Friday, October 30, 2020
Maryland state superintendent says students should be in school ‘right now’
State Schools Superintendent Karen B. Salmon called on school systems in suburban Maryland to begin bringing back at least some of their students for in-person instruction right away as learning losses accumulate...
...Montgomery County’s school board is slated to meet Nov. 6 and again Nov. 10 to discuss whether it might reopen for some level of school-based learning in coming weeks or months and what the plan will be for the school year’s second semester, which begins Feb. 1.
The school system also has developed a “health metrics grid” to show the health markers it is monitoring for a phased-in return to in-person instruction, a spokeswoman said...
Test Maker To Pay $16 Million For Divulging Students’ Disabilities
A major standardized test maker has agreed to pay up and alter its practices to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of illegally disclosing information about students’ disabilities.
ACT, Inc. agreed this month to settle a 2018 suit brought by students who claimed that information about their disabilities was included on score reports sent to colleges and that the information was also sold to various entities that do recruitment and marketing as part of the college admissions process.
Under the settlement, which has received preliminary approval from a judge, “ACT has agreed not to resume certain practices related to the collection and use of disability information and the process for enrolling in the Educational Opportunity Service that were the basis of this action,” according to a joint statement released by the parties involved in the litigation...
Are we ready to close schools’ windows?
...On September 29, the Royal Society (the UK equivalent of the US National Academy of Sciences) issued its report, “The Ventilation Of Buildings And Other Mitigating Measures For COVID-19: A Focus On Winter 2020”. It is by far the most comprehensive analysis of this issue that I have seen to date.
Critically, it contains tools that school districts and health departments can use to quantify the risk of contracting Covid-19 from indoor exposure to aerosols containing the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
This risk is a function of the amount viral aerosols that accumulate in a space over time. In turn, this depends on a number of controllable variables, including:
- The volume of an enclosed space, in cubic feet (all else being equal, smaller is riskier).
- The number of people in the enclosed space (more is riskier).
- How long they are in the enclosed space (longer is risker).
- An assumption about how many of these people are shedding viruses (more is riskier).
- The activity the people are performing (more active is riskier, e.g., listening to a teacher versus having choir practice).
- And the parameters at which the HVAC system is operating, including the efficiency of its filters (lower MERV rating is riskier), the amount of air changes per hour (fewer is riskier), and the amount of outdoor air entering the space each hour, from open windows or through HVAC system (less outside air is riskier).
This methodology is essentially the same one that has been used in the past to measure the accumulation of carbon dioxide in classrooms, which has been shown to reduce students’ cognitive function (for example, see “Indoor Air Quality and Academic Performance,” by Tess Stafford)...
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/are-we-ready-close-schools-windows
Young YouTube influencers are increasingly marketing junk food to fellow kids, study finds
(CNN)Kid influencers on YouTube are marketing junk food and sugary beverages to their fellow kids, and they're racking up billions of page views, according to a new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
"We should approach YouTube influencer videos with skepticism, even with videos that seem to be educational or kid-friendly," said senior author Marie Bragg, an assistant professor of public health nutrition with joint appointments at New York University's School of Global Public Health and Langone Medical Center...
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/26/health/youtube-influencers-junk-food-wellness/index.html
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Fairfax County teachers union opposes new concurrent method for instruction
A union representing teachers in Virginia’s largest school system believes instructors and parents have been ambushed by a dual announcement from the Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent, demanding a decision about returning to classrooms that will begin deploying a new form of instruction.
“We are doing concurrent learning; this is the model we will use,” first-grade teacher Emily Vanderhoff said, paraphrasing a return-to-school update released late last Friday afternoon...
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Fear and anxiety spike in virus hot spots across US
Preslie Paur breaks down in tears when she thinks of her state’s refusal to mandate face masks.
The South Salt Lake City, Utah, woman can’t work at her special education job due to an autoimmune disease. Her husband, also a special ed teacher, recently quit because his school district would not allow him to work remotely to protect her and their 5-year-old son, who has asthma.
“I feel forgotten,” Paur said. “We’re living in a world we no longer fit in. We did everything right. We went to college, we got jobs, we tried to give back to our community, and now our community is not giving back to us. And I’m very scared.”
