Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As another Howard County resident and parent to two students in HCPSS, I am also proud of the board and their handling of the situation. As we have seen over the last 10 months, the situation changes every month. In addition to the changing infection, hospitalization and death rates, there is also a change in what the science is telling us about the efficacy of masks, how the virus is transmitted, what sanitation is required, what surfaces are likely transmissions.

I like how HCPSS closed for the first two quarters and then said that discussion about 3rd quarter would begin on a certain date (I believe it was 10/22). The discussion then began with the knowledge of what the current state of the pandemic was and the current thoughts on what was safe. If they had used metrics, when there was a lull in the summer, they would have spent a lot of BoE time discussing metrics and preventative measures which would have been outdated and not necessarily comprehensive by October, let alone January and they would have to go back and revise the recommendations for January anyways. What's the point?

The schools and teachers did a lot or work to redesign the teaching curriculum for distance learning. I heard from friends who have children in other states who were in hybrid mode, then had to convert to full DL when there was an infection and several classrooms of teachers and students who were in the contact tracing circle had to quarantine, but then the teachers were not prepared for converting to completely DL (they barely had time to prepare lessons and assignments for hybrid without preparing for both hybrid and full DL) and the classes were off-track and makeshift as the teachers redesigned the lesson plans for fully on-line.

Making the decision per quarter was significantly smarter. It allows the teachers to commit to a mode of teaching and to design the curriculum, assignments and lesson plans around the teaching model in use for the entire quarter. And at the start of each quarter, the BoE can start to decide based on the current status and situation what mode of teaching the following quarter will be. So, at the start of the 2nd quarter, the discussion began and ended with remaining closed for 3rd quarter. In January, the BoE can discuss based on the state of pandemic, whether it is safe to consider going into an in-person or hybrid model for the 4th quarter.

I think this is the best way to compromise between analyzing the safety and giving teachers the time to design the lesson plans and assignments to the teaching model in use.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As another Howard County resident and parent to two students in HCPSS, I am also proud of the board and their handling of the situation. As we have seen over the last 10 months, the situation changes every month. In addition to the changing infection, hospitalization and death rates, there is also a change in what the science is telling us about the efficacy of masks, how the virus is transmitted, what sanitation is required, what surfaces are likely transmissions.

I like how HCPSS closed for the first two quarters and then said that discussion about 3rd quarter would begin on a certain date (I believe it was 10/22). The discussion then began with the knowledge of what the current state of the pandemic was and the current thoughts on what was safe. If they had used metrics, when there was a lull in the summer, they would have spent a lot of BoE time discussing metrics and preventative measures which would have been outdated and not necessarily comprehensive by October, let alone January and they would have to go back and revise the recommendations for January anyways. What's the point?

The schools and teachers did a lot or work to redesign the teaching curriculum for distance learning. I heard from friends who have children in other states who were in hybrid mode, then had to convert to full DL when there was an infection and several classrooms of teachers and students who were in the contact tracing circle had to quarantine, but then the teachers were not prepared for converting to completely DL (they barely had time to prepare lessons and assignments for hybrid without preparing for both hybrid and full DL) and the classes were off-track and makeshift as the teachers redesigned the lesson plans for fully on-line.

Making the decision per quarter was significantly smarter. It allows the teachers to commit to a mode of teaching and to design the curriculum, assignments and lesson plans around the teaching model in use for the entire quarter. And at the start of each quarter, the BoE can start to decide based on the current status and situation what mode of teaching the following quarter will be. So, at the start of the 2nd quarter, the discussion began and ended with remaining closed for 3rd quarter. In January, the BoE can discuss based on the state of pandemic, whether it is safe to consider going into an in-person or hybrid model for the 4th quarter.

I think this is the best way to compromise between analyzing the safety and giving teachers the time to design the lesson plans and assignments to the teaching model in use.

