Anonymous wrote:

This. Playgrounds have been closed for nearly 3 months, on Elrich's order. Surely the parks department knew they would eventually reopen. Why not have a plan ready, so when Elrich announced they'd be opening soon, they can just pull out the plan and execute on it? It just reeks of incompetence to me.

If you want to holler at Montgomery Parks, then do - I guess?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:England says all back This Fall?

When every other county has their kids back in the fall, the pressure on the MoCo decision makers is really going to mount. You can keep calling everyone crazy only so long before it becomes obvious who the crazy one really is.

But, this is the kind of situation where even if they finally cave, it would take weeks to implement _if_ they have not planned for that course of action already. It takes a while to install hand sanitizer dispensers in every clasrooom, etc etc in a system with 160k students.

For an example, look at playgrounds. Elrich's executive order said playgrounds in MoCo can open (with restrictions) as of yesterday 5pm.

Yes, MoCo Parks says they'll be closed until next week at the earliest, because they don't have a plan in place to open the playgrounds:
https://twitter.com/MontgomeryParks/status/1274017909715632129?s=20

Opening playgrounds is simple because other counties in MD did it about a month ago -- cut down the caution tape, and put up social distancing signs. Imagine how well MoCo is equipped to re-open schools, which are a much more complex process.

I just don't have have in MCPS being able to execute on anything on short notice. They just can't seem to plan well.

Elrich isn't in charge of Montgomery Parks playgrounds, because that's M-NCPPC.

He's not in charge of MCPS either.

DP, but if M-NCPPC knew they wouldn’t get it together to open playgrounds yesterday, they should have said something before then. It’s really not hard, as PP noted. Their nonsense about waiting for “additional guidance” is just that: nonsense. These various organizations need to coordinate with each other and communicate with the public; it’s their damn job to do so.

This. Playgrounds have been closed for nearly 3 months, on Elrich's order. Surely the parks department knew they would eventually reopen. Why not have a plan ready, so when Elrich announced they'd be opening soon, they can just pull out the plan and execute on it? It just reeks of incompetence to me.

It's not that they can't coordinate, it's that no one is willing to shoulder the burden of the decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:England says all back This Fall?

When every other county has their kids back in the fall, the pressure on the MoCo decision makers is really going to mount. You can keep calling everyone crazy only so long before it becomes obvious who the crazy one really is.

But, this is the kind of situation where even if they finally cave, it would take weeks to implement _if_ they have not planned for that course of action already. It takes a while to install hand sanitizer dispensers in every clasrooom, etc etc in a system with 160k students.

For an example, look at playgrounds. Elrich's executive order said playgrounds in MoCo can open (with restrictions) as of yesterday 5pm.

Yes, MoCo Parks says they'll be closed until next week at the earliest, because they don't have a plan in place to open the playgrounds:
https://twitter.com/MontgomeryParks/status/1274017909715632129?s=20

Opening playgrounds is simple because other counties in MD did it about a month ago -- cut down the caution tape, and put up social distancing signs. Imagine how well MoCo is equipped to re-open schools, which are a much more complex process.

I just don't have have in MCPS being able to execute on anything on short notice. They just can't seem to plan well.

Elrich isn't in charge of Montgomery Parks playgrounds, because that's M-NCPPC.

He's not in charge of MCPS either.

DP, but if M-NCPPC knew they wouldn’t get it together to open playgrounds yesterday, they should have said something before then. It’s really not hard, as PP noted. Their nonsense about waiting for “additional guidance” is just that: nonsense. These various organizations need to coordinate with each other and communicate with the public; it’s their damn job to do so.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^SO CONTACT THE BOE *NOW* AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT.

Hahhahh. I've contacted them before on issues. The BOE knows better than you, mere parent!

It's my role, as a voter, to tell the BoE what I want.

it's then the BoE's role to make the decisions - which might be what I want, or might not be what I want.

That's how it works.

But if you can't even be bothered to tell them what you want, then you shouldn't complain when they do something you don't want.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:England says all back This Fall?

When every other county has their kids back in the fall, the pressure on the MoCo decision makers is really going to mount. You can keep calling everyone crazy only so long before it becomes obvious who the crazy one really is.

But, this is the kind of situation where even if they finally cave, it would take weeks to implement _if_ they have not planned for that course of action already. It takes a while to install hand sanitizer dispensers in every clasrooom, etc etc in a system with 160k students.

For an example, look at playgrounds. Elrich's executive order said playgrounds in MoCo can open (with restrictions) as of yesterday 5pm.

Yes, MoCo Parks says they'll be closed until next week at the earliest, because they don't have a plan in place to open the playgrounds:
https://twitter.com/MontgomeryParks/status/1274017909715632129?s=20

Opening playgrounds is simple because other counties in MD did it about a month ago -- cut down the caution tape, and put up social distancing signs. Imagine how well MoCo is equipped to re-open schools, which are a much more complex process.

I just don't have have in MCPS being able to execute on anything on short notice. They just can't seem to plan well.

Elrich isn't in charge of Montgomery Parks playgrounds, because that's M-NCPPC.

