Covid-19 Leave No Longer Available for MCPS Employees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

They should not be at work if they are positive for COVID. If they feel well enough to write sub plans, then they should and must be paid for that time. If they don’t feel well enough to write plans then they should just be at home resting. School admin needs to figure out a backup plan to teach material to kids while the teacher is out. The same as they would if a teacher was hit by a bus. Yes the first two days will be messy but it’s no different than the minimal instructions days before a holiday or after Memorial Day. Radical behavior changes I know, but it’s not that difficult.

The COVID leave didn't just cover teacher illness or quarantine, it covered caring for a family member who is ill or directed to quarantine. For younger children in daycare, that could be 10 days of quarantine, which would eat up many school days if the teacher had to stay home to care for the child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

They should not be at work if they are positive for COVID. If they feel well enough to write sub plans, then they should and must be paid for that time. If they don’t feel well enough to write plans then they should just be at home resting. School admin needs to figure out a backup plan to teach material to kids while the teacher is out. The same as they would if a teacher was hit by a bus. Yes the first two days will be messy but it’s no different than the minimal instructions days before a holiday or after Memorial Day. Radical behavior changes I know, but it’s not that difficult.

The COVID leave didn't just cover teacher illness or quarantine, it covered caring for a family member who is ill or directed to quarantine. For younger children in daycare, that could be 10 days of quarantine, which would eat up many school days if the teacher had to stay home to care for the child.

The question I responded to was about teachers being sick, not a teacher’s child. But in the situation you describe, they would need to be on unpaid leave like many many other parents have been in the last two years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

They should not be at work if they are positive for COVID. If they feel well enough to write sub plans, then they should and must be paid for that time. If they don’t feel well enough to write plans then they should just be at home resting. School admin needs to figure out a backup plan to teach material to kids while the teacher is out. The same as they would if a teacher was hit by a bus. Yes the first two days will be messy but it’s no different than the minimal instructions days before a holiday or after Memorial Day. Radical behavior changes I know, but it’s not that difficult.

The COVID leave didn't just cover teacher illness or quarantine, it covered caring for a family member who is ill or directed to quarantine. For younger children in daycare, that could be 10 days of quarantine, which would eat up many school days if the teacher had to stay home to care for the child.

That’s the easiest thing to deal with. We shouldn’t be quarantining close contacts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

Why does COVID warrant more sick days? If they get flu they have to use sick days. If they get Nora virus they have to use sick days. If they get a really bad cold they have to use sick days. It’s just another virus. Should we add more sick days each time a new virus is discovered? Monkey pox sick days?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

Why does COVID warrant more sick days? If they get flu they have to use sick days. If they get Nora virus they have to use sick days. If they get a really bad cold they have to use sick days. It’s just another virus. Should we add more sick days each time a new virus is discovered? Monkey pox sick days?

Covid is not comparable to the flu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are paid for 216 days a year. I just got Mail from MCPS about my step increase and it included my salary information plus how many days I’m paid for per year.

We are paid for 195 days. This amout is spread out over 212-216 days, depending on the calendar in any given school year.

I'm assuming that includes holidays like Thanksgiving, Spring and Winter break.

Correct. Any day during the school year that teachers don't work, they don't get paid. Our contract is for 195 days per school year. That includes 182 school days, 5 pre-service days, 4 professional days, and 32 flex hours, which is basically partial payment for the hundreds of hours teachers work beyond the duty day each year. MCPS takes our contracted salary and divides it by the number of weekdays between the start of pre-service and the last day of the school year so our pay is even throughout the school year. Otherwise, teachers wouldn't receive any money the week of Winter Break, etc. This spreading out of the pay is why you see the 216 days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

Why does COVID warrant more sick days? If they get flu they have to use sick days. If they get Nora virus they have to use sick days. If they get a really bad cold they have to use sick days. It’s just another virus. Should we add more sick days each time a new virus is discovered? Monkey pox sick days?

Covid is not comparable to the flu.

I'm sure you have repeated that line in many threads but for a sick leave policy they are the same. Both COVID and the flu require a few days off from work for most people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

Why does COVID warrant more sick days? If they get flu they have to use sick days. If they get Nora virus they have to use sick days. If they get a really bad cold they have to use sick days. It’s just another virus. Should we add more sick days each time a new virus is discovered? Monkey pox sick days?

