Fccps will have all students in the buildings by the end of January. Woot woot

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This fell apart pretty fast, and I agree with PP that I don't think this is all FCC parents. Noonan's email came out at 3 PM yesterday - don't you people take time to process before spewing anonymously online?! My frustration is with my friends and neighbors. Lots of chatter yesterday evening about getting an extra week of break and buying last minute tickets for Disney, Universal, etc. NOT THE POINT of this delay!

I’m an FCC parent who commented that. I am still processing this for sure and I say that as someone who really does want my MD kid back but I am questioning the timing. I think most of these rabid FCPS posters are forgetting that our 2 elementary schools did go back in person for all of 2 weeks before we took a pause at Thanksgiving but the numbers are so much worse now. I just don’t see the numbers being there for a January 12 return but hopefully before spring.

I’m really disappointed to hear that about people taking trips. We have been hunkering down and following the guidance including very limited Halloween and staying just our family of 4 for both holidays and 2 birthdays. I’d really like to get kids back in school and this is the sacrifice we are willing to make. This is just so frustrating.

It’s extremely frustrating and the timing is beyond awful. I can’t help but think Noonan is determined to stick with his timeline to bring ALL students back in January and place blame if he can’t. He’s using a select few groups to test out his metrics and mitigation at the worst possible time. I have not heard a huge amount of support for this but he’s forging ahead anyway. Why can’t anyone stop him?

He shouldn’t be in a position where he is allowed to “experiment” with metrics and mitigation levels. Teachers as test subjects? What a morale booster. What is scary is that you are actually round 2 of the test subjects. The custodial staff might be considered round 1 and look how they fared.

It would be great if there were some higher authority to keep such madness in check but I am afraid it is what they might call “turtles all the way UP.” I assume you have the same Public Health head honcho that FCPS does - Dr. Gloria? The one who couldn’t even control a TB outbreak properly in 2013? The one who compared a covid outbreak in a school building to a lead pipe problem in the White House at a recent FCPS school board meeting?

I guess you can pray to the very highest authority (unless you are atheist) that Noonan finds common sense or just a base level of humanity quickly. Wait a few months when teachers are (hopefully) vaccinated and/or classes can be held outdoors.

He is literally following CDC guidance. That's a pretty good 'higher authority". He's also following the governor's guidance. Again "higher authority." He also worked collaboratively with a group of teachers, who all signed the new guidance. I am super impressed by Dr. Noonan.

Lol i’m sorry what did teachers “sign”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This fell apart pretty fast, and I agree with PP that I don't think this is all FCC parents. Noonan's email came out at 3 PM yesterday - don't you people take time to process before spewing anonymously online?! My frustration is with my friends and neighbors. Lots of chatter yesterday evening about getting an extra week of break and buying last minute tickets for Disney, Universal, etc. NOT THE POINT of this delay!

I’m an FCC parent who commented that. I am still processing this for sure and I say that as someone who really does want my MD kid back but I am questioning the timing. I think most of these rabid FCPS posters are forgetting that our 2 elementary schools did go back in person for all of 2 weeks before we took a pause at Thanksgiving but the numbers are so much worse now. I just don’t see the numbers being there for a January 12 return but hopefully before spring.

I’m really disappointed to hear that about people taking trips. We have been hunkering down and following the guidance including very limited Halloween and staying just our family of 4 for both holidays and 2 birthdays. I’d really like to get kids back in school and this is the sacrifice we are willing to make. This is just so frustrating.

It’s extremely frustrating and the timing is beyond awful. I can’t help but think Noonan is determined to stick with his timeline to bring ALL students back in January and place blame if he can’t. He’s using a select few groups to test out his metrics and mitigation at the worst possible time. I have not heard a huge amount of support for this but he’s forging ahead anyway. Why can’t anyone stop him?

He shouldn’t be in a position where he is allowed to “experiment” with metrics and mitigation levels. Teachers as test subjects? What a morale booster. What is scary is that you are actually round 2 of the test subjects. The custodial staff might be considered round 1 and look how they fared.

It would be great if there were some higher authority to keep such madness in check but I am afraid it is what they might call “turtles all the way UP.” I assume you have the same Public Health head honcho that FCPS does - Dr. Gloria? The one who couldn’t even control a TB outbreak properly in 2013? The one who compared a covid outbreak in a school building to a lead pipe problem in the White House at a recent FCPS school board meeting?

