve.

30% of households are not dealing with long COVID.

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/long-covid-19-symptoms-reported.html

30% of people reported "long-lasting" meaning at least 3 months. My DH felt tired for a few months after having COVID and also had a persistent ear blockage. Neither was disabling. Neither of us currently mask unless required and the only COVID precaution we take is the occasional rapid test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of comments about costs and troubles making a cohort. A cohort that OP is talking about could very well be a cohort of kids in the same grade at the same school. They don’t have to be medically fragile themselves - maybe they have medically fragile family, or maybe they just prefer to take certain precautions. For example, if there are 100 kids divided into 4 classes for 5th grade at a school, perhaps the school, with parents’ permission, could send a communication to the parents of 5th graders to gauge interest in having their child assigned to a classroom that takes pre auctions to help protect a medically vulnerable classmate. If that works out, there would still be 100 students and four teachers. I believe TKPK Elementary had such a classroom cohort pertaining to allergies last year.

That seems like it will not provide the level of certainty that OP is looking for. What you are suggesting would be totally voluntary. What are the odds that exactly 25 families volunteer? What if only 10 do? Do you make the other classes larger? Or just say too bad we can't accommodate you this year? And that's assuming a teacher volunteers to teach masked all year.

All fair questions. Looks like they made it work in VA - maybe MCPS could use a similar strategy?
https://dcist.com/story/22/03/24/virginia-mask-mandate-ada-ruling/

This doesn't address OP's request for ventilation.