A standing ovation for Dr. McKnight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many things we can gripe about re MCPS, but I am quite alright with school staying open. We can't shut down because a few people want things closed. Should they communicate and report better than they have? Absolutely. But no more shutdowns.

Schools open does not equate to schools teaching students.

I’m not sure what is happening at the elementary and middle school levels, but high school students are being housed in cafeterias and auditoriums because teachers are absent and there are not enough substitutes. For these classes, all teaching has come to a halt. Students with disabilities are the most affected because their supports and services have ended.

On average, what percentage of a high school day is spent in a cafeteria/auditorium? Across the district, how many students are impacted this way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every time teachers unions pull this stuff, they build support for an even bigger Republican wave this Fall, and probably in 2024. Parents and kids have been railroaded on this for two straight years. I guess Virginia didn't sink in. It's crazy to me that Biden hasn't called teachers out forcefully yet; he's committing political suicide.

It would be political suicide to call out a bunch of teacher’s unions. We’re already in a national teacher shortage and in a substitute shortage during this pandemic. Imagine the fall out if a bunch of teachers hear the president, or congress, or their governor saying bad things about teachers and their motives now. Imagine lots more teachers resigning or worse going on strike.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many things we can gripe about re MCPS, but I am quite alright with school staying open. We can't shut down because a few people want things closed. Should they communicate and report better than they have? Absolutely. But no more shutdowns.

Schools open does not equate to schools teaching students.

I’m not sure what is happening at the elementary and middle school levels, but high school students are being housed in cafeterias and auditoriums because teachers are absent and there are not enough substitutes. For these classes, all teaching has come to a halt. Students with disabilities are the most affected because their supports and services have ended.

On average, what percentage of a high school day is spent in a cafeteria/auditorium? Across the district, how many students are impacted this way?

+1 facts and data, not anecdotes and feelings.

This is why MCPS is now looking at each school case by case rather than just the 5% rule across the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cases coming down in MoCo already. MoCo hospitals well under critical levels. only 29 bus routes affected as of today.

Leading isn't easy, especially in times of crisis. But she held strong in the face of parents who ignored science, numbers and the well being of our children.

School remained open, continues to be open, and our children are learning in person. Well done Dr. McKnight. Count me in the camp of hoping she gets the job full time.

And for when this debate inevitably happens again (whether it be the spring, fall or winter)...this is now the 2nd time the county has been right to keep schools open (see Fall 2021 "Delta" wave). Schools stay open, debate is over.

Also, a big kudos to the principals in MoCo who lead each of their respective schools through the wave as well. Deserve as much credit as Dr. McKnight.

+ 1 MILLION!! Yeah for following science and steadfast resolve! So happy she didn’t cave to anxiety and fear.

We have reached the peak and pushed through it. Sure it was bumpy and ugly but this is what “we are in this together” looks like.
Brava McKnight!

+2. Was it perfect? No, far from it. But if DCUM is a taste of the hysteria she had to deal with, than kudos to her for standing firm.

+3 Thank goodness she withstood all that pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t 94% of teachers in union vote No Confidence i her? That is a 6% Rotten Tomatoes score. Not good. Very very bad.

I wonder how much of this no-confidence vote is due to the changing stories and poor communication? Most teachers I know IRL are in favor of the schools remaining open, but have voiced frustration with how it has been handled. MCPS should have stuck with the original story of not going virtual unless directed by the state rather than coming up with an arbitrary percentage and color coding system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many things we can gripe about re MCPS, but I am quite alright with school staying open. We can't shut down because a few people want things closed. Should they communicate and report better than they have? Absolutely. But no more shutdowns.

Schools open does not equate to schools teaching students.

I’m not sure what is happening at the elementary and middle school levels, but high school students are being housed in cafeterias and auditoriums because teachers are absent and there are not enough substitutes. For these classes, all teaching has come to a halt. Students with disabilities are the most affected because their supports and services have ended.

My elementary kid has had full classes all week.

