PG Letter to Parents and Guardians Due to Flu Outbreak

 

• Enhanced Cleaning – Increased disinfection of high-touch areas in schools and buses.
• Handwashing & Hygiene – Ensuring ample soap, paper towels, and hand sanitizer, along with reminders for proper handwashing.
• Temporary Masking – If flu cases reach critical levels in a school, we may require temporary masking to safeguard students and staff.
• On-Site Flu Vaccination – We are partnering with the Prince George’s County Health Department to provide flu vaccines in affected schools.
• Limiting Exposure – Keeping students in consistent groups where possible to limit interactions and contain outbreaks.
• Extracurricular Adjustments – Modifying or postponing high-contact activities and large gatherings as needed.
• Ongoing Monitoring – We continue to track illness trends, work closely with local health officials, and update families regularly.

Letter from the Superintendent: Help Us Prevent Flu Spread in Schools

MCPS says that Special Attention will be given to cleaning, but at Gaithersburg Middle School there is no extra cleaning.

The Montgomery County Public Schools website has a COVID-19 Information webpage.   

Under the section titled HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES, the Board of Education lists what will be done by MCPS building services staff during this COVID-19 pandemic.  The information posted to the MCPS website is shown in the image.  

Note the description of building services staff duties related to COVID-19 Health and Safety Procedures is very, very vague.  

The Parents' Coalition has been looking into what these Health and Safety Procedures look like in actual schools. 

We have been informed that at Gaithersburg Middle School, for example, cleaning is at the same level as before the pandemic. 

What is meant by "special attention" cleaning?  If schools are being cleaned at the same level as prior to the pandemic, what is "special attention" during the pandemic supposed to mean? 

MCPS Says COVID-19 Changes in Place, but at Whetstone Elem. no extra cleaning, sinks not clean, out of wipes, toilet paper and paper towels. No Signature on Today's @mcps Message.

The Montgomery County Public Schools website has a COVID-19 Information webpage.   

Under the section titled HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES, the Board of Education lists what will be done by MCPS building services staff during this COVID-19 pandemic.  The information posted to the MCPS website is shown in the image.  

Note the description of building services staff duties related to COVID-19 Health and Safety Procedures is very, very vague.  

The Parents' Coalition has been looking into what these Health and Safety Procedures look like in actual schools. 

We have been informed that at Whetstone Elementary School there is no extra cleaning and  hand wipe supplies have already run out.  Restrooms are out of toilet paper and paper towels in many areas of the school, and restroom sinks are not being cleaned.  

Is anyone in charge of MCPS' stated Health and Safety procedures? Is anyone exerting any oversight over these supposed procedures to see if they are in place in every school building across the County?  

Today's message from MCPS wasn't even signed by anyone.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2021-2022/Community-Update-20210921.html

MCPS says that Restrooms in common areas are cleaned and disinfected more frequently, but that's not happening at Baker Middle School.

 

The Montgomery County Public Schools website has a COVID-19 Information webpage.   

Under the section titled HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES, the Board of Education lists what will be done by MCPS building services staff during this COVID-19 pandemic.  The information posted to the MCPS website is shown in the image.   

The Parents' Coalition has been looking into what these Health and Safety Procedures look like in actual schools. 

We have been informed that at Baker Middle School there is no additional cleaning taking place.  The level of cleaning at the school is the same as it was prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At Baker Middle School, the Board of Education's claimed changes to cleaning protocols are nonexistent. 

MCPS Says Face Coverings/Masks will be provided for students, but at Gaithersburg Elementary teachers are providing their own supply of masks to students.

 

The Montgomery County Public Schools website has a COVID-19 Information webpage.   

Under the section titled HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES, the Board of Education lists what will be done by MCPS building services staff during this COVID-19 pandemic.  The information posted to the MCPS website is shown in the image.   

The Parents' Coalition has been looking into what these Health and Safety Procedures look like in actual schools. 

We have been informed that at Gaithersburg Elementary School classroom teachers are using their personal supply of PPE/masks to supply their students.  Teachers are also supplying paper towels to the school. 

Why isn't the Board of Education doing what they have promised?

MCPS Says Face Coverings/masks will be provided for any student or staff, but at Sligo Creek Elementary Teachers Have not Been Given Any PPE/Masks.

 

The Montgomery County Public Schools website has a COVID-19 Information webpage.   

Under the section titled HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES, the Board of Education lists what will be done by MCPS building services staff during this COVID-19 pandemic.  The information posted to the MCPS website is shown in the image.  

The Parents' Coalition has been looking into what these Health and Safety Procedures look like in actual schools. 

We have been informed that at Sligo Creek Elementary School classroom teachers have not been given any PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). 

What do the words on the Board of Education's Health and Safety website mean if the Board of Education is not providing any oversight over the implementation of these supposed health and safety procedures?  

MCPS Says Regular Hand-Washing will be Encouraged, but at Ronald McNair Elem. no hand sanitizer in any hallway stations, ran out of hand wipes, paper towels, toilet paper.

 

The Montgomery County Public Schools website has a COVID-19 Information webpage.   

Under the section titled HEALTH AND SAFETY PROCEDURES, the Board of Education lists what will be done by MCPS building services staff during this COVID-19 pandemic.  The information posted to the MCPS website is shown in the image.  

Note the description of building services staff duties related to COVID-19 Health and Safety Procedures is very, very vague.  

The Parents' Coalition has been looking into what these Health and Safety Procedures look like in actual schools. 

We have been informed that at Ronald McNair Elementary School each classroom was given one container of hand wipes and those are running out.  There is no hand sanitizer in the hallway hand sanitizer stations, and some bathrooms are out of toilet paper and paper towels. 

How can regular hand-washing be encouraged when the supplies needed to perform that action are not available to students? 

Hand sanitizer stations placed throughout the building are only useful if they are kept supplied with hand sanitizer.