Can we hear from the teachers please?

[Anonymous]

There is enough speculation going on DCUM about return to in-person school. What do the teachers know? Are they coming back in March? How about in the fall? It would be helpful to hear from the teachers. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Most schools released specific plans to staff in the past two weeks. There are staff who were able to get vaccinated at least once. Others are actively seeking a first shot in anticipation of return in person.

For my dual teacher household: Neither of us were able to get a first vaccination appointment.

DH applied for an ADA accommodation. He did not hear back. Last week, he interviewed for a non-teaching position at a friend’s company. He got it! The pay is better than his teacher salary, benefits are a bit more expensive but it’s a better plan (not an HMO), and he’s guaranteed WFH until August. His start date is 3/1. It’s bittersweet for him.

At the time that we were asked to submit ADA accommodation requests, my health did not qualify. I was really hopeful that I’d get the shots and return in person. My next plan was to take FMLA leave to get treatment for a chronic condition while waiting for vaccination. However, when I did the pre-treatment blood work recently, I got really bad news and will probably not be able to return in person this year at all. Even if I get both shots in the next 28 days. Having seen my school’s reopening plan, it’s really worrisome that my students would have both a LTS and monitors, but I doubt MCPS will accept my ADA request. I’ll take the full 60 days of FMLA and focus on beating this disease.

[Anonymous]

Truthfully, teachers don't know a whole lot more than you do. I'm a special education teacher, and my principal has shared what reopening might look like, and what teaching may look like. Nothing is set though. The board of education will be meeting 2/23 to make a decision. Hogan wants the school systems to open 3/1, but he can't mandate that for counties; only strongly encourage. The BoE had previously said re-opening would be pushed to 3/15. Nothing has changed yet on that front (it could at the 2/23 meeting, but I kind of doubt it). My personal opinion is yes, kids will be going back 3/15, with the specific aforementioned special ed groups and such starting then. I do think something could be decided at the 2/23 BoE meeting that would send teachers back 3/1 to give us time to set up rooms and spaces, figure out teaching schedules for those with classes split over two rooms, work on arrival/dismissal, lunch/recess, bathroom/hallway procedures in the spaces as they've been set up.

We should all have a better idea after the 2/23 Board of Ed meeting.

And yes, I want to go back. I've had my first vaccine dose, and will hopefully have had my second next week.

[Anonymous]

Principals are waiting to hear from the Board. They are really in a no win situation. Can’t make everyone happy with any choice.

What happens depends on how many students chose in person, classroom space, and availability of teachers who don’t have ADA accommodations. They can request new staff including monitors, until every other teacher including staff development have been assigned to a room.

[Anonymous]

Edit. “They can’t request new staff until...”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Truthfully, teachers don't know a whole lot more than you do. I'm a special education teacher, and my principal has shared what reopening might look like, and what teaching may look like. Nothing is set though. The board of education will be meeting 2/23 to make a decision. Hogan wants the school systems to open 3/1, but he can't mandate that for counties; only strongly encourage. The BoE had previously said re-opening would be pushed to 3/15. Nothing has changed yet on that front (it could at the 2/23 meeting, but I kind of doubt it). My personal opinion is yes, kids will be going back 3/15, with the specific aforementioned special ed groups and such starting then. I do think something could be decided at the 2/23 BoE meeting that would send teachers back 3/1 to give us time to set up rooms and spaces, figure out teaching schedules for those with classes split over two rooms, work on arrival/dismissal, lunch/recess, bathroom/hallway procedures in the spaces as they've been set up.

We should all have a better idea after the 2/23 Board of Ed meeting.

And yes, I want to go back. I've had my first vaccine dose, and will hopefully have had my second next week.

FYI - I think the vote is 2/9, and then another meeting w/ more details on 2/23

[Anonymous]

I am a 5th-grade teacher. We have not heard a word from our administration, even when we ask. We are being told that she wants to wait to tell us anything until there are clear directions from the higher-ups.