+1000

Anonymous wrote:As another Howard County resident and parent to two students in HCPSS, I am also proud of the board and their handling of the situation. As we have seen over the last 10 months, the situation changes every month. In addition to the changing infection, hospitalization and death rates, there is also a change in what the science is telling us about the efficacy of masks, how the virus is transmitted, what sanitation is required, what surfaces are likely transmissions.

I like how HCPSS closed for the first two quarters and then said that discussion about 3rd quarter would begin on a certain date (I believe it was 10/22). The discussion then began with the knowledge of what the current state of the pandemic was and the current thoughts on what was safe. If they had used metrics, when there was a lull in the summer, they would have spent a lot of BoE time discussing metrics and preventative measures which would have been outdated and not necessarily comprehensive by October, let alone January and they would have to go back and revise the recommendations for January anyways. What's the point?

The schools and teachers did a lot or work to redesign the teaching curriculum for distance learning. I heard from friends who have children in other states who were in hybrid mode, then had to convert to full DL when there was an infection and several classrooms of teachers and students who were in the contact tracing circle had to quarantine, but then the teachers were not prepared for converting to completely DL (they barely had time to prepare lessons and assignments for hybrid without preparing for both hybrid and full DL) and the classes were off-track and makeshift as the teachers redesigned the lesson plans for fully on-line.

Making the decision per quarter was significantly smarter. It allows the teachers to commit to a mode of teaching and to design the curriculum, assignments and lesson plans around the teaching model in use for the entire quarter. And at the start of each quarter, the BoE can start to decide based on the current status and situation what mode of teaching the following quarter will be. So, at the start of the 2nd quarter, the discussion began and ended with remaining closed for 3rd quarter. In January, the BoE can discuss based on the state of pandemic, whether it is safe to consider going into an in-person or hybrid model for the 4th quarter.

I think this is the best way to compromise between analyzing the safety and giving teachers the time to design the lesson plans and assignments to the teaching model in use.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has officially made me alarmed about signing a contract on a house in HoCo.

Not the decisions of the boards, just the obnoxiousness of what I truly hope is just one person who seems to think people are "nutjobs" for wanting to discuss situations in which in-person learning will make sense.

Have, however, made an emphatic note never to rejoin Facebook reading between the lines of what fights seem to be playing out there.

Your response is so discouraging. Hopefully it is just a troll in this thread who isn't even a Howard County resident. There are plenty of nice, reasonable people in Howard County, but they aren't the ones you hear from on Facebook. There are people taking extreme positions on both sides. Still, I won't lie. There is a vocal extreme faction who will judge you for bringing up a return to school in the future, and sadly, these people thing they are crusaders for safety or justice, or I don't know what. But many more won't. The teachers and administrators in Howard County are working very hard to make DL work for as many students as possible. They care. Come join us!

Your troll comment seems to have illuminated exactly what trolling is, ironically. These teachers and administrators are, indeed, working hard to make DL work, as you mentioned, because they are excellent professionals and also won't return to buildings until it's safe. The extreme faction you are referring to is actually not those who support the teachers and virtual learning. And, you are not being judged, they are saying "No." The BOE, including the board members who prevailed in this election, voted in by the "reasonable" people, is saying "No." These people's lives will not be put at risk.

When will it be safe to return? Where is the plan for hybrid learning that HCPSS committed to completing during the first semester in its required filing with the State BOE? What progress has been made to develop that plan as promised not only to the state but to stakeholders in the county?



I'll wait . . .

Yes. You will be waiting as apparently this governing body recognizes the severity of this virus and the serious community spread after 9 months indicating, thus far, it is impossible to design an algorithm that would safely allow that amount of people to convene. Similar to so many other BOE in this state and others, including those who opened but now have to close, they recognize the futility of making a plan where none can reasonably exist as the weak point of any plan will underwrite deaths, which is far more serious than anything else, particularly the comfort level of parents who just don't "like" it.