Covid is not comparable to the flu.

I'm sure you have repeated that line in many threads but for a sick leave policy they are the same. Both COVID and the flu require a few days off from work for most people.

The difference is the required isolation period for Covid and lack of one for the flu. As long as MCPS requires that we teachers isolate for 5 days once we test positive, even if we are asymptomatic, we should not have to use our sick leave. I had covid in May. Tested positive on a Sunday. I was REQUIRED to stay at home through the following Friday, even though I felt well enough to return Thursday. Why should teachers lose sick leave when they're required to stay home? If the MCPS policy changes and the 5 day isolation requirement is removed, then it's appropriate to compare covid to the flu.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

Why does COVID warrant more sick days? If they get flu they have to use sick days. If they get Nora virus they have to use sick days. If they get a really bad cold they have to use sick days. It’s just another virus. Should we add more sick days each time a new virus is discovered? Monkey pox sick days?

Covid is not comparable to the flu.

I'm sure you have repeated that line in many threads but for a sick leave policy they are the same. Both COVID and the flu require a few days off from work for most people.

The difference is the required isolation period for Covid and lack of one for the flu. As long as MCPS requires that we teachers isolate for 5 days once we test positive, even if we are asymptomatic, we should not have to use our sick leave. I had covid in May. Tested positive on a Sunday. I was REQUIRED to stay at home through the following Friday, even though I felt well enough to return Thursday. Why should teachers lose sick leave when they're required to stay home? If the MCPS policy changes and the 5 day isolation requirement is removed, then it's appropriate to compare covid to the flu.

Just like masking was dropped to a recommendation, so will the required isolation period. MCPS is lagging behind other Montgomery County employers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

They should not be at work if they are positive for COVID. If they feel well enough to write sub plans, then they should and must be paid for that time. If they don’t feel well enough to write plans then they should just be at home resting. School admin needs to figure out a backup plan to teach material to kids while the teacher is out. The same as they would if a teacher was hit by a bus. Yes the first two days will be messy but it’s no different than the minimal instructions days before a holiday or after Memorial Day. Radical behavior changes I know, but it’s not that difficult.

The COVID leave didn't just cover teacher illness or quarantine, it covered caring for a family member who is ill or directed to quarantine. For younger children in daycare, that could be 10 days of quarantine, which would eat up many school days if the teacher had to stay home to care for the child.

The question I responded to was about teachers being sick, not a teacher’s child. But in the situation you describe, they would need to be on unpaid leave like many many other parents have been in the last two years.

Most parents are not at high risk jobs and teachers make far less than you. As someone who made equal to a teacher job with the county inquit as it wasn’t worth paying for child care. If they have to pay child care and go unpaid because they got Covid from your kid who you refused to keep home, good chance they will quit and then what will you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

Why does COVID warrant more sick days? If they get flu they have to use sick days. If they get Nora virus they have to use sick days. If they get a really bad cold they have to use sick days. It’s just another virus. Should we add more sick days each time a new virus is discovered? Monkey pox sick days?

Covid is not comparable to the flu.

I'm sure you have repeated that line in many threads but for a sick leave policy they are the same. Both COVID and the flu require a few days off from work for most people.

The difference is the required isolation period for Covid and lack of one for the flu. As long as MCPS requires that we teachers isolate for 5 days once we test positive, even if we are asymptomatic, we should not have to use our sick leave. I had covid in May. Tested positive on a Sunday. I was REQUIRED to stay at home through the following Friday, even though I felt well enough to return Thursday. Why should teachers lose sick leave when they're required to stay home? If the MCPS policy changes and the 5 day isolation requirement is removed, then it's appropriate to compare covid to the flu.

At a minimum they should get Covid pay if it can be traced back to school exposure vs personal. And, 10 days, not 5.

