Arbitration ruling on Reopening

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Can we stop saying WTU teachers? As far as I know charter teachers are also getting full paychecks.

Interesting point. Charter schools do seem to be getting a pass by just following behind the WTU/DCPS battle. Somewhere I got the impression their compensation/benefits package was much less generous where DCPS pays at the top of the region. Anyone know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Exactly, thanks for this intelligent post. I've been paying for a pod for one child in DCPS, a stretch for us financially, and supervising the other as best I can while I work remotely. I'd pay for a second pod in a minute if I had a voucher to compensate me for the time I spend teaching my lower grades child reading and math. We can't go on like this as a city for the rest of the school year without the significant political fallout. Parents are getting screwed because DL just doesn't work well for most elementary school-age kids. Test results will show this eventually but parents know it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://wtop.com/coronavirus/2021/01/ahead-of-monday-reopening-arbiter-will-rule-on-breach-of-contract-claim-against-dc-schools/


According to this article a decision is expected on Saturday.

This proves that WTU is using the Covid, and kids, to argue a bunch of other points. The toilets not flushing in one school as nothing to do with COVID or this shut down. Or just shut down that school. WTU is an absolute disaster and I wish I still lived in a right to work state. My necies and nephews have had hybrid since last fall. No issues, no cases of kids, teachers or parents infected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Exactly, thanks for this intelligent post. I've been paying for a pod for one child in DCPS, a stretch for us financially, and supervising the other as best I can while I work remotely. I'd pay for a second pod in a minute if I had a voucher to compensate me for the time I spend teaching my lower grades child reading and math. We can't go on like this as a city for the rest of the school year without the significant political fallout. Parents are getting screwed because DL just doesn't work well for most elementary school-age kids. Test results will show this eventually but parents know it now.

Good thing elementary schools are opening Monday. At my school EVERY child who wanted a in-person spot got one. Talk to your principal about their problems with planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://wtop.com/coronavirus/2021/01/ahead-of-monday-reopening-arbiter-will-rule-on-breach-of-contract-claim-against-dc-schools/


According to this article a decision is expected on Saturday.

This proves that WTU is using the Covid, and kids, to argue a bunch of other points. The toilets not flushing in one school as nothing to do with COVID or this shut down. Or just shut down that school. WTU is an absolute disaster and I wish I still lived in a right to work state. My necies and nephews have had hybrid since last fall. No issues, no cases of kids, teachers or parents infected.

Northern Va schools don’t have unions and are closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Exactly, thanks for this intelligent post. I've been paying for a pod for one child in DCPS, a stretch for us financially, and supervising the other as best I can while I work remotely. I'd pay for a second pod in a minute if I had a voucher to compensate me for the time I spend teaching my lower grades child reading and math. We can't go on like this as a city for the rest of the school year without the significant political fallout. Parents are getting screwed because DL just doesn't work well for most elementary school-age kids. Test results will show this eventually but parents know it now.

Good thing elementary schools are opening Monday. At my school EVERY child who wanted a in-person spot got one. Talk to your principal about their problems with planning.

Well, this isn't true for all schools. Some schools have such high demand for in person they cannot meet it, apparently, under current DC Health guidelines. Not sure the principal is to blame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Exactly, thanks for this intelligent post. I've been paying for a pod for one child in DCPS, a stretch for us financially, and supervising the other as best I can while I work remotely. I'd pay for a second pod in a minute if I had a voucher to compensate me for the time I spend teaching my lower grades child reading and math. We can't go on like this as a city for the rest of the school year without the significant political fallout. Parents are getting screwed because DL just doesn't work well for most elementary school-age kids. Test results will show this eventually but parents know it now.

Good thing elementary schools are opening Monday. At my school EVERY child who wanted a in-person spot got one. Talk to your principal about their problems with planning.

Well, this isn't true for all schools. Some schools have such high demand for in person they cannot meet it, apparently, under current DC Health guidelines. Not sure the principal is to blame.

