Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I sure think schools will open, but in the event they don't, I would NEVER EVER, NEVER vote blue again even though I'm a lifelong Dem.I

If schools don't open, it will be because the Hogan administration decided against it. MCPS/BoE answer to the Maryland State Board of Education, which answers to Governor Hogan, who is a Republican.

But since Hogan ceded decision making authority for MoCo to Elrich, can't Elrich refuse to open the schools? He's going to do whatever the teachers union president tells him to do.

No, because Elrich doesn't have authority over the schools.

Hogan ceded decision-making authority to Elrich for things Elrich has authority over. Which does NOT include Montgomery County Public Schools. It also doesn't include Montgomery Parks.

In this case, Elrich does have authority IF the state has not exercised their authority. The county health officer, who reports to Elrich, has the power to shut down schools.


Current school shutdown is because the state shut them down but that was only up until the school year that just ended. My guess is the state will _not_ shut them any further, and leave it to the counties, because infection rates vary greatly by county.

So Elrich IS in charge of MCPS opening decision. Huge bummer.

Yes, in this particular case. If it was about a snow day, then that's solely in MCPS hands. However, the health officer has the power to shut down schools for health-related reasons, and I'm sure MCPS will defer to them anyway partly so they can pass the buck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I sure think schools will open, but in the event they don't, I would NEVER EVER, NEVER vote blue again even though I'm a lifelong Dem.I

If schools don't open, it will be because the Hogan administration decided against it. MCPS/BoE answer to the Maryland State Board of Education, which answers to Governor Hogan, who is a Republican.

But since Hogan ceded decision making authority for MoCo to Elrich, can't Elrich refuse to open the schools? He's going to do whatever the teachers union president tells him to do.

No, because Elrich doesn't have authority over the schools.

Hogan ceded decision-making authority to Elrich for things Elrich has authority over. Which does NOT include Montgomery County Public Schools. It also doesn't include Montgomery Parks.

In this case, Elrich does have authority IF the state has not exercised their authority. The county health officer, who reports to Elrich, has the power to shut down schools.


Current school shutdown is because the state shut them down but that was only up until the school year that just ended. My guess is the state will _not_ shut them any further, and leave it to the counties, because infection rates vary greatly by county.

So Elrich IS in charge of MCPS opening decision. Huge bummer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I sure think schools will open, but in the event they don't, I would NEVER EVER, NEVER vote blue again even though I'm a lifelong Dem.I

If schools don't open, it will be because the Hogan administration decided against it. MCPS/BoE answer to the Maryland State Board of Education, which answers to Governor Hogan, who is a Republican.

But since Hogan ceded decision making authority for MoCo to Elrich, can't Elrich refuse to open the schools? He's going to do whatever the teachers union president tells him to do.

No, because Elrich doesn't have authority over the schools.

Hogan ceded decision-making authority to Elrich for things Elrich has authority over. Which does NOT include Montgomery County Public Schools. It also doesn't include Montgomery Parks.

In this case, Elrich does have authority IF the state has not exercised their authority. The county health officer, who reports to Elrich, has the power to shut down schools.

Current school shutdown is because the state shut them down but that was only up until the school year that just ended. My guess is the state will _not_ shut them any further, and leave it to the counties, because infection rates vary greatly by county.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I sure think schools will open, but in the event they don't, I would NEVER EVER, NEVER vote blue again even though I'm a lifelong Dem.I

If schools don't open, it will be because the Hogan administration decided against it. MCPS/BoE answer to the Maryland State Board of Education, which answers to Governor Hogan, who is a Republican.

But since Hogan ceded decision making authority for MoCo to Elrich, can't Elrich refuse to open the schools? He's going to do whatever the teachers union president tells him to do.

No, because Elrich doesn't have authority over the schools.

Hogan ceded decision-making authority to Elrich for things Elrich has authority over. Which does NOT include Montgomery County Public Schools. It also doesn't include Montgomery Parks.

I just heard from the health club I belong to that they've ordered a virus killing machine. I'm not sure what it's all about, but I look forward to seeing it in action. There are also virus killing robots and UV machines that kill the virus. How expensive is this technology and can this be used in schools?

Personally, I have no faith that we will have a vaccine in early 2021 (would be awesome though!). In the meantime, we need to move forward with a detailed Plan B to figure out how some in person school can take place.

Anonymous wrote:The good news is that if schools re-open for in-person instructin in the fall we can fully re-open the rest of the economy and stop social distancing, but schools are going to be such a powerful vector for mass infection that the rest won't matter.

Where are you getting this from? All available evidence indicates that is not the case.

Anonymous wrote:*because* schools are going to be such a powerful vector for mass infection...

Actual data suggests otherwise.

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Anonymous wrote:People everywhere are over it.

Yeah, I'm tired of it too. Does it care? No.

Except many countries are reopening and doing fine. I occasionally wonder why my kids can’t even go to a MoCo playground while friends in Florida, Australia, and the Netherlands live life normally.

Here we are wondering if we’re lucky enough for our kids to go to school while elsewhere children are enjoying the normal - parks, playgrounds, beaches, grocery stores, etc.

Except we aren't many countries and we are the US and our rates are higher here. Move to FL or one of those countries if you want to go and be selfish.

Why would moving to another country that is doing better be selfish?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People everywhere are over it.

Yeah, I'm tired of it too. Does it care? No.

Except many countries are reopening and doing fine. I occasionally wonder why my kids can’t even go to a MoCo playground while friends in Florida, Australia, and the Netherlands live life normally.

Here we are wondering if we’re lucky enough for our kids to go to school while elsewhere children are enjoying the normal - parks, playgrounds, beaches, grocery stores, etc.

Except we aren't many countries and we are the US and our rates are higher here. Move to FL or one of those countries if you want to go and be selfish.

Actually Hogan has been the more reasonable about opening and Elrich has been the one who has kept MOCO on continued lockdown.

I do hope the MD school board opens for in person. I barely made it to today with the DL crap. I can't imagine doing it again in the fall. My kids are young elementary school and this has been a very hard few months for us all.

Anonymous wrote:The good news is that if schools re-open for in-person instructin in the fall we can fully re-open the rest of the economy and stop social distancing, but schools are going to be such a powerful vector for mass infection that the rest won't matter.

No clue what you're trying to say.

*because* schools are going to be such a powerful vector for mass infection...

The good news is that if schools re-open for in-person instructin in the fall we can fully re-open the rest of the economy and stop social distancing, but schools are going to be such a powerful vector for mass infection that the rest won't matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I sure think schools will open, but in the event they don't, I would NEVER EVER, NEVER vote blue again even though I'm a lifelong Dem.I

If schools don't open, it will be because the Hogan administration decided against it. MCPS/BoE answer to the Maryland State Board of Education, which answers to Governor Hogan, who is a Republican.

But since Hogan ceded decision making authority for MoCo to Elrich, can't Elrich refuse to open the schools? He's going to do whatever the teachers union president tells him to do.

I'm pretty sure Hogan will not block school opening.