APS Thursday

[Anonymous]

I get that not every call is the right one, but this is brutal. I need my kids at school. Yes, I rely on school to have space to get my work done, just like most families in America.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, this was probably the wrong call today- they should have done a 2 hour delay and reassessed in the morning but APS isn’t an outlier here- everyone is closed- even FCC. This is a case where the forecast didn’t match what actually happened- which is part of meteorology…

Maybe you guys should just lynch the weatherman?

I’m not advocating for the lynching of anyone- this is a bad call and no one, Duran, teachers, meteorologists, no one deserves to be lynched- mistakes happen.

It wasn’t a bad call. It was the right call with the info they had at the time.

It was a bad call because it was made prematurely based on highly uncertain information.

In general, evening calls are way better. 5am is rough. And not sure how much the forecast had changed by then.

Last night though they probably did know how many teachers short they’d be. It probably was a domino effect from neighboring districts.

Sure, neighboring counties have an effect, and they all made a mistake in this mad rush to an early call. They all made a mistake and should learn from it that while early calls make sense when there isn’t high degree of certainty in the forecast, they are a bad idea when the degree of certainty is low and there is a significant of no weather event warranting closures or delays.

They’re probably still gun shy after the bus accidents in morning rush hour snow storms.

Then they are not competent planners, because making the call at 5am vs. 5pm has nothing to do with that.

Their planning is just fine.

Evening calls are better.
They are risk adverse.
They have staff shortages.
The forecast looked bad for morning bus routes, even delayed start.

Evening calls are only better for lazy parents.

Or parents who have to secure childcare.

Any plan you can make the night before, you can make as a contingency plan the night before depending on conditions the next day. That’s what we did gif years before people started having the vapors about an early morning decision. But maybe we’re just more competent parents than you.

So then you shaft that babysitter? Or cancel your replacement at work after they already went in?

Maybe it’s easier if you don’t work.

Using your logic, if you’re going to pay the babysitter either way, wouldn’t the babysitter prefer to get the money but not work? You’re out the e same amount either way but you’re not burdening other people with the closure.

So then parents are out the money? Or they’ve swapped shifts with a coworker unnecessarily and taken an unnecessary PTO?

There are costs to contingency plans. Maybe it’s easier if you don’t work and/or are rich and have unlimited PTO.

There are also costa to unnecessary closures. I am working from home instead of going to the office today because I couldn’t get a sitter, which means I am missing important meetings and will have to work this weekend to make up the work that won’t get done today. So now I get to add another layer to existing pandemic-related burnout of not getting a day off this weekend, and will be paying for a sitter for part of the weekend so I can go to the office to do it.

The only ones that seem to not suffer any consequences to these bad calls are central office. Make them work. Take the snow days from teacher planning days. You’re home all day, you can plan then. Childcare problems? Tough crap, welcome to the rest of the world. I’ll bet you see fewer stupid calls going forward.

This is the point a lot of us are trying to make. When the people making the call to close (and the teachers calling out for lack of childcare who are hedging bets on a closure) get a paid day off, they are not going to weigh things the same as the rest of us who are going to be forced to eat more leave for work, or pay more money for snow day childcare, etc.

And yes other industries like airlines etc. face staffing shortages, but I don’t think all those people are getting extra paid days off. They’re likely stretching their childcare/PTO like the rest of us plebeians.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Exactly. And if their childcare falls through then they get a taxpayer paid day off while the rest of us burn leave or scramble to find alternative arrangements.

What you are failing to see is that APS is reacting to teachers using their leave as needed. You can’t compare your office drone job that can go on with or without you for a day. If you aren’t there and take a day of leave your company can still operate without you. It’s not APS school staff fault that teachers are using their earned leave for childcare when other districts close which then puts APS in a bind and unable to operate because they can’t operate with less than a certain number of staff to supervise kids. Then APS has to make a decision on if they can operate.

And we can’t act like decisions of other counties, especially one as large as FCPS with over 180,000 students, won’t impact APS which is tiny comparatively. A large portion of APS staff lives in Fairfax and Alexandria.

If you run a public service that must be staffed (which I do, not a school) it is common and understood that the service stays open and not all leave requests get approved. Staff know there has to be coverage for them to have leave approved. Sure they could, on a day like this, lie and call in sick. But when you set the expectations and culture that not all leave requests will be approved, the public service is going to open, your colleagues are showing up and if you don’t you’re leaving them in a lurch… people behave differently and somehow manage to figure it out.

