Yes. Problem number 1 is that people don’t care about the health recommendations. Surprisingly, many of them well educated Arlingtonians. They travel for leisure, get together indoors. The max that our government will permit. Many liberal Dems are the worst violators. Because “me first” transcends political party! It’s worst here in N Arl.

Anonymous wrote:When do we think the new administration Dept of Education might put out a plan for reopening schools? Should APS wait 2 weeks to talk about this? Just a thought once we have actual federal leadership again.

Exactly. I don't see the need to rush this at all, especially since we are in the height of the pandemic right now. Wait and see what DOE/Biden do and if there is a timetable in VA for teachers to get the vaccines.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It will be interesting to see how my child’s distance learning changes when this goes into effect. We chose to remain with DL, but it looks like our school has largely selected hybrid, which means my kid may end up with a completely new teacher and new classmates half way through the year. Is there a timeline for principals to communicate new teacher assignments to parents?

My kids are at a elementary school with a more even split, slightly more favor DL. I wonder how they will accomplish this plan without shifting staff between classes and schools and shortchanging all the kids staying in DL. It’s stupid. The hybrid plan won’t be of any benefit except for childcare 2 days a week. If the teachers can’t even go near the kids, why do they need to be there? They should just get the extended day staff to man the classrooms and have the kids do DL via the iPads with supervision. Because it’s essentially what they will be getting now, just
with a teacher supervising for half the day from the front of the room, that they can’t walk around in or socialize with other kids, taking that resource (teacher) away from any kids in virtual. And the higher poverty ES have more kids electing virtual. Will their teachers be stolen away by the wealthy super zip codes who are demanding teacher in a physical classroom for childcare?

So it's ok for extended day to go into the classroom,but not teachers. That's like saying have a nurse triage the patient while the doctors stay home and treat via telehealth. I wonder about the comments that come from some folks. My tolerance is so low being a healthcare worker, and though the vaccine is is here not all healthcare staff have access to it yet. Teachers in the 2nd priority group not likely to see it until late spring at best. So real choice here is do we accept no school for remainder of the year resulting in teachers forced to work gravely hard next year to get all kids up to grade level that fell behind, or do we hope that funding is on the way to to safely open schools now. Personally we are paying alot for someone to supervise our DS DL and tutoring and other activities so would be willing to pour that money into the school system to safely get kids back in, because DL is not ideal for our Kindergarter. Nope cant go private as our kid has IEP, but not enough need to have been chosen for priority group 1. So my hope is that we will shut down and reopen schools, and my DS can go back to school like his cousins in Germany have been since August. Why, because the Germans realized that school is essential and not holiday travel, dinning in restaurants, or bars etc. and of course as a society they follow the rules!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If they want teachers in person, then SB should start meeting in person. Period.



They are starting in Feb. this was included in the email that went to teachers today. First on Feb 4th.

What email was this? Not all teachers got it, that's for sure. Who was it sent to?

Are teachers in grades 3-5 not part of the return for now?

Oh - is this just for lower elementary? Apologies if this was discussed up-thread.

K-2 and 6-12.

forgot to include Pre-K

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If they want teachers in person, then SB should start meeting in person. Period.



They are starting in Feb. this was included in the email that went to teachers today. First on Feb 4th.

What email was this? Not all teachers got it, that's for sure. Who was it sent to?

Are teachers in grades 3-5 not part of the return for now?

Oh - is this just for lower elementary? Apologies if this was discussed up-thread.

K-2 and 6-12.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If they want teachers in person, then SB should start meeting in person. Period.



They are starting in Feb. this was included in the email that went to teachers today. First on Feb 4th.

What email was this? Not all teachers got it, that's for sure. Who was it sent to?

Are teachers in grades 3-5 not part of the return for now?

Oh - is this just for lower elementary? Apologies if this was discussed up-thread.

When do we think the new administration Dept of Education might put out a plan for reopening schools? Should APS wait 2 weeks to talk about this? Just a thought once we have actual federal leadership again.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If they want teachers in person, then SB should start meeting in person. Period.



They are starting in Feb. this was included in the email that went to teachers today. First on Feb 4th.

What email was this? Not all teachers got it, that's for sure. Who was it sent to?

Are teachers in grades 3-5 not part of the return for now?

Anonymous wrote:It will be interesting to see how my child’s distance learning changes when this goes into effect. We chose to remain with DL, but it looks like our school has largely selected hybrid, which means my kid may end up with a completely new teacher and new classmates half way through the year. Is there a timeline for principals to communicate new teacher assignments to parents?

My kids are at a elementary school with a more even split, slightly more favor DL. I wonder how they will accomplish this plan without shifting staff between classes and schools and shortchanging all the kids staying in DL. It’s stupid. The hybrid plan won’t be of any benefit except for childcare 2 days a week. If the teachers can’t even go near the kids, why do they need to be there? They should just get the extended day staff to man the classrooms and have the kids do DL via the iPads with supervision. Because it’s essentially what they will be getting now, just with a teacher supervising for half the day from the front of the room, that they can’t walk around in or socialize with other kids, taking that resource (teacher) away from any kids in virtual. And the higher poverty ES have more kids electing virtual. Will their teachers be stolen away by the wealthy super zip codes who are demanding teacher in a physical classroom for childcare?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools in NYC and NJ are open. Stop the stupidity and read the science. Have any teachers or kids died in 50 percent of the country that has opened?? No! Has anyone died in our local private schools? No. Schools are not superspreaders ! Stop the nonsense and read the science. At the very least, listen to Fauci. Duran is on the right track if he opens schools with proper mitigation.

NYC is starting teacher vaccinations this month.

And NYC schools will close (again) if positivity rate goes above 9%. We are 11%+.

Also...

100s of NYC school buildings are already closed.

AND they have testing.

It’s BS to claim “science” when you fail to share relevant data points.

Also, a NYC has a very strong teacher's union. My 52-year old brother is on a biologic that suppresses his immune system and was given permission to work from home even when the schools went back in person.

It will be interesting to see how my child’s distance learning changes when this goes into effect. We chose to remain with DL, but it looks like our school has largely selected hybrid, which means my kid may end up with a completely new teacher and new classmates half way through the year. Is there a timeline for principals to communicate new teacher assignments to parents?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools in NYC and NJ are open. Stop the stupidity and read the science. Have any teachers or kids died in 50 percent of the country that has opened?? No! Has anyone died in our local private schools? No. Schools are not superspreaders ! Stop the nonsense and read the science. At the very least, listen to Fauci. Duran is on the right track if he opens schools with proper mitigation.

NYC is starting teacher vaccinations this month.

And NYC schools will close (again) if positivity rate goes above 9%. We are 11%+.

Also...

100s of NYC school buildings are already closed.

AND they have testing.

It’s BS to claim “science” when you fail to share relevant data points.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If they want teachers in person, then SB should start meeting in person. Period.



They are starting in Feb. this was included in the email that went to teachers today. First on Feb 4th.

What email was this? Not all teachers got it, that's for sure. Who was it sent to?

It’s the same message that discusses all staff reporting back on January 25. I suppose I should have use the word staff.

Will we still have a choice between DL and in-person?

Hybrid and DL parents who think this is sending teachers in prematurely should email and call the Board and APS. Take at least that step in support of teachers and staff. We know that the odds are they won’t listen. But at least do that much.