Is there any chance that FCPS would be closed Friday?

[Anonymous]

As a single mother who moved to Fairfax without children, no family in the area and no husband, I absolutely empathize with all of the parents with the childcare issues.

HOWEVER, I'm still confounded and somewhat disgusted by all the grumbling.

The FIRST thing I did when I arrived was find childcare options, particularly in light of that 1/2 day Monday. I couldn't get off half days to pick up my children. However, they were able to take the bus to the babysitters.

I met moms through church and my children's schools. T

There was always a back up plan. I can't imagine bemoaning how snow days affected my job/leave/etc.

You PLAN for the unexpected the minute you have kids. It seems one of my children was always sick. You have a contingency plan.

What is wrong with you moms who have spouses in the picture who can help you out?

Stop whining and be proactive about making arrangements with other moms. Because YES, snow days do happen--quite often-in this area.

PREPARE for them!!!!

Bitching and moaning won't keep the schools open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a single mother who moved to Fairfax without children, no family in the area and no husband, I absolutely empathize with all of the parents with the childcare issues.

HOWEVER, I'm still confounded and somewhat disgusted by all the grumbling.

The FIRST thing I did when I arrived was find childcare options, particularly in light of that 1/2 day Monday. I couldn't get off half days to pick up my children. However, they were able to take the bus to the babysitters.

I met moms through church and my children's schools. T

There was always a back up plan. I can't imagine bemoaning how snow days affected my job/leave/etc.

You PLAN for the unexpected the minute you have kids. It seems one of my children was always sick. You have a contingency plan.

What is wrong with you moms who have spouses in the picture who can help you out?

Stop whining and be proactive about making arrangements with other moms. Because YES, snow days do happen--quite often-in this area.

PREPARE for them!!!!

Bitching and moaning won't keep the schools open.

OOPS!

I mean I moved here WITH children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to clear up any misconceptions: teachers don't get paid for breaks. In the Summer, I don't get a paycheck.

Where do you teach? Because Fairfax pays your salary through the summer---unless you opted for 10 months pay instead of 12.

AND your pay is not deducted for snow days or holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:................Bitching and moaning won't keep the schools open.

Actually it might. These are elected officials on the school board and they need to hear from their citizens. Send them a letter though, rants on a board don't carry much weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:................Bitching and moaning won't keep the schools open.

Actually it might. These are elected officials on the school board and they need to hear from their citizens. Send them a letter though, rants on a board don't carry much weight.

Well, bitching and moaning hasn't worked in the past. And this time all it did was generate a long heartfelt explanation from the Superintendent.

They simply will not kowtow to disgruntled parents in the face of STUDENT SAFETY. They simply WILL NOT!

Fairfax has been generous with their snow days for YEEEEEAAAAARRRRSSSS. And despite all the moaning and groaning, that hasn't changed.

They feel as strongly about student safety as you do about the job you can't wait to get back to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:................Bitching and moaning won't keep the schools open.

Actually it might. These are elected officials on the school board and they need to hear from their citizens. Send them a letter though, rants on a board don't carry much weight.

Furthermore, I find your attitude DISGUSTING! It's been explained the SAFETY for ALL students in ALL parts of the county drives these decisions. But who cares about that? You just want things done YOUR way because YOU are being inconvenienced.

BELIEEEEEVVEEEE me when I tell you: Fairfax parents are easily dismissed as a bunch of whiny complainers in situations like these. That's why it's easy to ignore those "letters" and CONTINUE to close schools.

You don't think parents thought putting on the pressure would work in the past??? It's been tried, Buttercup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to clear up any misconceptions: teachers don't get paid for breaks. In the Summer, I don't get a paycheck.

Where do you teach? Because Fairfax pays your salary through the summer---unless you opted for 10 months pay instead of 12.

AND your pay is not deducted for snow days or holidays.

Fairfax used to WITHHOLD $ from each paycheck so that we could receive a check in July and August. Getting a paycheck IN THE SUMMER is different than getting paid FOR THE SUMMER. Fairfax County no longer withholds from the paychecks. It is the employee's responsibility to set up a summer fund with a bank if he/she so wishes. Personally, I like it better this way. At least I earn the interest.

We get paid for 194 days. That does not include holidays. Not a complaint, just a fact. Plus, as you are very well aware, two of the snow days so far will be made up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to clear up any misconceptions: teachers don't get paid for breaks. In the Summer, I don't get a paycheck.

Where do you teach? Because Fairfax pays your salary through the summer---unless you opted for 10 months pay instead of 12.

AND your pay is not deducted for snow days or holidays. [/quote







Fairfax no longer pays through the summer. When they did, you had money taken out of your paycheck during the 10 months we actually get paid. You are correct, we don't get deducted for snow days but we are contracted for 194 days. If we don't use all the snow days, we work more and don't get paid. It all evens out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As a single mother who moved to Fairfax without children, no family in the area and no husband, I absolutely empathize with all of the parents with the childcare issues.

HOWEVER, I'm still confounded and somewhat disgusted by all the grumbling.

The FIRST thing I did when I arrived was find childcare options, particularly in light of that 1/2 day Monday. I couldn't get off half days to pick up my children. However, they were able to take the bus to the babysitters.

I met moms through church and my children's schools. T

There was always a back up plan. I can't imagine bemoaning how snow days affected my job/leave/etc.

You PLAN for the unexpected the minute you have kids. It seems one of my children was always sick. You have a contingency plan.

What is wrong with you moms who have spouses in the picture who can help you out?

Stop whining and be proactive about making arrangements with other moms. Because YES, snow days do happen--quite often-in this area.

PREPARE for them!!!!

Bitching and moaning won't keep the schools open.

