BOE Meeting today

[Anonymous]

Talking about planning for return to in person now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I stand by that statement.

Not addressing reopening in any meaningful way indicates two key points. First, that they're not prioritizing in-person instruction. And two, that the Superintendent doesn't really care what the BoE thinks, and isn't going to actively engage the Board with reopening decisions. Since the MCPS administration has already demonstrated they're beholden to the teachers with the ridiculous 45-day notice MOU, it seems quite likely that reopening won't happen unless an external force (namely, the BoE) puts pressure on the superintendent to do that. Letting the superintendent avoid that issue also indicates that the BoE is happy to be left out of that decision as well.

Why would you expect them to? They just voted at the end of last month on a plan based on

(1) the assumption of remote instruction through the first semester
(2) assessment in November about the second semester
(3) reassessment earlier if there are significant changes

Have there been any significant changes?

Yes, the state released metrics for reopening schools last week. They didn't mention that at all.

That's not a significant change.

You've got to be kidding me. The adoption of criteria that will be used to determine when schools can reopen isn't a significant change?

And, mind you, the Superintendent suggested they have their own criteria, or at least their own way of interpreting the state criteria. That's a decision that was apparently made in private, and the contents of that decision haven't been announced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to Kevin Dougherty for his very thoughtful and articulate testimony. I haven't been able to watch the entire meeting, but have not heard one mention of even a consideration of reopening. The meeting seems entirely focused on how to do DL well. Has anyone heard any discussion of reopening - even just for special needs kids?

How about that? They are in week 2 of a new school year of systemwide distance learning, and the meeting has been focused on reporting on that.

Seems moot, though. What can the BoE do about what is already happening? They need to be focused on what happens next.

Really? The distance learning system is perfect, and there's nothing to improve?

[Anonymous]

Who writes the agendas for these meetings? They set the agenda item for "opening schools in recovery of education - update" to go from 12:05 to 1:20 PM. It's 4 PM and still going on. Surely they could have predicted this would take longer than 75 minutes to discuss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

You've got to be kidding me. The adoption of criteria that will be used to determine when schools can reopen isn't a significant change?

And, mind you, the Superintendent suggested they have their own criteria, or at least their own way of interpreting the state criteria. That's a decision that was apparently made in private, and the contents of that decision haven't been announced.

That will be used BY WHOM to determine?

All of the circumstances surrounding the decision for remote instruction are still the same. There's still no vaccine, there's still community transmission, there still aren't a lot of effective treatments, teachers are still worried, parents are still worried, there's still very little data on transmission in schools and the effectiveness of mitigation measures in schools. All still as true this week as two weeks ago and six weeks ago.

[Anonymous]

Teachers may gain access to buildings as of 9/14

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers may gain access to buildings as of 9/14

Work with principals on scheduling.

[Anonymous]

How would there be any problem with letting all teachers go back into their classrooms? Don't most of them have their own rooms? I don't understand why they'd need to restrict which teachers can come in.

[Anonymous]

Exploring options for small group in-person instruction

[Anonymous]

Now discussion which programs are being considered for return to small group in-person instruction:

early childhood
targeted ESOL
Grade 12 graduation support, grade 9 academic support
middle school academic and social emotional learning support
selected career/tech ed porgrams/internships
specifc special ed programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would there be any problem with letting all teachers go back into their classrooms? Don't most of them have their own rooms? I don't understand why they'd need to restrict which teachers can come in.

High school teacher here. I share my classroom with 3 other teachers. No teacher in my building has their own room. We all share with at least one other teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Exploring options for small group in-person instruction

Including early childhood, ESOL, academic support, CTE, special education

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you to Kevin Dougherty for his very thoughtful and articulate testimony. I haven't been able to watch the entire meeting, but have not heard one mention of even a consideration of reopening. The meeting seems entirely focused on how to do DL well. Has anyone heard any discussion of reopening - even just for special needs kids?

How about that? They are in week 2 of a new school year of systemwide distance learning, and the meeting has been focused on reporting on that.

Seems moot, though. What can the BoE do about what is already happening? They need to be focused on what happens next.

Really? The distance learning system is perfect, and there's nothing to improve?

No, but an entity like the BoE isn't going to have much to add on the specifics. Tactical decisions will predominantly be made the teachers themselves, and administrators/support staff at the schools. That's reflected by (lack of) discussion by the Board members during this meeting.

Boards address strategic, longer-term items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would there be any problem with letting all teachers go back into their classrooms? Don't most of them have their own rooms? I don't understand why they'd need to restrict which teachers can come in.

High school teacher here. I share my classroom with 3 other teachers. No teacher in my building has their own room. We all share with at least one other teacher.

OK, that makes sense then.

[Anonymous]

Discussing SAT for Sept 26 and Oct. 3. Planning is underway - 10 students per classroom/250 students per site. Staggered start times. Challenge is securing proctors.