I guess you can pray to the very highest authority (unless you are atheist) that Noonan finds common sense or just a base level of humanity quickly. Wait a few months when teachers are (hopefully) vaccinated and/or classes can be held outdoors.

Agree 100%. It’s also worth noting, for all the articles about schools reopening and why they should, there has been very little input from custodians, bus drivers, or staff who have been in person working with students this year. That’s a huge red flag.

Nobody ever listens to them. They’re listened to and valued even less than teachers. And yes they are the highest risk and the ones who have already shown to be most frequently infected in schools that opened and have data. The group least infected? Admin but of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers should go back to the buildings and work from the buildings. It is the best way to move forward to opening schools. Teachers back in the buildings can work out any technical issues, childcare issues, etc. so then it is not a hindrance to getting kids back to school.

Once that is all worked out, then it’s time to start phasing the kids back in. Distance Learning has gone on long enough. The minor risk is worth the benefits to society.

Unless you are a school employee who knows the status of the building and its operations,* you are not in a position to determine how minor or major that risk is. At least, as a parent, you have a choice to keep your kids home, and if they are young you can be pretty certain they won’t fall seriously ill or die of covid (even if they could kill grandpa through asymptomatic transmission).

These overeager parents remind of the car sitting behind me urging me with loud honks to take that dangerous left turn with poor visibility because they can’t be bothered to wait for the green arrow. You know what happens when you get hit by an oncoming vehicle? To them... nothing.

*You know who would be experts on that sort of thing? The custodians — oh, wait...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This fell apart pretty fast, and I agree with PP that I don't think this is all FCC parents. Noonan's email came out at 3 PM yesterday - don't you people take time to process before spewing anonymously online?! My frustration is with my friends and neighbors. Lots of chatter yesterday evening about getting an extra week of break and buying last minute tickets for Disney, Universal, etc. NOT THE POINT of this delay!

I’m an FCC parent who commented that. I am still processing this for sure and I say that as someone who really does want my MD kid back but I am questioning the timing. I think most of these rabid FCPS posters are forgetting that our 2 elementary schools did go back in person for all of 2 weeks before we took a pause at Thanksgiving but the numbers are so much worse now. I just don’t see the numbers being there for a January 12 return but hopefully before spring.

I’m really disappointed to hear that about people taking trips. We have been hunkering down and following the guidance including very limited Halloween and staying just our family of 4 for both holidays and 2 birthdays. I’d really like to get kids back in school and this is the sacrifice we are willing to make. This is just so frustrating.

It’s extremely frustrating and the timing is beyond awful. I can’t help but think Noonan is determined to stick with his timeline to bring ALL students back in January and place blame if he can’t. He’s using a select few groups to test out his metrics and mitigation at the worst possible time. I have not heard a huge amount of support for this but he’s forging ahead anyway. Why can’t anyone stop him?

He shouldn’t be in a position where he is allowed to “experiment” with metrics and mitigation levels. Teachers as test subjects? What a morale booster. What is scary is that you are actually round 2 of the test subjects. The custodial staff might be considered round 1 and look how they fared.

It would be great if there were some higher authority to keep such madness in check but I am afraid it is what they might call “turtles all the way UP.” I assume you have the same Public Health head honcho that FCPS does - Dr. Gloria? The one who couldn’t even control a TB outbreak properly in 2013? The one who compared a covid outbreak in a school building to a lead pipe problem in the White House at a recent FCPS school board meeting?

I guess you can pray to the very highest authority (unless you are atheist) that Noonan finds common sense or just a base level of humanity quickly. Wait a few months when teachers are (hopefully) vaccinated and/or classes can be held outdoors.

He is literally following CDC guidance. That's a pretty good 'higher authority". He's also following the governor's guidance. Again "higher authority." He also worked collaboratively with a group of teachers, who all signed the new guidance. I am super impressed by Dr. Noonan.

Lol i’m sorry what did teachers “sign”?

Please ask anyone on that committee if he worked collaboratively with a group of teachers to come up with this planned and if they signed anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Fed. And there is a piece of this people are missing in the discussion of the DMV’s push to reopen. My agency is massive and employees skew female. And we have been circling for months in an almost entirely telework posture. We are in the same posture in the DMV that we were in March. We are a public contact heavy agency and right now, those positions are trying to work over the phone, but key pieces don’t work. A few people have volunteered to go in and process mail, which is months behind despite us having time sensitive legal deadlines.

