Anonymous wrote:No way they are opening hybrid now that the teachers union does not support it.

I think they announce by the end of the week sooner is better. They need to stop planning for hybrid if it’s not happening. This will also allow parents more time to try to line up support for learning and childcare.

They should be focusing on providing the best possible distance learning instead of wasting time and energy with these convoluted hybrid schedules. BOE and central office need to show some leadership and urgency and say we're going distance learning and this is how we're going to do it. Let people start planning and let's get going. The waffling just creates more problems. The BOE and Jack Smith are "leaders." It's time to lead, time to make decisions. Let's go.

They already have.

Anonymous wrote:Hoping they'll have distance learning as an option until there's a vaccine. This helps everyone stay safe.

the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.

https://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

Anonymous wrote:I just drove by a middle school and saw at least 40 girls at a soccer practice. Kids are at camp and pools all over the county.

Not having in person school - at a MINIMUM just for elementary - is beyond insane in these circumstances. Totally not justifiable.

Yup. Sports practice, camp, pools, parties, senior beach week for pete's sake - but no school.

Hoping they'll have distance learning as an option until there's a vaccine. This helps everyone stay safe.

I just drove by a middle school and saw at least 40 girls at a soccer practice. Kids are at camp and pools all over the county.

Not having in person school - at a MINIMUM just for elementary - is beyond insane in these circumstances. Totally not justifiable.

Anonymous wrote:

Frustrating that they don’t just announce it.

People need time to plan. Teachers and parents AND schools.

Trust me, they have announced it. Jack Smith literally said "unless something crazy happens" there will be NO - ZERO - ZILCH in-person school on August 31st.

Apparently, as long as there is a chance that a kid or teacher could become infected with Covid at school, there will be no in-person school. No matter that this situation may well persist for multiple years.

Did anyone read the draft plan MCPS emailed over a week ago? That was always the plan. Then phase in transition students in phase 1 (2-ish weeks) then a second group, etc.

What he said is no different than that.

Frustrating that they don’t just announce it.

People need time to plan. Teachers and parents AND schools.

Trust me, they have announced it. Jack Smith literally said "unless something crazy happens" there will be NO - ZERO - ZILCH in-person school on August 31st.

Apparently, as long as there is a chance that a kid or teacher could become infected with Covid at school, there will be no in-person school. No matter that this situation may well persist for multiple years.

Frustrating that they don’t just announce it.

People need time to plan. Teachers and parents AND schools.

Anonymous wrote:They already told us at the BOE meeting yesterday: to quote Jack Smith "unless something crazy happens" school will start with 100% DL on August 31st.

And the safe assumption is that it will stay that way, indefinitely.

They already told us at the BOE meeting yesterday: to quote Jack Smith "unless something crazy happens" school will start with 100% DL on August 31st.

no way they announce that until September. Got to keep parents hopes up...

+1000 This is so stressful for parents and TEACHERS.

Anonymous wrote:No way they are opening hybrid now that the teachers union does not support it.

I think they announce by the end of the week sooner is better. They need to stop planning for hybrid if it’s not happening. This will also allow parents more time to try to line up support for learning and childcare.

If they really aren't going to offer a hybrid option, I hope they will announce it soon. Families are stressing right now trying to get details about how the hybrid option will work, and whether it makes sense for their kid(s). If they know they will do DL all fall--and it sure sounded like that would be case to me--just say "we are going to move forward with an all-DL program for now, and in the spring if things look better we will consider bringing in some hybrid learning." Parents and teachers at least could then plan.

No way they are opening hybrid now that the teachers union does not support it.

I think they announce by the end of the week sooner is better. They need to stop planning for hybrid if it’s not happening. This will also allow parents more time to try to line up support for learning and childcare.