APS cancels Summer school for many previously qualified students due to lack of staffing

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe they rounded off the message by reassuring parents that their kids would still have access to Lexia and Dreambox. I wasn’t directly impacted by the summer school decision, but still found that a pretty miserable consolation prize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are now testing student athletes each day, every day.
It's not even something that is actually needed.
Why didn't they use the money that was went towards paying for a company to do that testing and direct it towards direct financial incentives to teachers?
I think more teachers would have been willing to do it for more money.

Totally beside the point, but testing has yet to happen. In typical APS fashion it was not ready yesterday when it was supposed to start. Color me shocked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What did you all expect to happen? Harangue and harass teachers all year and this is what you get.

Do you think the parents whose kids qualified for summer school have been harassing teachers all year? Or more to the point, do you think the kids who qualify for summer school have been? To imply that this is being done as some kind of punishment for bad behavior suggests that we're fine with just letting these kids down, over and over. How sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are now testing student athletes each day, every day.
It's not even something that is actually needed.
Why didn't they use the money that was went towards paying for a company to do that testing and direct it towards direct financial incentives to teachers?
I think more teachers would have been willing to do it for more money.

The money might be earmarked for testing. Even if not it probably not enough to make a significant difference. If $500-1000 isn’t a big enough incentive I’m not sure more money would solve the issue.

Yes, it is ear marked for testing and actually I believe was earmarked specifically for sports testing.

They are most definitely NOT testing student athletes each day, every day. They are only testing athletes if the athlete and parents agreed that the benefit of getting tested (not wearing a mask while playing/practicing the sport) was worth getting something stuck up the student's nose 6 days a week. On the two teams my DDS play for, a total of 2 athletes agreed to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are now testing student athletes each day, every day.
It's not even something that is actually needed.
Why didn't they use the money that was went towards paying for a company to do that testing and direct it towards direct financial incentives to teachers?
I think more teachers would have been willing to do it for more money.

The money might be earmarked for testing. Even if not it probably not enough to make a significant difference. If $500-1000 isn’t a big enough incentive I’m not sure more money would solve the issue.

Yes, it is ear marked for testing and actually I believe was earmarked specifically for sports testing.

They are most definitely NOT testing student athletes each day, every day. They are only testing athletes if the athlete and parents agreed that the benefit of getting tested (not wearing a mask while playing/practicing the sport) was worth getting something stuck up the student's nose 6 days a week. On the two teams my DDS play for, a total of 2 athletes agreed to this.

It's a spit test. My kid's entire team opted in as a team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly. Teachers want to travel and see family for the first time in 18 months. Like the rest of us. They don’t want to commit to summer school. It’s not hard to see that!!don’t blame them. I’m taking lots of leave this summer.

+1

I just hope they come back in the fall after all of the abuse and bullying by obnoxious parents.

Those are the same parents who are now complaining about summer school!

I mean, how much are parents supposed to take also?

We've received zero extra work days for planning or supporting our children's virtual education. No extra money to pay for tutors or virtual day camp or pods.

Our own kid who has tested behind grade level all year now can't go to summer school. We asked recently for reading intervention to try and recover lost learning time and assist with the low testing scores. The Vice Principal who was in the meeting immediately and coldly responded that "reading intervention is only for kids who are 2-3 grade levels behind". So, I guess kids who are somewhat behind are just left to their own devices to figure out how to work through the struggle. We hired a tutor starting last summer to try and help reduces the gaps for our child and while that has been tremendously helpful, the point of public school is not for parents to count on Lexia and privately paid for interventions to provide an education for their child. This has gone one for over one year at this point, and enough is enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think most people generally fault APS leadership and admin for this manufactured crisis. There is also resentment for teachers who were very vocal on social media with their Open Coffins Now rhetoric, etc.