And right now, my agency can’t open until schools reopen. Because the reality is they have too many women a s there are too many childcare issues for them to even try. And they are literally saying, once schools reopen, we will start the return to work phase in. In the meantime, we have folks working split shift of 5am to 9am and 4pm to 8pm to deal with DL and childcare.

Mind you, I’m not rooting for a fast reopening of the government, because that pushes me back into the office. But the cold, hard reality of having the federal government as the massive local employer is that the needs of the federal government are considered. And the federal government needs DMV schools open. And since Fauci and the CDC say schools should open, it looks bad that May agency can’t process mail from citizens in Texas and provide a response because schools in the DMV aren’t open.

Just a different perspective. It’s been ten months. Reopening the economy and the nation has to start somewhere. And it logistically, the schools have to open so that federal agencies can reopen, and federal agencies have to reopen so that various other parts of the economy that rely on some of our services are shutdown right now can reopen. It’s dominos. Schools aren’t open, so agencies aren’t able to do all of their tasks, so some types of Medicaid reimbursements can’t happen, so they are getting backlogged, which is stressing health care providers and hospital, who are already stressed by COVID. Now react this across multiple sectors. Significant portions of the federal government are not fully reopened and are stalled.

And ai know you are going to say, well feds should just find other childcare. But the reality is there are too many of us. And then we have to take the leave to which we are entitled for COVID related childcare. And you can’t replace people easily in specialized positions with background check. When background checks are... performed y people who are waiting for schools to reopen.

And, of course, our schools also serve a military heavy community. Whose moms can’t quit or take a day off.

Understand what is happening in the DMV is much bigger than parents had a temper tantrum and won. We are in a unique position in that people in all 50 states are stuck until our schools reopen.

Also a fed. So I get it. But why NOW. It’s not safe now. My agency isn’t mom-heavy and we also perform an in person function. But we are still telework because it’s not safe for us to be back. Wait 2-3 months. None of what you write above is wrong. It’s valid insight. But it doesn’t explain why now is the right time, except that people are fed up. Doesn’t make it safe.

There is some try to what you say. For us, the cold, hard reality is that we’ve been creative with tape and glue over a system not designed for full telework. In our case, with 1980s legacy systems. Just like teachers have getting creative to make it work. But, there are things we cannot do in this operational status, and the longer this goes on and the bigger the backlog is getting and the more we are are unable to meet legal obligations. It’s like pressure in a pipe. It’s now, because we’re going to explode. Just like we can make things okay for the public for a while during a normal funding spat shutdown, the longer it goes on, the more problems pile up. And in this case, the pressure is so much we are going to explode.

It’s not like Trump or Trump appointees are making any of this any easier.

And no. It’s not safe now. We should have had school open from August to November so Feds could really push out the worst of the COVID backlog. Then have a second closure Thanksgiving to early spring. This would have reduced stress on the federal government by clearing the backlog in a safer environment. But school didn’t open in August. And to be fair, since the federal government need is so great, the feds should have been pouring money and PPE and logistical support into making it as safe as possible to get as many kids back as soon as possible. But, that would have required common sense and planning by the Trump Admin. So, here we are.

It’s a bad situation. I get teachers are afraid of going in and getting sick. I’m afraid of going in and getting sick. But, we have people in this country literally dying because because DMV public schools are closed. And I especially see the healthcare sector, where federal response is stalled in part by telework. To some extent that is driving the piss poor government response the in vaccinations and testing and PPE and the stress in the healthcare system.

I would imagine the answer to why NOW is that Biden is getting sworn in in 3 weeks and his COVID and transition teams see the nasty cycle of schools not opening due to the poor response to COVID and the poor response to COVID a being due to schools not opening. I hope this means the Federal government gets serious about helping DMV publics specifically. When Biden says back to school in 100 days, I’m sure the DMV and schools on military bases get priority. There was at least money in the COVID bill that just passed.

And here’s the calculus that is being made. If a dozen or 100 or 10000 DMV area teachers die and a dozen or 100 or 1000 DMV area feds die, its worth it to save 100,000 people or more by getting our COVID response act together. It’s a cost benefit analysis.