Well we are a huge Upper NW school. So it can be done. Just takes innovative thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Exactly, thanks for this intelligent post. I've been paying for a pod for one child in DCPS, a stretch for us financially, and supervising the other as best I can while I work remotely. I'd pay for a second pod in a minute if I had a voucher to compensate me for the time I spend teaching my lower grades child reading and math. We can't go on like this as a city for the rest of the school year without the significant political fallout. Parents are getting screwed because DL just doesn't work well for most elementary school-age kids. Test results will show this eventually but parents know it now.

Good thing elementary schools are opening Monday. At my school EVERY child who wanted a in-person spot got one. Talk to your principal about their problems with planning.

Well, this isn't true for all schools. Some schools have such high demand for in person they cannot meet it, apparently, under current DC Health guidelines. Not sure the principal is to blame.

Well we are a huge Upper NW school. So it can be done. Just takes innovative thinking.

Is it Lafeyette? We are at Janney and did not get a spot for second grade.

[Anonymous]

Also duh self-satisfied “good thing” teacher. The thing a lot of us are worried about is the WTU blocking the opening. Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also duh self-satisfied “good thing” teacher . The thing a lot of us are worried about is the WTU blocking the opening. Come on.

POSTER not teacher. Freudian slip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The arbitrator can’t delay the opening of schools but regardless of what the arbiter says, the WTU can [legally or illegally] tell its teachers to stay home. So yes, there is the possibility that students will show up to school on Monday but their teacher does not. If this happens, it would be just one more sign that the WTU could care less about students’ well being.

This would be a really bad look for WTU. I suggest those of you with kids offered in person show up Monday no matter what. Your teacher either will or won't be there, but it will be a very stark picture.

To me this looks like DCPS had a bad plan. Can’t move forward without teachers? What about a compromise? Dcps should just fix the violations over the weekend.

Also these should be open to the public in real time.

I have no doubt that DCPS is an inefficient government organization, but at this point it’s all on the teachers. They fought in August when community spread was so much lower and the weather was nice. Same in November. Now this. There’s no compromising with the teachers.

DC needs to play hardball and cancel all first and second vaccine appointments for teachers. The ones that have taken their first shots can start over in a few months at their regular place in line like everyone else

1. I thought teachers didn't want to take the vaccine.
2. Are you daft? That just means remote learning, no vaccine, less leverage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Can we stop saying WTU teachers? As far as I know charter teachers are also getting full paychecks.

And they are teaching my kid full time and with excellent results. I feel sad for people like you (and your DCUM ilk) who are so very angry that you need to just whine and throw shade at everyone and everything. You are like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. Stick to complaining about your school and stop assuming that every school and every family is suffering the same fate you perceive yourself to be suffering from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Can we stop saying WTU teachers? As far as I know charter teachers are also getting full paychecks.

And they are teaching my kid full time and with excellent results. I feel sad for people like you (and your DCUM ilk) who are so very angry that you need to just whine and throw shade at everyone and everything. You are like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum. Stick to complaining about your school and stop assuming that every school and every family is suffering the same fate you perceive yourself to be suffering from.

Setting aside the in person v DL difference, what school is your kid in that they're getting teaching "full time." My Ker gets 3.5 hours/day 4 days a week and my PK3er gets 1.5 hours/day 4 days/week of live instruction and I thought that was actually on the more generous end of what schools are providing. Vanishingly few teachers are teaching anything close to full time... and almost no individual kids are getting full time instruction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The arbitrator can’t delay the opening of schools but regardless of what the arbiter says, the WTU can [legally or illegally] tell its teachers to stay home. So yes, there is the possibility that students will show up to school on Monday but their teacher does not. If this happens, it would be just one more sign that the WTU could care less about students’ well being.

This would be a really bad look for WTU. I suggest those of you with kids offered in person show up Monday no matter what. Your teacher either will or won't be there, but it will be a very stark picture.

