Anonymous wrote:To the PP who asked who DCPS consulted to develop its re-open plan: do you live under a Rock ?

The mayor sent out a survey in mid April and at same time appointed a leadership committee ( Susan Rice / former US Ambassador to UN & National Security Advisor , who also happens to have been raised in DC as daughter of the woman who created the Pell Grant program and a father who was a member of the Federal Reserve Board ) and former Director of Homeland Security Cheryoff , which is important as commuting/ transport are integral )

Beneath them are several sub committees run by people like David Catania , who is passionate about public health in wards 7&8
Adrian Fenty , the DC deputy mayor for Education, the head of the DC teachers union , several infectious disease experts including Anthony Fauci

They also took input from 15,000 submitted feedbacks from doctors and nurses ( surveys sent out by DC dept of Health )
They spent a month developing the 4 phases plan, including a lot of details on how schools would be re-designed to meet 10 person limit ( the hydrid model) and when schools could re-open( cases falling for 14 days straight, hospitals at les than 75 percent occupancy for two weeks, contact tracing of all contacts within one day, , PPE supply chain secure

Etc...
The plan was released almost 2 months ago in mid- May

You seem to be a very come late obstructionist

Again, if you have a health condition, by law you get paid leave until there is a vaccine . If you just want to work from home forever and never have to go back to classsrrom, find another line of work . It’s time for teachers to step up

Um where is the law that says paid leave until vaccine?!?

Also the PP you are quoting copied and pasted that list of questions which were put forth by the WTU.... the message is a list of questions WTU asked DCPS. Based on my reading of the PP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The 12 weeks FFCRA leave are not in addition to traditional FMLA. It counts against any traditional FMLA balance. It’s literally titled “expanded FML” and just adds one qualifying reason for FMLA leave: that your kids are home because school is closed.

My [/b]kids have been in a daycare for kids of essential workers since the pandemic started. No infections. No closures[b].

Whoever cited the example of the gym: seriously? An outbreak among a group of adults is not relevant when considering putting a group of kids with one or two adults and the adults can distance from each other. Kids are less likely than adults to get it and pass it on.

Yes, school is childcare and is essential.

Kids, even young kids, will wear masks at school with teacher and peer pressure. Teachers get the kids to do a ton of things they don’t want to do (like line up, clean up, etc.) with guidance and peer pressure.

Re: fecal matter: um, my kid’s PK teachers wouldn’t wipe her butt. PK3 kids have to be potty trained and have to wipe themselves, or no wipe. Exceptions for kids who can’t due to developmental delays can be made.

Specials shouldn’t happen if school reopens. It’s not wise for an art teacher to see 100 students a day. The art teacher, if able to report to school, becomes a main teacher for another small pod of students.

I’m an essential worker and cannot take off of work to stay home and care for/manage distance learning for my kids. I am expected to go to work. Teachers are essential too. I’m afraid I do not support teachers who don’t feel comfortable going to work, unless they are in an at-risk category.

Schools should have a hybrid model. Teachers who are at-risk can lead the remote learning.

I am also an essential worker and I agree with this 100 percent

Did anyone ask you?

Let's see if you go in if your place of establishment isn't being cleaned and your 'clients' won't wear masks.

Anonymous wrote:To the PP who asked who DCPS consulted to develop its re-open plan: do you live under a Rock ?

The mayor sent out a survey in mid April and at same time appointed a leadership committee ( Susan Rice / former US Ambassador to UN & National Security Advisor , who also happens to have been raised in DC as daughter of the woman who created the Pell Grant program and a father who was a member of the Federal Reserve Board ) and former Director of Homeland Security Cheryoff , which is important as commuting/ transport are integral )

Beneath them are several sub committees run by people like David Catania , who is passionate about public health in wards 7&8
Adrian Fenty , the DC deputy mayor for Education, the head of the DC teachers union , several infectious disease experts including Anthony Fauci

They also took input from 15,000 submitted feedbacks from doctors and nurses ( surveys sent out by DC dept of Health )
They spent a month developing the 4 phases plan, including a lot of details on how schools would be re-designed to meet 10 person limit ( the hydrid model) and when schools could re-open( cases falling for 14 days straight, hospitals at les than 75 percent occupancy for two weeks, contact tracing of all contacts within one day, , PPE supply chain secure

Etc...
The plan was released almost 2 months ago in mid- May

You seem to be a very come late obstructionist

Again, if you have a health condition, by law you get paid leave until there is a vaccine . If you just want to work from home forever and never have to go back to classsrrom, find another line of work . It’s time for teachers to step up

Fenty? What are you talking about, he's back?