[Anonymous]

I don’t doubt the fed is speaking bare objective facts but I can also tell you, damn. I’m a mom, daughter, sister and I am NOT dying for this job LOL I hate to break it to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Please ask anyone on that committee if he worked collaboratively with a group of teachers to come up with this planned and if they signed anything.

well he said they worked collaboratively and reached consensus. And their names are on the documents as members of the task force. That puts him head and shoulders above any other superintendent for the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This fell apart pretty fast, and I agree with PP that I don't think this is all FCC parents. Noonan's email came out at 3 PM yesterday - don't you people take time to process before spewing anonymously online?! My frustration is with my friends and neighbors. Lots of chatter yesterday evening about getting an extra week of break and buying last minute tickets for Disney, Universal, etc. NOT THE POINT of this delay!

I’m an FCC parent who commented that. I am still processing this for sure and I say that as someone who really does want my MD kid back but I am questioning the timing. I think most of these rabid FCPS posters are forgetting that our 2 elementary schools did go back in person for all of 2 weeks before we took a pause at Thanksgiving but the numbers are so much worse now. I just don’t see the numbers being there for a January 12 return but hopefully before spring.

I’m really disappointed to hear that about people taking trips. We have been hunkering down and following the guidance including very limited Halloween and staying just our family of 4 for both holidays and 2 birthdays. I’d really like to get kids back in school and this is the sacrifice we are willing to make. This is just so frustrating.

It’s extremely frustrating and the timing is beyond awful. I can’t help but think Noonan is determined to stick with his timeline to bring ALL students back in January and place blame if he can’t. He’s using a select few groups to test out his metrics and mitigation at the worst possible time. I have not heard a huge amount of support for this but he’s forging ahead anyway. Why can’t anyone stop him?

He shouldn’t be in a position where he is allowed to “experiment” with metrics and mitigation levels. Teachers as test subjects? What a morale booster. What is scary is that you are actually round 2 of the test subjects. The custodial staff might be considered round 1 and look how they fared.

It would be great if there were some higher authority to keep such madness in check but I am afraid it is what they might call “turtles all the way UP.” I assume you have the same Public Health head honcho that FCPS does - Dr. Gloria? The one who couldn’t even control a TB outbreak properly in 2013? The one who compared a covid outbreak in a school building to a lead pipe problem in the White House at a recent FCPS school board meeting?

I guess you can pray to the very highest authority (unless you are atheist) that Noonan finds common sense or just a base level of humanity quickly. Wait a few months when teachers are (hopefully) vaccinated and/or classes can be held outdoors.

He is literally following CDC guidance. That's a pretty good 'higher authority". He's also following the governor's guidance. Again "higher authority." He also worked collaboratively with a group of teachers, who all signed the new guidance. I am super impressed by Dr. Noonan.

I guess you have NOT been following what has happened to the CDC under the Trump administration. All of its plans and messaging have been compromised by even “higher authorities” (turtles, I tell you, turtles). Look, I don’t dislike our Governor or Dr. Fauci, but they are wrong if they are asking unvaccinated teachers to return to the classroom. I was livid when Fauci came out with that “a mask is not necessary” message last winter. I don’t care that it was a ploy to save masks for doctors and nurses. As a public health official and epidemiologist, it was his duty to be honest with the public. If the citizens lose faith in public health agencies, you know what happens? Well, here we are.

I digress. Dr. Noonan’s job is to protect his own community, including those who work directly beneath him. He may be a decent individual, but he is terrible at his job if he can’t be a big boy and withstand pressure from loud dissenting voices and corporate overlords UNTIL TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE SAFELY VACCINATED.

[Anonymous]

Yep. That’s the flaw. The schools aren’t going to stay hybrid because they are going to lost just enough staff to make it grind to a halt. Either by quitting or quarantine. So if federal labor needs are what is driving this it will backfire.

[Anonymous]

as affluent parents pull out their kids to private schools are bleeding funding, back to work teachers or off to the unemployment line!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:as affluent parents pull out their kids to private schools are bleeding funding, back to work teachers or off to the unemployment line!

Joke’s on you. The state has already said it’s a hold harmless year and school districts won’t lose any funding for attrition this year lololol your plan didn’t work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Please ask anyone on that committee if he worked collaboratively with a group of teachers to come up with this planned and if they signed anything.

well he said they worked collaboratively and reached consensus. And their names are on the documents as members of the task force. That puts him head and shoulders above any other superintendent for the area.

He’s following all the best science out there. Are teachers public health officials now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Fed. And there is a piece of this people are missing in the discussion of the DMV’s push to reopen. My agency is massive and employees skew female. And we have been circling for months in an almost entirely telework posture. We are in the same posture in the DMV that we were in March. We are a public contact heavy agency and right now, those positions are trying to work over the phone, but key pieces don’t work. A few people have volunteered to go in and process mail, which is months behind despite us having time sensitive legal deadlines.

