Does a cold alert warrant school closures?

[Anonymous]

Just received the following text:

"Alert Montgomery - Cold Emergency Alert
Montgomery County has extended the Cold Emergency Alert until Friday, 1/10 at 1pm. Residents should be prepared for wind chill values to be below 20 degrees. These dangerously cold temperatures and wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin within 30 minutes and/or hypothermia. Stay indoors if possible."

Wondering if MCPS will considering staying closed for the rest of the week.

[Anonymous]

Alert for those waiting outside for buses and heads up for indoor recess if schools open on time the rest of the week. Usually with delay school openings, ES do not have recess. Think how much energy those little ones will have built up only to be cooped up at home, school and possibly again this upcoming weekend.

[Anonymous]

With this alert, MCPS can say due to the extended cold advisory, snow is not melting and icy conditions, therefore, schools will be code X...they may open offices but not schools if Taylor doesn't have to babysit his own several kids.

[Anonymous]

No, the cold alert is separate from decisions made regarding school closures... unless temps were to go so low that buses couldn't start or heating failed in buildings, which if memory serves happened once during my kids' schooling, many years ago, for single digit temps. But for the temps we have right now, cold won't affect school openings.

The school closure today was due to the winds yesterday that blew the snow cleared by plows back onto school sidewalks and parking lots in Damascus and other locations. Winds have died down and we will not have the same problem today.

I am expecting on time opening for Thursday, or at most a 2 hr delay for icy bus stops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alert for those waiting outside for buses and heads up for indoor recess if schools open on time the rest of the week. Usually with delay school openings, ES do not have recess. Think how much energy those little ones will have built up only to be cooped up at home, school and possibly again this upcoming weekend.

? Snow is when I see the most kids outside playing, PP.

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP. most likely a delay but opened schools

[Anonymous]

It is in mid 20s with wind chill lower. It feels like in single digits out there. Buses can not get to each stop with this amount of ice and snow. If your kids are driven to schools, they will get heat in your car. However, some bus windows are left open (please don't dispute this it has happened!) and it will be cold.

[Anonymous]

Right before winter break, we had to distribute coats to students who only had hoodies. It wasn’t even freezing yet.

If we open, many walkers will either stay home or arrive frostbitten and dangerously chilled.

[Anonymous]

Schools will be closed this week. No this is not an official announcement from school system. The situation is not improving in most locations around county. How will buses pass? Don't just think about your own area, this is the largest school district in MD and they make a decision for entire county no matter how ridiculous that is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right before winter break, we had to distribute coats to students who only had hoodies. It wasn’t even freezing yet.

If we open, many walkers will either stay home or arrive frostbitten and dangerously chilled.

We will open. MCPS expects families to get their act together during the winter season. It is not MCPS' responsibility to make sure your kid has a coat.

And duh - kids don't show up to school with coats if it's not freezing! My daughter and a whole lot of other tween and teens seem to think it a badge of honor to show up at school in the flimsiest outfits known to humanity. I see the boys walking about in shorts and t-shirts. At least DD wears leggings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alert for those waiting outside for buses and heads up for indoor recess if schools open on time the rest of the week. Usually with delay school openings, ES do not have recess. Think how much energy those little ones will have built up only to be cooped up at home, school and possibly again this upcoming weekend.

? Snow is when I see the most kids outside playing, PP.

And you really don’t understand the difference between a parent choosing to let their kid play in the snow and school districts being required (yes, required) to safely transport tens of thousands of students on slick roads? Really? That’s sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Right before winter break, we had to distribute coats to students who only had hoodies. It wasn’t even freezing yet.

If we open, many walkers will either stay home or arrive frostbitten and dangerously chilled.

We will open. MCPS expects families to get their act together during the winter season. It is not MCPS' responsibility to make sure your kid has a coat.

And duh - kids don't show up to school with coats if it's not freezing! My daughter and a whole lot of other tween and teens seem to think it a badge of honor to show up at school in the flimsiest outfits known to humanity. I see the boys walking about in shorts and t-shirts. At least DD wears leggings.

Leggings! Wow that's definitely t/w/een winter approved. Shorts is more common, a hoddie in weather like this week's.

[Anonymous]

It has happened in the past.. schools closed due to windchill and super cold temps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right before winter break, we had to distribute coats to students who only had hoodies. It wasn’t even freezing yet.

If we open, many walkers will either stay home or arrive frostbitten and dangerously chilled.

Kids showing up with hoodies is often a choice on their part, not because they don't have access to coats. For whatever reason, not wearing coats has become a real line in the sand with Gen Z/Gen Alpha tweens and teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alert for those waiting outside for buses and heads up for indoor recess if schools open on time the rest of the week. Usually with delay school openings, ES do not have recess. Think how much energy those little ones will have built up only to be cooped up at home, school and possibly again this upcoming weekend.

? Snow is when I see the most kids outside playing, PP.

And you really don’t understand the difference between a parent choosing to let their kid play in the snow and school districts being required (yes, required) to safely transport tens of thousands of students on slick roads? Really? That’s sad.

It's people like you who give the schools and parents a bad name, PP, and give ammunition to others who want schools to open ASAP. Stop it. There were legitimate reasons why MCPS stayed closed until today (because of yesterday's wind blowing back snow into school property), but now criteria for opening have been met. Current temps are not a reason to keep schools closed.