FCCPS petition to support reopening schools

[Anonymous]

See link for a petition to sign in support of staying the course on reopening Falls Church City schools.

https://www.change.org/p/falls-church-city-parents-return-the-fcc-kids-to-in-person-school?redirect=false

[Anonymous]

Yes, this petition summarizes Falls Church City. We don’t care what is going on around us. We promise to behave in our small “Little City” and won’t look beyond our block to think about all of the staff that commute in from neighboring communities. Our kids need to play sports! We can wear masks, ignore the news and surging cases everywhere and we are willing to take on collateral damage.

It is a little embarrassing that the first thing listed is the VHSL plan and athletics. And I am an FCPS parent hoping my children can go back for academic reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this petition summarizes Falls Church City. We don’t care what is going on around us. We promise to behave in our small “Little City” and won’t look beyond our block to think about all of the staff that commute in from neighboring communities. Our kids need to play sports! We can wear masks, ignore the news and surging cases everywhere and we are willing to take on collateral damage.

It is a little embarrassing that the first thing listed is the VHSL plan and athletics. And I am an FCPS parent hoping my children can go back for academic reasons.

Disagree. It is very important to point out the VHSL plan and athletics.

Schools need to figure out that they are essential and need to be and remain open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this petition summarizes Falls Church City. We don’t care what is going on around us. We promise to behave in our small “Little City” and won’t look beyond our block to think about all of the staff that commute in from neighboring communities. Our kids need to play sports! We can wear masks, ignore the news and surging cases everywhere and we are willing to take on collateral damage.

It is a little embarrassing that the first thing listed is the VHSL plan and athletics. And I am an FCPS parent hoping my children can go back for academic reasons.

Disagree. It is very important to point out the VHSL plan and athletics.

Schools need to figure out that they are essential and need to be and remain open.

FCCPS is opening. What is the point of the petition? Are they afraid they will close? If cases increase to a point where it isn’t safe for children to be in school, wouldn’t you want schools to remain virtual? That’s why I’m confused. I recently read on here that this district was one of the first and only to have a plan to bring back all students. These parents must be really afraid of the rising cases and that the schools will close. You have all lost your minds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this petition summarizes Falls Church City. We don’t care what is going on around us. We promise to behave in our small “Little City” and won’t look beyond our block to think about all of the staff that commute in from neighboring communities. Our kids need to play sports! We can wear masks, ignore the news and surging cases everywhere and we are willing to take on collateral damage.

It is a little embarrassing that the first thing listed is the VHSL plan and athletics. And I am an FCPS parent hoping my children can go back for academic reasons.

Disagree. It is very important to point out the VHSL plan and athletics.

Schools need to figure out that they are essential and need to be and remain open.

FCCPS is opening. What is the point of the petition? Are they afraid they will close? If cases increase to a point where it isn’t safe for children to be in school, wouldn’t you want schools to remain virtual? That’s why I’m confused. I recently read on here that this district was one of the first and only to have a plan to bring back all students. These parents must be really afraid of the rising cases and that the schools will close. You have all lost your minds.

Yes, this year has made us all crazy.

FCCPS should have opened in August. Of course parents are afraid that they won't remain open

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this petition summarizes Falls Church City. We don’t care what is going on around us. We promise to behave in our small “Little City” and won’t look beyond our block to think about all of the staff that commute in from neighboring communities. Our kids need to play sports! We can wear masks, ignore the news and surging cases everywhere and we are willing to take on collateral damage.

It is a little embarrassing that the first thing listed is the VHSL plan and athletics. And I am an FCPS parent hoping my children can go back for academic reasons.

Disagree. It is very important to point out the VHSL plan and athletics.

Schools need to figure out that they are essential and need to be and remain open.

FCCPS is opening. What is the point of the petition? Are they afraid they will close? If cases increase to a point where it isn’t safe for children to be in school, wouldn’t you want schools to remain virtual? That’s why I’m confused. I recently read on here that this district was one of the first and only to have a plan to bring back all students. These parents must be really afraid of the rising cases and that the schools will close. You have all lost your minds.

Just because cases are rising doesn't mean schools can't open safely. They are open safely in many, many places (including here, where we have privates open!!). My elementary student's classroom will have 8 kids at a time. With masks and better ventilation (which they've done), this is far safer than 99% of things people are doing right now.

And if parents disagree, they can luckily keep their kids home and do all-virtual.

[Anonymous]

I think the petition is simply a response to recent advocacy on the FCC Parents listserve and people mobilizing to argue that the superintendent should back off of the next phase of reopening next week. The fact that so many people opted for hybrid schedules show a preference in the community to continue the reopening plan but the petition is a response to the vocal minority, who have understandable reservations about this leap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the petition is simply a response to recent advocacy on the FCC Parents listserve and people mobilizing to argue that the superintendent should back off of the next phase of reopening next week. The fact that so many people opted for hybrid schedules show a preference in the community to continue the reopening plan but the petition is a response to the vocal minority, who have understandable reservations about this leap.