Do you think hospitals, doctor’s offices, libraries, grocery stores, or anything much else will be closed today? No. People who are supposed to work will figure it out.

This. There is now an expectation that if enough of them call out they’ll get the paid snow day. What incentive is there for them to pay for snow day camps, backup sitters, ask their spouse to take off, etc.? We act as if it’s impossible for APS to do what many other organizations do. And don’t just disregard “complainers” as being in the office working class and not understanding. Do you think hourly workers have the luxury of just calling out and not losing their jobs? Somehow grocery stores will manage to stay staffed. Essential workers have to figure out a way to go in.

APS has now created a certain culture of catering to leave requests that could be hard to overcome. We weren’t bound to larger jurisdictions like Fairfax and Loudoun when it came to reopening schools more days last year, but now we are tying our decisions to them when they close.

I guess y’all don’t go to the library much. Not big readers, I take it?

https://library.arlingtonva.us/2022/01/17/operations-update-covid-19-related-staffing-shortages/

The stuff you’re talking about is nonsense. For years and years and years APS has been fully operational during weather events when other districts have not been. In every industry, you have folks that must use their leave to care for their children at some time or another. APS is no different. However, in the middle of a pandemic, things happen, and that closure, that once, did affect their ability of operate that Thursday. You guys are going to believe what you want to, but this stuff about teachers not wanting to come to work is just not true. Flights have been cancelled. Supply chains broken down. But God forbid your children’s teachers should get a pass.

Why would you post that announcement from Arlington Public Library? What point are you making?

We all know there are covid-related staffing issues. We all know that on top of those covid-related staffing issues, if more staff take off due to childcare when a neighbor district is closing, this is now apparently going to tip the scales and we will close too. The point some people are trying to make is to check the underlying assumption that childcare issues on a weather day are an automatic pass for all the teachers. When this is not generally the case in any other industry.

By the way, except for those two locations. Arlington's libraries are open today business as usual. Do you think some of those library staff have school aged children?

You post about libraries being open, but don’t like it when confronted with the reality that they, too, are short-staffed. I’m sure some of them are caring for children. “Only 2” of 10… so 80%? How does that play out in a school environment, do you think? There is a point where I believe it becomes a safety issue, don’t you!

True story - the APS Library director is one of, if not the, highest paid Arlington Co employee. I believe it's close to $200K. All that for sitting at home and making youtube videos. So if you ever think those youtubers can't make good money.......

DP. Will you give it up with the stupid obsessive library posts? They are complete off topic which is rude AF.

Well, I just don’t understand- why don’t we hate them, too? Because we don’t use the library?

I do use the library, and I think you’re an enormous jack wagon. Maybe you should try not being completely self-absorbed for a few minutes - it could be an enlightening experience!

Wow. I’m really disappointed that someone touting how libraries are open, grocery stores are doing great, and all is well thinks poorly of me. Poster doesn’t like that argument any more! It’s not working for them! Make it stop!

Dear lord, learn to read. I am not that poster.

I get it. I need to stop addressing that poster, who clearly thinks teachers are lazy and have it good, compared to the libraries, airlines, grocery stores. Taking leave to care for children, because no other industry does that! That’s not what you would like to talk about. Please, direct the conversation.

I was the original poster who brought up libraries and it's a very good argument and I still like it quite a lot. Teachers do have it good compared to all these other professions.

The fact pattern.

-Libraries are a taxpayer funded service, like schools
-Libraries are staffed by government workers, like schools
-Libraries face covid-related staffing challenges, like schools
-Libraries have been forced to make operational adjustments and sometimes reduce services due to covid--related staffing challenged, like schools

Where is the difference? Libraries still opening up today same as yesterday. Libraries are behaving as if they have some type of obligation to be open to the public. No other profession seems to think it's normal to say out loud to the community that they can't open because their staff have to watch their kids.

Ditto for these other professions.

Libraries don’t need to send buses to pick up patrons. If the library is open but they get little traffic, it’s no big deal. If schools open but kids can’t there because the bus can get up an icy hill on their route, that affects the child who missed school and the teachers who have to catch that child up later.

Setting aside whether today was a right call for schools, there is no comparison between schools and libraries on this.