Except, the Archdiocese which is a large functioning school district is open and doing well. Other states are doing well. Good for HoCo for being on the zero tolerance side of the house for covid but hey, that pesky learning thing is getting in the way.
A plan can be made for the future. There is zero reason for not planning and debating now. In the meantime, let's all be proud of how covid aware they are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has officially made me alarmed about signing a contract on a house in HoCo.

Not the decisions of the boards, just the obnoxiousness of what I truly hope is just one person who seems to think people are "nutjobs" for wanting to discuss situations in which in-person learning will make sense.

Have, however, made an emphatic note never to rejoin Facebook reading between the lines of what fights seem to be playing out there.

Your response is so discouraging. Hopefully it is just a troll in this thread who isn't even a Howard County resident. There are plenty of nice, reasonable people in Howard County, but they aren't the ones you hear from on Facebook. There are people taking extreme positions on both sides. Still, I won't lie. There is a vocal extreme faction who will judge you for bringing up a return to school in the future, and sadly, these people thing they are crusaders for safety or justice, or I don't know what. But many more won't. The teachers and administrators in Howard County are working very hard to make DL work for as many students as possible. They care. Come join us!

Your troll comment seems to have illuminated exactly what trolling is, ironically. These teachers and administrators are, indeed, working hard to make DL work, as you mentioned, because they are excellent professionals and also won't return to buildings until it's safe. The extreme faction you are referring to is actually not those who support the teachers and virtual learning. And, you are not being judged, they are saying "No." The BOE, including the board members who prevailed in this election, voted in by the "reasonable" people, is saying "No." These people's lives will not be put at risk.

When will it be safe to return? Where is the plan for hybrid learning that HCPSS committed to completing during the first semester in its required filing with the State BOE? What progress has been made to develop that plan as promised not only to the state but to stakeholders in the county?



I'll wait . . .

Yes. You will be waiting as apparently this governing body recognizes the severity of this virus and the serious community spread after 9 months indicating, thus far, it is impossible to design an algorithm that would safely allow that amount of people to convene. Similar to so many other BOE in this state and others, including those who opened but now have to close, they recognize the futility of making a plan where none can reasonably exist as the weak point of any plan will underwrite deaths, which is far more serious than anything else, particularly the comfort level of parents who just don't "like" it.

Anonymous wrote:Kudos to them for the forward-planning.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has officially made me alarmed about signing a contract on a house in HoCo.

Not the decisions of the boards, just the obnoxiousness of what I truly hope is just one person who seems to think people are "nutjobs" for wanting to discuss situations in which in-person learning will make sense.

Have, however, made an emphatic note never to rejoin Facebook reading between the lines of what fights seem to be playing out there.

Your response is so discouraging. Hopefully it is just a troll in this thread who isn't even a Howard County resident. There are plenty of nice, reasonable people in Howard County, but they aren't the ones you hear from on Facebook. There are people taking extreme positions on both sides. Still, I won't lie. There is a vocal extreme faction who will judge you for bringing up a return to school in the future, and sadly, these people thing they are crusaders for safety or justice, or I don't know what. But many more won't. The teachers and administrators in Howard County are working very hard to make DL work for as many students as possible. They care. Come join us!

Your troll comment seems to have illuminated exactly what trolling is, ironically. These teachers and administrators are, indeed, working hard to make DL work, as you mentioned, because they are excellent professionals and also won't return to buildings until it's safe. The extreme faction you are referring to is actually not those who support the teachers and virtual learning. And, you are not being judged, they are saying "No." The BOE, including the board members who prevailed in this election, voted in by the "reasonable" people, is saying "No." These people's lives will not be put at risk.

When will it be safe to return? Where is the plan for hybrid learning that HCPSS committed to completing during the first semester in its required filing with the State BOE? What progress has been made to develop that plan as promised not only to the state but to stakeholders in the county?



I'll wait . . .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has officially made me alarmed about signing a contract on a house in HoCo.

Not the decisions of the boards, just the obnoxiousness of what I truly hope is just one person who seems to think people are "nutjobs" for wanting to discuss situations in which in-person learning will make sense.