New poster and I completely agree with all of this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the petition is simply a response to recent advocacy on the FCC Parents listserve and people mobilizing to argue that the superintendent should back off of the next phase of reopening next week. The fact that so many people opted for hybrid schedules show a preference in the community to continue the reopening plan but the petition is a response to the vocal minority, who have understandable reservations about this leap.

I assumed there was a backstory. FCCPS is a small, but intense, group of parents - they have terrific schools and they raise lots of money. We are just out of boundary but play all rec league sports with them - I was always simultaneously jealous of their tight knit community and kind of glad to be removed. Would not want to be in the midst of this fight!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the petition is simply a response to recent advocacy on the FCC Parents listserve and people mobilizing to argue that the superintendent should back off of the next phase of reopening next week. The fact that so many people opted for hybrid schedules show a preference in the community to continue the reopening plan but the petition is a response to the vocal minority, who have understandable reservations about this leap.

I assumed there was a backstory. FCCPS is a small, but intense, group of parents - they have terrific schools and they raise lots of money. We are just out of boundary but play all rec league sports with them - I was always simultaneously jealous of their tight knit community and kind of glad to be removed. Would not want to be in the midst of this fight!

+1. I’m the PP in FCPS and this seems so small town in not a good way. Like a petition demanding schools should remain open can affect a school board in the midst of a pandemic. This is like than the #openFCPS signs. They are not doing anything except making people look foolish. It seems like people are used to yelling and demanding their way these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the petition is simply a response to recent advocacy on the FCC Parents listserve and people mobilizing to argue that the superintendent should back off of the next phase of reopening next week. The fact that so many people opted for hybrid schedules show a preference in the community to continue the reopening plan but the petition is a response to the vocal minority, who have understandable reservations about this leap.

I assumed there was a backstory. FCCPS is a small, but intense, group of parents - they have terrific schools and they raise lots of money. We are just out of boundary but play all rec league sports with them - I was always simultaneously jealous of their tight knit community and kind of glad to be removed. Would not want to be in the midst of this fight!

+1. I’m the PP in FCPS and this seems so small town in not a good way. Like a petition demanding schools should remain open can affect a school board in the midst of a pandemic. This is like than the #openFCPS signs. They are not doing anything except making people look foolish. It seems like people are used to yelling and demanding their way these days.

DP. Yes, this can definitely affect a school board. I'm sorry that you don't know that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this petition summarizes Falls Church City. We don’t care what is going on around us. We promise to behave in our small “Little City” and won’t look beyond our block to think about all of the staff that commute in from neighboring communities. Our kids need to play sports! We can wear masks, ignore the news and surging cases everywhere and we are willing to take on collateral damage.

It is a little embarrassing that the first thing listed is the VHSL plan and athletics. And I am an FCPS parent hoping my children can go back for academic reasons.

Yes, unfortunately this is typical FCC. And the focus on sports is ridiculous. I bet more people would sign it if they were just asking for return to school. Basketball?! Wrestling?! MS and HS might not even get the chance to open if athletes ruin it for everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Please, like North Arlington or McLean are any different in their insularity? And if you were in FCC you would not be wanting schools to open when you literally have 70 cases and 2 grades have already started back? There is a virtual option for anyone who prefers and they can reevaluate in mid-January. No one has to switch teachers or classes. My elementary student will have no more than 7 kids in their class. Daycares and private schools have been open with very few to no issues. FCCPS is a small system and has the flexibility and a plan to make this work. The virtual only people don't want their kids to miss out so they are trying to ruin it for everyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please, like North Arlington or McLean are any different in their insularity? And if you were in FCC you would not be wanting schools to open when you literally have 70 cases and 2 grades have already started back? There is a virtual option for anyone who prefers and they can reevaluate in mid-January. No one has to switch teachers or classes. My elementary student will have no more than 7 kids in their class. Daycares and private schools have been open with very few to no issues. FCCPS is a small system and has the flexibility and a plan to make this work. The virtual only people don't want their kids to miss out so they are trying to ruin it for everyone else.

This isn't true. There are 80 confirmed. (My beef isn't with the difference of 10, by the way.) Many, many, many FCC families had Covid and weren't tested in March/April. I know of at least one now, with kids scheduled to return to TJ and MD next week, with a parent isolating with mild symptoms who are not testing so that kids can still return next week. The "80 cases" is presenting a false sense of invincibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please, like North Arlington or McLean are any different in their insularity? And if you were in FCC you would not be wanting schools to open when you literally have 70 cases and 2 grades have already started back? There is a virtual option for anyone who prefers and they can reevaluate in mid-January. No one has to switch teachers or classes. My elementary student will have no more than 7 kids in their class. Daycares and private schools have been open with very few to no issues. FCCPS is a small system and has the flexibility and a plan to make this work. The virtual only people don't want their kids to miss out so they are trying to ruin it for everyone else.

This isn't true. There are 80 confirmed. (My beef isn't with the difference of 10, by the way.) Many, many, many FCC families had Covid and weren't tested in March/April. I know of at least one now, with kids scheduled to return to TJ and MD next week, with a parent isolating with mild symptoms who are not testing so that kids can still return next week. The "80 cases" is presenting a false sense of invincibility.

Very selfish but not surprising. Parents will do anything to have their kids return in person. This is true in every district.