[Anonymous]

There are also costa to unnecessary closures. I am working from home instead of going to the office today because I couldn’t get a sitter, which means I am missing important meetings and will have to work this weekend to make up the work that won’t get done today. So now I get to add another layer to existing pandemic-related burnout of not getting a day off this weekend, and will be paying for a sitter for part of the weekend so I can go to the office to do it.

The only ones that seem to not suffer any consequences to these bad calls are central office. Make them work. Take the snow days from teacher planning days. You’re home all day, you can plan then. Childcare problems? Tough crap, welcome to the rest of the world. I’ll bet you see fewer stupid calls going forward.

This is the point a lot of us are trying to make. When the people making the call to close (and the teachers calling out for lack of childcare who are hedging bets on a closure) get a paid day off, they are not going to weigh things the same as the rest of us who are going to be forced to eat more leave for work, or pay more money for snow day childcare, etc.

And yes other industries like airlines etc. face staffing shortages, but I don’t think all those people are getting extra paid days off. They’re likely stretching their childcare/PTO like the rest of us plebeians.

Fully agree, PP. I have colleagues who had to take today off, using PTO, to care for their kids. The rest of us are picking up their work. For those of us in traditional jobs, a "snow day" is just another day of juggling kids and work or using one of our limited PTO days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There are also costa to unnecessary closures. I am working from home instead of going to the office today because I couldn’t get a sitter, which means I am missing important meetings and will have to work this weekend to make up the work that won’t get done today. So now I get to add another layer to existing pandemic-related burnout of not getting a day off this weekend, and will be paying for a sitter for part of the weekend so I can go to the office to do it.

The only ones that seem to not suffer any consequences to these bad calls are central office. Make them work. Take the snow days from teacher planning days. You’re home all day, you can plan then. Childcare problems? Tough crap, welcome to the rest of the world. I’ll bet you see fewer stupid calls going forward.

This is the point a lot of us are trying to make. When the people making the call to close (and the teachers calling out for lack of childcare who are hedging bets on a closure) get a paid day off, they are not going to weigh things the same as the rest of us who are going to be forced to eat more leave for work, or pay more money for snow day childcare, etc.

And yes other industries like airlines etc. face staffing shortages, but I don’t think all those people are getting extra paid days off. They’re likely stretching their childcare/PTO like the rest of us plebeians.



Ugh - sorry, quoting didn't work.

Fully agree, PP. I have colleagues who had to take today off, using PTO, to care for their kids. The rest of us are picking up their work. For those of us in traditional jobs, a "snow day" is just another day of juggling kids and work or using one of our limited PTO days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Exactly. And if their childcare falls through then they get a taxpayer paid day off while the rest of us burn leave or scramble to find alternative arrangements.



What you are failing to see is that APS is reacting to teachers using their leave as needed. You can’t compare your office drone job that can go on with or without you for a day. If you aren’t there and take a day of leave your company can still operate without you. It’s not APS school staff fault that teachers are using their earned leave for childcare when other districts close which then puts APS in a bind and unable to operate because they can’t operate with less than a certain number of staff to supervise kids. Then APS has to make a decision on if they can operate.

And we can’t act like decisions of other counties, especially one as large as FCPS with over 180,000 students, won’t impact APS which is tiny comparatively. A large portion of APS staff lives in Fairfax and Alexandria.



If you run a public service that must be staffed (which I do, not a school) it is common and understood that the service stays open and not all leave requests get approved. Staff know there has to be coverage for them to have leave approved. Sure they could, on a day like this, lie and call in sick. But when you set the expectations and culture that not all leave requests will be approved, the public service is going to open, your colleagues are showing up and if you don’t you’re leaving them in a lurch… people behave differently and somehow manage to figure it out.

Do you think hospitals, doctor’s offices, libraries, grocery stores, or anything much else will be closed today? No. People who are supposed to work will figure it out.



This. There is now an expectation that if enough of them call out they’ll get the paid snow day. What incentive is there for them to pay for snow day camps, backup sitters, ask their spouse to take off, etc.? We act as if it’s impossible for APS to do what many other organizations do. And don’t just disregard “complainers” as being in the office working class and not understanding. Do you think hourly workers have the luxury of just calling out and not losing their jobs? Somehow grocery stores will manage to stay staffed. Essential workers have to figure out a way to go in.

APS has now created a certain culture of catering to leave requests that could be hard to overcome. We weren’t bound to larger jurisdictions like Fairfax and Loudoun when it came to reopening schools more days last year, but now we are tying our decisions to them when they close.