As President Donald Trump barnstorms the swing states, often downplaying the coronavirus pandemic before largely unmasked crowds, the nation continues to lurch toward what his opponent Joe Biden, citing health experts, warned will be a “dark winter” of disease and death...
https://apnews.com/article/fear-anxiety-spike-virus-hot-spots-us-83702dcb8b7d1d766e098b250e85f528
May a school disclose the number of students who have COVID-19 to parents and students in the school community without prior written consent? YES
May Schools Disclose Information about Cases of COVID-19?
By: Kevin Herms, Director of the Student Privacy Policy Office
Do federal privacy laws allow schools to disclose information about cases of COVID-19? The Student Privacy Policy Office at the U.S. Department of Education provided guidance on that subject in March 2020. Today, we are reminding schools of this guidance and answering four of the most common questions that schools may face regarding privacy and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schools across the nation are working hard to keep students, teachers, and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many schools are wondering whether the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows them to disclose information about cases of COVID-19 to the community. The Student Privacy Policy Office provided answers to these questions in our March 2020 guidance. Subsequent to issuing the guidance, we have seen reports that states, cities, school districts, and schools are continuing to face questions about disclosing COVID-19 cases. Today, we are answering four of the most common questions...
https://blog.ed.gov/2020/09/may-schools-disclose-information-cases-covid-19/
Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Mont. Co. Schools: 66 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been found. The data include employees and students.
Sixty-six cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Montgomery County schools, including 11 outbreaks, according to the county health department.
In an email to Bethesda Beat, spokeswoman Mary Anderson wrote that the health department has conducted 204 investigations into potential coronavirus cases at public and private schools — 172 at private schools and 32 at public schools. From those investigations, 66 confirmed cases have been found. The data include employees and students.
Anderson did not specify how many cases were at private schools and how many were at public schools.
However, she reported that there have been seven COVID-19 outbreaks at public schools and four at private schools...
County moves to dismiss lawsuit over closing private schools
...In a new court filing, attorneys representing Gayles and County Executive Marc Elrich requested that the case, which has been sitting idle since August, be dismissed.
County attorneys argue that the lawsuit is no longer relevant, and, even if it were, Gayles acted within his authority and did not violate any state or federal laws in doing so...
Monday, October 26, 2020
How Are Maryland Schools Reopening? We’ve Got A Quick Guide
All Maryland public schools began the academic year virtually, and many have started to transition some students back into school buildings for in-person learning.
But getting reopening plans right is like trying to hit a moving target, as the COVID-19 pandemic is unpredictable.
Some school systems have backtracked from their initial plans towards in-person instruction. Dorchester County Public Schools announced Wednesday that all students will go back to online classes after one week of hybrid learning because of a high COVID-19 positivity rate in the Eastern Shore county. Greensboro Elementary School in Caroline County is closed for the next two weeks after eight staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Caroline County Public Schools started hybrid learning for its younger students at the beginning of this month...
Montgomery Co. Public Schools' enrollment declines by 3,700 students amid virtual learning
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (ABC7) — Montgomery County Public Schools has 3,700 fewer students this academic year compared to last.
MCPS Superintendent Jack Smith made that revelation Wednesday during a Zoom call with the Maryland Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee.
"Right now, as of today. Montgomery County has 3,700 fewer kindergarteners through 12th graders than we had last year," Smith remarked...
Sunday, October 25, 2020
Coronavirus surge closes schools on Eastern Shore
Schools shuttered in rural Dorchester County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland this week amid a rise in coronavirus cases, more than a month after students began a gradual return to in-person classes.
Dorchester County School Superintendent W. David Bromwell said about 20 percent of the school system’s 4,700 students were on campus part time — a number slated to more than double next week under a hybrid-learning plan for pre-K to grade 12...
Saturday, October 24, 2020
Opinion: At-large representation a tool to squelch minority voices
In the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Department of Justice (DOJ) ruled against at-large representation because it is a way to dilute and circumvent minority populations during voting.
In the 2018 Montgomery County election, isn’t it interesting that so many downcounty residents were elected to the County Council? Is it possible that by having four at-large candidates, minority voters and their votes were diluted, similar to what the DOJ has often ruled against?
Our constitution did not define a voting system. Many states initially tried the at-large method, then changed to district elections to ensure better representation...
