Montgomery County school district officials notify employees they may potentially return in 45 days

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. - Montgomery County Public Schools officials issued a notification to employees that they may potentially return to in-person education in 45 days.

While many schools districts in Maryland have instituted some plans for in-person instruction, districts in the D.C. area’s densely populated suburbs have been reluctant.

Montgomery and Prince George’s counties were the hardest hit jurisdictions in the state upon the arrival of the novel coronavirus last March.

The district insisted in its notification that does not mean that in-person instruction will begin in 45 days – but that planning for such an event may be in the works.

Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and Weather

Officials acknowledged that the notification may cause some “apprehension in employees” – district employees across the country have reacted to in-person instruction with some anxiety – and stressed that they will take into account the “safety of students and staff” as their top priority.

WATCH LIVE ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE

READ THE COMPLETE LETTER BELOW:

Dear Colleagues:

We want to first and foremost share our deep appreciation for all you have done, and continue to do, to support our students in these unprecedented times. There is no question that virtual learning has been difficult for students and staff alike. However, it is also important to acknowledge that virtual learning is an essential part of the statewide effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep our community safe.

We recognize that there have been a number of recent actions at the state level and in surrounding school systems regarding groups of students returning to in-person, in-building instruction. As a result, we write today to share our plans for our continued work together to thoughtfully assess and define appropriate steps for the safe return of some groups of staff and students.

While not perfect, the virtual-only learning model has provided a solid foundation that meets the needs of many. This foundation is the product of the dedication and hard work of every staff member in our district. However, we also recognize that virtual learning cannot replace the in-person educational experience for our students. When health and safety conditions allow, we will begin a phased transition back to in-person instruction to ensure all students have the access and opportunity they need to reach their full potential while maintaining student and staff safety.

We have been working together over the last several weeks to begin exploring strategies for an in-person return. There is mutual interest to ensure enough time to jointly develop a comprehensive plan for the eventual return to in-person instruction. Thus, today MCPS formally provided employee associations the minimum 45-day notice required by our agreements to legally honor and preserve timelines. To be clear, this does not mean that in-person instruction will begin in 45 days. Instead, it means that we can reopen impact bargaining and do more in-depth collaborative planning for the eventual return to instruction in buildings.

We know that this news may cause apprehension for some people. Please know that the safety of our students and staff is the top priority for us. MCPS is working with county health officials, and we are all closely following state and local health metrics to guide our timing for a phased-in return.

We will continue to work together to build on the ideas and framework for an eventual return to in-person instruction that are included in our Fall 2020 Recovery plan. There is much more to be considered, examined and decided before in-person learning can begin. We will continue to gather input from stakeholders throughout the process. We welcome all of your feedback. We will continue to provide regular updates as we move forward in this effort.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our students.

Sincerely,

Jack Smith Ph.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Christine Handy

President, MCAAP / MCBOA

Christopher Lloyd, NBCT

President, MCEA

Pia Morrison

President, SEIU Local 500