[Anonymous]

There is an easy fix: healthy kids and teachers go to school. Sick kids and teachers stay home until better. No testing, no quarantining little Sophie who has no symptoms but dropped a positive. No quarantining little Johnny who was exposed to Sophie and is no considered unvaccinated bc he’s not boosted. Sick=home. Healthy=school. This is an approach many countries are taking now. I actually wonder if we did this religiously all along if we’d be better off both wrt Covid and collateral damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

They should not be at work if they are positive for COVID. If they feel well enough to write sub plans, then they should and must be paid for that time. If they don’t feel well enough to write plans then they should just be at home resting. School admin needs to figure out a backup plan to teach material to kids while the teacher is out. The same as they would if a teacher was hit by a bus. Yes the first two days will be messy but it’s no different than the minimal instructions days before a holiday or after Memorial Day. Radical behavior changes I know, but it’s not that difficult.

The COVID leave didn't just cover teacher illness or quarantine, it covered caring for a family member who is ill or directed to quarantine. For younger children in daycare, that could be 10 days of quarantine, which would eat up many school days if the teacher had to stay home to care for the child.

The question I responded to was about teachers being sick, not a teacher’s child. But in the situation you describe, they would need to be on unpaid leave like many many other parents have been in the last two years.

Most parents are not at high risk jobs and teachers make far less than you. As someone who made equal to a teacher job with the county inquit as it wasn’t worth paying for child care. If they have to pay child care and go unpaid because they got Covid from your kid who you refused to keep home, good chance they will quit and then what will you do?

No, they actually don’t. You do realize that not everyone on this site makes 200k+, right? And as far as what we’ll do if there’s a mass exodus - we’ll figure it out. For two years there have been posters in hysterics like you wanting to hold everyone captive over COVID. The world hasn’t ended yet. We’ve figured it out. So please just quit your job already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an easy fix: healthy kids and teachers go to school. Sick kids and teachers stay home until better. No testing, no quarantining little Sophie who has no symptoms but dropped a positive. No quarantining little Johnny who was exposed to Sophie and is no considered unvaccinated bc he’s not boosted. Sick=home. Healthy=school. This is an approach many countries are taking now. I actually wonder if we did this religiously all along if we’d be better off both wrt Covid and collateral damage.

Without testing you have no idea who is sick so you need testing. Vaccination status is meaningless for transmission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The majority of working parents did not have COVID leave when they had to support their kids in virtual learning for 15 months while juggling careers, so teachers can deal with it.

I see where you are coming from, but how do you want teachers to deal with it? When they get COVID, should they use half or more of their sick leave that year, but still prepare detailed and relevant sub plans for each day they are out? Or should they deal with it by just staying home and NOT spending hours writing sub plans while their classes have no real instruction for the week? Or do they deal with it by just coming to work if they don't feel too bad and possibly spread Covid to students and other teachers?

They should not be at work if they are positive for COVID. If they feel well enough to write sub plans, then they should and must be paid for that time. If they don’t feel well enough to write plans then they should just be at home resting. School admin needs to figure out a backup plan to teach material to kids while the teacher is out. The same as they would if a teacher was hit by a bus. Yes the first two days will be messy but it’s no different than the minimal instructions days before a holiday or after Memorial Day. Radical behavior changes I know, but it’s not that difficult.

The COVID leave didn't just cover teacher illness or quarantine, it covered caring for a family member who is ill or directed to quarantine. For younger children in daycare, that could be 10 days of quarantine, which would eat up many school days if the teacher had to stay home to care for the child.

The question I responded to was about teachers being sick, not a teacher’s child. But in the situation you describe, they would need to be on unpaid leave like many many other parents have been in the last two years.

Most parents are not at high risk jobs and teachers make far less than you. As someone who made equal to a teacher job with the county inquit as it wasn’t worth paying for child care. If they have to pay child care and go unpaid because they got Covid from your kid who you refused to keep home, good chance they will quit and then what will you do?

No, they actually don’t. You do realize that not everyone on this site makes 200k+, right? And as far as what we’ll do if there’s a mass exodus - we’ll figure it out. For two years there have been posters in hysterics like you wanting to hold everyone captive over COVID. The world hasn’t ended yet. We’ve figured it out. So please just quit your job already.

I’m not a teacher but a front lines job and I did quit. No way I was risking Covid for crappy pay and a supervisor who rarely let me take leave. No, we have not figured it out and pretending Covid does not exist is not figuring it out.