I guess y’all don’t go to the library much. Not big readers, I take it?

https://library.arlingtonva.us/2022/01/17/operatio...19-related-staffing-shortages/

The stuff you’re talking about is nonsense. For years and years and years APS has been fully operational during weather events when other districts have not been. In every industry, you have folks that must use their leave to care for their children at some time or another. APS is no different. However, in the middle of a pandemic, things happen, and that closure, that once, did affect their ability of operate that Thursday. You guys are going to believe what you want to, but this stuff about teachers not wanting to come to work is just not true. Flights have been cancelled. Supply chains broken down. But God forbid your children’s teachers should get a pass.



Why would you post that announcement from Arlington Public Library? What point are you making?

We all know there are covid-related staffing issues. We all know that on top of those covid-related staffing issues, if more staff take off due to childcare when a neighbor district is closing, this is now apparently going to tip the scales and we will close too. The point some people are trying to make is to check the underlying assumption that childcare issues on a weather day are an automatic pass for all the teachers. When this is not generally the case in any other industry.

By the way, except for those two locations. Arlington's libraries are open today business as usual. Do you think some of those library staff have school aged children?



You post about libraries being open, but don’t like it when confronted with the reality that they, too, are short-staffed. I’m sure some of them are caring for children. “Only 2” of 10… so 80%? How does that play out in a school environment, do you think? There is a point where I believe it becomes a safety issue, don’t you!



True story - the APS Library director is one of, if not the, highest paid Arlington Co employee. I believe it's close to $200K. All that for sitting at home and making youtube videos. So if you ever think those youtubers can't make good money.......


DP. Will you give it up with the stupid obsessive library posts? They are complete off topic which is rude AF.



Well, I just don’t understand- why don’t we hate them, too? Because we don’t use the library?



I do use the library, and I think you’re an enormous jack wagon. Maybe you should try not being completely self-absorbed for a few minutes - it could be an enlightening experience!



Wow. I’m really disappointed that someone touting how libraries are open, grocery stores are doing great, and all is well thinks poorly of me. Poster doesn’t like that argument any more! It’s not working for them! Make it stop!



Dear lord, learn to read. I am not that poster.



I get it. I need to stop addressing that poster, who clearly thinks teachers are lazy and have it good, compared to the libraries, airlines, grocery stores. Taking leave to care for children, because no other industry does that! That’s not what you would like to talk about. Please, direct the conversation.



I was the original poster who brought up libraries and it's a very good argument and I still like it quite a lot. Teachers do have it good compared to all these other professions.

The fact pattern.

-Libraries are a taxpayer funded service, like schools
-Libraries are staffed by government workers, like schools
-Libraries face covid-related staffing challenges, like schools
-Libraries have been forced to make operational adjustments and sometimes reduce services due to covid--related staffing challenged, like schools

Where is the difference? Libraries still opening up today same as yesterday. Libraries are behaving as if they have some type of obligation to be open to the public. No other profession seems to think it's normal to say out loud to the community that they can't open because their staff have to watch their kids.

Ditto for these other professions.

First, no one is saying the above. They cancelled because we were supposed to get snow, which we didn't, but that's a weatherperson fail. They cancelled to protect your children from harm as walkers and bus riders. That is why they cancel on a weather day.
Next, show me a librarian at a public library who is responsible for teaching and supervising a group of 25 kids all day, or groups of 25-50 kids all day long as part of their job. I'll wait.

[Anonymous]

How about libraries and the central office? Why isn't it open?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look, this was probably the wrong call today- they should have done a 2 hour delay and reassessed in the morning but APS isn’t an outlier here- everyone is closed- even FCC. This is a case where the forecast didn’t match what actually happened- which is part of meteorology…

Maybe you guys should just lynch the weatherman?

Exactly. Get out your pitchforks, entitled bro dads.

OR maybe APS should actually listen to the weatherman. Who said last night that there would be rain and little to on accumulation.

Good source for winter storm tracking FB page called Jay's Wintery Mix. Even the Capital Weather Gang follows and comments on their posts.

[Anonymous]

Having kids can be a major inconvenience. They are time and money sucks. They can wreak havoc on a job, especially when they get sick or their school closes for whatever reason. But I chose to have these kids and undertake the inconveniences that go along with them. Sometimes it can really suck, but why is a good faith call, made in reasonable reliance on a region-wide weather advisory alert, the cause of so much complaining? This is part of having a kid.