To me this looks like DCPS had a bad plan. Can’t move forward without teachers? What about a compromise? Dcps should just fix the violations over the weekend.

Also these should be open to the public in real time.

I have no doubt that DCPS is an inefficient government organization, but at this point it’s all on the teachers. They fought in August when community spread was so much lower and the weather was nice. Same in November. Now this. There’s no compromising with the teachers.

DC needs to play hardball and cancel all first and second vaccine appointments for teachers. The ones that have taken their first shots can start over in a few months at their regular place in line like everyone else

1. I thought teachers didn't want to take the vaccine.
2. Are you daft? That just means remote learning, no vaccine, less leverage.

Nope. It ads a wedge issue between the teachers who actually are willing to get the vaccine and come back and the (majority?) that don’t want to come back. If the WTU decides not to return then bowsers next step should be to invite whoever wants to teach to show up and keep their appointment for their second dose. The ones that don’t show up have lost their priority as a teacher and can resume their normal place in line while the others with higher priority are treated.

It wouldn’t surprise me if there are some teachers that don’t want to take the vaccine. I don’t have any data to back it up but I would expect that the overlap between teachers who believe in vaccines and the ones who track the science well enough to be willing to come back is strong — and that more of the ones who don’t want the vaccine fell into the group not wanting to return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the issue is that the WTU is clearly using this as a tactic and trying to shift the goalposts. They have not identified a single school with a specific issue by name. I am not denying that there may be school specific issues that need addressing, but (1) it’s not clear that this is the best way to do that and (2) that is clearly not the WTU’s actual goal. Look at the materials re: the WTU’s protest this weekend, it is not at all about MOA breaches but, once again, shifting the goalposts (this plan is inequitable... not until every teacher vaccinated... not until it’s safe (no definition)... nothing about MOA breaches & desired solutions).

The agreement was developed before at least two of the three strains of the mutated virus were found in the U.S. It may have been developed before the U.K. strain was identified in the U.S.

It's appropriate to shift the goalposts based on this new information.

Absolutely! The world changes. We're now in a world where the model we previously used to pay teachers for in person learning no longer holds. It's time to consider other options for remote education other than the WTU workforce that doesn't want to return. The insanity of the WTU arguing that things change and the sand can shift everywhere but under thier paychecks is ridiculous.

This. It's crazy that WTU teachers are still getting their entire paycheck and benefits while parents are forced to either do a big part of the teacher's job for them or pay to outsource the teacher's job to a private in-person provider. No teacher is doing 100% of their job remotely. If we're going to keep distance learning, then it would be in the best interest of the students to hire teachers in lower cost areas so we can pay them less. Then give part of the per pupil funding to parents to outsource in-person childcare, tutoring, and pods. Or just give up on distance learning and give parents a larger portion of the per pupil funding so they can outsource education completely to private providers. I guarantee that businesses would crop up to provide cost effective pods etc.

But really just reopen schools and assign teachers back to work.

Exactly, thanks for this intelligent post. I've been paying for a pod for one child in DCPS, a stretch for us financially, and supervising the other as best I can while I work remotely. I'd pay for a second pod in a minute if I had a voucher to compensate me for the time I spend teaching my lower grades child reading and math. We can't go on like this as a city for the rest of the school year without the significant political fallout. Parents are getting screwed because DL just doesn't work well for most elementary school-age kids. Test results will show this eventually but parents know it now.

Good thing elementary schools are opening Monday. At my school EVERY child who wanted a in-person spot got one. Talk to your principal about their problems with planning.

Well, this isn't true for all schools. Some schools have such high demand for in person they cannot meet it, apparently, under current DC Health guidelines. Not sure the principal is to blame.

Well we are a huge Upper NW school. So it can be done. Just takes innovative thinking.

Good for you, Lafayette parent, but some DCPS elementary schools don't have any teachers coming back for certain grades. Besides, your child is getting part-time school which doesn't solve the problems for every family. But it's not the Principal's fault, so kudos to Dr. B. for coming up with a plan that's better than most schools.