He's not in charge of MCPS either.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/opinion/opinion-mental-health-of-mcps-students-must-get-our-attention/

The stark realities of living in the time of COVID-19 have only heightened the mental health concerns young people face. Children and young adults are extremely social and prosper through regular ongoing interactions with their peers.

Yet, the requirements of sustained social distancing can result in feelings of social isolation. Children become vulnerable to increased emotional stress, especially when combined with the collective trauma living through this pandemic is creating for our entire community.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:England says all back This Fall?

When every other county has their kids back in the fall, the pressure on the MoCo decision makers is really going to mount. You can keep calling everyone crazy only so long before it becomes obvious who the crazy one really is.

But, this is the kind of situation where even if they finally cave, it would take weeks to implement _if_ they have not planned for that course of action already. It takes a while to install hand sanitizer dispensers in every clasrooom, etc etc in a system with 160k students.

For an example, look at playgrounds. Elrich's executive order said playgrounds in MoCo can open (with restrictions) as of yesterday 5pm.

Yes, MoCo Parks says they'll be closed until next week at the earliest, because they don't have a plan in place to open the playgrounds:
https://twitter.com/MontgomeryParks/status/1274017909715632129?s=20

Opening playgrounds is simple because other counties in MD did it about a month ago -- cut down the caution tape, and put up social distancing signs. Imagine how well MoCo is equipped to re-open schools, which are a much more complex process.

I just don't have have in MCPS being able to execute on anything on short notice. They just can't seem to plan well.

Anonymous wrote:^^^SO CONTACT THE BOE *NOW* AND TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT.

Hahhahh. I've contacted them before on issues. The BOE knows better than you, mere parent!

Anonymous wrote:

Many other counties are not going to be back to full week school in the fall. If folks want ideas to what fall will look like they only need to look at plans that southern state schools are stating to put out. All of their plans will be confirmed in about 2weeks as schools start early August.

Let us know what Texas is doing, please, so that we can not use them as a model.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:England says all back This Fall?

When every other county has their kids back in the fall, the pressure on the MoCo decision makers is really going to mount. You can keep calling everyone crazy only so long before it becomes obvious who the crazy one really is.

What are you talking about? Loudon announced 2 days a week in the fall. DC is surveying parents about different hybrid scenarios (2 days on, 3 off, 2 weeks on, 3 off), etc.

Many other counties are not going to be back to full week school in the fall. If folks want ideas to what fall will look like they only need to look at plans that southern state schools are stating to put out. All of their plans will be confirmed in about 2weeks as schools start early August.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:England says all back This Fall?

When every other county has their kids back in the fall, the pressure on the MoCo decision makers is really going to mount. You can keep calling everyone crazy only so long before it becomes obvious who the crazy one really is.

What are you talking about? Loudon announced 2 days a week in the fall. DC is surveying parents about different hybrid scenarios (2 days on, 3 off, 2 weeks on, 3 off), etc.

It's pretty stupid that Loudon announced that when there is still 2 months before school starts. I hope they Are prepared to go back to full time very quickly if things continue to move in a positive direction.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:England says all back This Fall?

When every other county has their kids back in the fall, the pressure on the MoCo decision makers is really going to mount. You can keep calling everyone crazy only so long before it becomes obvious who the crazy one really is.

What are you talking about? Loudon announced 2 days a week in the fall. DC is surveying parents about different hybrid scenarios (2 days on, 3 off, 2 weeks on, 3 off), etc.

Anonymous wrote:England says all back This Fall?

When every other county has their kids back in the fall, the pressure on the MoCo decision makers is really going to mount. You can keep calling everyone crazy only so long before it becomes obvious who the crazy one really is.

Anonymous wrote:Interesting article posted a few hours ago about negotiations with the teacher's union:
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/mcps-teachers-union-nearing-impasse-in-contract-negotiations/

It also gives some hints about the fall, or at least when we'll know more:

Once the next MCEA contract is finalized, union and MCPS officials will begin a new round of bargaining “on everything related to” fall classes, “because we definitely will not be bringing 166,000 kids back to classes in August for the first day of school,” Lloyd said.

and

MCPS has not yet released a plan for fall teaching, but Turner said the school board is expected to receive a briefing in July.

So as I read this:

1. The earliest we'll know about fall plans is in July.
2. They haven't started working on fall plans, as it needs to be negotiated with the teacher's union first.

I’m assuming that some of the issues related to the fall would come up in the contract negotiation process. For example, if MCPS wants to be able to furlough or reassign teachers who aren’t doing much in DL (specials teachers, reading/math specialists, etc.) then I assume that would need to be added into the overall contract.

Also, from the article it sounds like the union is taking a more adversarial approach rather than considering where there can be issues negotiated on a win-win basis (example of win-win: I care more about A than B, and you care more about B than A, so you give me what I want on A and I give you what you want on B, and we are both better off). That sounds like a bad choice that will increase the chance that the state will have to intervene.

Speaking of which, are there instances in which the state has intervened in the past in MCPS or other school districts? How have those turned out?