Anonymous wrote:More variants, possibly more contagious, will be in the future. Why are masks an issue?

God can’t hear me pray with my mask on.

More variants, possibly more contagious, will be in the future. Why are masks an issue?

Anonymous wrote:I’m asking because it’s soon the season to re-enroll and I’m not keen on signing a contract without knowing that the masks are going away pronto. I’m really shocked more privates haven’t announced vaccination mandates and gone maskless asap. Once the vaccines came out for ages 5-11, this seems like a no-brainer. Seems like public may be offering the better solution for next year, much as I hate to say it.

I'm confused – where are you located? At least in DC, the health department makes one decision that applies to all K-12 schools. So there's no scenario where public schools would drop the mandate first. I imagine that numerous schools (public and private) are open to making masks optional this spring, but that's not their call right now.

Why care so much? My kids really don't mind wearing masks. They get in the car and forget to take them off. They are maskless outside at recess, but they don't mind the masks at all inside. They mind them less than us adults do.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s not the only consideration, but it looms large before I sign a contract without any transparency. Our school has said they are planning for the same scenario as this year, which seems to be a play to ‘hey, think whatever makes you happy…we’ll change our mind after you sign the contract.”

And to address the Loudoun comments, I’m not happy about the current situation and see the new legislation as providing important level-setting, but I’m also not (completely) crazy. I’d rather put my kids in DCPS than join the shit-show that is LCPS.

I still don't get why this is a major consideration for re-enrolling your child in their school. The mask policies are not some bait-and-switch tactic to mess with you. They are a public health measure. I'm hopeful we'll reach a period in the Spring when we can pull back on these measures, but I'm also appreciative that our school has taken a thoughtful, rational approach to things so far. It would be out-of-character if they were to just suddenly pivot. If it's time to remove masks, I imagine they'll give families some heads up and it will be after the 0-5 cohort has had an opportunity to get vaxxed (since that's finally looking imminent). Just makes good sense.

Yes, but I wouldn’t switch for next year based on this. The privates can adjust quite quickly, and if numbers remain low, they will also drop the masks. It’s also quite a disruption if otherwise your kid is happy.

Anonymous wrote:I’m asking because it’s soon the season to re-enroll and I’m not keen on signing a contract without knowing that the masks are going away pronto. I’m really shocked more privates haven’t announced vaccination mandates and gone maskless asap. Once the vaccines came out for ages 5-11, this seems like a no-brainer. Seems like public may be offering the better solution for next year, much as I hate to say it.

In general, many public school are better options than many private schools for many students. The default is not by any stretch that private = superior.

Anonymous wrote:I’m asking because it’s soon the season to re-enroll and I’m not keen on signing a contract without knowing that the masks are going away pronto. I’m really shocked more privates haven’t announced vaccination mandates and gone maskless asap. Once the vaccines came out for ages 5-11, this seems like a no-brainer. Seems like public may be offering the better solution for next year, much as I hate to say it.

Please move your DC to a public school.

Anonymous wrote:Personally I like unmasked privates once in a while.

Legend!

Anonymous wrote:Personally I like unmasked privates once in a while.

Who doesn’t?

Hahaha

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I wish OPs and friends were smarter. This is not as fun when they’re this dim. Really, you didn’t get the reference?

Masterful the original Loudon commenter. Masterful.

No, sorry. I don’t spend my life trolling all the threads on this board as apparently you do

Personally I like unmasked privates once in a while.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. It’s not the only consideration, but it looms large before I sign a contract without any transparency. Our school has said they are planning for the same scenario as this year, which seems to be a play to ‘hey, think whatever makes you happy…we’ll change our mind after you sign the contract.”

And to address the Loudoun comments, I’m not happy about the current situation and see the new legislation as providing important level-setting, but I’m also not (completely) crazy. I’d rather put my kids in DCPS than join the shit-show that is LCPS.

You really seem to think they are making decisions to troll you instead of based on every changing public health circumstances. Interesting. Do you often believe other people in your life also out to get you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the sole consideration for your child's education??! There's no other priority for making this decision for you?

+1. OP is loony tunes. This is like changing careers because you don’t like the toilet paper at your office.

My first thought too. Who makes decisions this way? So capricious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the sole consideration for your child's education??! There's no other priority for making this decision for you?

+1. OP is loony tunes. This is like changing careers because you don’t like the toilet paper at your office.

+1. Also, I want the school to remain flexible, removing or reinstating mask requirements as circumstances dictate. I think they are going away this spring but promising to never have masks in the future (or prohibiting them via legislation, as in the public schools) would be a huge red flag for me.