COVID-19 spike among young in Mass. raising fresh alarms
BOSTON — Confirmed COVID-19 infections among Massachusetts residents younger than 20 are higher than they have been through the entire pandemic, prompting one leading expert to say the rising caseload is likely a reflection of increased testing and another to warn it could forecast a wave of transmission in older adults.
While some communities are backing away from in-person learning amid a statewide increase in cases, the infection rate among the state's youngest age group has grown more rapidly in the past two months than any other cohort. Officials have been consistently pointing to unsafe behavior among young adults as driving a significant portion of the uptick...
Friday, October 23, 2020
County Homeroom changes sparks outrage among students and teachers
...Multiple WJ teachers have expressed their frustrations through emails stating that they are already overwhelmed with the amount of work they are already required to accomplish. Science teacher Brock Eastman shared that administering both homeroom and regular class will be a burden to all teachers.
“If the issue is the need to have us engage with the student more, then why don’t we just increase the block times to an hour and fifteen minutes? I’ve needed that kind of time very much over the last few weeks to mix up the sessions, but instead I have to run off to test or a homeroom instead. And at least it’s not me adopting a curriculum that I am not knowledgeable in or qualified to administer,” Eastman said.
Overall, student and teacher opinions have come out against the county’s decision but the county remains unflinching in its efforts to administer required weekly homerooms..
AFTER DISPUTE OVER PRIVATE SCHOOLS, COUNTY STILL UNCLEAR ON ITS AUTHORITY TO MAKE CLOSURES
It’s unclear what authority Montgomery County has to make broad school closures if COVID-19 conditions get worse, Emergency Management Director Dr. Earl Stoddard said at a county council meeting Tuesday.
On July 31, Montgomery County was launched into a week-long back and forth with the state when County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles issued an order for private schools to remain virtual until at least Oct. 1. Gov. Larry Hogan strongly disapproved and issued an amended emergency order to make it clear that Montgomery County did not have the authority to make a blanket closure order for nonpublic schools.
In response to Hogan’s order, Gayles put out a second order reaffirming his first directive for private schools to stay virtual. The state health department came back with a statement saying it is policy that nonpublic schools can’t be closed in a blanket order. Finally, Gayles withdrew his directive one week later on Aug. 7.
At the council meeting Tuesday, Stoddard said Hogan’s order leaves the county in a challenging place...
...On Tuesday, Gayles said there are 32 active COVID-19 investigations involving school settings, and about 18 include a positive case or confirmed high risk of/close contact to a positive case...
Thursday, October 22, 2020
Student town hall addresses sexual assault allegations in Montgomery County
Over the summer, Montgomery County students came forward to report more than 350 allegations of sexual assault on social media. School leaders recently held a town hall with students to outline the resources available to them and what’s being done to prevent future incidents.
About 200 students attended the online meeting and were greeted by fellow students and County Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith...
"We would certainly appreciate a standing procedure," said Jack Smith, the superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools.
Maryland school leaders ask state for guidelines on COVID-19 vaccines, outbreak
THREE EMPLOYEES AT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MIDDLE SCHOOL TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Dorchester County, Maryland Closes Public Schools
This message appeared on the Dorchester Co. MD Facebook page attributed to the school superintendent pic.twitter.com/JmYi349lvz
— TIM TOOTEN SR (@tvtooten) October 22, 2020
Public Television stations to launch new learning channel
In Michigan, folks. Of course taxpayers here in Montgomery County pay for the MCPS TV channel. So, how is it supporting our teachers and students? No idea. Here's the story on the Michigan public TV stations, by reporter John Wisely, in the Detroit Free Press. Full story here.
The people who bring you Sesame Street and Daniel Tiger plan to bring a lot more educational programming, hoping to reverse some of the learning loss related to COVID-19.
Public Television stations across the state are launching the Michigan Learning Channel, a new way to feature real teachers and curriculum that is aligned to state standards, for kids at home.
"This will be teachers on television and on every platform imaginable," said Rich Homberg, president and CEO of Detroit Public Television. "The entire state has access to public television and the bandwidth of our channels. Today, we've got four channels and we've acquired the technology to create a fifth. So it's free over the air."
And here's what our MCPS TV channel has scheduled. Their annual budget appears to be approximately $1.8 million.
Are we ready to close schools’ windows?
