DCPS seems to be doing it right

[Anonymous]

I just read through a lot of these chains. IMHO I think DCPS is doing it right. They are planning for an in person following guidelines and say they will go virtual if DC Health says it isn’t safe. What’s wrong with that? It sounds like the chancellor and mayor and DC Health are all working on this together. I work in a hospital and I see the doctors and nurses (and the rest of us admin types) move all day working, talking, dare I say laughing with masks on. We are not worried about it.

[Anonymous]

If DCPS is really planning for in person -- getting HVACs across the school system evaluated, procuring PPE for staff, helping principals think through hybrid schedules -- I agree.

I have a feeling they kicked the can and will do nothing until the 31st, then claim there isn't enough time to get ready for hybrid in 4 weeks (like, surprise!).

I'd love to be wrong.

[Anonymous]

They need to talk with educators to “do it right”. Their level of disrespect of the union is appalling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If DCPS is really planning for in person -- getting HVACs across the school system evaluated, procuring PPE for staff, helping principals think through hybrid schedules -- I agree.

I have a feeling they kicked the can and will do nothing until the 31st, then claim there isn't enough time to get ready for hybrid in 4 weeks (like, surprise!).

I'd love to be wrong.

Here in lies the problem...they aren’t collaborating or getting input from those on the frontlines of schools. They are making decisions on what they assume would work in spite of ENDLESS feedback and a willingness of a large educator community to help so that we can reopen safely. When you sit on meetings with his team (which I have this summer) and instead of being receptive to suggestions and collaboration you are being told “we are confident it’s going to work” when simple questions have not yet been answered. Things like full-time nurses in every building, screening methods, protocol for what happens if someone in a building is found positive, our special needs babies with the most severe needs that frequently need that can’t manage or take care of their personal health needs...what protocol will be in place for staff for responding to those needs, students who receive Home & Hospital instruction...how are those teachers protected, how will substituting work, room coverage without wanting to cross contaminate, buildings are traditionally dirty and without basic needs can we guarantee we will have them, is there a guarantee that all of the requests to fix/clean HVAC systems, water fountains, broken sinks and etc will happen? A lot of things don’t get fixed by DGS until the Mayor is coming by or you whistleblow to parents so that they can mobilize. There’s a lot that goes into a school opening plan and the problem is the Chancellor and his team aren’t doing a lot to make school staff from top to bottom confident that they’ve thought these things through INCLUDING addressing the technology gaps/education inequities that may have happened during Round 1 of virtual learning. Collaboration is key especially when many at Central Office don’t have policy experience not education experience and/or are so far removed from how a school actually operates and it’s needs. The end goal should be to do everything humanly possible to keep our babies safe!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They need to talk with educators to “do it right”. Their level of disrespect of the union is appalling.

Can we restate to the level of disrespect of the teachers is appalling.

The teachers who are professionals and know their students.
The teachers who are professionals and know their families.
The teachers who know the learning needs of children with IEPs, 504s, ELL.

Here are the teachers who were recognized by the city for excellence:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5925e6e703596e075b5a23f7/t/5e2a001e5b57285fa72698c8/1579810850360/Standing+Ovation+Program+Book_FINAL.pdf

How many of them do you think are consulted in a meaningful way about how to support educational objectives for the coming year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If DCPS is really planning for in person -- getting HVACs across the school system evaluated, procuring PPE for staff, helping principals think through hybrid schedules -- I agree.

I have a feeling they kicked the can and will do nothing until the 31st, then claim there isn't enough time to get ready for hybrid in 4 weeks (like, surprise!).

I'd love to be wrong.

Here in lies the problem...they aren’t collaborating or getting input from those on the frontlines of schools. They are making decisions on what they assume would work in spite of ENDLESS feedback and a willingness of a large educator community to help so that we can reopen safely. When you sit on meetings with his team (which I have this summer) and instead of being receptive to suggestions and collaboration you are being told “we are confident it’s going to work” when simple questions have not yet been answered. Things like full-time nurses in every building, screening methods, protocol for what happens if someone in a building is found positive, our special needs babies with the most severe needs that frequently need that can’t manage or take care of their personal health needs...what protocol will be in place for staff for responding to those needs, students who receive Home & Hospital instruction...how are those teachers protected, how will substituting work, room coverage without wanting to cross contaminate, buildings are traditionally dirty and without basic needs can we guarantee we will have them, is there a guarantee that all of the requests to fix/clean HVAC systems, water fountains, broken sinks and etc will happen? A lot of things don’t get fixed by DGS until the Mayor is coming by or you whistleblow to parents so that they can mobilize. There’s a lot that goes into a school opening plan and the problem is the Chancellor and his team aren’t doing a lot to make school staff from top to bottom confident that they’ve thought these things through INCLUDING addressing the technology gaps/education inequities that may have happened during Round 1 of virtual learning. Collaboration is key especially when many at Central Office don’t have policy experience not education experience and/or are so far removed from how a school actually operates and it’s needs. The end goal should be to do everything humanly possible to keep our babies safe!

This! People that are trashing teachers for not wanting to return don’t understand that if we had answers than we would feel more comfortable. This is not a time to keep info from people, if they have answers to these questions tell us. When they don’t I assume, right or wrong, that they don’t have them.

[Anonymous]

No, they are not getting it right. DCPS, unlike surrounding school districts, CLOSED SCHOOL THREE WEEKS EARLY in the spring. Our kids not only had a crappy DL curriculum where they got little to no instruction time from their teachers, but then they stopped learning three weeks early.

