We left the DMV for a smaller town in the same state. Schools were virtual last year, but have been open this year like normal (well, as normal as these times are). School was open last week, and will be open this week. The suburban schools our kids used to attend was closed all last week and who knows what will happen this week.

We are all fully vaxxed and boosted. I am glad they can go to in-person school. Last year, I was all on board with virtual. But now that we have a vaccine we should try to keep schools open if we can.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in MoCo and I do think the large size (both in terms of student population and in terms of geography) makes it a LOT harder to work through a situation such as the pandemic. I grew up in New England, where schools have mostly stayed open through the pandemic primarily because the schools are run on a town-by-town basis. It's a lot simpler when you're not trying to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution for 165k kids, hundreds of schools and a massively dispersed and complex transportation system. I doubt that will ever happen here since the county government system is how MD and VA are organized overall, but it would enable a lot more flexibility and nuance.

Due to a number of factors, from remote work, to climate change, to education issues, and rural New England is going to be a very popular “exit” for lots of center left people in large urban areas imo.

Just like red people are leaving California for Idaho.

I mean I guess if you’re not talking MA or RI. I suppose super rural Maine, NH, VT aren’t typically insanely liberal so probably gave way less whiney teachers.

Yeah if I was asked specifics I would’ve responded with NH.

I’m very bullish on NH. If I was a real estate investor that would be the state I would invest most in (not necessarily for absolute returns, but sustainable risk adjusted returns).

VT is nicer but more expensive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in MoCo and I do think the large size (both in terms of student population and in terms of geography) makes it a LOT harder to work through a situation such as the pandemic. I grew up in New England, where schools have mostly stayed open through the pandemic primarily because the schools are run on a town-by-town basis. It's a lot simpler when you're not trying to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution for 165k kids, hundreds of schools and a massively dispersed and complex transportation system. I doubt that will ever happen here since the county government system is how MD and VA are organized overall, but it would enable a lot more flexibility and nuance.

Due to a number of factors, from remote work, to climate change, to education issues, and rural New England is going to be a very popular “exit” for lots of center left people in large urban areas imo.

Just like red people are leaving California for Idaho.

I mean I guess if you’re not talking MA or RI. I suppose super rural Maine, NH, VT aren’t typically insanely liberal so probably gave way less whiney teachers.

FAT fingers again

Point out the errors of you wish. After posting I see them but there’s no edit button.

Anonymous wrote:They are less likely to close due to Covid waves, lack of unions, and strongly conservative local politics.

Well in New England districts are by the town/city not the county. They’re small. They’re still super liberal full of boosted mask obsessed folks who still want schools closed lol. With high vax rates in MA there are still lots of cases. Boosted people are still getting the virus and feeling ill yet they’re still sweating the vax is a miracle and we now need a fourth.

Teachers were given free at home Covid tests after they’re 12 days off. They’re complaining they were given expired tests but just don’t understand the packaging lol. They had 12 days off to go wait in the hours long lines if they felt ill. Us folk in corporate can’t find tests or had to take the day off to wait in hours long lines for one. The teachers all got a kn95 after their vacation and claim they aren’t good enough and are counterfeit. Teachers here make decent money and can go buy an n95 if they want one so badly. Why would the state give schools n95s? Kids are actually decent at wearing masks and distancing. Save the n95s for healthcare workers. But our unionized teachers want the royal treatment.

So no. Unless things are different in suburban DC area, I don’t think that’s your answer. Our teachers are the whiniest people I’ve ever heard.

Live in Frederick. You will not solve this issue by moving. Same problems, less resources to deal with them. The issue is the pandemic- not politics, not the location, not the schools. If you want your kids back in school, end the pandemic.

Anonymous wrote:I live in Anne Arundel county and you all can stay out as far as I’m concerned. Go ruin Utah or something.

Which town?

I live in Anne Arundel county and you all can stay out as far as I’m concerned. Go ruin Utah or something.

This thread would be a lot better if people would name the small towns they're considering. There's a difference between Charlottesville, VA and Milton, PA.

Having grown up in a small town, I would say no way. If you think the school board here is bad, wait til you live in a place where the dumbest kid in your class is on it, or the biggest bully, and they meddle directly in your kid's school and have an active role in every little thing, down to who your kid's teacher is. Small town school politics are brutal.

+1. Left MoCo for small town. Everyone is so much nicer. Can’t believe we stayed in that place as long as we did.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:God forbid. The first thing people do when they move to a new town for socio-economic reasons is start voting for the same sort of politician that implemented all the things they hated about their old town.

Not true. Dem all my life but had enough. Moved to Virginia, voted Youngkin! Moving was the best thing ever. Nice, normal people. Cheap/excellent private school, etc.

^^^ epic tax cut for my family too!

What part of VA?

Charlottesville area. We moved to get away from closed school/covid hysteria (Charlottesville privates stayed open/normal), but wound up getting a lifestyle upgrade and saving a ton. Everything here is better and cheaper: school, dinner, sports fees, exercise classes, you name it…and don’t get me started on housing which is comparatively very affordable. Our housing cost is less than half what it was in DC.

Anonymous wrote:Ahmaud Arbery got killed in a small town w/ strongly conservative politics. So no….maybe a medium-sized college town.

But then again, I have black sons to think about…

Derrion Albert got killed in a big city with liberal politics.

Anonymous wrote:I really, really want my 14 YO to go to school. It is not good for her to be home with me and only me so much. I moved from NOVA to a small town. And,

I recognize it's a pandemic and sometimes school is going to have to be remote.

I don't see this as politics or some evil conspiracy, it's just a virus that sometimes kills people so we gotta respond accordingly.

If there was a norovirus breakout at my child's school I might expect them to take a break to allow the virus to be contained. Covid is a bit longer of a window but, I see the logic of occassional closures.

I think any kid, any class, any school should be able to switch to instant remote if warranted, and have return to in person ASAP as a priority all the time.

How’s the instruction in the small town?