...When it comes to Covid-19, all else doesn’t remain equal for long. For the past nine months, the challenges we face have been constantly evolving, due to changes in the virus itself, our approaches to treating it, government policy, and human behavior.
And with winter on the horizon, now we face a new challenge: Our schools’ indoor air quality, which will soon become a critical issue when temperatures drop and the windows must close.
Last May, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) issued its initial guidance on indoor air quality to reduce COVID-19 infection risk (“Guidance for Building Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic”).
One of its key recommendations was the use of filters rated at least MERV-13 in HVAC systems. These filters have small enough pores to catch most viruses. Unfortunately, many schools can’t use these filters, either because the filter housing is too small, or because they lack sufficient power to push a minimum quantity of air through them...
https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/are-we-ready-close-schools-windows
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
The CDC Just Changed The Definition Of ‘Close Contact’ To Someone With Covid-19
...The change in CDC guidelines could lead to a reimagining of guidance on gatherings like schools, workplaces and restaurants, and a greater emphasis on the importance of social distancing and face masks...
Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Monday, October 19, 2020
Maryland shortchanges taxpayers millions of dollars, according to state audit
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - Maryland has been shortchanging people millions of dollars on their tax returns according to a new state audit (State Department of Assessments and Taxation).
Auditors found the state has been miscalculating a tax credit for homeowners for years, and last year alone, just in Montgomery County, the error led to thousands of taxpayers losing out on a total of $4.4 million...
...Louis Wilen, a retired computer programmer from Montgomery County, discovered the problem four years ago. It’s not the first time he’s found a tax flaw in Maryland...
Friday, October 16, 2020
MCPS: EMPLOYEE AT GLEN HAVEN MEAL DISTRIBUTION SITE TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Montgomery County Public Schools announced that a staff member who works at a Glen Haven Elementary School meal distribution site in Wheaton has tested positive for the coronavirus...
As City of Gaithersburg Takes $1.5M +/- "Gift" from MoCo Board of Education, Who Sits on City Ethics Commission But a MoCo Board of Ed. member. #Ethics
The Board of Education had put forth that the land was being given over at no cost, but the actual contract reveals that the Board of Education will be spending over $1.5 million dollars +/- to pay the City of Gaithersburg what can only be described as gifts since the contract does not detail the actual cost of these items. The gifts to the City are to be paid for by the Board of Education and will include an artificial turf football field (and costs for the future replacement of that field), bleachers, lighting and a tot lot.
Clearly, the land is not being handed over to the Board of Education at "no cost." But what is the exact cost to the Board of Education and the MCPS Operating Budget? That number can only be estimated as no exact cost was included in the contract.
If any any point in time there are ever allegations of unethical actions by the City of Gaithersburg elected leaders or their staff, any such complaint would go before the City of Gaithersburg Ethics Commission.
Montgomery County Board of Education member Rebecca Smondrowski is a member of the City of Gaithersburg Ethics Commission.
From Board member Smondrowki's online MCPS bio:
Mrs. Smondrowski was reappointed as a Commissioner for the City of Gaithersburg Ethics Commission in January 2015.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe/members/district2.aspx
Messaging is consistent and clear within and between nations. If leaders are not consistent in their requests and advocacy, their people will be confused, perhaps frustrated. In that context the virus is unforgiving and may well spread massively.
REFLECTIONS ABOUT THE MIDDLE PATH
By Dr David Nabarro, a Special Envoy of the World Health Organization Director-General on COVID-19
There are new COVID challenges everywhere. Tricky times for all leaders. The virus has not changed and still has the potential to do lots of damage. There is plenty of advice available, much of it is conflicting.
Some commentators say ‘more restrictions needed now’.
Others say ‘let the virus run wild and build up herd immunity’.
A middle path is needed…. Too many restrictions damage people’s livelihoods and provoke resentment. ‘Virus run wild’ will lead to lots of deaths as well as debilitating long-Covid among younger people.
…with three interlinked emphases:
a) People are encouraged to adopt all precautions all the time...
https://www.4sd.info/covid-19-narratives/reflections-about-the-middle-path/
Thursday, October 15, 2020
MCPS Board of Education Taking Down 55 Trees at Gaithersburg City Park
As a reminder, the Montgomery County Board of Education owns a dedicated, paid for, elementary school site right down the road from the City of Gaithersburg Kelley Park. But, instead of using the land that they own, the Board of Education is going to build an elementary school on a City of Gaithersburg Park. This plan has the Board of Education paying over $1.5 MILLION Operating Budget (teacher salary) dollars to the City of Gaithersburg for an artificial turf football field, bleachers, lights and a tot lot.
