Just spoke to an MCPS teacher who said she was 99% sure MCPS will be DL in the fall

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I'm all some sort of in-person plan this fall, but there's no way. It was never going to be more than a hybrid plan, and if anyone thinks that MoCo can pull off the logistics required for a hybrid model in the time it has, well, you have a lot more faith in the school system than I do. I'd rather they not bother even trying and focus on improving the distance learning experience. They have to do that anyway.

Really? I'd rather they decide to get the kids back in school and then make it happen.

Under the best of circumstances, there are a lot of kids that School of the Internet just simply does not work for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP—yes, this has been known for a while. DL only.

Um no it hasn't? Mcps hasn't said anything. And the meetings
Talk about 2 options. IMO they will be forced to do the hybrid of at least 2days of f2f because none of the special needs kids are getting their adequate services.

DP here. It's not official, but it's what what some MCPS staff have been told (and have shared to others).

It's what MCPS staff have been told by whom? And how do those people know?

I'm all some sort of in-person plan this fall, but there's no way. It was never going to be more than a hybrid plan, and if anyone thinks that MoCo can pull off the logistics required for a hybrid model in the time it has, well, you have a lot more faith in the school system than I do. I'd rather they not bother even trying and focus on improving the distance learning experience. They have to do that anyway.

So it’s just your conjecture, got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My principal said (not officially, in a casual capacity ) that she expected full DL in the fall and hybrid in the spring

This makes the most sense. They can focus on getting distance learning right and it gives them more time to figure out how to do the hybrid option (which is more complicated, and I don't see how they will be ready in 8 weeks). They should try to get kids with IEPs or special considerations in the building at least one day of the week in the fall though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My principal said (not officially, in a casual capacity ) that she expected full DL in the fall and hybrid in the spring

This makes the most sense. They can focus on getting distance learning right and it gives them more time to figure out how to do the hybrid option (which is more complicated, and I don't see how they will be ready in 8 weeks). They should try to get kids with IEPs or special considerations in the building at least one day of the week in the fall though.

Not a thing that's possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP—yes, this has been known for a while. DL only.

Um no it hasn't? Mcps hasn't said anything. And the meetings
Talk about 2 options. IMO they will be forced to do the hybrid of at least 2days of f2f because none of the special needs kids are getting their adequate services.

DP here. It's not official, but it's what what some MCPS staff have been told (and have shared to others).

It's what MCPS staff have been told by whom? And how do those people know?

I'm all some sort of in-person plan this fall, but there's no way. It was never going to be more than a hybrid plan, and if anyone thinks that MoCo can pull off the logistics required for a hybrid model in the time it has, well, you have a lot more faith in the school system than I do. I'd rather they not bother even trying and focus on improving the distance learning experience. They have to do that anyway.

So it’s just your conjecture, got it.

Not conjecture. From watching MCPS be incapable of being nimble. For years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I should say they haven't a clue how they'll execute the hybrid option, not that they're going to take a pass on it.

I think this is the issue. I watched the BOE meeting earlier this week. MCPS is still in the "trying to figure things out" stage. Doing any in-person schooling, even 2 days/week, requires massive planning. School starts in 8 weeks. I am very skeptical they can prepare for in-person in such a short time.

Think of a basic issue like installing a divider on buses between the driver and students. There are 1,000+ buses. How long does it take to order that, receive it, and install them? That alone would be a 4+ week project. Next.. hand sanitizer dispensers outside all 10,000+ classrooms. How long would it take to install all those?

Fairfax made the decision 2 weeks ago to offer DL or hybrid options, and I'm sure they are busy every day doing all the prep work for return to school. I really doubt MCPS is doing the same. We go to the playground outside our ES, and I don't see any work trucks parked in the parking lot, as you'd expect if they were installing stuff.

Decide first. Then plan.

Ha! MCPS doesn’t like to plan for anything.

I agree with the PP. Zero chance MCPS offers any in person options in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP—yes, this has been known for a while. DL only.

Um no it hasn't? Mcps hasn't said anything. And the meetings
Talk about 2 options. IMO they will be forced to do the hybrid of at least 2days of f2f because none of the special needs kids are getting their adequate services.

DP here. It's not official, but it's what what some MCPS staff have been told (and have shared to others).

It's what MCPS staff have been told by whom? And how do those people know?

I'm all some sort of in-person plan this fall, but there's no way. It was never going to be more than a hybrid plan, and if anyone thinks that MoCo can pull off the logistics required for a hybrid model in the time it has, well, you have a lot more faith in the school system than I do. I'd rather they not bother even trying and focus on improving the distance learning experience. They have to do that anyway.

So it’s just your conjecture, got it.

Not conjecture. From watching MCPS be incapable of being nimble. For years.

Agree with this PP.

MCPS is just TOO big to effectively handle something like Covid. Smaller districts can be more nimble and solve the issues as they come up. MCPS is just paralyzed with inaction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with this PP.

MCPS is just TOO big to effectively handle something like Covid. Smaller districts can be more nimble and solve the issues as they come up. MCPS is just paralyzed with inaction.

I have never understood the idea that big school districts can't decide to do things.

It may be more difficult to adjust 200+ schools than 10 schools, yes, I get that. It may be more difficult to train thousands of teachers than hundreds. But the idea that MCPS's size leads to inaction? That makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with this PP.

MCPS is just TOO big to effectively handle something like Covid. Smaller districts can be more nimble and solve the issues as they come up. MCPS is just paralyzed with inaction.

I have never understood the idea that big school districts can't decide to do things.

It may be more difficult to adjust 200+ schools than 10 schools, yes, I get that. It may be more difficult to train thousands of teachers than hundreds. But the idea that MCPS's size leads to inaction? That makes no sense.

