Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you going to keep kids home, enroll virtual or wait and see what happens next week in terms of spread? What is the situation of hospital occupancy in MC? Are they prepared for any spike that may results from in person school next week?

Going to go to school, of course. And are they prepared from any spike that may result from bars and restaurants next week?

The answer to BOTH questions is NO!

Anonymous wrote:They probably realized they'd get criticized for telling the public what's up before they told teachers. Not that teachers know I bet it goes back up.

They’ve been called out for it before and yet continue to do it. They really do not care

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

7 day running average of new cases per 100K.

That is Maryland as a whole. For Montgomery County, the data updated 12/29 is 803.38 cases per 100k in the past 7 days.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/

And for those who are math impaired, that is 0.8% of the population with a positive test in the past 7 days. If you want to estimate that for every 1 person who got a positive PCR, there are 3 additional people who have Covid, that would bring the total to 3.2% of the population. And it is reasonable to assume those numbers will go higher in the next couple of days as everyone who is still getting sick manages to get tested.

However, the Health Department and MCPS need data to act on, not estimates and assumptions. The letter that was posted said "As of today 12/30" MCPS was still planning to open in person. There are still 4 days for that to change. Regardless of what MCPS does and when they communicate, people are gonna scream about it. That just seems to be the permanent setting nowadays. If you really think MCPS should not be open on 1/3, then encourage the people you know to complete the form on the homepage to report students that have Covid. MCPS can't act until they have data.

They’re not going to throw the district into virtual at the last minute.

DC is fully urban entity, you can’t compare it to all of MD or VA. Compare data county by county or even zip code.

I live 50 feet from the DC line so not a lot of difference really.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

7 day running average of new cases per 100K.

That is Maryland as a whole. For Montgomery County, the data updated 12/29 is 803.38 cases per 100k in the past 7 days.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/

And for those who are math impaired, that is 0.8% of the population with a positive test in the past 7 days. If you want to estimate that for every 1 person who got a positive PCR, there are 3 additional people who have Covid, that would bring the total to 3.2% of the population. And it is reasonable to assume those numbers will go higher in the next couple of days as everyone who is still getting sick manages to get tested.

However, the Health Department and MCPS need data to act on, not estimates and assumptions. The letter that was posted said "As of today 12/30" MCPS was still planning to open in person. There are still 4 days for that to change. Regardless of what MCPS does and when they communicate, people are gonna scream about it. That just seems to be the permanent setting nowadays. If you really think MCPS should not be open on 1/3, then encourage the people you know to complete the form on the homepage to report students that have Covid. MCPS can't act until they have data.

They’re not going to throw the district into virtual at the last minute.

DC is fully urban entity, you can’t compare it to all of MD or VA. Compare data county by county or even zip code.

They probably realized they'd get criticized for telling the public what's up before they told teachers. Not that teachers know I bet it goes back up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like they took the announcement down.

I think so top, and I wonder what that means!?

It means shit is hitting the proverbial fan.

I'm more inclined to think that someone low-level screwed up something silly, but can't help but laugh. This is amateur hour and it shows.

I agree with you that it’s amateur hour. Disagree that it wasn’t intentional.

Just into my staff mail:

December 30, 2021

Dear MCPS Employees

We hope you have enjoyed the winter break! As we near the end of the break, we want to share some important information about the return to school. As of today, all 209 schools in MCPS are scheduled to reopen on Monday, January 3, 2022, for in-person instruction. The safety of staff, students, families, and community members continues to be our top priority and we appreciate your ongoing efforts in supporting and following the strategies we have put in place to minimize the spread of the virus.

We recognize that COVID-19 positive cases are rising in Montgomery County and across the country. The decision to open all schools was made after careful consideration and ongoing collaboration with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These additional measures will help us to keep schools and facilities safe:

KN-95 masks will be available for all employees.
Next week, all staff will be offered a KN-95 mask for their use. KN-95 masks provide a higher level of protection against the transmission of the virus, and we encourage all employees to begin using these masks. In alignment with the policies of the Montgomery County Government, staff will be offered a new KN-95 mask each week. Reminder: Masks continue to be required for all staff and students in all MCPS schools and offices.

Please report positive cases.
If you test positive, please notify your supervisor and report it to MCPS using this form.

Get a COVID-19 test prior to returning to work if possible.
Check with your healthcare provider, local clinic, pharmacy or the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to identify where and how to have your children tested.
Home rapid test kits for all students and staff
We learned this morning that the Montgomery County Government will be providing at-home test kits to MCPS for both students and staff within the next two weeks. More information on the distribution of these materials will be coming soon. Staff are encouraged to get a test as they return to work, especially if they have gathered in public spaces or have recently traveled during winter break.

Also the following sites are available to MCPS staff free of charge.

Day and Time Location Address Who can test here
Mondays
2PM – 6PM Carver Educational Services Center (CESC) 850 Hungerford Drive
Rockville, MD 20850 Open to All MCPS Staff
Wednesdays
2PM – 6PM Spring Mill Center 11721 Kemp Mill Road
Silver Spring, MD 20902 Open to All MCPS Staff
Thursdays
2PM – 6PM Turkey Thicket 8401 Turkey Thicket Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20879 Open to All MCPS Staff

Testing Consent Form (complete online prior to testing)—
https://www.cognitoforms.com/CIANDiagnostics1/MCPSSTAFFMarylandDepartmentOfHealthCIANDiagnosticsCOVID19StaffConsentForTestingAndReleaseOfInformation

Our community as partners.
All MCPS families have received a community message requesting their support in minimizing the spread of the virus. You can see that message here.
Thank you for your support as we prepare for the first day of school in 2022!