The Board of Education could build a school on their own land and they wouldn't have to pay a thing to the City of Gaithersburg. But this plan provides a way for the City of Gaithersburg to take in $1.5 MILLION dollars from the MCPS Operating Budget.
And this Plan is going forward, even during a Global Pandemic where MCPS students are struggling to learn through virtual platforms. The Board of Education does not have any problem handing over $1.5 MILLION to the City of Gaithersburg, even during a Global Pandemic.
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On Saturday, October 17, 2020, the residents of the Kelley Park neighborhoods will say good-bye to the 55 TREES that the Montgomery County Board of Education will be taking from the local park.
LOVE A TREE
We anticipate that MCPS will do whatever it takes to start construction in January, even despite our appeal. Save Kelley Park wants to help Gaithersburg residents appreciate the impact that the construction will have on just the trees in the park. Every tree within the 7.1 acres that composes the Level of Development is scheduled to be removed. We are working hard to prevent 55 trees from coming down, especially two amazing Bald Cypress tree located near the tot lot.
We invite you to RSVP and join us on October 17th (rain date October 18th) where you can “adopt” your tree.
You will be given a time slot.
Bring a love note to your tree or create a drawing.
We’ll help you safely place it on your tree
Have a picture taken with YOUR tree
Then take some time to visit the park….while we still have it.
This event is going to be conducted in accordance with current Montgomery County COVID-19 safety guidance. As a result, no more than 50 people can be on site at one time. You and your party will be given a time slot. You will be expected to wear a mask at all times, except during your picture with YOUR tree if you so choose. Your time slot allows time for you to make a drawing or write a letter to your tree--materials will be available, however we encourage you to prepare your item in advance and bring it with you. Should you have questions, please reach out to Lynn (202 236-6776) or Steve (240 671-5072). In the event of rain, we will send an email and post to our website SAVEKELLEYPARK.com.
MCPS Students made more than 350 reports of sexual harassment, assault
The number of allegations of sexual assault and harassment made on social media this summer by Montgomery County Public Schools students now stands at more than 350, according to school district officials...
...Superintendent Jack Smith did not attend Tuesday night’s event but provided recorded remarks. He said “our entire community shares the responsibility in creating a culture of respect and maintaining a safe and welcoming learning environment” for students...
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
“He used his position of authority as a football coach to groom and sexually assault” the players, prosecutor Adrienne Ferrell said in court.
Former high school football coach in Montgomery is accused of sexually abusing 2 players
...Montgomery police said they were concerned that there might be additional victims. Court papers said the alleged abuse occurred at private residences. But in court on Tuesday, Ferrell said one incident occurred on school property.
“It actually happened in a private room at Wootton High School,” Ferrell said...
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Montgomery County: "only $600,000 out of $20 million has been given out to renters facing eviction and about half of the $10 million for food security has been distributed"
‘THE BUCK STOPS WITH HIM’: COUNCIL BLASTS ELRICH FOR UNDISTRIBUTED FEDERAL COVID-19 FUNDS
An emotional Montgomery County Council blasted the county staff, and specifically County Executive Marc Elrich, after receiving information that much of the federal money allocated to help residents and businesses during the global pandemic have yet to be distributed.
“The buck stops with him,” Council Vice President Tom Hucker said during a Oct. 13 council meeting. “This lies firmly in the County Executive’s lap,” said Councilman Craig Rice.
Montgomery County received $183,336,953 from the federal government through the CARES ACT. That money must be spent by the end of this December. But when County Chief Administrative Officer Richard Madaleno began explaining how little of the funds has been allocated to date, councilmembers became irate...
Letter to the Editor: We need to know when and where Trump got the coronavirus
Regarding the Oct. 8 news article “Refusing to ‘look backwards,’ aides spurn inquiries on Trump’s test results”:
Physician to the president Sean Conley needs to be honest with the media and the American public. The question of President Trump’s last negative coronavirus test is not irrelevant or subject to health privacy laws. The president waived any claim of privacy a long time ago when he went out in public, without a mask, and against the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. When and how was the president infected?..