And right now, my agency can’t open until schools reopen. Because the reality is they have too many women a s there are too many childcare issues for them to even try. And they are literally saying, once schools reopen, we will start the return to work phase in. In the meantime, we have folks working split shift of 5am to 9am and 4pm to 8pm to deal with DL and childcare.

Mind you, I’m not rooting for a fast reopening of the government, because that pushes me back into the office. But the cold, hard reality of having the federal government as the massive local employer is that the needs of the federal government are considered. And the federal government needs DMV schools open. And since Fauci and the CDC say schools should open, it looks bad that May agency can’t process mail from citizens in Texas and provide a response because schools in the DMV aren’t open.

Just a different perspective. It’s been ten months. Reopening the economy and the nation has to start somewhere. And it logistically, the schools have to open so that federal agencies can reopen, and federal agencies have to reopen so that various other parts of the economy that rely on some of our services are shutdown right now can reopen. It’s dominos. Schools aren’t open, so agencies aren’t able to do all of their tasks, so some types of Medicaid reimbursements can’t happen, so they are getting backlogged, which is stressing health care providers and hospital, who are already stressed by COVID. Now react this across multiple sectors. Significant portions of the federal government are not fully reopened and are stalled.

And ai know you are going to say, well feds should just find other childcare. But the reality is there are too many of us. And then we have to take the leave to which we are entitled for COVID related childcare. And you can’t replace people easily in specialized positions with background check. When background checks are... performed y people who are waiting for schools to reopen.

And, of course, our schools also serve a military heavy community. Whose moms can’t quit or take a day off.

Understand what is happening in the DMV is much bigger than parents had a temper tantrum and won. We are in a unique position in that people in all 50 states are stuck until our schools reopen.

Also a fed. So I get it. But why NOW. It’s not safe now. My agency isn’t mom-heavy and we also perform an in person function. But we are still telework because it’s not safe for us to be back. Wait 2-3 months. None of what you write above is wrong. It’s valid insight. But it doesn’t explain why now is the right time, except that people are fed up. Doesn’t make it safe.

Also a fed who understands the domino situation but also agree with why now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This fell apart pretty fast, and I agree with PP that I don't think this is all FCC parents. Noonan's email came out at 3 PM yesterday - don't you people take time to process before spewing anonymously online?! My frustration is with my friends and neighbors. Lots of chatter yesterday evening about getting an extra week of break and buying last minute tickets for Disney, Universal, etc. NOT THE POINT of this delay!

I’m an FCC parent who commented that. I am still processing this for sure and I say that as someone who really does want my MD kid back but I am questioning the timing. I think most of these rabid FCPS posters are forgetting that our 2 elementary schools did go back in person for all of 2 weeks before we took a pause at Thanksgiving but the numbers are so much worse now. I just don’t see the numbers being there for a January 12 return but hopefully before spring.

I’m really disappointed to hear that about people taking trips. We have been hunkering down and following the guidance including very limited Halloween and staying just our family of 4 for both holidays and 2 birthdays. I’d really like to get kids back in school and this is the sacrifice we are willing to make. This is just so frustrating.

It’s extremely frustrating and the timing is beyond awful. I can’t help but think Noonan is determined to stick with his timeline to bring ALL students back in January and place blame if he can’t. He’s using a select few groups to test out his metrics and mitigation at the worst possible time. I have not heard a huge amount of support for this but he’s forging ahead anyway. Why can’t anyone stop him?

He shouldn’t be in a position where he is allowed to “experiment” with metrics and mitigation levels. Teachers as test subjects? What a morale booster. What is scary is that you are actually round 2 of the test subjects. The custodial staff might be considered round 1 and look how they fared.

It would be great if there were some higher authority to keep such madness in check but I am afraid it is what they might call “turtles all the way UP.” I assume you have the same Public Health head honcho that FCPS does - Dr. Gloria? The one who couldn’t even control a TB outbreak properly in 2013? The one who compared a covid outbreak in a school building to a lead pipe problem in the White House at a recent FCPS school board meeting?

I guess you can pray to the very highest authority (unless you are atheist) that Noonan finds common sense or just a base level of humanity quickly. Wait a few months when teachers are (hopefully) vaccinated and/or classes can be held outdoors.