You make some good points. People should plan for contingencies, missing work, childcare, etc. But you forget that many of the parents complaining about the snow days, like myself, have older kids who will be falling behind with work and would be much better off in school than playing video games, hanging out at the mall or going skiing or sledding with friends. To the anticipated responses of "just keep your teens home," I'd challenge you to keep your kids at their desks for three days when all their peers are playing and enjoying one long -- and largely unsupervised party.

FCPS needs to find some method for its snow-day madness. What they're currently doing isn't working. It's one thing when you're all snowbound and no one can get out like Snowmageddon-- completely another when parents and the rest of the county are working and carrying on as usual, but the kids have nothing but time on their hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to clear up any misconceptions: teachers don't get paid for breaks. In the Summer, I don't get a paycheck.

Where do you teach? Because Fairfax pays your salary through the summer---unless you opted for 10 months pay instead of 12.

AND your pay is not deducted for snow days or holidays.

Fairfax used to WITHHOLD $ from each paycheck so that we could receive a check in July and August. Getting a paycheck IN THE SUMMER is different than getting paid FOR THE SUMMER. Fairfax County no longer withholds from the paychecks. It is the employee's responsibility to set up a summer fund with a bank if he/she so wishes. Personally, I like it better this way. At least I earn the interest.

We get paid for 194 days. That does not include holidays. Not a complaint, just a fact. Plus, as you are very well aware, two of the snow days so far will be made up.

REALLY????!!!!! When and why did they stop doing that?

And I'm not one of those parents who complains that "teachers get paid during the summers waaaahhhh waaaaahhhh". I realized you received one salary which is spread out over the summers. But this is interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a single mother who moved to Fairfax without children, no family in the area and no husband, I absolutely empathize with all of the parents with the childcare issues.

HOWEVER, I'm still confounded and somewhat disgusted by all the grumbling.

The FIRST thing I did when I arrived was find childcare options, particularly in light of that 1/2 day Monday. I couldn't get off half days to pick up my children. However, they were able to take the bus to the babysitters.

I met moms through church and my children's schools. T

There was always a back up plan. I can't imagine bemoaning how snow days affected my job/leave/etc.

You PLAN for the unexpected the minute you have kids. It seems one of my children was always sick. You have a contingency plan.

What is wrong with you moms who have spouses in the picture who can help you out?

Stop whining and be proactive about making arrangements with other moms. Because YES, snow days do happen--quite often-in this area.

PREPARE for them!!!!

Bitching and moaning won't keep the schools open.

You make some good points. People should plan for contingencies, missing work, childcare, etc. But you forget that many of the parents complaining about the snow days, like myself, have older kids who will be falling behind with work and would be much better off in school than playing video games, hanging out at the mall or going skiing or sledding with friends. To the anticipated responses of "just keep your teens home," I'd challenge you to keep your kids at their desks for three days when all their peers are playing and enjoying one long -- and largely unsupervised party.

FCPS needs to find some method for its snow-day madness. What they're currently doing isn't working. It's one thing when you're all snowbound and no one can get out like Snowmageddon-- completely another when parents and the rest of the county are working and carrying on as usual, but the kids have nothing but time on their hands.

I do have a teenager. And as PARENTS, we do have control over how (some of) their time is spent. I can't be angry with the school if I allow my DD to spend her days playing video games and cyber bullying girls online. Make your kids put down the controller and pick up a book!

My teen's been reading, studying and getting in extra hours at work (More spending money, baby!) She's also been able to hang out with friends--and has done so for hours on end each day--but studying had to get done as well. And with the work hours she's been pulling in, I feel she's a bit entitled to it. She had a choice: She could study in the morning before hanging out/going to work or after returning home.

These teen years are the most fun. Years from now she and her friends will laugh about "that week we had all the snow days and went sledding, had sleepovers, etc".

They're only teens once. Let 'em live a little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:................Bitching and moaning won't keep the schools open.

Actually it might. These are elected officials on the school board and they need to hear from their citizens. Send them a letter though, rants on a board don't carry much weight.

Furthermore, I find your attitude DISGUSTING! It's been explained the SAFETY for ALL students in ALL parts of the county drives these decisions. But who cares about that? You just want things done YOUR way because YOU are being inconvenienced.

BELIEEEEEVVEEEE me when I tell you: Fairfax parents are easily dismissed as a bunch of whiny complainers in situations like these. That's why it's easy to ignore those "letters" and CONTINUE to close schools.

You don't think parents thought putting on the pressure would work in the past??? It's been tried, Buttercup.

Here's my problem: are they actually plowing, sanding, etc. and doing something, ANYTHING, today, the second day after the snow has STOPPED, to get ready to go back to school, or are they just waiting for everything to melt? If I saw activity, and hadn't seen a whole lotta nothing on Weds, I'd be more sympathetic. In this respect, the school system should be run like a business.

[Anonymous]

10:58, how do you control how your teens spend snow days? Haven't you been back to work in your office since yesterday like the rest of us?

[Anonymous]

A few years ago. Now some teachers have their credit union withhold money in a savings account for the summer. I don't, but many do.

[Anonymous]

...many of the parents complaining about the snow days, like myself, have older kids who will be falling behind with work and would be much better off in school than playing video games, hanging out at the mall or going skiing or sledding with friends. To the anticipated responses of "just keep your teens home," I'd challenge you to keep your kids at their desks for three days when all their peers are playing and enjoying one long -- and largely unsupervised party.

My high school child has been getting assignments throughout this snow break and has been doing them every day. The teachers are really using the internet so that the classes are not much behind, if at all, when they go back. Same thing happened during Snowmagedden when my child was in middle school. Aren't most of the teachers sending out assignments during this time?