Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jack Smith says enrollment is down 2,200 students K-12, and 1,000 students in PreK.

I’m surprised by the PK numbers. Presumably, they could just offer spots to more kids, since so many aren’t able to secure spots in the program.

I'm not surprised. It seems like it would be so hard to have the kids be engaged in a virtually platform. An adult would need to be there to help navigate the computer, unmute and mute, etc. Seems like it would just be easier to do what what can at home or keep them in daycare then attempt distance learning for pre-k.

Anonymous wrote:How would there be any problem with letting all teachers go back into their classrooms? Don't most of them have their own rooms? I don't understand why they'd need to restrict which teachers can come in.

Because a bunch of schools have rented out the classrooms for distance learning pods to groups like Kids Adventure. They aren't allowed to use the lunchrooms or all purpose rooms, so they need classrooms to keep the small learning pods. I hope the teachers had a say in which classrooms would be used!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Patricia O'Neill: "children are certainly vectors" for spreading Covid.

The level of misinformation is stunning.

She has always been awful.

I tried to look up her background. She has a college degree, but her website made no mention of jobs. Did she ever work? She just seems really out-of-touch on the BOE teleconferences.

Anonymous wrote:Patricia O'Neill: "children are certainly vectors" for spreading Covid.

The level of misinformation is stunning.

She has always been awful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I stand by that statement.

Not addressing reopening in any meaningful way indicates two key points. First, that they're not prioritizing in-person instruction. And two, that the Superintendent doesn't really care what the BoE thinks, and isn't going to actively engage the Board with reopening decisions. Since the MCPS administration has already demonstrated they're beholden to the teachers with the ridiculous 45-day notice MOU, it seems quite likely that reopening won't happen unless an external force (namely, the BoE) puts pressure on the superintendent to do that. Letting the superintendent avoid that issue also indicates that the BoE is happy to be left out of that decision as well.

Why would you expect them to? They just voted at the end of last month on a plan based on

(1) the assumption of remote instruction through the first semester
(2) assessment in November about the second semester
(3) reassessment earlier if there are significant changes

Have there been any significant changes?

NP.

Well, to have any chance of opening in Feb., they need a plan in place to do so. Even if they say “it’s the hybrid plan from before” there are lots of questions - like will kids need to be reassigned to new classes, given that in any given class some will want 100% virtual and other the hybrid plan? Or will they just have the teachers continue to teach their current classes with cameras on for those who are at home? I can’t see logistically how that works - who is breaking the online kids into groups of the teacher is dealing with the kids physically in the class? Will the online kids be able to ask questions and participate? How can one person facilitate both?

It seems clear to me that they have no intention of opening back up. They are not doing serious planning, and that MOU they just signed with the union gives them an easy out. They will just blame the union.

Anonymous wrote:There is going to be a protest September 22 330-530 PM outside of Carver Education Center in Rockville. Protest against lack of in person learning.

Will masks be worn?

Anonymous wrote:Jack Smith says enrollment is down 2,200 students K-12, and 1,000 students in PreK.

I’m surprised by the PK numbers. Presumably, they could just offer spots to more kids, since so many aren’t able to secure spots in the program.

There is going to be a protest September 22 330-530 PM outside of Carver Education Center in Rockville. Protest against lack of in person learning.

Anonymous wrote:
No question this BOE and Smith and Elrich and Gayles are in way over their heads. They are incompetent to say the least. It's not opinion. It's demonstrable just by comparing their actions to actions across the state, the region, the country, and the world. We are victims and people better rise up now.

All of this foot-stomping on DCUM results in nothing, given that the members of the Board of Education and Marc Elrich were duly elected by the county's voters (even if you think they shouldn't have been), and Smith and Gayles were duly appointed by them (even if you think they shouldn't have been). So what does "people better rise up now" even mean? Are you planning a coup?

Anonymous wrote:Just for comparison, here's Washington County, MD public schools:

http://wcpsmd.com/news/wcboe-approves-superintendents-plan-return-person-instruction

Their board approved the opening plan on 9/1. They have 5 clear stages for opening in-person. They're currently on all distance learning, and the next stage will be pre-K and ESL going back to school in-person, next week.

They list the positivity rate metrics to enter each stage, who goes back to school in each stage, and so on.

