MCPS delayed Thursday?

[Anonymous]

It's 27 degrees in Damascus! That ice ain't melting!!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think streets have been plowed but if this isn't done in time they get icy. Our HOA had plows come several times on Monday and Tuesday and now our street is clean and dry. But the residential streets nearby are icy, though we've seen plows on them.

I wonder if anyone has ever examined the economic impact of multi-day school closures. A lot of parents aren't working because of this. Looking at that might make it worth it to invest more in snow storm response. Maybe it means more plows (does the county needs to own the plows or can they hire some as the HOAs do?). Maybe it means having a plan for buses in the snow (identifying alternate stops if one is too icy). Lots of people have been commuting to work yesterday and today. The roads are not impassable.

Main roads are in good shape for commuters. Residential side streets, not so much! You have hit the nail on the head with regard to good snow removal - it requires multiple passes to get the streets dry so there's not a pile of slush in the middle of the street to freeze (and freeze into weird ruts, I may add!) Northern urban areas also have city-owned sidewalk plows, not a thing here.

Commuters have to get out of their neighborhoods to get on the main road. They can do that just fine. We have been driving on our snowy, icy residential streets in our fwd subcompact since Monday. It's slow going, but totally doable.

What about people who live on snowy icy roads but don’t have fwd?

They need to have a backup plan- e.g., leave their car somehwere else where they can get out. Isn't that what y'all are always telling everyone in regards to childcare and snow days, that they need to plan better? Or if that's not possible, get a better car next time.

Folks, you don't need 4 wheel drive to drive in the snow. You do need common sense.

This! This isn't that hard. How do you think people have been getting to work the last 3 days?

Isn''t everything still closed or under telework?

Our parking lot here only has three empty spaces out of 24 and it’s 11:20 AM. It’s normally just DH’s truck and one retiree during a work day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think streets have been plowed but if this isn't done in time they get icy. Our HOA had plows come several times on Monday and Tuesday and now our street is clean and dry. But the residential streets nearby are icy, though we've seen plows on them.

I wonder if anyone has ever examined the economic impact of multi-day school closures. A lot of parents aren't working because of this. Looking at that might make it worth it to invest more in snow storm response. Maybe it means more plows (does the county needs to own the plows or can they hire some as the HOAs do?). Maybe it means having a plan for buses in the snow (identifying alternate stops if one is too icy). Lots of people have been commuting to work yesterday and today. The roads are not impassable.

Main roads are in good shape for commuters. Residential side streets, not so much! You have hit the nail on the head with regard to good snow removal - it requires multiple passes to get the streets dry so there's not a pile of slush in the middle of the street to freeze (and freeze into weird ruts, I may add!) Northern urban areas also have city-owned sidewalk plows, not a thing here.

Commuters have to get out of their neighborhoods to get on the main road. They can do that just fine. We have been driving on our snowy, icy residential streets in our fwd subcompact since Monday. It's slow going, but totally doable.

What about people who live on snowy icy roads but don’t have fwd?

They need to have a backup plan- e.g., leave their car somehwere else where they can get out. Isn't that what y'all are always telling everyone in regards to childcare and snow days, that they need to plan better? Or if that's not possible, get a better car next time.

Folks, you don't need 4 wheel drive to drive in the snow. You do need common sense.

This! This isn't that hard. How do you think people have been getting to work the last 3 days?

Isn''t everything still closed or under telework?

Fed is OPEN. with option for unscheduled telework. Was closed Mon and Tues. Will be closed again Thurs for Pres Carter's national cahedral funeral. Fri should be open again. Other offices follow Fed. Few have been open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Can anyone tell me what will be different tomorrow from today? There won’t be much melting today.

I’m not arguing for schools to be closed, I’m wondering why they are not open today.

The county didn’t finish plowing roads until yesterday evening, and according to the snow page, there was a lot of drift in Poolesville and Damascus.

Which means the roads were plowed today. And every school I went by yesterday had parking lots and sidewalks already cleared.

They could have opened today. They could have opened *on time* today, but at least could have opened with a delay if they wanted a chance to clean things up. And certainly there is no excuse for closing child care programs.

Unless you checked all 200 schools, your observation is limited.

Show a picture of your unplowed school then.

Your delusions of self-importance are noted and mocked.

Completely agree. What planet do you live on? Sounds like Utopia. But here on Earth, there are reasons we don't force parents into driving on unplowed roads, we don't force children into standing at bus stops with wind chills in the teens (or lower) on streets that are not plowed, and we can't make busses drive down neighborhood streets where there are no driveways and cars are parked along both sides of the street and piles of snow makes it impossible for a bus to get through even if we wanted it to. Someday maybe we can all live wherever you do, but you'll probably complain about some "element" we bring in with us (like, common sense).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I get it's a county-wide system and they can't open if even 1 school can't open safely. But even for this area, getting the snow cleared county-wide by Thursday for a storm that ended Monday/early Tuesday morning should not be a heavy lift.

