Should we prepare for virtual schooling starting in January?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Md hospitals already having issues

+1 Elective surgeries already cancelled.

Some are being postponed. Many aren't.

https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/12/23/md-hospitals-surpass-1500-covid-19-hospitalizations-triggering-changes/

“Our projections now show that in the coming weeks, we could reach record levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maryland, possibly over 2,000. We have been actively preparing for this scenario in coordination with all of our hospitals, and today’s actions are the latest step in that planning,” said Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R).

"In preparation for the surge, Maryland committed $100 million in emergency funding to address hospital and nursing home staffing needs."

That's certainly $100 million well spent!!!! Great job Hogan!!! You're awesome!!!! (I'd say you should do a Victory Lap, but you're probably in one of those hospital beds yourself?)

Now MCPS is going to accelerate that trend next week!!!! Great job MCPS!!!

Yet no extra frimHogan to fund Testing pods at schools to test staff and kids prior to spreading the variant at schools where kids do not wear masks properly, many are not vaccinated (K-5) and staff are overburdened. I wonder how many won’t show Jan 3? I hear coworkers discussing leave of absence. Mass chaos

High school teacher here. This is the first time in my life I have thought to call in sick before I have symptoms of illness. I have no faith in MCPS to do anything to guarantee my safety. The lack of planning is ridiculous. Opening in January is going to be a clusterF. Kids don’t wear masks reliably and lunch is basically a guaranteed superspreader event in every school. If MCPS stays open I am going to slow walk a return by taking sick leave and then wait for results from the PCR test. I honestly don’t feel that I have a better option given the situation. I know this will infuriate some here, but I expect to be treated as a valued professional. The current situation is not that allow for that. I have not spoken to other staff butI am sure most feel the same way about the lack of safety.

Speaking as a parent, you have our family’s 100% support in this.

[Anonymous]

From a WTOP interview with McKnight:
“ McKnight asked students and parents who are returning from winter travel to get a test before returning to school.

She mentioned that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers get a COVID test three to five days after arrival. Unvaccinated travelers should quarantine for seven days after traveling.”

Seems like a lot of families and staff will be out for while until testing can catch up if the guidance is followed.

[Anonymous]

High school teacher here. This is the first time in my life I have thought to call in sick before I have symptoms of illness. I have no faith in MCPS to do anything to guarantee my safety. The lack of planning is ridiculous. Opening in January is going to be a clusterF. Kids don’t wear masks reliably and lunch is basically a guaranteed superspreader event in every school. If MCPS stays open I am going to slow walk a return by taking sick leave and then wait for results from the PCR test. I honestly don’t feel that I have a better option given the situation. I know this will infuriate some here, but I expect to be treated as a valued professional. The current situation is not that allow for that. I have not spoken to other staff butI am sure most feel the same way about the lack of safety.

Speaking as a parent, you have our family’s 100% support in this.

Maryland Courts just cancelled jury trials for January so you are in good company.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Md hospitals already having issues

+1 Elective surgeries already cancelled.

Some are being postponed. Many aren't.

https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/12/23/md-hospitals-surpass-1500-covid-19-hospitalizations-triggering-changes/

“Our projections now show that in the coming weeks, we could reach record levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maryland, possibly over 2,000. We have been actively preparing for this scenario in coordination with all of our hospitals, and today’s actions are the latest step in that planning,” said Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R).

"In preparation for the surge, Maryland committed $100 million in emergency funding to address hospital and nursing home staffing needs."

That's certainly $100 million well spent!!!! Great job Hogan!!! You're awesome!!!! (I'd say you should do a Victory Lap, but you're probably in one of those hospital beds yourself?)

Now MCPS is going to accelerate that trend next week!!!! Great job MCPS!!!