Have, however, made an emphatic note never to rejoin Facebook reading between the lines of what fights seem to be playing out there.

Your response is so discouraging. Hopefully it is just a troll in this thread who isn't even a Howard County resident. There are plenty of nice, reasonable people in Howard County, but they aren't the ones you hear from on Facebook. There are people taking extreme positions on both sides. Still, I won't lie. There is a vocal extreme faction who will judge you for bringing up a return to school in the future, and sadly, these people thing they are crusaders for safety or justice, or I don't know what. But many more won't. The teachers and administrators in Howard County are working very hard to make DL work for as many students as possible. They care. Come join us!

Your troll comment seems to have illuminated exactly what trolling is, ironically. These teachers and administrators are, indeed, working hard to make DL work, as you mentioned, because they are excellent professionals and also won't return to buildings until it's safe. The extreme faction you are referring to is actually not those who support the teachers and virtual learning. And, you are not being judged, they are saying "No." The BOE, including the board members who prevailed in this election, voted in by the "reasonable" people, is saying "No." These people's lives will not be put at risk.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has officially made me alarmed about signing a contract on a house in HoCo.

Not the decisions of the boards, just the obnoxiousness of what I truly hope is just one person who seems to think people are "nutjobs" for wanting to discuss situations in which in-person learning will make sense.

Have, however, made an emphatic note never to rejoin Facebook reading between the lines of what fights seem to be playing out there.

Your response is so discouraging. Hopefully it is just a troll in this thread who isn't even a Howard County resident. There are plenty of nice, reasonable people in Howard County, but they aren't the ones you hear from on Facebook. There are people taking extreme positions on both sides. Still, I won't lie. There is a vocal extreme faction who will judge you for bringing up a return to school in the future, and sadly, these people thing they are crusaders for safety or justice, or I don't know what. But many more won't. The teachers and administrators in Howard County are working very hard to make DL work for as many students as possible. They care. Come join us!

Anonymous wrote:

Do not compare teachers with grocers and servers. Federal employees, contractors, and most other workers in just about every workplace- lawyers, insurance agents, human resources professionals, bankers, IT
workers, engineers, architects, designers, librarians, everyone - are working virtually to avoid contact with others. Even veterinarians are taking the pets from the cars- no people.

No, many Federal employees are not working virtually. TSA screeners are screening people, special agents are conducing surveillance and performing law enforcement duties, Federal scientists are performing work in labs, Postal workers are processing and delivering mail and working at Post Office counters.

I do agree that teachers face a health risk, but the manner in which you minimize the risks that other occupations are facing is ridiculous.

Post 12/12/2020 01:15 Subject: Howard County remote until April 2021.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

You didn't win here- you bailed and are helping to put everyone's lives at risk. Let's not debate this any further, as I am just tired of this nonsense. If you need validation (!), you know where to go for that. Just express your opinion on one of a few local FB sites, I'm sure you know which ones, and the same 25 people will pile on to pat you on the back. You are likely their hero/heroine, sweetheart. Don't waste your time with me.


NP.

Please, please don't try to insult someone using childish phrases like "sweetheart." I am supportive of fully DL right now for most schools, but your cringeworthy and condescending rhetoric fully turns people off to your point. I haven't seen anyone actually engage with the actual science and policy recommendations that are being put forward but rather just snipe at one another.

If anyone is interested in engaging in thoughtful consideration (on their own), a good place to start is AFT's blueprint that was referenced above.

https://www.aft.org/reopen-schools


I assure you that the cringeworthy rhetoric is entirely sourced at the feet of those who feel it is time to discuss school opening when Md has a COVID death total over 5,000. 50 deaths since yesterday. Over 9,000 cases in Howard County alone.

