APS School Board meeting last night - who watched?

[Anonymous]

What will they whine about next? Wearing masks at school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so I read everything. I still fail to understand how letting k-2 go 4 days a week 'hurts' low income students.
I have heard it said that it is to difficult for low income students to access due to APS changes to transportation, shortened day, and lack of extended day. But isn't that the same barrier for VPI? (which they announced was in fact going back 4 days next week). Isn't that the same barrier for 2 days?
I 100% agree its a major barrier- and in fact think the onworkability of the schedule is a reason that many parents (of all income levels) opted to stay virtual. But getting 4 days instead of two doesn't make this harder- it makes it more 'worth it.'
They already redid the classes- so kids who are virtual k-2 are in virtual only classes, they wouldn't be impacted.

I read the statements to be saying that these populations are less able to make new transportation and after school arrangements in a short period of time. They have work schedules that go to 5pm and so can't necessarily change either those schedules, their child's transportation needs, or after school arrangements, in the time needed to allow kids who are currently 2-day hybrid to switch to 4-day in person. They could have really struggled to move schedules to make bus or school pickup before work ended for 2 days a week, but be absolutely unable to make that happen 4 days a week.

Whatever the VPI schedules turned out to be, they warned parents about that a month ago and parents have made those arrangements now and no one is trying to switch them again before the end of the year. Here, parents were also warned about what options were available about a month ago, parents made the best arrangements that worked for their families, and now all of a sudden if low-income families can't make new child care and possibly even transportation arrangements for another two days a week, their kid loses their chance at 2 days of school in person. It's not as much of a problem for parents who are working from home to be around for pickup or dropoff from school, but it is for these parents.

People keep saying well then just have these kids move from half in person to fully virtual, but they didn't choose virtual, they chose hybrid, and frankly may really need that in person contact for those two days more than other kids need the extra two days of in person.

Also, these families in hybrid may feel they can deal with the risk of 2 days in person right now but not want the additional risk of 4 days in person.

That being said, I'm sure that there are also families from these communities that would make 4 day return to school work. I'm not speaking with these families and I don't know. I'm just reading the statements of the latino ladies that talked at the board meeting and several of them said that they thought what was being offered now was what they could deal with and they did not want to change to a full return to school. And that the options of the vocal parents were not more important in the long run than the options of these sections of the community that were being hit hard by the virus.

I’m a K-2 parent and I do hear all this. I really do. But I’m also concerned APS is using equity as an excuse for inaction. Why is it that lower income populations in FCPS (of which there are many) are not having similar issues getting their kids to school? Is FCPS doing a better job of providing transportation for them? Has Fairfax County better facilitated vaccinations in these neighborhoods. Or conversely is Fairfax just ignoring their struggles in which case APS is doing a better job of listening to these voices? Shouldn’t we be trying to figure this out?

I don’t think parents should shout over people at meetings. But I also do think people should be able to press the SB and Dr. Duran for answers without being dismissed as privileged. At this point I’ve given up on more days this year, but I want to know what about the existing logistical challenges will be different by the fall? I’m concerned they’re simply hoping CDC guidance will change so they don’t have to figure this all out. How will bussing be different next year, especially as (likely) even more kids opt to return? What is preventing APS from offering aftercare this year to these communities who are citing this as a barrier to getting their children in class more days? Does APS realistically expect to be able to offer aftercare next year?

I mean, I hear these parents saying they can’t get their kids to school more days because of XYZ issues and there is a subset of parents out there saying “see, we shouldn’t do anything because equity!” as if they are such activists for these families. And I guess I just wish we had a school district that actually had a fire under its butt to at least get the youngest kids back and decided to at least solve XYZ issues for the youngest learners. Even just expanding for the K crowd who have never even had a normal school year EVER would be some improvement.

I feel like the SB has been watching the clock count down ever since Feb. when they clearly decided hybrid is all they would offer this year. I think they were counting on surrounding jurisdictions to also only stay 2 days and didn’t count on looking inferior for not being able to manage 4 days like the other Virginia districts.

100% agree with you, as a 1st grade parent

So you guys should probably feel comforted by Dr. Duran's announcement this afternoon that due to the enthusiastic response of parents to the return to school in person/virtual survey for next fall (overwhelming response for in person), APS was going to have to drop the 3 foot distancing between desks, where needed (possibly everywhere) in order to fit all the kids who wanted to attend into the schools. He said that he was extending the deadline to respond in case that made anyone change their mind about going, but that the numbers indicated that they would not be able to enforce those guidelines given the large number of kids intending to return.

I think this should comfort you for next year given that your priority is returning to school -- now APS is clearly stating that they will preference returning over this distancing guideline so that this guideline, which is part of the reason why returning kids was difficult this Spring, should not be standing in the way next Fall. It should show folks here that Dr. Duran is serious about return to school in the Fall.

FINALLY.. wish we could implement this today though

[Anonymous]

Duran changes his mind on a dime. Not terribly comforted by this. It’s a step in the right direction but until it actually happens I don’t believe a word Duran says. When kids are back 5 full days a week I’ll believe him.

Someone has clearly been twisting his arm behind the scenes. There’s no way his did this under his own accord.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What will they whine about next? Wearing masks at school?

Who’s “they”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What will they whine about next? Wearing masks at school?

Who’s “they”?