Yet no extra frimHogan to fund Testing pods at schools to test staff and kids prior to spreading the variant at schools where kids do not wear masks properly, many are not vaccinated (K-5) and staff are overburdened. I wonder how many won’t show Jan 3? I hear coworkers discussing leave of absence. Mass chaos

High school teacher here. This is the first time in my life I have thought to call in sick before I have symptoms of illness. I have no faith in MCPS to do anything to guarantee my safety. The lack of planning is ridiculous. Opening in January is going to be a clusterF. Kids don’t wear masks reliably and lunch is basically a guaranteed superspreader event in every school. If MCPS stays open I am going to slow walk a return by taking sick leave and then wait for results from the PCR test. I honestly don’t feel that I have a better option given the situation. I know this will infuriate some here, but I expect to be treated as a valued professional. The current situation is not that allow for that. I have not spoken to other staff butI am sure most feel the same way about the lack of safety.

Speaking as a parent, you have our family’s 100% support in this.

Sure, teacher is free to burn up their leave as they see fit. If this is what they want to do with it, so be it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
High school teacher here. This is the first time in my life I have thought to call in sick before I have symptoms of illness. I have no faith in MCPS to do anything to guarantee my safety. The lack of planning is ridiculous. Opening in January is going to be a clusterF. Kids don’t wear masks reliably and lunch is basically a guaranteed superspreader event in every school. If MCPS stays open I am going to slow walk a return by taking sick leave and then wait for results from the PCR test. I honestly don’t feel that I have a better option given the situation. I know this will infuriate some here, but I expect to be treated as a valued professional. The current situation is not that allow for that. I have not spoken to other staff butI am sure most feel the same way about the lack of safety.

Speaking as a parent, you have our family’s 100% support in this.

Maryland Courts just cancelled jury trials for January so you are in good company.

We need a huge outbreak before MCPS takes this seriously. Do what is best for you and your family, not your students families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From a WTOP interview with McKnight:
“ McKnight asked students and parents who are returning from winter travel to get a test before returning to school.

She mentioned that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers get a COVID test three to five days after arrival. Unvaccinated travelers should quarantine for seven days after traveling.”

Seems like a lot of families and staff will be out for while until testing can catch up if the guidance is followed.

Any family engaging in risky behavior isn't going to test their kids. It should be mandatory testing for all students returning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

We need a huge outbreak before MCPS takes this seriously. Do what is best for you and your family, not your students families.

There will be lots of Covid in schools because there is lots of Covid in the community. Keeping Covid out of schools doesn't keep it away from students or staff. MCPS wants to keep schools open because they know the union will try to extend the closure indefinitely. It will never be "safe".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From a WTOP interview with McKnight:
“ McKnight asked students and parents who are returning from winter travel to get a test before returning to school.

She mentioned that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers get a COVID test three to five days after arrival. Unvaccinated travelers should quarantine for seven days after traveling.”

Seems like a lot of families and staff will be out for while until testing can catch up if the guidance is followed.

Any family engaging in risky behavior isn't going to test their kids. It should be mandatory testing for all students returning.

Travel as a risk factor is a red herring. The largest COVID outbreak in the country right now is the DC metro area.
Families who had visitors for the holidays or who went anywhere in the DMV region should get tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
High school teacher here. This is the first time in my life I have thought to call in sick before I have symptoms of illness. I have no faith in MCPS to do anything to guarantee my safety. The lack of planning is ridiculous. Opening in January is going to be a clusterF. Kids don’t wear masks reliably and lunch is basically a guaranteed superspreader event in every school. If MCPS stays open I am going to slow walk a return by taking sick leave and then wait for results from the PCR test. I honestly don’t feel that I have a better option given the situation. I know this will infuriate some here, but I expect to be treated as a valued professional. The current situation is not that allow for that. I have not spoken to other staff butI am sure most feel the same way about the lack of safety.

curious, what would you think of PGCPS's plan?

We have gone virtual for the first two weeks back; however teachers still need to report to teach from our classrooms. But no students will be there.
Would you be OK with that for going back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Md hospitals already having issues

+1 Elective surgeries already cancelled.

Some are being postponed. Many aren't.

https://www.marylandmatters.org/2021/12/23/md-hospitals-surpass-1500-covid-19-hospitalizations-triggering-changes/

“Our projections now show that in the coming weeks, we could reach record levels of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Maryland, possibly over 2,000. We have been actively preparing for this scenario in coordination with all of our hospitals, and today’s actions are the latest step in that planning,” said Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R).

"In preparation for the surge, Maryland committed $100 million in emergency funding to address hospital and nursing home staffing needs."

