Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The tone of the meeting last night was way different than before. Unlike the doom and gloom, and excessive remedial man-splaining he excels at - Hutchings sounded optimistic that it was really going to happen this time. I'm guessing the political pressure got to him. The metrics he worships aren't actually that different from last week - and are certainly magnitudes worse than in the fall when none of this was "feasible".

He's an opportunistic jerk, who cares only about himself. I think he sees the writing on the wall and wants to get ahead of the "narrative" - which is basically the science shows schools are safe.

Whatever, I'll take it - my kids need to be in school - I just wish they didn't have to be in his school district.

They've apparently been safe enough for his own kid.

Yet all the people who kept their kids in ACPS schools and tried to keep their kids from falling behind more are the ones deserving of shame.

I'm so disgusted with ACPS, the SB, the PTAs that never said a word this whole time and PTAC that clearly exists just to suck up to central office & scold parents.

This has been really revealing. I look at my neighbors in a totally different way. Especially those involved in the PTA. It sad they are so happy with the crumbs that ACPS gives their children.

I share your frustration, but your anger is utterly misdirected at parents. Truly--what would you have people do in the short term? I say this as someone who pulled their SN elementary-age kid out to homeschool despite working a 30-hr/week job because I was horrified not only at how truly terrible DL is for little kids but also at how pointless the assignments were. But I can't pile on parents who are trying to make the unworkable workable.

There are still a lot of parents still very upset over the PTAC op-ed in the Alexandria Times from a few weeks ago.

Being upset with PTAC for being ACSP apologists is not the same as being upset with parents in general. PTAC (according to its website) claims to be a voice for all kids and yet all they ever seem to do is praise ACPS.

And I don't think a single PTA said a word this entire time about the issues with DL. PTAs/PTAC isn't the same as average parents just trying to get thru this even though they claim to represent them (and their kids) in some way. ACPS/Hutchings/SB deserve most of the shame but PTAC deserves some too for giving them cover.

They are occupied organizing restaurant nights.

Count me among those who are still upset. It was utterly pointless and designed to give them whatever advantage they perceived it could.

As an active elementary PTA board member, I'll give my perspective on this. I disagreed with the letter from PTAC, but other members of the board didn't. And our board only represents a small segment of our school population. Who are probably equally split on this issue. If you are happy with virtual school, or have other reasons to not want to return, I imagine you're pretty impressed with ACPS.

So it would have been inappropriate for our PTA, or our PTA Board, to speak out on this - because we didn't have a way to represent the voices of our constituency. And because opinions are so very divided.

That is what was so wrong with the PTAC letter. They made it appear that they were representing all of Alexandria PTAs. It was wrong of them, and kind of unethical, and not an action that well run organizations should imitate by posting a rebuttal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The tone of the meeting last night was way different than before. Unlike the doom and gloom, and excessive remedial man-splaining he excels at - Hutchings sounded optimistic that it was really going to happen this time. I'm guessing the political pressure got to him. The metrics he worships aren't actually that different from last week - and are certainly magnitudes worse than in the fall when none of this was "feasible".

He's an opportunistic jerk, who cares only about himself. I think he sees the writing on the wall and wants to get ahead of the "narrative" - which is basically the science shows schools are safe.

Whatever, I'll take it - my kids need to be in school - I just wish they didn't have to be in his school district.

They've apparently been safe enough for his own kid.

Yet all the people who kept their kids in ACPS schools and tried to keep their kids from falling behind more are the ones deserving of shame.

I'm so disgusted with ACPS, the SB, the PTAs that never said a word this whole time and PTAC that clearly exists just to suck up to central office & scold parents.

This has been really revealing. I look at my neighbors in a totally different way. Especially those involved in the PTA. It sad they are so happy with the crumbs that ACPS gives their children.

I share your frustration, but your anger is utterly misdirected at parents. Truly--what would you have people do in the short term? I say this as someone who pulled their SN elementary-age kid out to homeschool despite working a 30-hr/week job because I was horrified not only at how truly terrible DL is for little kids but also at how pointless the assignments were. But I can't pile on parents who are trying to make the unworkable workable.

There are still a lot of parents still very upset over the PTAC op-ed in the Alexandria Times from a few weeks ago.

Being upset with PTAC for being ACSP apologists is not the same as being upset with parents in general. PTAC (according to its website) claims to be a voice for all kids and yet all they ever seem to do is praise ACPS.

And I don't think a single PTA said a word this entire time about the issues with DL. PTAs/PTAC isn't the same as average parents just trying to get thru this even though they claim to represent them (and their kids) in some way. ACPS/Hutchings/SB deserve most of the shame but PTAC deserves some too for giving them cover.

They are occupied organizing restaurant nights.

Count me among those who are still upset. It was utterly pointless and designed to give them whatever advantage they perceived it could.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The tone of the meeting last night was way different than before. Unlike the doom and gloom, and excessive remedial man-splaining he excels at - Hutchings sounded optimistic that it was really going to happen this time. I'm guessing the political pressure got to him. The metrics he worships aren't actually that different from last week - and are certainly magnitudes worse than in the fall when none of this was "feasible".

He's an opportunistic jerk, who cares only about himself. I think he sees the writing on the wall and wants to get ahead of the "narrative" - which is basically the science shows schools are safe.

Whatever, I'll take it - my kids need to be in school - I just wish they didn't have to be in his school district.