My elementary kid has had quizzes, group projects, homework (unfortunately!), full classes and no teachers out whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every time teachers unions pull this stuff, they build support for an even bigger Republican wave this Fall, and probably in 2024. Parents and kids have been railroaded on this for two straight years. I guess Virginia didn't sink in. It's crazy to me that Biden hasn't called teachers out forcefully yet; he's committing political suicide.

It would be political suicide to call out a bunch of teacher’s unions. We’re already in a national teacher shortage and in a substitute shortage during this pandemic. Imagine the fall out if a bunch of teachers hear the president, or congress, or their governor saying bad things about teachers and their motives now. Imagine lots more teachers resigning or worse going on strike.

(NP). There is no need to call out "teachers": Afterall, 99% of them are back and working hard. But he definitely should have called out Chicago--that was some serious BS--and supported the Dem mayor to boot. Nothing but upside there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She, Erlich, Hogan and Biden are the American embarrassment.

"Elrich" (Embarrassing that you keep doing that.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t 94% of teachers in union vote No Confidence i her? That is a 6% Rotten Tomatoes score. Not good. Very very bad.

I wonder how much of this no-confidence vote is due to the changing stories and poor communication? Most teachers I know IRL are in favor of the schools remaining open, but have voiced frustration with how it has been handled. MCPS should have stuck with the original story of not going virtual unless directed by the state rather than coming up with an arbitrary percentage and color coding system.

less than half of the teachers voted. Based on that alone, most people, teachers included, are fine with staying open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that the acting Superintendent and her staff is doing their best, and that the BOE is doing their best, and that all these people only have the best interests of our children and their teachers in mind. I am aware MCPS administrators must be very stressed. I thank them for working so hard.

But my goodness. Their best is abysmal.

Perhaps it's the circumstances that are abysmal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many things we can gripe about re MCPS, but I am quite alright with school staying open. We can't shut down because a few people want things closed. Should they communicate and report better than they have? Absolutely. But no more shutdowns.

+1

Yup

[Anonymous]

Couldn't agree more with OP. Leaders of every organization are facing such an enormous task-- the logistics alone should call for a much, much larger staff but they are stuck doing it with labor shortages and lots of sick leave. So many constituencies pulling from different directions. School isn't great this year, but it's a pandemic. My kids' experiences have been as good as they could have been given the circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many things we can gripe about re MCPS, but I am quite alright with school staying open. We can't shut down because a few people want things closed. Should they communicate and report better than they have? Absolutely. But no more shutdowns.

+1

Yup

Agreed. Vaccines are available to those who want them as are mask. We should focus on ensuring that hospitals have the equipment and staff they need to manage the critically ill. Continue to push and educate folks to get the Covid shot, and do what is necessary to protect those who truly can’t(babies, toddlers, immune compromised). Will people still get sick with Covid? Yes. But we’re never going to get to a point where that is not true. Leaders need to start making that point clear and wishing science denying folks godspeed and come up with reasonable policies like masking during the height of the cold/flu/Covid/Pneumonia season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Every time teachers unions pull this stuff, they build support for an even bigger Republican wave this Fall, and probably in 2024. Parents and kids have been railroaded on this for two straight years. I guess Virginia didn't sink in. It's crazy to me that Biden hasn't called teachers out forcefully yet; he's committing political suicide.

It would be political suicide to call out a bunch of teacher’s unions. We’re already in a national teacher shortage and in a substitute shortage during this pandemic. Imagine the fall out if a bunch of teachers hear the president, or congress, or their governor saying bad things about teachers and their motives now. Imagine lots more teachers resigning or worse going on strike.

(NP). There is no need to call out "teachers": Afterall, 99% of them are back and working hard. But he definitely should have called out Chicago--that was some serious BS--and supported the Dem mayor to boot. Nothing but upside there.

DP

I was surprised Biden didn’t do that also.

[Anonymous]

I’m glad schools stayed open- and for an interim superintendent to stay the unpopular course? Good for her.