During this morning’s County Council meeting, Interim Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight and Board of Education Vice President Brenda Wolfe gave an update on MCPS’ COVID-19 response.
McKnight said that an announcement will be coming later today regarding more schools going virtual beginning this Thursday, January 20th. The schools were not listed during the meeting.
Meeting Notes:
Brenda Wolfe:
-Expressed appreciation towards students, staff, and community for their passionate advocacy for students.
-Challenges and obstacles shifted during pandemic.
-No central agreement on how to proceed, must listen to a vast array of voices.
-Listening closely to what health, education, and operational experts say.
-BOE is committed to an open conversation.
Monifa McKnight:
-Began by thanking the Council and saying she was deeply appreciative towards leaders of the county and families.
-Pandemic has taken a lot of patience, 20 months later still shifting and making adjustments.
-Unlike anything our school system has experienced in modern history.
-MCPS has been a leader in the response to COVID-19. 53,000 students served during summer school program last year.
-Increase in pay to substitute teachers as part of alleviating shortage challenges.
-There is no specific threshold for automatic transition to virtual learning.
-Multiple factors to determine if schools go virtual, including staff absences, student absences, unserved bus routes, unfilled substitute positions, and COVID-19 case rates.
-MCPS is requesting support from DHHS (or another government agency) to assume all responsibility for contact tracing.
-MCPS is asking Montgomery County to provide 190K rapid tests every other week in order to provide kit to every student and every staff member.