Taylor "No Snow Delay" Apology Email

[Anonymous]

I don't think I've ever gotten an apology email from MCPS about anything. Did Taylor get an earful from parents for closing down private before care and doing a delayed start for a bit of rain?

Dear MCPS Families,

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the frustration and disruption caused by this morning’s weather-related delay and the decision to delay the opening of both schools and offices. Making the call to delay or close sometimes means that we are working with late or imperfect information. And like today, this often means that there is disruption and inconvenience that follows when we have to make a call later than we’d like. I am writing to let you know that we take this seriously and that I would like to apologize for today’s disruptions and many inconveniences.

Today’s delay also meant that we canceled morning childcare for some families, where before school care is provided at some of our schools by community partners. This announcement was made in error and should have been a delay. Again, I deeply apologize for the added stress that this caused to an already chaotic morning. We are truly sorry for the confusion.

As always, we leaned heavily into one priority today: the safety of our students and all MCPS staff. The forecast called for the high probability of a wintry mix, including freezing rain, and a bit of snow—and in our area, even small amounts of ice and snow can make early-morning travel dangerous. Many of our employees commute from across the region, including areas where conditions may differ significantly from those in central Montgomery County. In the future, please count on us to continue to make inclement weather calls with safety and an abundance of caution as our top priority.

Going forward, we will work to be clearer about any deviation from our usual operating practices, strive to make decisions earlier when possible, and communicate more directly when something changes from what you typically expect. And as always, we will continue to center safety above all else.

Thank you for your patience with us and we are truly sorry for the disruption.

Sincerely,

Thomas W. Taylor, Ed.D, M.B.A.
Superintendent of Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I've ever gotten an apology email from MCPS about anything. Did Taylor get an earful from parents for closing down private before care and doing a delayed start for a bit of rain?

Dear MCPS Families,

I want to take a moment to acknowledge the frustration and disruption caused by this morning’s weather-related delay and the decision to delay the opening of both schools and offices. Making the call to delay or close sometimes means that we are working with late or imperfect information. And like today, this often means that there is disruption and inconvenience that follows when we have to make a call later than we’d like. I am writing to let you know that we take this seriously and that I would like to apologize for today’s disruptions and many inconveniences.

Today’s delay also meant that we canceled morning childcare for some families, where before school care is provided at some of our schools by community partners. This announcement was made in error and should have been a delay. Again, I deeply apologize for the added stress that this caused to an already chaotic morning. We are truly sorry for the confusion.

As always, we leaned heavily into one priority today: the safety of our students and all MCPS staff. The forecast called for the high probability of a wintry mix, including freezing rain, and a bit of snow—and in our area, even small amounts of ice and snow can make early-morning travel dangerous. Many of our employees commute from across the region, including areas where conditions may differ significantly from those in central Montgomery County. In the future, please count on us to continue to make inclement weather calls with safety and an abundance of caution as our top priority.

Going forward, we will work to be clearer about any deviation from our usual operating practices, strive to make decisions earlier when possible, and communicate more directly when something changes from what you typically expect. And as always, we will continue to center safety above all else.

Thank you for your patience with us and we are truly sorry for the disruption.

Sincerely,

Thomas W. Taylor, Ed.D, M.B.A.
Superintendent of Schools

An error? It was in bold on the website.

[Anonymous]

Someone who political power pulled on his leash. He felt overconfident because he's pretty much used to being fangirled over by the BOE and the County Council has treated him with kid gloves, but it looks like he found an issue that he actually did need to retreat from.

[Anonymous]

Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned. Changes are being implemented.

By whom? Don't worry about that...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned. Changes are being implemented.

By whom? Don't worry about that...

But it's normal for MCPS to have these ridiculous delays/closures when the weather is fine. Is Taylor saying that's actually going to change?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned. Changes are being implemented.

By whom? Don't worry about that...

But it's normal for MCPS to have these ridiculous delays/closures when the weather is fine. Is Taylor saying that's actually going to change?

They have gotten increasing ridiculous under Taylor, which is an impressive achievement.

[Anonymous]

I didn't read this as Taylor saying they would stop doing these ridiculous closings for rain. I read it as they were sorry that parents were stressed by the closing. "i.e. I'm sorry you feel badly about what I did" which is a non-apology.

And a bit of mea culpa for overstepping and forcing private providers of before care to close when they should have let them decide for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't read this as Taylor saying they would stop doing these ridiculous closings for rain. I read it as they were sorry that parents were stressed by the closing. "i.e. I'm sorry you feel badly about what I did" which is a non-apology.

And a bit of mea culpa for overstepping and forcing private providers of before care to close when they should have let them decide for themselves.

It was literally "I'm sorry you were upset" and not an apology for any actions taken by MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned. Changes are being implemented.

By whom? Don't worry about that...

But it's normal for MCPS to have these ridiculous delays/closures when the weather is fine. Is Taylor saying that's actually going to change?

They have gotten increasing ridiculous under Taylor, which is an impressive achievement.

How have they? My youngest is a senior. I remember plenty of 2 hour delays when she was in elementary school - even when it turned out to only rain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mistakes were made. Lessons were learned. Changes are being implemented.

By whom? Don't worry about that...

But it's normal for MCPS to have these ridiculous delays/closures when the weather is fine. Is Taylor saying that's actually going to change?

They have gotten increasing ridiculous under Taylor, which is an impressive achievement.

How have they? My youngest is a senior. I remember plenty of 2 hour delays when she was in elementary school - even when it turned out to only rain.

Um, last winter?

[Anonymous]

So will childcare be open next time or not?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the error was about childcare being closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the error was about childcare being closed.

Right the delay decision was wrong in hindsight but not absurd. The childcare decision was unusual.

[Anonymous]

Call me crazy, but the cynic in me thinks this was deliberate and a distraction to get parents complaining about something else rather than the program analysis, boundary studies, and proposed school closures. You know, flood the zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the error was about childcare being closed.

+1 I read it as the next time there’s a two hour delay, beforecare will open with a two hour delay if at all possible.