Takeaways from the Brabrand virtual town hall

[Anonymous]

The first 30-45 minutes had mostly to do with the Covid response, then they started talking more about equity issues in the schools in general. I had to log off around 7, but I think they went about another hour judging by the length of the Facebook Live video. Not sure if more Covid info was discussed toward the end of the meeting. But here were my takeaways:


They want to make a final decision on next school year by July. They will have more information on the three options by June 15. It sounded like there is another town hall/virtual meeting scheduled for around June 15 where the options will be discussed in greater detail.

The three options are all distance learning; some kind of hybrid model where there are things like half-days, 3 days a week in school, some kids in school and some not, classes on Saturdays, etc. and the remainder will be distance learning some of the time; and all kids back in school with the option for any student to continue distance learning

Braband stated that August would be too late to make a final decision because they can’t turn things around within 2 weeks no matter what the decision is. So decision for 2020-2021 school year will likely come in July.

They need further guidance from the state and from the education/return to school committee formed by the Governor

I was struck by how many teachers in the comments on the FB live did not want to return to classroom teaching - lots of whining, lots of “our kids health is MORE important right now.” Many teachers did want to return but a larger (or more vocal?) amount absolutely did not. I was surprised about this because of how many teachers are also parents. Can't do your own classroom's distance learning and home tech troubleshooting at the same time you're trying to help your kids with distance learning, though perhaps they are all parents of older MS kids and up who can be more self-sufficient?

Preschool special ed classrooms weren't discussed, this was disappointing as this is a section of students who really can't distance learn

There was no real plan about, if there is distance learning, how to get ELL families more involved, “family training,” etc. A speaker brought up the fact that many parents have no idea how to help their students in distance learning. These students are falling very far behind compared to kids that have always been involved in things like Kumon, tutoring, Outschool etc.

They are distributing more devices to elementary and middle kids.

Equity issues are at play with Covid and in general, including not just race/ethnicity but also students with special needs, LGBT, and where you actually live in the county/what school you attend

Also I believe later in the meeting there was information discussed about AAP - did anyone catch that? It sounded like it was in the realm of expanding access to AAP for diverse students.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the update. It doesn’t surprise me that teachers are pushing for distance learning—most people consider working from home a perq and don’t want to give it up.

The hybrid plan sounds like a logistical nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Link? How do people find out about these?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Link? How do people find out about these?

It wasn't an FCPS event. It was hosted by Fairfax NAACP, so if you look on their facebook page, I think you can find the recording.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the update. It doesn’t surprise me that teachers are pushing for distance learning—most people consider working from home a perq and don’t want to give it up.

The hybrid plan sounds like a logistical nightmare.

Doesn't surprise me either. Said it on a different thread and got called a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the update. It doesn’t surprise me that teachers are pushing for distance learning—most people consider working from home a perq and don’t want to give it up.

The hybrid plan sounds like a logistical nightmare.

Doesn't surprise me either. Said it on a different thread and got called a troll.

OP here: I saw that comment on another thread and thought “no, most teachers must realize that this isn’t sustainable and many, many kids need in class instruction” then I read the FB live comments and, wow. You were right.

I don’t think they were thinking of it as a “perk” thing, more like absolutely petrified of catching Covid. Probably the “shelter in place until there’s a vaccine” crowd, they just happen to also be teachers.

[Anonymous]

I'm a high school teacher. IRL all of my dept colleagues, and the majority of the teachers that I know want to return to school. DL is very, very hard... for us, our students, and my own kids. I am fantasizing about moving to Montana for a year if we don't open in the fall.

[Anonymous]

A decision in July still doesn’t give parents a lot of time to plan. But hopefully they will have some better information by then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a high school teacher. IRL all of my dept colleagues, and the majority of the teachers that I know want to return to school. DL is very, very hard... for us, our students, and my own kids. I am fantasizing about moving to Montana for a year if we don't open in the fall.

I bet it's even harder next year. Right now, you had/have the benefit of the novelty factor and just surviving until summer. Next Fall, most students are going to be bitter doing DL, while teachers will have to deliver a true curriculum with grades. It's a bad mix, and it's going to be really, really hard all around. I don't think it's an easy decision for FCPS to just default to DL as many here think. Maybe the reason they really want to hear from the Governor's committee. They'll also have the benefit of seeing the region open up over the next 1.5 months (which hopefully goes well).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a high school teacher. IRL all of my dept colleagues, and the majority of the teachers that I know want to return to school. DL is very, very hard... for us, our students, and my own kids. I am fantasizing about moving to Montana for a year if we don't open in the fall.

Please speak up about it then! I’m worried that the loudest voices will win. I believe most teachers do want to do the right thing and return to class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the update. It doesn’t surprise me that teachers are pushing for distance learning—most people consider working from home a perq and don’t want to give it up.

The hybrid plan sounds like a logistical nightmare.

Doesn't surprise me either. Said it on a different thread and got called a troll.

OP here: I saw that comment on another thread and thought “no, most teachers must realize that this isn’t sustainable and many, many kids need in class instruction” then I read the FB live comments and, wow. You were right.

I don’t think they were thinking of it as a “perk” thing, more like absolutely petrified of catching Covid. Probably the “shelter in place until there’s a vaccine” crowd, they just happen to also be teachers.

I wonder if they teach in the communities that have been most affected by COVID (in Fairfax County, Hispanic/Latino COVID cases are twice that of non-Hispanic/Latino cases). I also wonder if they may be vulnerable themselves or have vulnerable parents. My parents and MIL are in their 80s and while they are not in ill health, they are still vulnerable. I get very frustrated when people dismiss the value of my parents and ILs' lives simply because they are older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a high school teacher. IRL all of my dept colleagues, and the majority of the teachers that I know want to return to school. DL is very, very hard... for us, our students, and my own kids. I am fantasizing about moving to Montana for a year if we don't open in the fall.

I know my kids' teachers want to be in school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a high school teacher. IRL all of my dept colleagues, and the majority of the teachers that I know want to return to school. DL is very, very hard... for us, our students, and my own kids. I am fantasizing about moving to Montana for a year if we don't open in the fall.

DW and I both teach ES. We agree at the ES level too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a high school teacher. IRL all of my dept colleagues, and the majority of the teachers that I know want to return to school. DL is very, very hard... for us, our students, and my own kids. I am fantasizing about moving to Montana for a year if we don't open in the fall.

Please speak up about it then! I’m worried that the loudest voices will win. I believe most teachers do want to do the right thing and return to class.

I am not a teacher but I find it fascinating that you think you are who decides what "the right thing" is. Does that mean other people also get to decide what is the right thing for you to do with your job? I don't mean authorities, just random people in the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a high school teacher. IRL all of my dept colleagues, and the majority of the teachers that I know want to return to school. DL is very, very hard... for us, our students, and my own kids. I am fantasizing about moving to Montana for a year if we don't open in the fall.

Please speak up about it then! I’m worried that the loudest voices will win. I believe most teachers do want to do the right thing and return to class.

I thought they were going to send a survey. Any word on that?