Montgomery County Public Schools

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s yesterday’s number. Today’s is likely to be higher.

That said, is there evidence of omicron transmission in schools?

Schools aren't magical places. Omicron spreads as well there as anywhere maybe more so since many kids don't wear their masks properly and the schools themselves are often overcrowded.

Oh well. Kids will get COVID. The idea of hiding from it forever through virtual school is untenable and irrational.

Staff don’t have the same choice to stay home. There aren’t subs. Your “oh well” is so selfish. Teachers are quitting because people like you think you’re entitled to them. Next year will be even more of a disaster than this year. Congratulations.

You are right that teachers are quitting b/c of parental attitudes. So many parents in DMV care about “appearances” rather than academic progress and personal development. Teachers are routinely disrespected by parents. Mommy and daddy pass along a sense of entitlement to their kids and blame lack of achievement on the schools and the teachers. The unfortunate thing is that when the time comes for “junior” to launch, he is woefully underprepared for the real world.

I spent 15 years in a classroom and learned early on to show up for the kids interested in learning. I made time for parents who were respectful and went out of my way to help their children. I could not have cared less about the students or parents who didn’t value teachers or education. They missed out because of their attitude.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. Everyone in MCPS, students and teachers, has had the opportunity to be vaxxed (and boosted). This is success--as "good as it gets" as far as endemic COVID goes. Why is everyone pretending we are in the same position as Jan 2021?

It’s the same selfishness right?

Huh? Isn't that the point of vaccinations? So we can operate in larger society even when there are dangerous contagious diseases like COVID, or measles, or polio? Now its selfish to get vaccinated?

You misunderstood the post. This aint “as good as it gets.” Hold onto your Covid tests, your in for a wild
return to school Jan 3. !!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. Everyone in MCPS, students and teachers, has had the opportunity to be vaxxed (and boosted). This is success--as "good as it gets" as far as endemic COVID goes. Why is everyone pretending we are in the same position as Jan 2021?

It’s the same selfishness right?

Huh? Isn't that the point of vaccinations? So we can operate in larger society even when there are dangerous contagious diseases like COVID, or measles, or polio? Now its selfish to get vaccinated?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like they took the announcement down.

I think so top, and I wonder what that means!?

It means shit is hitting the proverbial fan.

I'm more inclined to think that someone low-level screwed up something silly, but can't help but laugh. This is amateur hour and it shows.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s yesterday’s number. Today’s is likely to be higher.

That said, is there evidence of omicron transmission in schools?

Schools aren't magical places. Omicron spreads as well there as anywhere maybe more so since many kids don't wear their masks properly and the schools themselves are often overcrowded.

Oh well. Kids will get COVID. The idea of hiding from it forever through virtual school is untenable and irrational.

Staff don’t have the same choice to stay home. There aren’t subs. Your “oh well” is so selfish. Teachers are quitting because people like you think you’re entitled to them. Next year will be even more of a disaster than this year. Congratulations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

7 day running average of new cases per 100K.

That is Maryland as a whole. For Montgomery County, the data updated 12/29 is 803.38 cases per 100k in the past 7 days.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/

And for those who are math impaired, that is 0.8% of the population with a positive test in the past 7 days. If you want to estimate that for every 1 person who got a positive PCR, there are 3 additional people who have Covid, that would bring the total to 3.2% of the population. And it is reasonable to assume those numbers will go higher in the next couple of days as everyone who is still getting sick manages to get tested.

However, the Health Department and MCPS need data to act on, not estimates and assumptions. The letter that was posted said "As of today 12/30" MCPS was still planning to open in person. There are still 4 days for that to change. Regardless of what MCPS does and when they communicate, people are gonna scream about it. That just seems to be the permanent setting nowadays. If you really think MCPS should not be open on 1/3, then encourage the people you know to complete the form on the homepage to report students that have Covid. MCPS can't act until they have data.

They’re not going to throw the district into virtual at the last minute.

Yeah, that’s never happened before ....LOL

Anonymous wrote:https://www.reuters.com/world/us/experts-warn-omicron-blizzard-disrupt-us-next-month-2021-12-30/

Some highlights from the article…

At least 18 states and Puerto Rico have set pandemic records for new cases, according to the tally. Maryland, Ohio and Washington, D.C., also saw record hospitalizations as overall U.S. COVID-19 hospitalizations rose 27%.

"We are going to see the number of cases in this country rise so dramatically, we are going to have a hard time keeping everyday life operating," Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, told MSNBC.


"The next month is going to be a viral blizzard," he said. "All of society is going to be pressured by this."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

7 day running average of new cases per 100K.

That is Maryland as a whole. For Montgomery County, the data updated 12/29 is 803.38 cases per 100k in the past 7 days.
https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/data/

And for those who are math impaired, that is 0.8% of the population with a positive test in the past 7 days. If you want to estimate that for every 1 person who got a positive PCR, there are 3 additional people who have Covid, that would bring the total to 3.2% of the population. And it is reasonable to assume those numbers will go higher in the next couple of days as everyone who is still getting sick manages to get tested.

However, the Health Department and MCPS need data to act on, not estimates and assumptions. The letter that was posted said "As of today 12/30" MCPS was still planning to open in person. There are still 4 days for that to change. Regardless of what MCPS does and when they communicate, people are gonna scream about it. That just seems to be the permanent setting nowadays. If you really think MCPS should not be open on 1/3, then encourage the people you know to complete the form on the homepage to report students that have Covid. MCPS can't act until they have data.

They’re not going to throw the district into virtual at the last minute.