And for my situation right now, it's a little different when the school you're paying $2000/mo for is closed, not the public school.

y'all should be complaining to the County Exec and the County Council -- this is their job, not the job of MCPS. MCPS can only make decisions based on conditions over which they have zero control. I have certainly noticed that none of the council members have stepped up to explain WTF is happening, and why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does MCPS have their own plow, shoveling, salting services team? Or do they wait for county's snow team to finish roads before they start on clearing schools?

I guess you could enter the address of schools in your neighborhood into the County's snow removal portal to see when they are being serviced? But wondering if resources (including humans) are limited and that's caung the need for school closures?

100%. Can't get the County Council to fully fund what is needed for quality education, much less provide for items used a few times a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:One reason China's going to kick our ass is because their kids go to school when it snows.

They have a month long winter break from Jan to Feb, which is smart.

Lunar New Year.

They celebrate Chinese New Year in China

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tailor talked a big game but he's just as ineffective as the others. 2 hours delay or closed.

Wait...what? You mean last year wasn't Monifa's fault?

[Anonymous]

To the poster who said on the other thread about DC public schools being open, mcps is much larger than DCPS.

[Anonymous]

MCPS will close for the rest of the week. Cold alert just issued. Enjoy your vacation!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think streets have been plowed but if this isn't done in time they get icy. Our HOA had plows come several times on Monday and Tuesday and now our street is clean and dry. But the residential streets nearby are icy, though we've seen plows on them.

I wonder if anyone has ever examined the economic impact of multi-day school closures. A lot of parents aren't working because of this. Looking at that might make it worth it to invest more in snow storm response. Maybe it means more plows (does the county needs to own the plows or can they hire some as the HOAs do?). Maybe it means having a plan for buses in the snow (identifying alternate stops if one is too icy). Lots of people have been commuting to work yesterday and today. The roads are not impassable.

Main roads are in good shape for commuters. Residential side streets, not so much! You have hit the nail on the head with regard to good snow removal - it requires multiple passes to get the streets dry so there's not a pile of slush in the middle of the street to freeze (and freeze into weird ruts, I may add!) Northern urban areas also have city-owned sidewalk plows, not a thing here.

Commuters have to get out of their neighborhoods to get on the main road. They can do that just fine. We have been driving on our snowy, icy residential streets in our fwd subcompact since Monday. It's slow going, but totally doable.

What about people who live on snowy icy roads but don’t have fwd?

They need to have a backup plan- e.g., leave their car somehwere else where they can get out. Isn't that what y'all are always telling everyone in regards to childcare and snow days, that they need to plan better? Or if that's not possible, get a better car next time.

Folks, you don't need 4 wheel drive to drive in the snow. You do need common sense.

This! This isn't that hard. How do you think people have been getting to work the last 3 days?

Isn''t everything still closed or under telework?

We work in home remodeling. Monday was closed. Tuesday, everyone showed up at the warehouse at 6:00am as normal. We got out to our customer's homes without problem in our 2-wheel drive pickup trucks and vans. The only adjustment was taking snow shovels to clear parking spots and sidewalks. It looks like most of the stores and restaurants were open by Tuesday afternoon.

I'll take ground clearance and good tires over 4WD/AWD any day. Kind of annoyed about the schools but we will overcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the poster who said on the other thread about DC public schools being open, mcps is much larger than DCPS.

Okay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone tell me what will be different tomorrow from today? There won’t be much melting today.

I’m not arguing for schools to be closed, I’m wondering why they are not open today.

The county didn’t finish plowing roads until yesterday evening, and according to the snow page, there was a lot of drift in Poolesville and Damascus.

Which means the roads were plowed today. And every school I went by yesterday had parking lots and sidewalks already cleared.

They could have opened today. They could have opened *on time* today, but at least could have opened with a delay if they wanted a chance to clean things up. And certainly there is no excuse for closing child care programs.

Unless you checked all 200 schools, your observation is limited.

Show a picture of your unplowed school then.

Your delusions of self-importance are noted and mocked.

Completely agree. What planet do you live on? Sounds like Utopia. But here on Earth, there are reasons we don't force parents into driving on unplowed roads, we don't force children into standing at bus stops with wind chills in the teens (or lower) on streets that are not plowed, and we can't make busses drive down neighborhood streets where there are no driveways and cars are parked along both sides of the street and piles of snow makes it impossible for a bus to get through even if we wanted it to. Someday maybe we can all live wherever you do, but you'll probably complain about some "element" we bring in with us (like, common sense).

Buses don't run on tracks. Routes can be adjusted.

[Anonymous]

I think delay because there’s so much Ice. Not as sunny today so nothing will melt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Streets in Wyngate (Bethesda) are an absolute mess. They made the right call.

Yes! But help is on the way! I'm in Wyngate, and just as I was reading this, the plow started going up and down and up and down our street, so I took a picture (and if i can ever figure out how to upload it here, I will ).

FWIW, the driveways and sidewalks are clear because we know our street is busy walking route to the ES, so the neighbors are pretty diligent about shoveling (which we do ourselves).