[Anonymous]

This is Duran showing everyone how much he prioritizes in-person education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having kids can be a major inconvenience. They are time and money sucks. They can wreak havoc on a job, especially when they get sick or their school closes for whatever reason. But I chose to have these kids and undertake the inconveniences that go along with them. Sometimes it can really suck, but why is a good faith call, made in reasonable reliance on a region-wide weather advisory alert, the cause of so much complaining? This is part of having a kid.

No need to be an imperious jerk.

Kids are not wreaking havoc on jobs, the ongoing pandemic and lack of safety net wreaks havoc on our jobs. It's harder to find back-up care, and many parents (a disproportionate number of women) have burned through their leave.

I disagree that this was a good faith call so I'm going to complain about it and try to prevent it from happening again. I'm also going to advocate for my kid to have a better education. They deserve better than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Exactly. And if their childcare falls through then they get a taxpayer paid day off while the rest of us burn leave or scramble to find alternative arrangements.



What you are failing to see is that APS is reacting to teachers using their leave as needed. You can’t compare your office drone job that can go on with or without you for a day. If you aren’t there and take a day of leave your company can still operate without you. It’s not APS school staff fault that teachers are using their earned leave for childcare when other districts close which then puts APS in a bind and unable to operate because they can’t operate with less than a certain number of staff to supervise kids. Then APS has to make a decision on if they can operate.

And we can’t act like decisions of other counties, especially one as large as FCPS with over 180,000 students, won’t impact APS which is tiny comparatively. A large portion of APS staff lives in Fairfax and Alexandria.



If you run a public service that must be staffed (which I do, not a school) it is common and understood that the service stays open and not all leave requests get approved. Staff know there has to be coverage for them to have leave approved. Sure they could, on a day like this, lie and call in sick. But when you set the expectations and culture that not all leave requests will be approved, the public service is going to open, your colleagues are showing up and if you don’t you’re leaving them in a lurch… people behave differently and somehow manage to figure it out.

Do you think hospitals, doctor’s offices, libraries, grocery stores, or anything much else will be closed today? No. People who are supposed to work will figure it out.



This. There is now an expectation that if enough of them call out they’ll get the paid snow day. What incentive is there for them to pay for snow day camps, backup sitters, ask their spouse to take off, etc.? We act as if it’s impossible for APS to do what many other organizations do. And don’t just disregard “complainers” as being in the office working class and not understanding. Do you think hourly workers have the luxury of just calling out and not losing their jobs? Somehow grocery stores will manage to stay staffed. Essential workers have to figure out a way to go in.

APS has now created a certain culture of catering to leave requests that could be hard to overcome. We weren’t bound to larger jurisdictions like Fairfax and Loudoun when it came to reopening schools more days last year, but now we are tying our decisions to them when they close.



I guess y’all don’t go to the library much. Not big readers, I take it?

https://library.arlingtonva.us/2022/01/17/operatio...19-related-staffing-shortages/

The stuff you’re talking about is nonsense. For years and years and years APS has been fully operational during weather events when other districts have not been. In every industry, you have folks that must use their leave to care for their children at some time or another. APS is no different. However, in the middle of a pandemic, things happen, and that closure, that once, did affect their ability of operate that Thursday. You guys are going to believe what you want to, but this stuff about teachers not wanting to come to work is just not true. Flights have been cancelled. Supply chains broken down. But God forbid your children’s teachers should get a pass.



Why would you post that announcement from Arlington Public Library? What point are you making?

We all know there are covid-related staffing issues. We all know that on top of those covid-related staffing issues, if more staff take off due to childcare when a neighbor district is closing, this is now apparently going to tip the scales and we will close too. The point some people are trying to make is to check the underlying assumption that childcare issues on a weather day are an automatic pass for all the teachers. When this is not generally the case in any other industry.

By the way, except for those two locations. Arlington's libraries are open today business as usual. Do you think some of those library staff have school aged children?



You post about libraries being open, but don’t like it when confronted with the reality that they, too, are short-staffed. I’m sure some of them are caring for children. “Only 2” of 10… so 80%? How does that play out in a school environment, do you think? There is a point where I believe it becomes a safety issue, don’t you!



True story - the APS Library director is one of, if not the, highest paid Arlington Co employee. I believe it's close to $200K. All that for sitting at home and making youtube videos. So if you ever think those youtubers can't make good money.......