He is literally following CDC guidance. That's a pretty good 'higher authority". He's also following the governor's guidance. Again "higher authority." He also worked collaboratively with a group of teachers, who all signed the new guidance. I am super impressed by Dr. Noonan.

I guess you have NOT been following what has happened to the CDC under the Trump administration. All of its plans and messaging have been compromised by even “higher authorities” (turtles, I tell you, turtles). Look, I don’t dislike our Governor or Dr. Fauci, but they are wrong if they are asking unvaccinated teachers to return to the classroom. I was livid when Fauci came out with that “a mask is not necessary” message last winter. I don’t care that it was a ploy to save masks for doctors and nurses. As a public health official and epidemiologist, it was his duty to be honest with the public. If the citizens lose faith in public health agencies, you know what happens? Well, here we are.

I digress. Dr. Noonan’s job is to protect his own community, including those who work directly beneath him. He may be a decent individual, but he is terrible at his job if he can’t be a big boy and withstand pressure from loud dissenting voices and corporate overlords UNTIL TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE SAFELY VACCINATED.

Agree that trump and his goons are deplorable. But it’s not just the federal agencies and trumpers proclaiming that school can be safe. Look around the country and schools that are open elsewhere. Look at all the non-govt guidance coming out. Mitigation works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This fell apart pretty fast, and I agree with PP that I don't think this is all FCC parents. Noonan's email came out at 3 PM yesterday - don't you people take time to process before spewing anonymously online?! My frustration is with my friends and neighbors. Lots of chatter yesterday evening about getting an extra week of break and buying last minute tickets for Disney, Universal, etc. NOT THE POINT of this delay!

I’m an FCC parent who commented that. I am still processing this for sure and I say that as someone who really does want my MD kid back but I am questioning the timing. I think most of these rabid FCPS posters are forgetting that our 2 elementary schools did go back in person for all of 2 weeks before we took a pause at Thanksgiving but the numbers are so much worse now. I just don’t see the numbers being there for a January 12 return but hopefully before spring.

I’m really disappointed to hear that about people taking trips. We have been hunkering down and following the guidance including very limited Halloween and staying just our family of 4 for both holidays and 2 birthdays. I’d really like to get kids back in school and this is the sacrifice we are willing to make. This is just so frustrating.

It’s extremely frustrating and the timing is beyond awful. I can’t help but think Noonan is determined to stick with his timeline to bring ALL students back in January and place blame if he can’t. He’s using a select few groups to test out his metrics and mitigation at the worst possible time. I have not heard a huge amount of support for this but he’s forging ahead anyway. Why can’t anyone stop him?

He shouldn’t be in a position where he is allowed to “experiment” with metrics and mitigation levels. Teachers as test subjects? What a morale booster. What is scary is that you are actually round 2 of the test subjects. The custodial staff might be considered round 1 and look how they fared.

It would be great if there were some higher authority to keep such madness in check but I am afraid it is what they might call “turtles all the way UP.” I assume you have the same Public Health head honcho that FCPS does - Dr. Gloria? The one who couldn’t even control a TB outbreak properly in 2013? The one who compared a covid outbreak in a school building to a lead pipe problem in the White House at a recent FCPS school board meeting?

I guess you can pray to the very highest authority (unless you are atheist) that Noonan finds common sense or just a base level of humanity quickly. Wait a few months when teachers are (hopefully) vaccinated and/or classes can be held outdoors.

He is literally following CDC guidance. That's a pretty good 'higher authority". He's also following the governor's guidance. Again "higher authority." He also worked collaboratively with a group of teachers, who all signed the new guidance. I am super impressed by Dr. Noonan.

I guess you have NOT been following what has happened to the CDC under the Trump administration. All of its plans and messaging have been compromised by even “higher authorities” (turtles, I tell you, turtles). Look, I don’t dislike our Governor or Dr. Fauci, but they are wrong if they are asking unvaccinated teachers to return to the classroom. I was livid when Fauci came out with that “a mask is not necessary” message last winter. I don’t care that it was a ploy to save masks for doctors and nurses. As a public health official and epidemiologist, it was his duty to be honest with the public. If the citizens lose faith in public health agencies, you know what happens? Well, here we are.

I digress. Dr. Noonan’s job is to protect his own community, including those who work directly beneath him. He may be a decent individual, but he is terrible at his job if he can’t be a big boy and withstand pressure from loud dissenting voices and corporate overlords UNTIL TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE SAFELY VACCINATED.

Bull. Schools all over the country are in school safely. We should be too.