Here is a nice and tidy summary of why parents are beyond frustrated and furious:

-APS March 2020: We're not going to teach new material, but we will get the kids caught back up with intense instruction next year.
-APS September 2020: We're going to shorten the school day and cut one day of instruction a week, but this will not affect instruction.
-APS November 2020: A lot more kids are failing, but we will identify kids at risk and reach out to them to get them caught up.
-APS February 2021: The kids are still failing, but we will offer summer school to everyone to make up for a lack of instruction this year.
-APS May 2021: We're not going to offer summer school to everyone who needs it.

Here is another tidy summary of why I expect teachers have had enough of entitled APS parents this year:

Parents March 2020: We don't know htf you're supposed to teach new material virtually but we're upset that you haven't figured this out in the ten minutes since this pandemic started killing people in horrible ways and we're angry you don't have the answers!
(PS: By the way, if the pandemic wasn't enough to deal with, we are increasing class sizes by 1 all around and giving teachers a bare cost of living increase. Hey if you're a young teacher with a Master's degree trying to make it in Arlington, you are getting paid waaaaay at the bottom of similarly situated teachers in other school districts, see WABE 2020 study.)
Parents September 2020: We don't have a safe way to actually cram everyone in the school 5 days a week but we certainly think your safety is on the table and that you should be risking your lives so our kids are physically in school with you.
Parents November 2020: I mean, sure, APS has worked to prevent at risk families from going hungry, and making sure everyone has access to basics like wifi so that everyone can log in, and even provided safe spaces for kids who didn't have access to do their school work, but what we angry parents are seeing is that this pandemic is still actually having a negative effect on learning (HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?????) when what we expect teachers to do is magically solve all the problems.
Parents February 2021: Why haven't you made it as though the pandemic never existed yet???
Parents May 2021: I mean, sure, we absolutely expect to go on vacations with our families and go places and eat things and absolutely take time with our families this summer, but why aren't APS teachers all going to be hunkered inside school buildings with their kids in summer camps? Sheesh!

[Anonymous]

The simple fact, and one teachers pointed out early on, is that APS should not have offered summer school to anyone outside of ESY until they knew the staffing numbers. From there, they could have offered summer school to additional families as staffing allowed. Summer school is not usually offered on this scale and is usually partially staffed by Fairfax teachers since they don't usually offer summer school. They tried enticing teachers to work the summer with a "bonus" that after taxes is pretty measly. Teachers have many reasons for not wanting to work summer school and it really doesn't matter what they are because summer school isn't part of their contracts. APS shifting the blame to teachers is ridiculous- this is 100% on Syphax.

[Anonymous]

I'm so surprised there are not enough "warm bodies" to fill these positions.

Hope all the teachers out there have a great summer and come back refreshed and ready for the upcoming school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most people generally fault APS leadership and admin for this manufactured crisis. There is also resentment for teachers who were very vocal on social media with their Open Coffins Now rhetoric, etc.

Here is a nice and tidy summary of why parents are beyond frustrated and furious:

-APS March 2020: We're not going to teach new material, but we will get the kids caught back up with intense instruction next year.
-APS September 2020: We're going to shorten the school day and cut one day of instruction a week, but this will not affect instruction.
-APS November 2020: A lot more kids are failing, but we will identify kids at risk and reach out to them to get them caught up.
-APS February 2021: The kids are still failing, but we will offer summer school to everyone to make up for a lack of instruction this year.
-APS May 2021: We're not going to offer summer school to everyone who needs it.

Here is another tidy summary of why I expect teachers have had enough of entitled APS parents this year:

Parents March 2020: We don't know htf you're supposed to teach new material virtually but we're upset that you haven't figured this out in the ten minutes since this pandemic started killing people in horrible ways and we're angry you don't have the answers!
(PS: By the way, if the pandemic wasn't enough to deal with, we are increasing class sizes by 1 all around and giving teachers a bare cost of living increase. Hey if you're a young teacher with a Master's degree trying to make it in Arlington, you are getting paid waaaaay at the bottom of similarly situated teachers in other school districts, see WABE 2020 study.)
Parents September 2020: We don't have a safe way to actually cram everyone in the school 5 days a week but we certainly think your safety is on the table and that you should be risking your lives so our kids are physically in school with you.
Parents November 2020: I mean, sure, APS has worked to prevent at risk families from going hungry, and making sure everyone has access to basics like wifi so that everyone can log in, and even provided safe spaces for kids who didn't have access to do their school work, but what we angry parents are seeing is that this pandemic is still actually having a negative effect on learning (HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?????) when what we expect teachers to do is magically solve all the problems.
Parents February 2021: Why haven't you made it as though the pandemic never existed yet???
Parents May 2021: I mean, sure, we absolutely expect to go on vacations with our families and go places and eat things and absolutely take time with our families this summer, but why aren't APS teachers all going to be hunkered inside school buildings with their kids in summer camps? Sheesh!

Imagine how I feel as an ICU RN. All of these teachers complaining about how hard their lives have been. Give me a break. I promise your jobs weren’t harder than mine.

Also, teaching doesn’t require a masters. It’s too bad that young teacher you mentioned didn’t know that. It’s no ones fault that he/she pursued that extra (probably meaningless) degree knowing that it wouldn’t result in a pay increase. Next time, do your homework!

That being said, we weren’t counting on the lousy product that is APS education for the summer. We’ve had problems with APS for years and have now switched to private. I just feel bad for those who can’t afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:!
Imagine how I feel as an ICU RN. All of these teachers complaining about how hard their lives have been. Give me a break. I promise your jobs weren’t harder than mine.

I think you're proving the point about entitled parents that the PP was discussing. There's no need to play Oppression Olympics.

Certain school positions do require master's degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most people generally fault APS leadership and admin for this manufactured crisis. There is also resentment for teachers who were very vocal on social media with their Open Coffins Now rhetoric, etc.

Here is a nice and tidy summary of why parents are beyond frustrated and furious:

-APS March 2020: We're not going to teach new material, but we will get the kids caught back up with intense instruction next year.
-APS September 2020: We're going to shorten the school day and cut one day of instruction a week, but this will not affect instruction.
-APS November 2020: A lot more kids are failing, but we will identify kids at risk and reach out to them to get them caught up.
-APS February 2021: The kids are still failing, but we will offer summer school to everyone to make up for a lack of instruction this year.
-APS May 2021: We're not going to offer summer school to everyone who needs it.

Here is another tidy summary of why I expect teachers have had enough of entitled APS parents this year:

Parents March 2020: We don't know htf you're supposed to teach new material virtually but we're upset that you haven't figured this out in the ten minutes since this pandemic started killing people in horrible ways and we're angry you don't have the answers!
(PS: By the way, if the pandemic wasn't enough to deal with, we are increasing class sizes by 1 all around and giving teachers a bare cost of living increase. Hey if you're a young teacher with a Master's degree trying to make it in Arlington, you are getting paid waaaaay at the bottom of similarly situated teachers in other school districts, see WABE 2020 study.)
Parents September 2020: We don't have a safe way to actually cram everyone in the school 5 days a week but we certainly think your safety is on the table and that you should be risking your lives so our kids are physically in school with you.
Parents November 2020: I mean, sure, APS has worked to prevent at risk families from going hungry, and making sure everyone has access to basics like wifi so that everyone can log in, and even provided safe spaces for kids who didn't have access to do their school work, but what we angry parents are seeing is that this pandemic is still actually having a negative effect on learning (HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?????) when what we expect teachers to do is magically solve all the problems.
Parents February 2021: Why haven't you made it as though the pandemic never existed yet???
Parents May 2021: I mean, sure, we absolutely expect to go on vacations with our families and go places and eat things and absolutely take time with our families this summer, but why aren't APS teachers all going to be hunkered inside school buildings with their kids in summer camps? Sheesh!

Imagine how I feel as an ICU RN. All of these teachers complaining about how hard their lives have been. Give me a break. I promise your jobs weren’t harder than mine.