Anonymous wrote:The 12 weeks FFCRA leave are not in addition to traditional FMLA. It counts against any traditional FMLA balance. It’s literally titled “expanded FML” and just adds one qualifying reason for FMLA leave: that your kids are home because school is closed.

My [/b]kids have been in a daycare for kids of essential workers since the pandemic started. No infections. No closures[b].

Whoever cited the example of the gym: seriously? An outbreak among a group of adults is not relevant when considering putting a group of kids with one or two adults and the adults can distance from each other. Kids are less likely than adults to get it and pass it on.

Yes, school is childcare and is essential.

Kids, even young kids, will wear masks at school with teacher and peer pressure. Teachers get the kids to do a ton of things they don’t want to do (like line up, clean up, etc.) with guidance and peer pressure.

Re: fecal matter: um, my kid’s PK teachers wouldn’t wipe her butt. PK3 kids have to be potty trained and have to wipe themselves, or no wipe. Exceptions for kids who can’t due to developmental delays can be made.

Specials shouldn’t happen if school reopens. It’s not wise for an art teacher to see 100 students a day. The art teacher, if able to report to school, becomes a main teacher for another small pod of students.

I’m an essential worker and cannot take off of work to stay home and care for/manage distance learning for my kids. I am expected to go to work. Teachers are essential too. I’m afraid I do not support teachers who don’t feel comfortable going to work, unless they are in an at-risk category.

Schools should have a hybrid model. Teachers who are at-risk can lead the remote learning.

I am also an essential worker and I agree with this 100 percent

To the PP who asked who DCPS consulted to develop its re-open plan: do you live under a Rock ?

The mayor sent out a survey in mid April and at same time appointed a leadership committee ( Susan Rice / former US Ambassador to UN & National Security Advisor , who also happens to have been raised in DC as daughter of the woman who created the Pell Grant program and a father who was a member of the Federal Reserve Board ) and former Director of Homeland Security Cheryoff , which is important as commuting/ transport are integral )

Beneath them are several sub committees run by people like David Catania , who is passionate about public health in wards 7&8
Adrian Fenty , the DC deputy mayor for Education, the head of the DC teachers union , several infectious disease experts including Anthony Fauci

They also took input from 15,000 submitted feedbacks from doctors and nurses ( surveys sent out by DC dept of Health )
They spent a month developing the 4 phases plan, including a lot of details on how schools would be re-designed to meet 10 person limit ( the hydrid model) and when schools could re-open( cases falling for 14 days straight, hospitals at les than 75 percent occupancy for two weeks, contact tracing of all contacts within one day, , PPE supply chain secure

Etc...
The plan was released almost 2 months ago in mid- May

You seem to be a very come late obstructionist

Again, if you have a health condition, by law you get paid leave until there is a vaccine . If you just want to work from home forever and never have to go back to classsrrom, find another line of work . It’s time for teachers to step up

i guess it's too much to expect the U.S. Dept of Education to provide any guidance, right? Led by Devos who is hostile to public education to begin with. If she could, she'd just have all mother's quit their jobs and home school. The US is so beyond saving at this point. I really liked the 80s and the 90s. Sad my kids are growing up in a dying nation that will soon be third world. We are actively looking to purchase property overseas. These are dark times indeed.

This is the from the WTU. All we want to know is how we are keeping the kids safe. We are in this, together.

First Set of Requests



Which sources of public health guidance were consulted by DCPS in creating the Guidelines? What steps were taken to ensure that the guidelines were consistent with such public health guidance?
Did DCPS consult with doctors, public health experts, or occupational health experts in creating the Guidelines? If so, who were they? Please describe their role in the process and what input they provided to DCPS. In addition, please provide a copy of any written recommendations or reports provided by such individuals to DCPS.
Has DCPS created other written policies or procedures for dealing with COVID-19, other than the Guidelines? If so, please provide copies and explain how the policies or procedures were created. If not, please state whether DCPS is in the process of creating such policies or procedures, and describe the steps DCPS is taking to do so.
How many teachers have returned the Form? How many of those teachers checked each box under #6?
Does DCPS intend to impose negative consequences on teachers who do not fill out the Form by July 10, or by any later date?
What options does DCPS intend to provide to teachers who are not comfortable returning to work due to fears of infection by COVID-19, but who do not have a “qualifying medical condition” or are at “higher risk” as referred to in the Form?