Yes, this is a smaller district compared to MCPS, but they also have fewer staff and resources, and education isn't funded as well either. Yet their board is able to approve a plan, and they're able to implement it.

Meanwhile, MCPS has no plan and no metrics, despite being much better funded. I'm amazed our tax dollars are paying for this level of incompetence.

No question this BOE and Smith and Elrich and Gayles are in way over their heads. They are incompetent to say the least. It's not opinion. It's demonstrable just by comparing their actions to actions across the state, the region, the country, and the world. We are victims and people better rise up now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS slideshow quotes DCUM comment from "How's your kindergartner doing?" thread.

what did they say?

MCPS IF YOU ARE READING THIS OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!!!!

At least 6 Beautiful, caring, dedicated professionals dead forever. People with so many more years to live and gifts to share. No we should not open back up until we have the resources to ensure that our teachers, our students and our communities will be safe. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/09/10/coronavirus-teacher-deaths-fall/%3foutputType=amp

Unfortunately, some people exploit these deaths to push their agenda. Most probably, these were not due to any in-person school (wtop was also publishing similar title, but when you read the whole story you realize the teachers were actually doing DL, attending some church events where there was an outbreak, doing some outdoor activity etc.)

Typical denier reply. Always look for a way for it not to be true. Sure they weren't living in bubbles but show me the rate for people their ages in their towns. Betcha they are the outliers and the one difference was that they were in classrooms ALL DAY with children. The fact that you are so dismissive of our teachers and their well being is both base and repugnant. You can reteach math and reading you cannot bring people back to life.

Did you actually read the article? They didn't get it from teaching kids because school hadn't even started yet. Gosh you people will literally just make stuff up to keep schools closed at this point. Apparently facts just don't matter.

Yes, the retort made zero sense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS slideshow quotes DCUM comment from "How's your kindergartner doing?" thread.

what did they say?

MCPS IF YOU ARE READING THIS OPEN THE SCHOOLS!!!!!

At least 6 Beautiful, caring, dedicated professionals dead forever. People with so many more years to live and gifts to share. No we should not open back up until we have the resources to ensure that our teachers, our students and our communities will be safe. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/09/10/coronavirus-teacher-deaths-fall/%3foutputType=amp

Unfortunately, some people exploit these deaths to push their agenda. Most probably, these were not due to any in-person school (wtop was also publishing similar title, but when you read the whole story you realize the teachers were actually doing DL, attending some church events where there was an outbreak, doing some outdoor activity etc.)

Typical denier reply. Always look for a way for it not to be true. Sure they weren't living in bubbles but show me the rate for people their ages in their towns. Betcha they are the outliers and the one difference was that they were in classrooms ALL DAY with children. The fact that you are so dismissive of our teachers and their well being is both base and repugnant. You can reteach math and reading you cannot bring people back to life.

Did you actually read the article? They didn't get it from teaching kids because school hadn't even started yet. Gosh you people will literally just make stuff up to keep schools closed at this point. Apparently facts just don't matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jack Smith says enrollment is down 2,200 students K-12, and 1,000 students in PreK.

Pre-K is only income-eligible kids (head start and otherwise). That's more concerning than "pods" and flight to private schools.

But the benefit of remote instruction for pre-K, for families, has to be a lot less than the benefit of actual pre-K.

To add: Pre-K is also special education students in the MCPS PEP program (not income based). My son is in PEP. Distance learning is not appropriate for him. This was our first week. So far it has essentially watching YouTube videos that the teacher plays on her screen. PE consisted of having the kids walk in place. It was so sad. She did say this week is more about getting to know everyone and learning the rules. I am hoping it will be better when the actual curriculum starts. These children need to be receiving services in person.

I hope we prioritize that.

It's a lot easier to make sharp turns in a mini than a tank. Just sayin'.

Anonymous wrote:

Typical denier reply. Always look for a way for it not to be true. Sure they weren't living in bubbles but show me the rate for people their ages in their towns. Betcha they are the outliers and the one difference was that they were in classrooms ALL DAY with children. The fact that you are so dismissive of our teachers and their well being is both base and repugnant. You can reteach math and reading you cannot bring people back to life.

Actually they weren't, because school hadn't started yet. According to the article, the only one who had student contact was the one who spent the summer coaching high school football practices.

It doesn't mean that it won't happen, but it does mean that it hasn't happened yet.