APS superintendent email

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they want teachers in person, then SB should start meeting in person. Period.

They are starting in Feb. this was included in the email that went to teachers today. First on Feb 4th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent, I think this plan is simply ridiculous. As other posters have commented, we are at the height of the pandemic right now, so Duran brilliantly thinks now is the ideal time to go back? I want my kids back in school, but not now and not before teachers receive vaccinations. All APS would have to do is wait a bit longer, but nooooo.

The goal posts will continually move if you don’t draw the line somewhere. First, it was unsafe in March, then it was unsafe in the fall, now the numbers are high and there’s the variant. Where will it ever stop? Teachers vaccinated? Then it will be about students getting vaccinated. You have to draw the line somewhere and he is attempting to do that. And LET’S NOT FORGET every other public and private system that has reopened while APS has been closed. We have no excuse when you look at everyone else who has already reopened and continues to remain open.

What public school systems in the DMV have reopened? Please tell me.

None. Because we are in this stupid echo chamber bubble and cannot chart an independent course. But, please, go ahead and look beyond the confines of the DMV and you will see countless public systems open and running.

Or don’t, and keep telling yourself we are uniquely correct and the rest of the world is watching and modeling after us... oh wait.

[Anonymous]

If I was a teacher I would want to go back before students, and not at the same time. For teachers of younger kids, the chance of getting sick from another teacher is probably higher than from a child, though I haven't followed the literature on the new variant much. As a teacher, I would be most worried about where to eat lunch safely (in the car?), and times I had to take my mask off.

[Anonymous]

My kids are NOT doing ok with virtual. I choose hybrid after much thought and review of APS metrics. I am in no way ok with them going back with the current conditions. Many mom friends feel the same way. We have a choice to keep our kids home. The teachers do not have the same choice. They don’t even have a timeline on when they can get vaccinated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they want teachers in person, then SB should start meeting in person. Period.

they said they will start the week after secondary teachers go in

why??? they will not be a priority for the vaccine.. they can do their job just as good remote.. in-person isn't necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My prediction: the secondary starting 2/1 is the bargaining chip/ part of the plan designed to be given up. It will result in less instructional time and more exposure for both students and teachers. The board has to appear to fight on something and it has to look like a negotation. They will keep with the elementary dates for now but may ultimately push them back slightly.
--Someone who watches a lot of school board meetings and work sessions

I hope you are right. The Arlington SB has done a lot of rubber stamping. I fear they won’t push back for teachers. But agree MS and HS are at the biggest risk. Too much exposure to too many kids since APS didn’t even attempt to cohort them.

For high school- it’s not looking good. For the teachers, definitely, but also for the parents of teens who get it from them. A lot of parents that would be great advocates didn’t trust this, and just went virtual. I’m an APS teacher and parent- this forum is anonymous, but I don’t feel comfortable saying what I think publicly. I really wish they had never done this “choice” thing about hybrid or virtual. We go back or we don’t. It’s safe or it’s not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are NOT doing ok with virtual. I choose hybrid after much thought and review of APS metrics. I am in no way ok with them going back with the current conditions. Many mom friends feel the same way. We have a choice to keep our kids home. The teachers do not have the same choice. They don’t even have a timeline on when they can get vaccinated.

I 100% agree that hybrid should not be forced to open when it’s not safe. I don’t think they’ll do that, though- the numbers really could drop off quite a bit after the holiday surge. No solid plans yet, except for early childhood.

I’ll also say- I hate this gi is on whether or not someone got CoVID at school. Who cares where they got it?! No one wants it there!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are NOT doing ok with virtual. I choose hybrid after much thought and review of APS metrics. I am in no way ok with them going back with the current conditions. Many mom friends feel the same way. We have a choice to keep our kids home. The teachers do not have the same choice. They don’t even have a timeline on when they can get vaccinated.

I 100% agree that hybrid should not be forced to open when it’s not safe. I don’t think they’ll do that, though- the numbers really could drop off quite a bit after the holiday surge. No solid plans yet, except for early childhood.

I’ll also say- I hate this gi is on whether or not someone got CoVID at school. Who cares where they got it?! No one wants it there!!!

I mean “focus”. I hate this focus!

[Anonymous]

People, it’s not just a holiday surge. Look at the UK. We’re weeks behind them with the COVID variant. Our numbers are likely to skyrocket not go down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People, it’s not just a holiday surge. Look at the UK. We’re weeks behind them with the COVID variant. Our numbers are likely to skyrocket not go down.

You might be right about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My prediction: the secondary starting 2/1 is the bargaining chip/ part of the plan designed to be given up. It will result in less instructional time and more exposure for both students and teachers. The board has to appear to fight on something and it has to look like a negotation. They will keep with the elementary dates for now but may ultimately push them back slightly.
--Someone who watches a lot of school board meetings and work sessions

I hope you are right. The Arlington SB has done a lot of rubber stamping. I fear they won’t push back for teachers. But agree MS and HS are at the biggest risk. Too much exposure to too many kids since APS didn’t even attempt to cohort them.

For high school- it’s not looking good. For the teachers, definitely, but also for the parents of teens who get it from them. A lot of parents that would be great advocates didn’t trust this, and just went virtual. I’m an APS teacher and parent- this forum is anonymous, but I don’t feel comfortable saying what I think publicly. I really wish they had never done this “choice” thing about hybrid or virtual. We go back or we don’t. It’s safe or it’s not.

It’s true. Most parents aligned with teachers chose DL. So not very invested in the details of hybrid. But I will email the SB on behalf of middle and high school teachers.

[Anonymous]

Waiting 2 months buys time for the vaccine. What an idiotic move!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This parent is not pissed. I would like for the teachers to be vaccinated, they are front line to me.

this has nothing to do with vaccinations. they are required to report to work before vaccinations come out. Duran has no say on when they are getting the vaccine

So far it sounds as if they are required to teach from the classroom, without students present. Doesn't sound so unreasonable to me.

but why? what is the point of making them come in to do exactly what they've been doing for the last 4 months, just in masks and around other adults? they could wait a few more weeks and be vaccinated and have them in the room with kids

Agree with you- it’s ridiculous. To answer answer your question, though, it’s because he plans to send kids back a few weeks after teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Waiting 2 months buys time for the vaccine. What an idiotic move!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This parent is not pissed. I would like for the teachers to be vaccinated, they are front line to me.

this has nothing to do with vaccinations. they are required to report to work before vaccinations come out. Duran has no say on when they are getting the vaccine

So far it sounds as if they are required to teach from the classroom, without students present. Doesn't sound so unreasonable to me.

but why? what is the point of making them come in to do exactly what they've been doing for the last 4 months, just in masks and around other adults? they could wait a few more weeks and be vaccinated and have them in the room with kids

Kids are coming back 2/9 if Duran gets his way