Second Set of Requests



The Guidelines state that “employees and visitors will not be allowed entry without using required PPE.” What specific requirements regarding PPE are referred to in this statement? What PPE requirements will be established for students?
How will DCPS enforce the progressive discipline policy as reference in the Guidelines for employees who do not comply with directives for wearing PPE? Specifically, what are the stages of the progressive discipline policy and what instructions have been given to supervisors regarding enforcing the PPE policy.
The guidelines refer to a “Return to In-Person Work webinar” for teachers. Has DCPS developed materials for this webinar? If so, please provide copies and explain how the materials were created, including whether DCPS consulted with doctors, public health experts, or occupational health experts in creating them . If not, please state whether DCPS is in the process of creating such materials, and describe the steps DCPS is taking to do so.
Has DCPS developed materials to instruct students on use of masks, handwashing, or distancing? If so, please provide copies and explain how the materials were created. If not, please state whether DCPS is in the process of creating such materials, and describe the steps DCPS is taking to do so?
Did DCPS consult guidelines or policies created by other school systems in creating the Guidelines or other policies and procedures for reopening? If so, which ones? If not publicly accessible, please provide copies.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^its against the paraprofessionals contract to ge in charge of a class

Is it true of the paraprofessionals who are in ECE program and have to be in charge of a classroom for certain number of hours as a requirement for the degree?

What degree? A paraprofessional degree? No such thing. A teaching degree? That’s completely different. That’s student teaching. And you can’t student teaching while also being employees at a para or at least you shouldn’t be. Anyway, how many people do you think this situation actually applies to?

DC had a student teacher last year as a para. I guess we shouldn't have called her para or an aid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^its against the paraprofessionals contract to ge in charge of a class

Is it true of the paraprofessionals who are in ECE program and have to be in charge of a classroom for certain number of hours as a requirement for the degree?

Paras have to have an AA or pass the parapro exam. It is illegal for them to be the lead teacher or be 'forced' to.
In ECE they may be in the nap room or in their classroom watching napping children for 45 minutes

Then I've seen 2 different types of paras (aids). Some are studying to become teachers and some are paras who are not qualified (not allowed by law) to be in charge of a classroom.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^its against the paraprofessionals contract to ge in charge of a class

Is it true of the paraprofessionals who are in ECE program and have to be in charge of a classroom for certain number of hours as a requirement for the degree?

Paras have to have an AA or pass the parapro exam. It is illegal for them to be the lead teacher or be 'forced' to.
In ECE they may be in the nap room or in their classroom watching napping children for 45 minutes

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^its against the paraprofessionals contract to ge in charge of a class

Is it true of the paraprofessionals who are in ECE program and have to be in charge of a classroom for certain number of hours as a requirement for the degree?

What degree? A paraprofessional degree? No such thing. A teaching degree? That’s completely different. That’s student teaching. And you can’t student teaching while also being employees at a para or at least you shouldn’t be. Anyway, how many people do you think this situation actually applies to?

Anonymous wrote:^^^its against the paraprofessionals contract to ge in charge of a class

Is it true of the paraprofessionals who are in ECE program and have to be in charge of a classroom for certain number of hours as a requirement for the degree?

Anonymous wrote:I have a middle schooler and an elementary schooler (third grade) and agree with Ms and hs 100 percent online and take over the space for es. Very smart to split prek-first into two ajacent classrooms with an adult in each room (alternating). My middle schooler was fine with DL. For my third grader it was almost a complete waste of time. I would only worry about Ms/HS schoolers who are slipping through the cracks (there must be many of them). Ms and HS students are also more at risk of catching the virus.

I tend to agree with this EXCEPT, 100% DL for middle and high school will inevitably mean that many of those kids are left home alone each day and susceptible to risky behaviors. We’ll end up with lots more teen pregnancies, drug use, porn and gambling addiction, cyber bullying, etc. a bad idea. These kids need to be in school. And I guess we’re just supposed to accept that sports and extracurricular (which for many kids, is what makes school bearable) won’t even exist?

Anonymous wrote:This thread proves the point that this is nearly an impossible task. Every school is staffed and funded differently. During a normal year this doesn’t matter much, but during an emergency this makes a huge difference. Some schools have tons of support staff and some do not. The funding inequalities are really showing. This has exposed what people have been saying for years about DCPS. Why does L-T have all that extra non classroom staff? How are they getting the budget money for it? Meanwhile, my EOTP school had to cut aides due to the lack of head start funding.

Yes, our ES doesn’t get the extra funding so there are fewer bodies in the building to cover extra classrooms.

I have a middle schooler and an elementary schooler (third grade) and agree with Ms and hs 100 percent online and take over the space for es. Very smart to split prek-first into two ajacent classrooms with an adult in each room (alternating). My middle schooler was fine with DL. For my third grader it was almost a complete waste of time. I would only worry about Ms/HS schoolers who are slipping through the cracks (there must be many of them). Ms and HS students are also more at risk of catching the virus.