# Mcps
MCPS parents, students, and teachers provide feedback at meeting hosted by interim superintendent
MCPS Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight listening intently to community feedbackHeather Jauquet/Author. On April 20th, staff, parents, students, and board of education members participated in the first in-person community conversation hosted by Montgomery County Public School’s Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight.
MCPS Teachers concerned about a post spring break surge
Students and staff asked to test before returning to the classroom. It’s the end of spring break for Montgomery County Public Schools, and across the county, students and staff are preparing to return to the classrooms. However, before they do, they are asked to send in the results of a rapid home kit provided by the school system.
MCPS to review masking policies in schools
Hogan asks for mask mandates to lifted at all Maryland schools. As people prepared for holiday get-togethers in December, Maryland saw a spike in COVID-19 transmissions due to the Omicron variant. Schools suffered from a lack of staffing and student absences as the new variant spread across the state. In Montgomery County, school buses were unavailable, and parents were asked to provide transportation for their children. Virtual classrooms maxed out, leaving students without a way to access the curriculum.
Frantic parents watched in disbelief, waiting for their children to be released at Magruder High School
A parent with school-aged children never wants to receive the dreaded communication that their child is in a lockdown situation at their school. But unfortunately, that happened on Friday, January 21, 2022 at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School in Derwood, Maryland.
MCPS teachers’ concerns and frustrations met with silence
Concerns about counterfeit masks, high transmissions rates, and lack of coverage met with silence. Woman starting at her laptop in frustrationElisa Ventur/Unsplash. The recent community updates from Montgomery County Public Schools have been muddy. There has been a lack of transparent information and no clear move in any direction, except for one: lowering the safety bar for staff and students.
No more room for students, quarantined virtual classes maxed out
MCPS staff shortages by the numbers for Tuesday, January 12th. Schools across Montgomery County are asking, “When is it enough?” It’s all about the numbers. Montgomery County Public Schools’ Interim Superintendent, Dr. Monifa McKnight provided a guiding threshold to move schools to virtual. Within two days, there was a move to remove the threshold with a promise to monitor schools closely. Schools across the county are still waiting to hear guidance when high transmission rates cause individual classes to quarantine, as teachers call out sick, and classes are combined and shuffled to the cafeteria when there are not enough adults to provide class coverages.
MCPS pushes in-person instruction, but staff shortages highlight inequity
Who benefits from the lack of access to transportation, meals, and curriculum?. Little girl lookin forlornly over a chairChinh Le Duc/Unsplash. Schools are facing a teacher shortage, and lack of coverage as COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Montgomery County. Many staff members are in isolation or quarantine or caring for a quarantined child. Those in the building are using an all-hands-on-deck approach, causing them to miss out on their planning time. Paraeducators who provide extra support to students are pulled for class coverage, leaving students without the extra help they could receive.
MCPS daily staff shortages affecting teaching and learning
Across the county, individual schools are struggling to keep up with the number of staff members who have to call out. Open and available substitute jobs are not being picked up for in-person instruction. Too many substitutes are concerned about becoming sick. Central Office Personnel is receiving requests from principals to cover the open classes, lunch and recess duty, and front office. At last count, there are 59 schools requesting support and coverage from Central Office.
MoCo BOE works remotely while requiring in-person instruction for staff and students
Maryland declared a state of emergency, but not for schools. The expectations placed upon Montgomery County schools and their staff members have been daunting. Many are frustrated with the lack of transparency and leadership as COVID-19 cases soar across the county. Add a little back peddling on decision making and a dash of finger-pointing, and you have the makings of what staff and students are calling COVID stew.
MCPS backpedals on threshold indicators as numbers continue to soar and classes lack coverage
Parents and teachers demand transparency while MCPS points fingers and lacks consistency. Before students went home for winter break, schools across Montgomery County reminded them to bring home their chrome books, chargers, school books, and other school supplies. This move gave a semblance that Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) was looking ahead and ready to make the needed transition to virtual instruction as COVID-19 positivity rates soared across the county.
Unclear if newly designated MCPS red schools will move to virtual learning despite exponential rise in cases
MCPS receives pushback over decision to remain in-person as positive cases soar across the county. Little girl sitting with head in hand as she works on tabletKelly Sikkema/Unsplash.
Despite good intentions, MCPS fumbles first day of school after break
Lack of bus drivers, teachers, and substitutes makes for a rocky start into 2022. With continued treacherous weather on the roads, Montgomery County Schools begin the first day after winter break with a 2-hour delay. The message came around 5am alerting parents and staff that the first day of school would begin with a two-hour delay.
Categorized MCPS red schools move to virtual learning on the first day after winter break
11 schools move to virtual instruction in response to the number of positive cases. Young student looks at computer screen for virtual learningThomas Park/Unsplash. Throughout the winter break, Montgomery County Public Schools has been monitoring the reports of positive cases among its students and staff. As of 6 am on Monday, January 3, the school system reported 5,680 positive cases for COVID-19, including a rise of 4,677 reported cases over the last five days of winter break.
MCPS implementing mitigation measures for safe return to schools
Little girl wearing a pink face mask and clutching a black and white composition book.Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash. As the winter break wraps up and staff and students prepare to return to the buildings, many ask why Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) seems to fall behind their counterparts.
Threat of snowy weather gives MCPS slight reprieve before students return to school
Staff and families concerned about the return to school amid rise in positive cases. As the weekend after the holiday break began to wrap up and, teachers and families took to social media to debate the merits of delaying the beginning of in-person learning after a rise of COVID cases hit Maryland schools.