Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With the numbers in MOCO consistently getting better every day I don't see how MCPS is going to have a basis for continuing DL in the fall. If it continues to decline there will be no basis for a DL decision.

If things change, they change but if we stay on our current trajectory I feel like f2f needs to happen.

The reason the numbers have been getting better is BECAUSE schools and businesses closed and we all stayed home.

Anonymous wrote:With the numbers in MOCO consistently getting better every day I don't see how MCPS is going to have a basis for continuing DL in the fall. If it continues to decline there will be no basis for a DL decision.

If things change, they change but if we stay on our current trajectory I feel like f2f needs to happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.

What's with the black and white thinking? Is it easier, emotionally, to vilify people who have different needs and/or different perspectives than you? Man. You get to the point where any benefit to society from not spreading COVID--in theory, at least--is washed away by how judgmental and critical you are of others. Nicer parents? Not likely, with this kind of attitude.

Then what is your solution? What social distancing measures can be put in place in a crowded high school where there is no room for additional chairs and every seat is taken? Maybe I am just frustrated because I don't think we should have such severe overcrowding in the first place, but I can't figure out a way to promote social distancing, small groups, limited exposure, and all the other things the CDC recommends in the high school setting.

Not being so clearly judgmental would be a good start. Assume the best of everyone in this situation, not that we're made up of two sides, one who cares about all of humanity and one who doesn't. If you start from there, nothing useful or positive will come of it.

And from there? Look at the freaking data on transmission in kids as a starting point. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/children-are-only-half-as-likely-to-get-infected-by-the-coronavirus-research-shows/2020/06/16/be86aff4-afb6-11ea-856d-5054296735e5_story.html

That's not the only study showing lower rates of infection and transmission among kids. Why are we ignoring that? And then, maybe, we prioritize children already at a disadvantage and those of essential employees. It's imperfect, but it's a more tractable starting position than thinking those of us who think kids' education should be a priority are evil.

I'm the PP. I agree with all of that and have posted similar ideas upthread. People then said anything less than full time for all was unacceptable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.

What's with the black and white thinking? Is it easier, emotionally, to vilify people who have different needs and/or different perspectives than you? Man. You get to the point where any benefit to society from not spreading COVID--in theory, at least--is washed away by how judgmental and critical you are of others. Nicer parents? Not likely, with this kind of attitude.

Then what is your solution? What social distancing measures can be put in place in a crowded high school where there is no room for additional chairs and every seat is taken? Maybe I am just frustrated because I don't think we should have such severe overcrowding in the first place, but I can't figure out a way to promote social distancing, small groups, limited exposure, and all the other things the CDC recommends in the high school setting.

My solution would be to follow MD"s own recovery plan:
http://marylandpublicschools.org/newsroom/Documents/MSDERecoveryPlan.pdf

Page 8 (page 11 in the PDF) goes over layouts:

"Modified Layouts
• Space seating/desks at least 6 feet apart when feasible.
• Turn desks to face in the same direction (rather than facing each other), or have students sit on only one side of
tables, spaced apart."

High school desks normally don't face each other anyway. They aren't 6 feet apart, but it's not a requirement either. Maybe add partitions on top of each desk like these: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Privacy-Shields-Assorted-Colors/322832919

For between classes, either require masks and/or make hallways one-way only. Or stagger bell-times so one group is out there in the first 5 minutes, and the next for the other 5 minutes.

Yes, every option has risks, but we can minimize those risks. Other school systems are overcrowded, both in the US and abroad, and they are coming up with ways to open. Surely we can be creative here as well.

The recovery plan lays out other procedures as well. Eating lunch in classroom not cafeteria, etc. The tricky one is buses but I bet you'd find a lot of kids who opt to walk/get a ride with parents, so you can keep capacity on buses down if you try.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.

What's with the black and white thinking? Is it easier, emotionally, to vilify people who have different needs and/or different perspectives than you? Man. You get to the point where any benefit to society from not spreading COVID--in theory, at least--is washed away by how judgmental and critical you are of others. Nicer parents? Not likely, with this kind of attitude.