Also, teaching doesn’t require a masters. It’s too bad that young teacher you mentioned didn’t know that. It’s no ones fault that he/she pursued that extra (probably meaningless) degree knowing that it wouldn’t result in a pay increase. Next time, do your homework!

That being said, we weren’t counting on the lousy product that is APS education for the summer. We’ve had problems with APS for years and have now switched to private. I just feel bad for those who can’t afford it.

Many school districts require a master’s within 5 years and it is easier to spend a 5th year at the end of undergrad to do the MAT than to try to do it part-time in your first five years of teaching. The pay bump also makes it attractive as an option for Ed majors in a bad job market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most people generally fault APS leadership and admin for this manufactured crisis. There is also resentment for teachers who were very vocal on social media with their Open Coffins Now rhetoric, etc.

Here is a nice and tidy summary of why parents are beyond frustrated and furious:

-APS March 2020: We're not going to teach new material, but we will get the kids caught back up with intense instruction next year.
-APS September 2020: We're going to shorten the school day and cut one day of instruction a week, but this will not affect instruction.
-APS November 2020: A lot more kids are failing, but we will identify kids at risk and reach out to them to get them caught up.
-APS February 2021: The kids are still failing, but we will offer summer school to everyone to make up for a lack of instruction this year.
-APS May 2021: We're not going to offer summer school to everyone who needs it.

Here is another tidy summary of why I expect teachers have had enough of entitled APS parents this year:

Parents March 2020: We don't know htf you're supposed to teach new material virtually but we're upset that you haven't figured this out in the ten minutes since this pandemic started killing people in horrible ways and we're angry you don't have the answers!
(PS: By the way, if the pandemic wasn't enough to deal with, we are increasing class sizes by 1 all around and giving teachers a bare cost of living increase. Hey if you're a young teacher with a Master's degree trying to make it in Arlington, you are getting paid waaaaay at the bottom of similarly situated teachers in other school districts, see WABE 2020 study.)
Parents September 2020: We don't have a safe way to actually cram everyone in the school 5 days a week but we certainly think your safety is on the table and that you should be risking your lives so our kids are physically in school with you.
Parents November 2020: I mean, sure, APS has worked to prevent at risk families from going hungry, and making sure everyone has access to basics like wifi so that everyone can log in, and even provided safe spaces for kids who didn't have access to do their school work, but what we angry parents are seeing is that this pandemic is still actually having a negative effect on learning (HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?????) when what we expect teachers to do is magically solve all the problems.
Parents February 2021: Why haven't you made it as though the pandemic never existed yet???
Parents May 2021: I mean, sure, we absolutely expect to go on vacations with our families and go places and eat things and absolutely take time with our families this summer, but why aren't APS teachers all going to be hunkered inside school buildings with their kids in summer camps? Sheesh!

Let me guess . . . you teach Drama?

[Anonymous]

I'm PP and I'm not a teacher, just an APS parent who is fed up with the "woe is unto me' entitlement of parents who can find nothing but fault with others in the middle of a pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are now testing student athletes each day, every day.
It's not even something that is actually needed.
Why didn't they use the money that was went towards paying for a company to do that testing and direct it towards direct financial incentives to teachers?
I think more teachers would have been willing to do it for more money.

The money might be earmarked for testing. Even if not it probably not enough to make a significant difference. If $500-1000 isn’t a big enough incentive I’m not sure more money would solve the issue.

Yes, it is ear marked for testing and actually I believe was earmarked specifically for sports testing.

They are most definitely NOT testing student athletes each day, every day. They are only testing athletes if the athlete and parents agreed that the benefit of getting tested (not wearing a mask while playing/practicing the sport) was worth getting something stuck up the student's nose 6 days a week. On the two teams my DDS play for, a total of 2 athletes agreed to this.

It's a spit test. My kid's entire team opted in as a team.

At Yorktown, it's a nasal swab and they started yesterday (my DD is getting tested).