DP. Will you give it up with the stupid obsessive library posts? They are complete off topic which is rude AF.



Well, I just don’t understand- why don’t we hate them, too? Because we don’t use the library?



I do use the library, and I think you’re an enormous jack wagon. Maybe you should try not being completely self-absorbed for a few minutes - it could be an enlightening experience!



Wow. I’m really disappointed that someone touting how libraries are open, grocery stores are doing great, and all is well thinks poorly of me. Poster doesn’t like that argument any more! It’s not working for them! Make it stop!



Dear lord, learn to read. I am not that poster.



I get it. I need to stop addressing that poster, who clearly thinks teachers are lazy and have it good, compared to the libraries, airlines, grocery stores. Taking leave to care for children, because no other industry does that! That’s not what you would like to talk about. Please, direct the conversation.



I was the original poster who brought up libraries and it's a very good argument and I still like it quite a lot. Teachers do have it good compared to all these other professions.

The fact pattern.

-Libraries are a taxpayer funded service, like schools
-Libraries are staffed by government workers, like schools
-Libraries face covid-related staffing challenges, like schools
-Libraries have been forced to make operational adjustments and sometimes reduce services due to covid--related staffing challenged, like schools

Where is the difference? Libraries still opening up today same as yesterday. Libraries are behaving as if they have some type of obligation to be open to the public. No other profession seems to think it's normal to say out loud to the community that they can't open because their staff have to watch their kids.

Ditto for these other professions.

First, no one is saying the above. They cancelled because we were supposed to get snow, which we didn't, but that's a weatherperson fail. They cancelled to protect your children from harm as walkers and bus riders. That is why they cancel on a weather day.
Next, show me a librarian at a public library who is responsible for teaching and supervising a group of 25 kids all day, or groups of 25-50 kids all day long as part of their job. I'll wait.

They canceled because Fairfax canceled. The weather forecast at the time they made the call was clear the weather was not going to be an issue. This was not a close call last night when they made the call. Just because they said it was the weather doesn't make it the real reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Exactly. And if their childcare falls through then they get a taxpayer paid day off while the rest of us burn leave or scramble to find alternative arrangements.



What you are failing to see is that APS is reacting to teachers using their leave as needed. You can’t compare your office drone job that can go on with or without you for a day. If you aren’t there and take a day of leave your company can still operate without you. It’s not APS school staff fault that teachers are using their earned leave for childcare when other districts close which then puts APS in a bind and unable to operate because they can’t operate with less than a certain number of staff to supervise kids. Then APS has to make a decision on if they can operate.

And we can’t act like decisions of other counties, especially one as large as FCPS with over 180,000 students, won’t impact APS which is tiny comparatively. A large portion of APS staff lives in Fairfax and Alexandria.



If you run a public service that must be staffed (which I do, not a school) it is common and understood that the service stays open and not all leave requests get approved. Staff know there has to be coverage for them to have leave approved. Sure they could, on a day like this, lie and call in sick. But when you set the expectations and culture that not all leave requests will be approved, the public service is going to open, your colleagues are showing up and if you don’t you’re leaving them in a lurch… people behave differently and somehow manage to figure it out.

Do you think hospitals, doctor’s offices, libraries, grocery stores, or anything much else will be closed today? No. People who are supposed to work will figure it out.



This. There is now an expectation that if enough of them call out they’ll get the paid snow day. What incentive is there for them to pay for snow day camps, backup sitters, ask their spouse to take off, etc.? We act as if it’s impossible for APS to do what many other organizations do. And don’t just disregard “complainers” as being in the office working class and not understanding. Do you think hourly workers have the luxury of just calling out and not losing their jobs? Somehow grocery stores will manage to stay staffed. Essential workers have to figure out a way to go in.

APS has now created a certain culture of catering to leave requests that could be hard to overcome. We weren’t bound to larger jurisdictions like Fairfax and Loudoun when it came to reopening schools more days last year, but now we are tying our decisions to them when they close.



I guess y’all don’t go to the library much. Not big readers, I take it?

https://library.arlingtonva.us/2022/01/17/operatio...19-related-staffing-shortages/

The stuff you’re talking about is nonsense. For years and years and years APS has been fully operational during weather events when other districts have not been. In every industry, you have folks that must use their leave to care for their children at some time or another. APS is no different. However, in the middle of a pandemic, things happen, and that closure, that once, did affect their ability of operate that Thursday. You guys are going to believe what you want to, but this stuff about teachers not wanting to come to work is just not true. Flights have been cancelled. Supply chains broken down. But God forbid your children’s teachers should get a pass.



