The test-to-stay program, operating in a pilot phase, was supposed to launch last week. It would have allowed Montgomery County Public Schools students who are unvaccinated and exposed to the coronavirus at school — particularly in unmasked situations, such as in the lunchroom — to stay out of quarantine as long as they were tested daily...
https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2021/11/montgomery-co-s-test-to-stay-program-now-on-hold/
The school system currently has over 300 full-time teacher vacancies. Martin said that on any given day, half the requests for substitutes go unanswered, resulting in teachers being pulled from their lunch breaks or planning periods to cover classes. She said teachers are only being paid $15 an hour extra for class coverage.
“We are asking for $55 an hour for covering classes and other duties during our planning time. To match what Howard County public schools is doing for its educators and to demonstrate a respect for their professionalism,” Martin said at a news conference outside a Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education meeting in Rockville.
The union has a list of other demands to ease the burden on teachers, including a moratorium on new initiatives introduced into the school system, additional early release days for more planning time, and more attractive pay to recruit and keep substitute teachers...
Already, about 30 testers have been hired and another 30 are expected to be onboarded by the end of next week, Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard said during an online media briefing Wednesday.
Stoddard said county officials are meeting with Montgomery County Public Schools leaders Thursday to discuss rolling out the “test-to-stay” program, and will also brief the Maryland Department of Health on the county’s planning...