I think MCPS takes action, but slowly the way that you turn an air craft carrier, not a speed boat. People get frustrated that the course correction is taking too long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP—yes, this has been known for a while. DL only.

Um no it hasn't? Mcps hasn't said anything. And the meetings
Talk about 2 options. IMO they will be forced to do the hybrid of at least 2days of f2f because none of the special needs kids are getting their adequate services.

DP here. It's not official, but it's what what some MCPS staff have been told (and have shared to others).

It's what MCPS staff have been told by whom? And how do those people know?

I'm all some sort of in-person plan this fall, but there's no way. It was never going to be more than a hybrid plan, and if anyone thinks that MoCo can pull off the logistics required for a hybrid model in the time it has, well, you have a lot more faith in the school system than I do. I'd rather they not bother even trying and focus on improving the distance learning experience. They have to do that anyway.

So it’s just your conjecture, got it.

Not conjecture. From watching MCPS be incapable of being nimble. For years.

Yes, that’s conjecture based on your experience with MCPS, dear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with this PP.

MCPS is just TOO big to effectively handle something like Covid. Smaller districts can be more nimble and solve the issues as they come up. MCPS is just paralyzed with inaction.

I have never understood the idea that big school districts can't decide to do things.

It may be more difficult to adjust 200+ schools than 10 schools, yes, I get that. It may be more difficult to train thousands of teachers than hundreds. But the idea that MCPS's size leads to inaction? That makes no sense.

It's the MCPS culture, that's why. Slow-moving, never innovative, always a follower not a leader.

Meanwhile, let's look at Miami-Dade schools, which is a large district as well. How did they prepare at the start of this year?

In Miami, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said he started planning for this in January when he first heard about the coronavirus crisis in China. The Miami-Dade County Public Schools had already invested in digital technology, and the district began creating an online curriculum, working with the FBI and the Secret Service on digital security.

As the crisis arrived in the United States, Carvalho negotiated an agreement with the teachers’ union for remote learning weeks before the schools closed. The district surveyed families to find out who needed computers and distributed 60,000 devices. A plan to feed all 350,000 students was put in place.

“If we are going to persist, let’s do it right,” Carvalho said. “Let’s do it big.”

To be sure, there are complaints. But instruction across the district began two days after schools went dark.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/plunging-into-remote-learning-families-find-stress-chaos-and-some-surprising-wins/2020/03/27/36429de4-6f90-11ea-aa80-c2470c6b2034_story.html

Compare that to the pitiful MCPS response and excuses that they could not have foreseen this. How did Miami-Dade see it but MCPS did not? Poor leadership.

Now let's look a this coming fall. Miami-Dade will have 4 options available to parents, ranging from 100% DL to 100% full-time in school:
https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/education-on-6/miami-dade-to-vote-on-districts-school-reopening-plan/2256586/

Their Board of Ed passed the plan a few days ago, and they're hard at work on implementing it -- setting up plexiglas dividers and so on. What is MCPS doing? Twiddling their thumbs while there are 8 weeks until school starts.

It's infuriating, because it's a lack of leadership at MCPS that is giving us this poor result. Miami-Dade is pulling it offer, and we aren't. Why is that?

[Anonymous]

Because MCPS does not put kids' education first. They make sure they can serve meals (from 10 sites to over 40+ sites), worry about equity (students need to have time to get meal so nothing in between 11am-1pm), spend resource on hiring consultant to examine school boundaries, spend resource on restorative justice, etc....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with this PP.

MCPS is just TOO big to effectively handle something like Covid. Smaller districts can be more nimble and solve the issues as they come up. MCPS is just paralyzed with inaction.

I have never understood the idea that big school districts can't decide to do things.

It may be more difficult to adjust 200+ schools than 10 schools, yes, I get that. It may be more difficult to train thousands of teachers than hundreds. But the idea that MCPS's size leads to inaction? That makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Agree with this PP.

MCPS is just TOO big to effectively handle something like Covid. Smaller districts can be more nimble and solve the issues as they come up. MCPS is just paralyzed with inaction.

I have never understood the idea that big school districts can't decide to do things.

It may be more difficult to adjust 200+ schools than 10 schools, yes, I get that. It may be more difficult to train thousands of teachers than hundreds. But the idea that MCPS's size leads to inaction? That makes no sense.

I think MCPS takes action, but slowly the way that you turn an air craft carrier, not a speed boat. People get frustrated that the course correction is taking too long.

This is a complex but solvable problem. I'm not impressed with Jack Smith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure they're scrambling now that they realize their lack of planning means they're way behind the eight ball and yet somehow will have to get kids back in school at least part of the week. They're going to look pretty darn incompetent if every other district in the area makes it happen and they don't because they dragged their feet too long. I mean, there probably isn't a limitless supply of hand sanitizer machines -- Fairfac and other districts now have a jump on that.

Hand sanitizer is unhealthy to constantly use. They should put in hand washing machines like the disney cruises have. There is no safe way to get them back given people aren't being responsible now and numbers are going up.

1 hand wash station. 20 kids. Even at a lightning-fast 30 seconds per kid (5 sec to wet, 20 to wash, 5 to rinse), it takes 10 minutes out of the day just to enter a classroom. You’ve got to figure at least 15 minute for wiggly, distractible elementary-school kids).

Alcohol-based sanitizer is much faster, and safe enough as long as you’re not ingesting it.

[Anonymous]

All public schools in the DMV will be online in the Fall. What sane teacher would be willing to teach in person and have a bunch of kids coughing in their faces? It is a pipe dream to think there will be any in person teaching until next Fall. Let’s be realistic folks. Same with Universities. It just ain’t gonna happen.