Howard County Public School System COVID-19 Thread

[Anonymous]

A place for HoCo parents and community members to share information on HCPSS' COVID-19.

So far, the school system's biggest step to deal with the virus came today:

Howard County Public School System Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano today announced that all out-of-state field trips and athletic events, including those to Washington, D.C., are canceled effective immediately due to concerns related to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). All currently approved in-state field trips are being reassessed individually and decisions will be communicated to families by Thursday, March 12. This decision is in effect through the end of the 2019-2020 school year. Additionally, official out-of-state travel for HCPSS employees is canceled.

Please share if you have any other news, formal or informal.

[Anonymous]

Good luck. I think your decisions will impact MCPS since many MCPS teachers live in HoCo.

[Anonymous]

My kids attend a HoCo private, and we received a similar email yesterday. It feels like they’re inching closer to closing the schools, but who knows.

[Anonymous]

Anne Arundel implemented that same policy this week too.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this info

[Anonymous]

There's a halfway solution that involves canceling large gatherings, sporting events, etc. We can and should start with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a halfway solution that involves canceling large gatherings, sporting events, etc. We can and should start with that.

Fully concur.

However, as of noon today, HCPSS sent out its weekly newsletter and there are several non-academic/non-critical extracurricular large people-gathering events still planned for the immediate future. IMO, and it seems like the CDC and WHO agrees, these are no-brainer cancellations.

Yes, this is a novel virus (situation), but sometimes it's particularly difficult to know what the school systems' risk tolerance rubrics are for students. Wouldn't it be too late to wait until a case is reported?

[Anonymous]

There’s no way they will close hoco schools. We are not mcps or fcps!

[Anonymous]

Close the f****** schools!! Damn!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Close the f****** schools!! Damn!

It’s in Baltimore County now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Close the f****** schools!! Damn!

It’s in Baltimore County now.

Precisely. AND, we're busing hundreds of high schoolers there from our County tomorrow morning to attend a 2-day conference in a hotel!

[Anonymous]

I hate to say it, but it’s only a matter of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Close the f****** schools!! Damn!

It’s in Baltimore County now.

Precisely. AND, we're busing hundreds of high schoolers there from our County tomorrow morning to attend a 2-day conference in a hotel!

Seriously, that is effed up. No way my kid would go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Close the f****** schools!! Damn!

It’s in Baltimore County now.

Precisely. AND, we're busing hundreds of high schoolers there from our County tomorrow morning to attend a 2-day conference in a hotel!

Seriously, that is effed up. No way my kid would go.

I predict Baltimore County will close after Hoco. They stay open on days when other school systems don’t.

[Anonymous]

A week ago, MD had 3 cases. Today, we have 9. That means exponential growth, right.