APE a-holes

[Anonymous]

I detected a whiff of passive aggressiveness in the announcement. Kind of funny, actually. Oh well. Next up for some Five Days Now Folks, I guess, will be, oh no, we didn’t mean without three feet of distancing ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duran changes his mind on a dime. Not terribly comforted by this. It’s a step in the right direction but until it actually happens I don’t believe a word Duran says. When kids are back 5 full days a week I’ll believe him.

Someone has clearly been twisting his arm behind the scenes. There’s no way his did this under his own accord.

Just stop. Please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duran changes his mind on a dime. Not terribly comforted by this. It’s a step in the right direction but until it actually happens I don’t believe a word Duran says. When kids are back 5 full days a week I’ll believe him.

Someone has clearly been twisting his arm behind the scenes. There’s no way his did this under his own accord.

I was concerned with the tone of his email - I know tone can be tough to read in emails, but he seems aggressive about removing the distancing (perhaps in an effort to convince more kids to switch to virtual?). Ultimately it should be up to the parents to decide whether we are OK or not OK w/sending our kids to school w/out distancing. Hopefully he sticks with this message.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I detected a whiff of passive aggressiveness in the announcement. Kind of funny, actually. Oh well. Next up for some Five Days Now Folks, I guess, will be, oh no, we didn’t mean without three feet of distancing ....

It reminded me of sending a work email when I'm still angry about the content and didn't take the time to cool off first.. HA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duran changes his mind on a dime. Not terribly comforted by this. It’s a step in the right direction but until it actually happens I don’t believe a word Duran says. When kids are back 5 full days a week I’ll believe him.

Someone has clearly been twisting his arm behind the scenes. There’s no way his did this under his own accord.

Just stop. Please.

Agree. You people have zero idea what this man is likely dealing with behind the scenes.

I think his messages have a nice conversational tone and he's been as transparent as possible.

Some of you are just pissed about the situation and he's an easy target. What a thankless job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I detected a whiff of passive aggressiveness in the announcement. Kind of funny, actually. Oh well. Next up for some Five Days Now Folks, I guess, will be, oh no, we didn’t mean without three feet of distancing ....

It reminded me of sending a work email when I'm still angry about the content and didn't take the time to cool off first.. HA.

It’s awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duran changes his mind on a dime. Not terribly comforted by this. It’s a step in the right direction but until it actually happens I don’t believe a word Duran says. When kids are back 5 full days a week I’ll believe him.

Someone has clearly been twisting his arm behind the scenes. There’s no way his did this under his own accord.

Just stop. Please.

Agree. You people have zero idea what this man is likely dealing with behind the scenes.

I think his messages have a nice conversational tone and he's been as transparent as possible.

Some of you are just pissed about the situation and he's an easy target. What a thankless job.

That should pay triple what it does for having to deal with ArlinAngries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duran changes his mind on a dime. Not terribly comforted by this. It’s a step in the right direction but until it actually happens I don’t believe a word Duran says. When kids are back 5 full days a week I’ll believe him.

Someone has clearly been twisting his arm behind the scenes. There’s no way his did this under his own accord.

Yes, he is personally plotting against YOU. He gets up every morning and thinks about how to screw all of us over.

He changes direction when he has new information. I don't even understand the accusation he "changes his mind on a dime". He's been saying consistently next year will be 5 days of school a week in-person. He got new information that 3 foot distancing wouldn't be possible so he let people know this before then made a decision.

I wonder if some of you manage ANYTHING of any complexity in your professional lives. Doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duran changes his mind on a dime. Not terribly comforted by this. It’s a step in the right direction but until it actually happens I don’t believe a word Duran says. When kids are back 5 full days a week I’ll believe him.

Someone has clearly been twisting his arm behind the scenes. There’s no way his did this under his own accord.

Yes, he is personally plotting against YOU. He gets up every morning and thinks about how to screw all of us over.

He changes direction when he has new information. I don't even understand the accusation he "changes his mind on a dime". He's been saying consistently next year will be 5 days of school a week in-person. He got new information that 3 foot distancing wouldn't be possible so he let people know this before then made a decision.

I wonder if some of you manage ANYTHING of any complexity in your professional lives. Doubt it.

So giving up on this year was managing a complex situation?? Ok. He flat out gave up because it was too hard. That's not managing AT ALL.

I really hope he can pull it off for the Fall but given his track record I have absolutely no faith in him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duran changes his mind on a dime. Not terribly comforted by this. It’s a step in the right direction but until it actually happens I don’t believe a word Duran says. When kids are back 5 full days a week I’ll believe him.

Someone has clearly been twisting his arm behind the scenes. There’s no way his did this under his own accord.

Yes, he is personally plotting against YOU. He gets up every morning and thinks about how to screw all of us over.

He changes direction when he has new information. I don't even understand the accusation he "changes his mind on a dime". He's been saying consistently next year will be 5 days of school a week in-person. He got new information that 3 foot distancing wouldn't be possible so he let people know this before then made a decision.

I wonder if some of you manage ANYTHING of any complexity in your professional lives. Doubt it.

So giving up on this year was managing a complex situation?? Ok. He flat out gave up because it was too hard. That's not managing AT ALL.

I really hope he can pull it off for the Fall but given his track record I have absolutely no faith in him.

Dear god just give it up already. Really.

I bet some of you are lawyers in real life and the next line is....I work 80 hours a week and manage a team of Type A obnoxious pricks like myself! My team has walked uphill to work every day since March 2020 and never missed a beat! I could easily manage a school district and get these teachers in line. You just tell them LOUDER what to do!!!! I would have this totally managed!

Ugh.