AFT is a union, but it seems you have a problem with unions (?) isn't that correct? There's not going to be any acceptable metric, your favorite word, that allows for that type of risk. What you want is some quantitative rationalization that allows you to send your kid to school when the situation is actually qualitative in nature. There isn't one. We can do that for stores and restaurants because participation is voluntary. It isn't for schools. Everyone has to go.
Additionally, how will the schools be staffed? Teachers will apply for ADA waivers, they may quit en masse as in a neighboring county, they may refuse to go and just sue for their right to workin safe conditions. How will schools function when there has to be a medical leave (no substitute will come, it was hard to keep classrooms supplied with subs before this!), or an incidence which causes a large quarantine. People seem to think it's just so easy to open the doors, but it's the details that no one has thought through. What about law suits front those infected? Workman's Comp issues? The $$ is better spent reinforcing a tangible answer to the crisis now....DL.

You may have no idea what is involved in opening a school in a pandemic, which is understandable, but the answers aren't in your metric algorithm.

No one seems to understand that teachers DO NOT want to put their lives and the lives of their family members in danger for your convenience. They are working as well. They have children in school as well. They are extremely inconvenienced as well. That isn't about metrics. It's about ethics, "sweetheart." Yes, I hope you are cringing. That was my intent


As I said when noting I am a NP (which stands for new poster), I am not the person you have been going back and forth with. I also noted I am fully supportive of DL right now. And yes, of course I know AFT is a union, which is one of the reasons I think their blueprint is so important to consider.

I did say, however, that it is important to engage with the scientific studies and policy proposals being put forward as events continue to unfold in the months ahead. I stand by that, though won’t engage with someone who seems to come from such an angry place.

I do want to remind you of one thing: Participation in stores and dining is not voluntary for the workers are forced to come back to make a living, unable to work from home and outrageously, inadequately supported in unemployment.



Agree. However, those workers can work or not. They can work in other jobs. Stores also have strict population limits, hours were/are limited, etc. Yes, pandemics illuminate equity issues.

Teachers would literally have to leave
their career, not a wage grade job, that is comprised of a built tenure, years of expensive education for which many are still paying off loans for, and certification. Their certification would then be pulled by the state. There is only a limited time to resign each year before the next year's contract kicks in... a few weeks. After that, they are in violation of the contract- and certification is pulled so they can't work elsewhere. They would have to start over at some other time on a beginning salary scale, losing years towards their retirement. They would also lose their health insurance.

I mean, what are you saying? A person who is stuck working behind the counter at Chipolte can leave the job, sure, but then they would be unemployed and unable to pay their bills (and be ineligible for unemployment). Clearly that person is in a worse situation than teachers. Presumably, their option would be working in another similar restaurant, which is what they would be qualified to do. They have no option to work remotely, they are exposed to hundreds of people moving through each day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has officially made me alarmed about signing a contract on a house in HoCo.

Not the decisions of the boards, just the obnoxiousness of what I truly hope is just one person who seems to think people are "nutjobs" for wanting to discuss situations in which in-person learning will make sense.

Have, however, made an emphatic note never to rejoin Facebook reading between the lines of what fights seem to be playing out there.

NP here, if I were you, I would be very concerned about moving to HoCo. Are you planning to use the public schools? If so you should have a back up plan.

Unlike AA (which has terrible schools, and therefore more private schools to fill the gap) I am not sure Howard has the same capacity for privates.

So, when the kids don't go back in Fall 2021 and stay virtual, there won't be space left for all of the folks that are scrambling for other options. Don't move!

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has officially made me alarmed about signing a contract on a house in HoCo.

Not the decisions of the boards, just the obnoxiousness of what I truly hope is just one person who seems to think people are "nutjobs" for wanting to discuss situations in which in-person learning will make sense.

Have, however, made an emphatic note never to rejoin Facebook reading between the lines of what fights seem to be playing out there.

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread has officially made me alarmed about signing a contract on a house in HoCo.

Not the decisions of the boards, just the obnoxiousness of what I truly hope is just one person who seems to think people are "nutjobs" for wanting to discuss situations in which in-person learning will make sense.

Have, however, made an emphatic note never to rejoin Facebook reading between the lines of what fights seem to be playing out there.