They've apparently been safe enough for his own kid.

Yet all the people who kept their kids in ACPS schools and tried to keep their kids from falling behind more are the ones deserving of shame.

I'm so disgusted with ACPS, the SB, the PTAs that never said a word this whole time and PTAC that clearly exists just to suck up to central office & scold parents.

This has been really revealing. I look at my neighbors in a totally different way. Especially those involved in the PTA. It sad they are so happy with the crumbs that ACPS gives their children.

I share your frustration, but your anger is utterly misdirected at parents. Truly--what would you have people do in the short term? I say this as someone who pulled their SN elementary-age kid out to homeschool despite working a 30-hr/week job because I was horrified not only at how truly terrible DL is for little kids but also at how pointless the assignments were. But I can't pile on parents who are trying to make the unworkable workable.

There are still a lot of parents still very upset over the PTAC op-ed in the Alexandria Times from a few weeks ago.

Being upset with PTAC for being ACSP apologists is not the same as being upset with parents in general. PTAC (according to its website) claims to be a voice for all kids and yet all they ever seem to do is praise ACPS.

And I don't think a single PTA said a word this entire time about the issues with DL. PTAs/PTAC isn't the same as average parents just trying to get thru this even though they claim to represent them (and their kids) in some way. ACPS/Hutchings/SB deserve most of the shame but PTAC deserves some too for giving them cover.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I listened to Mr. Mazur's presentation on the plan for GW students, and was impressed. He didn't have 100 percent information on every aspect of it yet, but it is clear that the school is working hard to put together a plan.

My child is only in elementary school but I've found his comments on the GWMS Facebook page to be clear and informative.

Since your child is still just in elementary school and you probably still have time to make arrangements, you should know that there is a lot of violence that occurs at GW. I've heard some real horror stories from parents. From kids not feeling safe due to the fights in the halls to actual stalking and assaults.

Third-hand accounts are always reliable.

Anonymous wrote:Thank God we switched to private in Alexandria, ACPS is a joke.

And you are on the public school forum to ... gloat about it? Yay, you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I listened to Mr. Mazur's presentation on the plan for GW students, and was impressed. He didn't have 100 percent information on every aspect of it yet, but it is clear that the school is working hard to put together a plan.

My child is only in elementary school but I've found his comments on the GWMS Facebook page to be clear and informative.

Since your child is still just in elementary school and you probably still have time to make arrangements, you should know that there is a lot of violence that occurs at GW. I've heard some real horror stories from parents. From kids not feeling safe due to the fights in the halls to actual stalking and assaults.

Thank God we switched to private in Alexandria, ACPS is a joke.

Anonymous wrote:I listened to Mr. Mazur's presentation on the plan for GW students, and was impressed. He didn't have 100 percent information on every aspect of it yet, but it is clear that the school is working hard to put together a plan.

My child is only in elementary school but I've found his comments on the GWMS Facebook page to be clear and informative.

I listened to Mr. Mazur's presentation on the plan for GW students, and was impressed. He didn't have 100 percent information on every aspect of it yet, but it is clear that the school is working hard to put together a plan.

Thank you for telling me I am entitled to my own opinion. How very ... gracious ... of you. LOL at you. Sheesh.

Well, I am really not sure what the point of you saying what you did on this thread is. You don't like the decision to open, but you don't have to be part of it. My opinion is that the state should close all indoor dining, but they're not going to do it, so oh well.

Thank you for telling me I am entitled to my own opinion. How very ... gracious ... of you. LOL at you. Sheesh.

As a parent I wish the schools would NOT reopen. I don't think it is safe for the community or for the kids, teachers and staff who will be in the schools. While it seems slightly safer in the younger elementary grades, by middle school and high school the community spread risk starts at 12% and increases from there. That is scary and not worth it. Especially with the new mutations that are not affected at all by the vaccines. Physical safety for the community should be the first priority.

You're entitled to your opinion, and entitled to elect to remain virtual for your own kids. But, that's not what the school system is doing, or what the Governonr has directed.

Anonymous wrote:https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/classroom-monitors-in-person-learning/2021/02/06/cbdb6e8e-66f8-11eb-8c64-9595888caa15_story.html%3foutputType=amp

I read the ACPS personnel comments in this article as showing that there is a whole lot uncertainty about what the “hybrid” will look like. Particularly, how much of the hybrid will be in school virtual with a classroom monitor. I really do think Hutchings is only moving forward with reopening because of Northam’s mandate and would not have done so without it.

Agreed. Seems clear to me this is what happened.

As a parent I wish the schools would NOT reopen. I don't think it is safe for the community or for the kids, teachers and staff who will be in the schools. While it seems slightly safer in the younger elementary grades, by middle school and high school the community spread risk starts at 12% and increases from there. That is scary and not worth it. Especially with the new mutations that are not affected at all by the vaccines. Physical safety for the community should be the first priority.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/classroom-monitors-in-person-learning/2021/02/06/cbdb6e8e-66f8-11eb-8c64-9595888caa15_story.html%3foutputType=amp

I read the ACPS personnel comments in this article as showing that there is a whole lot uncertainty about what the “hybrid” will look like. Particularly, how much of the hybrid will be in school virtual with a classroom monitor. I really do think Hutchings is only moving forward with reopening because of Northam’s mandate and would not have done so without it.