Only around 25% of my school elected to come back for hybrid, so I am not sure how that changes things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a 5th-grade teacher. We have not heard a word from our administration, even when we ask. We are being told that she wants to wait to tell us anything until there are clear directions from the higher-ups.

Only around 25% of my school elected to come back for hybrid, so I am not sure how that changes things.

As a parent, this is also frustrating. I see friends from other schools have details on numbers returning and the model they will use. Meanwhile, our principal says that they aren't permitted to reveal anything until after the 2/9 meeting and our school will have a town hall shortly thereafter.

Consistent and transparent messaging from MCPS would have gone a LONG way in keeping both sides of this debate calmer.

[Anonymous]

"The Board will meet again on Feb. 9 and Feb. 23 to take action on MCPS’ recovery plan. A detailed timeline, including school-specific information on what in-person experiences will look like for students (for instance, how many days a week students will attend in person, instructional models, etc.), will be shared following the Feb. 9 meeting."

https://news.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/staff-bulletin/the-latest-on-a-return-to-in-person-learning/

[Anonymous]

Per MCPS email to staff:

“Currently, DHHS is continuing its vaccination administration for Phase 1B (Tier 1), which prioritizes county residents who are 75 years or older. Because the demand for vaccinations far exceeds the currently available supply, DHHS estimates that vaccines will not be available for MCPS staff for up to five weeks.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a 5th-grade teacher. We have not heard a word from our administration, even when we ask. We are being told that she wants to wait to tell us anything until there are clear directions from the higher-ups.

Only around 25% of my school elected to come back for hybrid, so I am not sure how that changes things.

As a parent, this is also frustrating. I see friends from other schools have details on numbers returning and the model they will use. Meanwhile, our principal says that they aren't permitted to reveal anything until after the 2/9 meeting and our school will have a town hall shortly thereafter.

Consistent and transparent messaging from MCPS would have gone a LONG way in keeping both sides of this debate calmer.

Agreed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is enough speculation going on DCUM about return to in-person school. What do the teachers know? Are they coming back in March? How about in the fall? It would be helpful to hear from the teachers. Thanks

Rather than asking teachers to address speculation and correct misinformation on DCUM, maybe the people posting on DCUM could just stop speculating and conveying misinformation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Per MCPS email to staff:

“Currently, DHHS is continuing its vaccination administration for Phase 1B (Tier 1), which prioritizes county residents who are 75 years or older. Because the demand for vaccinations far exceeds the currently available supply, DHHS estimates that vaccines will not be available for MCPS staff for up to five weeks.”

I thought MCPS had an arrangement with Hopkins. The once that excluded private school teachers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a 5th-grade teacher. We have not heard a word from our administration, even when we ask. We are being told that she wants to wait to tell us anything until there are clear directions from the higher-ups.

Only around 25% of my school elected to come back for hybrid, so I am not sure how that changes things.

As a parent, this is also frustrating. I see friends from other schools have details on numbers returning and the model they will use. Meanwhile, our principal says that they aren't permitted to reveal anything until after the 2/9 meeting and our school will have a town hall shortly thereafter.

Consistent and transparent messaging from MCPS would have gone a LONG way in keeping both sides of this debate calmer.

"This debate" is only taking place on DCUM, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Per MCPS email to staff:

“Currently, DHHS is continuing its vaccination administration for Phase 1B (Tier 1), which prioritizes county residents who are 75 years or older. Because the demand for vaccinations far exceeds the currently available supply, DHHS estimates that vaccines will not be available for MCPS staff for up to five weeks.”

I thought MCPS had an arrangement with Hopkins. The once that excluded private school teachers?

Yeah that’s weird. I know my MCPS principal got her shot as did many teachers, paras, food staff, etc at my ES. They were encouraged to use only the Hopkins program though, not the public sites. Maybe the email was part of that?