Anonymous wrote:

To me, this chart suggests that APS is going to allow parents to opt their children out of mask requirements and isn't challenging the law. There isn't much in the chart but I don't see any suggestion here that children without masks are going to be ostracized the way FCC originally suggested it would do. I guess we'll hear more tonight.

Anonymous wrote:

What are the numbers for the high, moderate, low, etc?

Test positivity in Arlington is back under 5%. School cases very low. If not now, when?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you read your emails? It will be discussed at the School Board Meeting.

Mask Requirement: I know there are questions about next steps with our mask policy. Like other local school divisions, APS has been reviewing the latest health guidance and planning for when we can safely ease our masks requirements. We will present our plan and revised policy at Thursday’s School Board meeting. We have come far together as a community in maintaining safe, open schools, even during the Omicron spike, and we will continue that work together.

They can discuss all they want, the law goes into effect on March 1. What would be really refreshing is if they just sent out an email that says in compliance with the law, on March 1, masks are optional. Also they need to withdraw from that lawsuit right now.

I think the lawsuit is important - not for the masking policies; but to ensure local school board authority over its system on any matter and in the future. State LAW leaves the administration of school districts under local control - except with this about the current mask mandate. The law should have been written differently. If Republicans are all about local control like they have always proclaimed to be, this is a breach of their own philosophy.

This shouldn't be a surprise. Republicans want small government until they don't, i.e abortion, gay marriage, etc.

Exactly. Financial bailouts for Wall Street but then leave us alone and don't over-regulate. Economic stimulus checks when we want and need them; but then butt out and other ongoing welfare programs should be abolished (because it doesn't benefit "ME")....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you read your emails? It will be discussed at the School Board Meeting.

Mask Requirement: I know there are questions about next steps with our mask policy. Like other local school divisions, APS has been reviewing the latest health guidance and planning for when we can safely ease our masks requirements. We will present our plan and revised policy at Thursday’s School Board meeting. We have come far together as a community in maintaining safe, open schools, even during the Omicron spike, and we will continue that work together.

They can discuss all they want, the law goes into effect on March 1. What would be really refreshing is if they just sent out an email that says in compliance with the law, on March 1, masks are optional. Also they need to withdraw from that lawsuit right now.

APS has to evaluate all of their other covid-related policies and practices to account for students who won’t wear masks. They may be reconsidering distancing amounts (and whether classrooms will need to be reconfigured), lunch practices, close contact and test to stay policies, etc.

What are they going to do about classroom configuration or lunch? Get real. They have no options. And are you suggesting that the maskless children will be forced to sit in some banished corner of the room far away from others?

I doubt it. You're making this over complicated. If you are very worried about your own child, send them in a good quality KN95.

FCCPS changed their distancing guidelines so that unmasked children had to seated 6 feet away from classmates rather than 3 feet.

This would be physically impossible in my second grader’s class. I doubt they’re 3 feet apart now. They’re packed in to a relatively small classroom as it is.

Even if they don’t rearrange the classroom, they can set a policy that the “close contact” radius for unmasked students is 6 feet rather than 3 feet. Under the current policy, students who are deemed close contacts are only exempt from quarantine if they are fully up to date on their vaccines (including boosters), have no symptoms and wear masks consistently. If APS maintains this policy, then any student who does not wear a mask and who is deemed a close contact will have to go through the test to stay protocol or quarantine for five days.

Exempt from quarantine is vaxxed and symptom free. If any system adds ‘and was masked at time of exposure’ they are adding to cdc/vdh guidelines with no basis in health

From Duran's Feb. 9 update on test-to-stay: "As a reminder, students who are up-to-date on their vaccinations are exempt from quarantine if they have no symptoms and wear a mask consistently."

Yes, he wrote that, but I’m pretty sure if your close contact is, say, your sibling, you still don’t need to quarantine if vaxed & symptom-free, even though you are obviously not masking at home (before anyone tests positive, I mean).

Also, the folks concerned about local control now— why didn’t you care about local control when Northam mandated masks in all VA schools?

Because it was a public health crisis and the guidance has been to follow CDC guidance to the extent possible - not an absolute, immediate and never-ending universal mask mandate. Youngkin has precluded anything but personal option. Allowing opt-outs nullifies a mandate; therefore his ridiculous statement that he's not prohibiting mandates is hypocritical and illogical.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you read your emails? It will be discussed at the School Board Meeting.

Mask Requirement: I know there are questions about next steps with our mask policy. Like other local school divisions, APS has been reviewing the latest health guidance and planning for when we can safely ease our masks requirements. We will present our plan and revised policy at Thursday’s School Board meeting. We have come far together as a community in maintaining safe, open schools, even during the Omicron spike, and we will continue that work together.