DCPS has had months to prepare for different scenarios- numbers are going down, numbers are stable, numbers are going up, phase 1 2 3 or 4. But they clearly did not really have concrete plans for all scenarios. They were just banking on being in Phase 2 or 3 by the time the new school year started. Bad continuity planning.

And I'm willing to bet their DL plan is going to be horrific- probably little to no instruction time again in the name of "EQUITY".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to talk with educators to “do it right”. Their level of disrespect of the union is appalling.

Can we restate to the level of disrespect of the teachers is appalling.

The teachers who are professionals and know their students.
The teachers who are professionals and know their families.
The teachers who know the learning needs of children with IEPs, 504s, ELL.

Here are the teachers who were recognized by the city for excellence:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5925e6e703596e075b5a23f7/t/5e2a001e5b57285fa72698c8/1579810850360/Standing+Ovation+Program+Book_FINAL.pdf

How many of them do you think are consulted in a meaningful way about how to support educational objectives for the coming year?

Zero teachers from that list were consulted. We are currently fighting for a place at the table. The current plan includes having parents step up and help fund PPE. The current plan includes in person or nothing for PK, and little help or compassion for highly effective educators who may be at high risk of contracting COVID-19. If you think this is fair or viable, you're wrong. This cpuntry does not send cops to work with toy guns, nor does the military ever run out of money for all sorts of equipment. The lack of funding for the safety of teachers, students, and school staff is appalling and should be an indictment of this country's priorities.

[Anonymous]

So I heard Bowser says she’s meeting with teachers and it has been productive. Has there really been no consultation at all? Are you sure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So I heard Bowser says she’s meeting with teachers and it has been productive. Has there really been no consultation at all? Are you sure?

I'm sure. The union president has met with everyone, and the end result has been teachers are being told one thing while parents are being told another. When they assure you that ventilation is adequate, they're lying. When they tell you there will be extra cleaning, they're lying. When teachers tell you we don't always have trash bags, soap, paper towels, or air conditioning, that's the truth. When they tell you kids will be required to self-assess their own symptoms, that's the truth, and IT IS MADNESS. To be clear: there is no extra money, there is no extra staff, and the Mayor has stated she will not let anything teachers do affect her decision on schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I heard Bowser says she’s meeting with teachers and it has been productive. Has there really been no consultation at all? Are you sure?

I'm sure. The union president has met with everyone, and the end result has been teachers are being told one thing while parents are being told another. When they assure you that ventilation is adequate, they're lying. When they tell you there will be extra cleaning, they're lying. When teachers tell you we don't always have trash bags, soap, paper towels, or air conditioning, that's the truth. When they tell you kids will be required to self-assess their own symptoms, that's the truth, and IT IS MADNESS. To be clear: there is no extra money, there is no extra staff, and the Mayor has stated she will not let anything teachers do affect her decision on schools.

As a parent who is otherwise pro schools opening, I am pissed. No extra money? Clearly we can’t just do nothing and re open it will take funds and staff. So sorry. In any case we are at a charter that already isn’t opening. This is just hell all around.

[Anonymous]

Teachers are being consulted and are helping with converting the curriculum into something that can be used for distance learning. That is, of course, only one small element of the plans that should be taking place. It does not account for building management, health and safety for teachers/students/family, student and teacher absences, substitution plans, attendance requirements, required teacher instruction time, emergency planning, entry/exit protocols, etc, etc, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are being consulted and are helping with converting the curriculum into something that can be used for distance learning. That is, of course, only one small element of the plans that should be taking place. It does not account for building management, health and safety for teachers/students/family, student and teacher absences, substitution plans, attendance requirements, required teacher instruction time, emergency planning, entry/exit protocols, etc, etc, etc

Yes teachers are helping with curriculum--but why make PK plans when there is no distance learning option? Communication is really not happening in any meaningful way. It's a clear case of the right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So I heard Bowser says she’s meeting with teachers and it has been productive. Has there really been no consultation at all? Are you sure?

I'm sure. The union president has met with everyone, and the end result has been teachers are being told one thing while parents are being told another. When they assure you that ventilation is adequate, they're lying. When they tell you there will be extra cleaning, they're lying. When teachers tell you we don't always have trash bags, soap, paper towels, or air conditioning, that's the truth. When they tell you kids will be required to self-assess their own symptoms, that's the truth, and IT IS MADNESS. To be clear: there is no extra money, there is no extra staff, and the Mayor has stated she will not let anything teachers do affect her decision on schools.

When I worked in DCPS... The bathrooms! ugh. The parents used some weird paint on the radiators that would send an oily cloud to hover by the ceiling in the winter. The rats in the walls. No supplies. Dirty mop pushing dirt around the floor in the evening. It was soooo bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are being consulted and are helping with converting the curriculum into something that can be used for distance learning. That is, of course, only one small element of the plans that should be taking place. It does not account for building management, health and safety for teachers/students/family, student and teacher absences, substitution plans, attendance requirements, required teacher instruction time, emergency planning, entry/exit protocols, etc, etc, etc

Yes teachers are helping with curriculum--but why make PK plans when there is no distance learning option? Communication is really not happening in any meaningful way. It's a clear case of the right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing.

Not saying this is the right thing- at all- but my understanding, as the plan is now, is that there would be packets available for PK families but no interaction (for example, no Teams/Zoom calls)