NEWARK – Worcester County Public Schools delayed a return to in-person learning by a week over the weekend after the health department and the local teachers union advocated against it.
Though Superintendent Lou Taylor told families last Tuesday that some students would return to in-person learning Jan. 4, on Saturday night he told parents the Worcester County Health Department had requested that distance learning continue. His announcement came after the Worcester County Teachers Association (WCTA) and Worcester County Education Support Personnel Association (WCESPA) also submitted a letter in opposition to returning to in-person learning Jan. 4.
The school system reaffirmed plans to return a small group of students to schools last Tuesday with a message citing the robust training staff had received regarding COVID-19 that would allow the school system to return to some in-person learning. Two days later, however, the health department reached out to Taylor as well as the leaders of the county’s private schools to share the latest health metrics, which at the time included a positivity rate of 13.96% and a case rate of 50.8 per 100,000.
“As you are aware, these metrics are well above the threshold for recommending limited or no in person programs per the State of Maryland COVID 19 Guidance for Maryland Schools,” wrote Debra Stevens, director of community health for the Worcester County Health Department, in an email to public school and private school administrators. “We encourage you to reconsider in person learning until these metrics have significantly reduced.”
Because 3 months off per year just isn’t enough. Time for a parents union.
Don’t forget paid 3 months off!
It’s not an actual paid 3 months off. If they opt to get a check during the summer months they have money taken from their checks during the school year to supplement a summer check
School vouchers NOW!!! DEFUND PUBLIC EDUCATION and break the union stanglehold
Pelosi gave more money to our enemies than to Americans
Have you guys looked at the infection rate for Maryland recently? It is worse than when the virus initially began…I am not a teacher, but I do have a kid in school. I can appreciate the fact they are trying to keep our kids healthy. I am willing to bet those of you posting don’t have school aged children.
I do and I and my spouse are working full time. How about asking how many people are complaining that can opt to work from home or do not have to work.
Thank you 11:51 ! same here! The burden falls to us. We have enough on our plate. Stress, exhaustion, etc., not to mention the “asynchronous learning” that we have to do in the evening and still manage to cook, prep and all other tasks while we are dead tired after a FULL DAY at work.
Question: do we do the asynchronous learning before or after dinner? The kids are either too tired to learn (after dinner), or too hungry (before)?
When do we have time to actually cook, also???
Have you looked at the plethora of data showing that kids are at virtually no health risk from the virus and how they carry too small of a viral load to infect others? People like you need to start doing some real research before running your mouth. Keeping kids out of school is far more deadly to them than this ridiculous “virus”.
I DID have a kid in Worcester Public School but had the foresight to pull him out when it became clear by June 2020 that they had no intention of returning to normal operations. The teachers’ and their union have sacrificed the children’s education and mental health in the interest of lining their own pockets. How can you be so blind? Family friend in the school system had no problem traveling to Florida for the holidays, yet we are supposed to believe they are quaking in fear of COVID? Also one last time for those of you who are slow: Positive COVID test does NOT equal sick and studies have proven the theory of asymptomatic spread to be false. Positive COVID test has become the ultimate Get Out Of Jail Free card (literally and figuratively). If you fail to meet any obligation whatsoever, just say “COVID” and you will not be held accountable.