They can discuss all they want, the law goes into effect on March 1. What would be really refreshing is if they just sent out an email that says in compliance with the law, on March 1, masks are optional. Also they need to withdraw from that lawsuit right now.

I think the lawsuit is important - not for the masking policies; but to ensure local school board authority over its system on any matter and in the future. State LAW leaves the administration of school districts under local control - except with this about the current mask mandate. The law should have been written differently. If Republicans are all about local control like they have always proclaimed to be, this is a breach of their own philosophy.

The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property. To which in the state of nature there are many things wanting. It is by no means a breach in philosophy, rather it is the essence of the philosophy, personal liberty is the highest priority. If a local despots desire to enact rules that strip liberty, it is the job of the state and the federal government to step in.

When your liberty infringes on my liberty, where does my liberty end and yours begin?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wonder if APS will require a hard copy of an opt-out form to be provided by the family to the school (no electronic opt-outs).

how can they? Not everyone has a computer and printer at home. Equity.

FCCPS is requiring a hard copy and APS can send home an opt-out form for all students. Nice try.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you read your emails? It will be discussed at the School Board Meeting.

Mask Requirement: I know there are questions about next steps with our mask policy. Like other local school divisions, APS has been reviewing the latest health guidance and planning for when we can safely ease our masks requirements. We will present our plan and revised policy at Thursday’s School Board meeting. We have come far together as a community in maintaining safe, open schools, even during the Omicron spike, and we will continue that work together.

They can discuss all they want, the law goes into effect on March 1. What would be really refreshing is if they just sent out an email that says in compliance with the law, on March 1, masks are optional. Also they need to withdraw from that lawsuit right now.

I think the lawsuit is important - not for the masking policies; but to ensure local school board authority over its system on any matter and in the future. State LAW leaves the administration of school districts under local control - except with this about the current mask mandate. The law should have been written differently. If Republicans are all about local control like they have always proclaimed to be, this is a breach of their own philosophy.

But APS is incapable of making any decisions. They rely on Fairfax County and other than that they fall back on what is the most liberal things they can do. It really doesn't matter if it makes sense or if it is useful or even if the county needs or wants it.

What you really mean is the lawsuit is important because you fear Republicans. I mean if people in Arlington spend the next 4 years getting used to Republican rules then it might not be so easy to keep Arlington all Democrat. There might be *gasp* new ideas.

Thanks for my laugh for the day! Wanting my local school board to be able to make decisions for my local school district is just my fear of Republicans? HA! Fear of unnecessary restrictive laws that prevent those with the responsibility of my children's safety from being able to make and enact policies and rules that keep my children safe and healthy, yes. Fear of stupid Republicans with hypocritical rationales to support whatever decision or position they want to support, yes. Fear of genuine, rational Republicans, no.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wonder if APS will require a hard copy of an opt-out form to be provided by the family to the school (no electronic opt-outs).

how can they? Not everyone has a computer and printer at home. Equity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you read your emails? It will be discussed at the School Board Meeting.

Mask Requirement: I know there are questions about next steps with our mask policy. Like other local school divisions, APS has been reviewing the latest health guidance and planning for when we can safely ease our masks requirements. We will present our plan and revised policy at Thursday’s School Board meeting. We have come far together as a community in maintaining safe, open schools, even during the Omicron spike, and we will continue that work together.

They can discuss all they want, the law goes into effect on March 1. What would be really refreshing is if they just sent out an email that says in compliance with the law, on March 1, masks are optional. Also they need to withdraw from that lawsuit right now.

I think the lawsuit is important - not for the masking policies; but to ensure local school board authority over its system on any matter and in the future. State LAW leaves the administration of school districts under local control - except with this about the current mask mandate. The law should have been written differently. If Republicans are all about local control like they have always proclaimed to be, this is a breach of their own philosophy.

The great and chief end, therefore, of men's uniting into commonwealths, and putting themselves under government, is the preservation of their property. To which in the state of nature there are many things wanting. It is by no means a breach in philosophy, rather it is the essence of the philosophy, personal liberty is the highest priority. If a local despots desire to enact rules that strip liberty, it is the job of the state and the federal government to step in.

So why not the fuss and furor over all the other public safety laws? seatbelts, child safety seats, speed limits, having to pass a driving test to get a license, stop signs and traffic lights, jaywalking laws, etc.? Masks during a public health situation aren't an infringement of personal liberty anymore than any of those other laws.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you read your emails? It will be discussed at the School Board Meeting.