That's certainly $100 million well spent!!!! Great job Hogan!!! You're awesome!!!! (I'd say you should do a Victory Lap, but you're probably in one of those hospital beds yourself?)

Now MCPS is going to accelerate that trend next week!!!! Great job MCPS!!!

Yet no extra frimHogan to fund Testing pods at schools to test staff and kids prior to spreading the variant at schools where kids do not wear masks properly, many are not vaccinated (K-5) and staff are overburdened. I wonder how many won’t show Jan 3? I hear coworkers discussing leave of absence. Mass chaos

High school teacher here. This is the first time in my life I have thought to call in sick before I have symptoms of illness. I have no faith in MCPS to do anything to guarantee my safety. The lack of planning is ridiculous. Opening in January is going to be a clusterF. Kids don’t wear masks reliably and lunch is basically a guaranteed superspreader event in every school. If MCPS stays open I am going to slow walk a return by taking sick leave and then wait for results from the PCR test. I honestly don’t feel that I have a better option given the situation. I know this will infuriate some here, but I expect to be treated as a valued professional. The current situation is not that allow for that. I have not spoken to other staff butI am sure most feel the same way about the lack of safety.

Speaking as a parent, you have our family’s 100% support in this.

It's not really MCPS' job to look out for you that's why you have a union

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We need a huge outbreak before MCPS takes this seriously. Do what is best for you and your family, not your students families.

There will be lots of Covid in schools because there is lots of Covid in the community. Keeping Covid out of schools doesn't keep it away from students or staff. MCPS wants to keep schools open because they know the union will try to extend the closure indefinitely. It will never be "safe".

Schools will supercharge covid in the community to a whole new level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From a WTOP interview with McKnight:
“ McKnight asked students and parents who are returning from winter travel to get a test before returning to school.

She mentioned that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all travelers get a COVID test three to five days after arrival. Unvaccinated travelers should quarantine for seven days after traveling.”

Seems like a lot of families and staff will be out for while until testing can catch up if the guidance is followed.

Any family engaging in risky behavior isn't going to test their kids. It should be mandatory testing for all students returning.

Travel as a risk factor is a red herring. The largest COVID outbreak in the country right now is the DC metro area.
Families who had visitors for the holidays or who went anywhere in the DMV region should get tested.

Um, no it isn't a red herring. People are more likely to get covid traveling than not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Um, no it isn't a red herring. People are more likely to get covid traveling than not.

Explain to me why people in the DC area right now are more likely to get covid traveling versus, say, attending Christmas gatherings in their home, going to church, dining out here in the DC area, visiting Uncle Bob's house and playing with the cousins. COVID is spreading widely right here. How is it any less risky to stay at home for the holidays (unless you truly stay at home, like shelter in place lockdown)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
High school teacher here. This is the first time in my life I have thought to call in sick before I have symptoms of illness. I have no faith in MCPS to do anything to guarantee my safety. The lack of planning is ridiculous. Opening in January is going to be a clusterF. Kids don’t wear masks reliably and lunch is basically a guaranteed superspreader event in every school. If MCPS stays open I am going to slow walk a return by taking sick leave and then wait for results from the PCR test. I honestly don’t feel that I have a better option given the situation. I know this will infuriate some here, but I expect to be treated as a valued professional. The current situation is not that allow for that. I have not spoken to other staff butI am sure most feel the same way about the lack of safety.

curious, what would you think of PGCPS's plan?

We have gone virtual for the first two weeks back; however teachers still need to report to teach from our classrooms. But no students will be there.
Would you be OK with that for going back?

Yes let’s do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

We need a huge outbreak before MCPS takes this seriously. Do what is best for you and your family, not your students families.

There will be lots of Covid in schools because there is lots of Covid in the community. Keeping Covid out of schools doesn't keep it away from students or staff. MCPS wants to keep schools open because they know the union will try to extend the closure indefinitely. It will never be "safe".

Schools will supercharge covid in the community to a whole new level.

Cases are currently at a whole new level. Cases did not rise significantly when schools opened in the fall in the midst of Delta. Cases will keep going up, and then go down and it will have nothing to do with schools and everything to do with the fact that omicron is very transmissible.