Why would you post that announcement from Arlington Public Library? What point are you making?

We all know there are covid-related staffing issues. We all know that on top of those covid-related staffing issues, if more staff take off due to childcare when a neighbor district is closing, this is now apparently going to tip the scales and we will close too. The point some people are trying to make is to check the underlying assumption that childcare issues on a weather day are an automatic pass for all the teachers. When this is not generally the case in any other industry.

By the way, except for those two locations. Arlington's libraries are open today business as usual. Do you think some of those library staff have school aged children?



You post about libraries being open, but don’t like it when confronted with the reality that they, too, are short-staffed. I’m sure some of them are caring for children. “Only 2” of 10… so 80%? How does that play out in a school environment, do you think? There is a point where I believe it becomes a safety issue, don’t you!



True story - the APS Library director is one of, if not the, highest paid Arlington Co employee. I believe it's close to $200K. All that for sitting at home and making youtube videos. So if you ever think those youtubers can't make good money.......


DP. Will you give it up with the stupid obsessive library posts? They are complete off topic which is rude AF.



Well, I just don’t understand- why don’t we hate them, too? Because we don’t use the library?



I do use the library, and I think you’re an enormous jack wagon. Maybe you should try not being completely self-absorbed for a few minutes - it could be an enlightening experience!



Wow. I’m really disappointed that someone touting how libraries are open, grocery stores are doing great, and all is well thinks poorly of me. Poster doesn’t like that argument any more! It’s not working for them! Make it stop!



Dear lord, learn to read. I am not that poster.



I get it. I need to stop addressing that poster, who clearly thinks teachers are lazy and have it good, compared to the libraries, airlines, grocery stores. Taking leave to care for children, because no other industry does that! That’s not what you would like to talk about. Please, direct the conversation.



I was the original poster who brought up libraries and it's a very good argument and I still like it quite a lot. Teachers do have it good compared to all these other professions.

The fact pattern.

-Libraries are a taxpayer funded service, like schools
-Libraries are staffed by government workers, like schools
-Libraries face covid-related staffing challenges, like schools
-Libraries have been forced to make operational adjustments and sometimes reduce services due to covid--related staffing challenged, like schools

Where is the difference? Libraries still opening up today same as yesterday. Libraries are behaving as if they have some type of obligation to be open to the public. No other profession seems to think it's normal to say out loud to the community that they can't open because their staff have to watch their kids.

Ditto for these other professions.

First, no one is saying the above. They cancelled because we were supposed to get snow, which we didn't, but that's a weatherperson fail. They cancelled to protect your children from harm as walkers and bus riders. That is why they cancel on a weather day.
Next, show me a librarian at a public library who is responsible for teaching and supervising a group of 25 kids all day, or groups of 25-50 kids all day long as part of their job. I'll wait.

Wait, jumping in here. I am a public librarian. I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Are you suggesting public librarians have easy jobs that can't compare to teachers? Possibly you are genuinely not aware of what public librarians deal with interacting with the general public in an urban environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids can be a major inconvenience. They are time and money sucks. They can wreak havoc on a job, especially when they get sick or their school closes for whatever reason. But I chose to have these kids and undertake the inconveniences that go along with them. Sometimes it can really suck, but why is a good faith call, made in reasonable reliance on a region-wide weather advisory alert, the cause of so much complaining? This is part of having a kid.

No need to be an imperious jerk.

Kids are not wreaking havoc on jobs, the ongoing pandemic and lack of safety net wreaks havoc on our jobs. It's harder to find back-up care, and many parents (a disproportionate number of women) have burned through their leave.

I disagree that this was a good faith call so I'm going to complain about it and try to prevent it from happening again. I'm also going to advocate for my kid to have a better education. They deserve better than this.

What exactly are you going to do to prevent it from happening again? Do you have access to better meteorological forecasts that you’re willing to share with APS? Are you going to advocate that APS return to calling snow days the morning of, going against all the parents who loudly demanded just the opposite a few years ago? Since you have all the answers, please share them.

[Anonymous]

or maybe wait until 5am to call it vs 5pm