Then what is your solution? What social distancing measures can be put in place in a crowded high school where there is no room for additional chairs and every seat is taken? Maybe I am just frustrated because I don't think we should have such severe overcrowding in the first place, but I can't figure out a way to promote social distancing, small groups, limited exposure, and all the other things the CDC recommends in the high school setting.

Not being so clearly judgmental would be a good start. Assume the best of everyone in this situation, not that we're made up of two sides, one who cares about all of humanity and one who doesn't. If you start from there, nothing useful or positive will come of it.

And from there? Look at the freaking data on transmission in kids as a starting point. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/children-are-only-half-as-likely-to-get-infected-by-the-coronavirus-research-shows/2020/06/16/be86aff4-afb6-11ea-856d-5054296735e5_story.html

That's not the only study showing lower rates of infection and transmission among kids. Why are we ignoring that? And then, maybe, we prioritize children already at a disadvantage and those of essential employees. It's imperfect, but it's a more tractable starting position than thinking those of us who think kids' education should be a priority are evil.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.

What's with the black and white thinking? Is it easier, emotionally, to vilify people who have different needs and/or different perspectives than you? Man. You get to the point where any benefit to society from not spreading COVID--in theory, at least--is washed away by how judgmental and critical you are of others. Nicer parents? Not likely, with this kind of attitude.

Then what is your solution? What social distancing measures can be put in place in a crowded high school where there is no room for additional chairs and every seat is taken? Maybe I am just frustrated because I don't think we should have such severe overcrowding in the first place, but I can't figure out a way to promote social distancing, small groups, limited exposure, and all the other things the CDC recommends in the high school setting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.

What's with the black and white thinking? Is it easier, emotionally, to vilify people who have different needs and/or different perspectives than you? Man. You get to the point where any benefit to society from not spreading COVID--in theory, at least--is washed away by how judgmental and critical you are of others. Nicer parents? Not likely, with this kind of attitude.

Then what is your solution? What social distancing measures can be put in place in a crowded high school where there is no room for additional chairs and every seat is taken? Maybe I am just frustrated because I don't think we should have such severe overcrowding in the first place, but I can't figure out a way to promote social distancing, small groups, limited exposure, and all the other things the CDC recommends in the high school setting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.

What's with the black and white thinking? Is it easier, emotionally, to vilify people who have different needs and/or different perspectives than you? Man. You get to the point where any benefit to society from not spreading COVID--in theory, at least--is washed away by how judgmental and critical you are of others. Nicer parents? Not likely, with this kind of attitude.

Then what is your solution? What social distancing measures can be put in place in a crowded high school where there is no room for additional chairs and every seat is taken? Maybe I am just frustrated because I don't think we should have such severe overcrowding in the first place, but I can't figure out a way to promote social distancing, small groups, limited exposure, and all the other things the CDC recommends in the high school setting.

“The Department of Health and Human Services will make the determination if we ever get to the point where a school closure is necessary,” McKnight said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.

What's with the black and white thinking? Is it easier, emotionally, to vilify people who have different needs and/or different perspectives than you? Man. You get to the point where any benefit to society from not spreading COVID--in theory, at least--is washed away by how judgmental and critical you are of others. Nicer parents? Not likely, with this kind of attitude.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

No, he's not.

Purely on the county level: Will MCPS open if the county health officer strongly wants them closed? Unlikely. Will the county health officer close MCPS if MCPS strongly wants to open? Also unlikely. Realistically, it's going to be a consensus decision at both county and state.

But it's more satisfying to hate on the county executive, I guess.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe there should be designated schools for people demanding in person education for their children without any safety, sanitation, or social distancing measures in place. The county can concentrate high quality masks on the teachers in those schools, provide for social distancing for the teachers (not the students) and staff, and perhaps pay them a bit more. Those kids can get up as early as they need to so that they can be transported on crowded buses to the designated schools. Designated schools can have sporting competitions against each other. There will be no health screening to inconvenience parents or students. It will be business as usual with every seat filled.

That will make room for all the rest of us who recognize that no government entity created this pandemic and who have compassion for the adult administrators, staff, and teachers who have to try to formulate the best possible plan with limited funding. These schools schools will flexible scheduling, greater social distancing for all, and nicer kids and parents. Hopefully, in exchange for the inconvenience associated with measures to promote public health, these schools will have the best teachers too.