Mask Requirement: I know there are questions about next steps with our mask policy. Like other local school divisions, APS has been reviewing the latest health guidance and planning for when we can safely ease our masks requirements. We will present our plan and revised policy at Thursday’s School Board meeting. We have come far together as a community in maintaining safe, open schools, even during the Omicron spike, and we will continue that work together.

They can discuss all they want, the law goes into effect on March 1. What would be really refreshing is if they just sent out an email that says in compliance with the law, on March 1, masks are optional. Also they need to withdraw from that lawsuit right now.

I think the lawsuit is important - not for the masking policies; but to ensure local school board authority over its system on any matter and in the future. State LAW leaves the administration of school districts under local control - except with this about the current mask mandate. The law should have been written differently. If Republicans are all about local control like they have always proclaimed to be, this is a breach of their own philosophy.

But APS is incapable of making any decisions. They rely on Fairfax County and other than that they fall back on what is the most liberal things they can do. It really doesn't matter if it makes sense or if it is useful or even if the county needs or wants it.

What you really mean is the lawsuit is important because you fear Republicans. I mean if people in Arlington spend the next 4 years getting used to Republican rules then it might not be so easy to keep Arlington all Democrat. There might be *gasp* new ideas.

Nah, I've heard the Republican's "new" ideas, the ones that take us back the 1950s in terms of reproductive rights, racial equality, etc. Hard pass.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you read your emails? It will be discussed at the School Board Meeting.

Mask Requirement: I know there are questions about next steps with our mask policy. Like other local school divisions, APS has been reviewing the latest health guidance and planning for when we can safely ease our masks requirements. We will present our plan and revised policy at Thursday’s School Board meeting. We have come far together as a community in maintaining safe, open schools, even during the Omicron spike, and we will continue that work together.

They can discuss all they want, the law goes into effect on March 1. What would be really refreshing is if they just sent out an email that says in compliance with the law, on March 1, masks are optional. Also they need to withdraw from that lawsuit right now.

I think the lawsuit is important - not for the masking policies; but to ensure local school board authority over its system on any matter and in the future. State LAW leaves the administration of school districts under local control - except with this about the current mask mandate. The law should have been written differently. If Republicans are all about local control like they have always proclaimed to be, this is a breach of their own philosophy.

But APS is incapable of making any decisions. They rely on Fairfax County and other than that they fall back on what is the most liberal things they can do. It really doesn't matter if it makes sense or if it is useful or even if the county needs or wants it.

What you really mean is the lawsuit is important because you fear Republicans. I mean if people in Arlington spend the next 4 years getting used to Republican rules then it might not be so easy to keep Arlington all Democrat. There might be *gasp* new ideas.

Anonymous wrote:

I wonder if APS will require a hard copy of an opt-out form to be provided by the family to the school (no electronic opt-outs).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you read your emails? It will be discussed at the School Board Meeting.

Mask Requirement: I know there are questions about next steps with our mask policy. Like other local school divisions, APS has been reviewing the latest health guidance and planning for when we can safely ease our masks requirements. We will present our plan and revised policy at Thursday’s School Board meeting. We have come far together as a community in maintaining safe, open schools, even during the Omicron spike, and we will continue that work together.

They can discuss all they want, the law goes into effect on March 1. What would be really refreshing is if they just sent out an email that says in compliance with the law, on March 1, masks are optional. Also they need to withdraw from that lawsuit right now.

The lawsuit also argued the school districts believe it is unconstitutional under VA state constitution to not allow School Boards to have authority over their own buildings/students, etc. So more a question of whose right is it to set this kind of policy/law.

No idea the merits of that argument.

So maybe the lawsuit doesn't go away.

You should want it to go away. APS should not be wasting tax dollars to engage in a lawsuit purely based on political ideology.

APS has counsel on staff

I don't work for APS but I would imagine they would hire outside counsel for a lawsuit like this. And I would support them doing so.

They did hire outside counsel for the lawsuit and I think it should be continued. What if the General Assembly and the Governor decided that, for safety reasons, teachers should be allowed to carry guns on school property (or some other crazy plan). While that hypothetical is very far fetched and intentionally so, what if Richmond required SROs to be reinstated in every school? I understand some would welcome that, but that plan is at least somewhat unpopular in NoVa. In both cases, I would prefer that local school boards be able to make those decisions on the local level instead of a statewide requirement and Virginia's constitution provides that authority.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Damn, some of you are grasping at straws to find a way to punish the kids who end up not wearing masks.

Not surprised, I guess.

What do you expect from people for whom masks have become a religion?

Ah, yes, the credulous souls who bow down before the science-spewing CDC, when tantrum-having lobbyists know what really works.