MCPS gave County list of snow issues on Sunday at 2:13 pm. Under 2 hours later MCPS blamed County for Monday closure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who will be held accountable?
What is the plan going forward?

page 3 on an earlier thread
"It doesn't sound like MCPS and MCDOT have been coordinating at all beyond MCPS's request on Sunday afternoon for MCDOT to clear some extra areas. Basically the same time that MCPS bashed MCDOT in its message to the public.

In other words MCPS bureaucrats gave themselves 5 days off and did not talk at all with MCDOT, then bashed them publicly to excuse not opening today. Meanwhile MCDOT staff were literally working all week last week, certainly not perfectly. But at least they were working.

In an update sent Sunday afternoon, officials wrote that “all schools are ready.”

That wasn’t enough to bring kids back, they determined, because the county’s sprawling network of roads needed more work.

On Monday morning, Rockville High School’s parking lot was clear, and salt was sprinkled across the sidewalks bordering the campus. But that didn’t mean a clear walk to school.

While some sidewalks in the surrounding neighborhoods were shoveled, many others remained miniature ice rinks, marked by deep divots and reminders of Rockville’s pets.

Montgomery County paused enforcement of sidewalk clearing requirements, telling residents that they wouldn’t issue violation notices until Monday.

Near Meadow Hall Elementary, a bright yellow sign signaled to drivers that children would be using a crosswalk to get to school. The path to that crosswalk, however, remained buried under thick, slippery ice.

Emily DeTitta, spokeswoman for the county Department of Transportation, said the agency cleared roads surrounding county schools on Sunday night.

“We just received a request from MCPS for some additional areas late yesterday and are either assisting directly or asking the state when they are on state roads to address them,” she said.

Crews are also working to widen neighborhood roads and help clear sidewalks.

thebanner.com
"

How can theirs be accountability when we let Taylor continue to make the same mistakes over and over again?

There isn't any accountability as long as Taylor is the superintendent. He needs to resign.

[Anonymous]

Who is running MCPS right now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you seem to think only MCPS deserves "grace" y'all are a bunch of narcissists that are convinced it was okay to get a 5 day vacation while our community was in crisis

It is not about giving “grace.” I just don’t understand the unhinged reactions to having a week off for the biggest storm in years. Breathe.

This is not the only snow storm in MCPS history. Just last year we also had 4 snow days even though MCPS only built one into the calendar. They didn't change anything--there's still only 1 snow day built into the calendar.

MCPS could have submitted the required virtual learning plan for snow emergencies to MSDE that it said it would do in 2024. It didn't do it.

And now this year we have 5 snow days, with two months of winter remaining, and we're in far worse shape than last year, where we had full days of school instructional time removed and replaced with 3 crappy half days at the end of June where kids watched videos.

You sound hysterical over this.

You sound like you read it, and can't think of a good response and just decided to call names. Showing both intellectual limitations and immaturity in one post!

[Anonymous]

Im team MCPS in this. Their job is not to clear bus stops or flag issues in streets. Never has been in the past. Their job is to clear school properties.

This was a colossal FUBAR situation by the county and I’m sick of Marc Elrich’s appointees failing taxpayers and never having to face a single consequence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Im team MCPS in this. Their job is not to clear bus stops or flag issues in streets. Never has been in the past. Their job is to clear school properties.

This was a colossal FUBAR situation by the county and I’m sick of Marc Elrich’s appointees failing taxpayers and never having to face a single consequence.

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you seem to think only MCPS deserves "grace" y'all are a bunch of narcissists that are convinced it was okay to get a 5 day vacation while our community was in crisis

It is not about giving “grace.” I just don’t understand the unhinged reactions to having a week off for the biggest storm in years. Breathe.

This is not the only snow storm in MCPS history. Just last year we also had 4 snow days even though MCPS only built one into the calendar. They didn't change anything--there's still only 1 snow day built into the calendar.

MCPS could have submitted the required virtual learning plan for snow emergencies to MSDE that it said it would do in 2024. It didn't do it.

And now this year we have 5 snow days, with two months of winter remaining, and we're in far worse shape than last year, where we had full days of school instructional time removed and replaced with 3 crappy half days at the end of June where kids watched videos.

You sound hysterical over this.

You sound like you read it, and can't think of a good response and just decided to call names. Showing both intellectual limitations and immaturity in one post!

+1 No one needs to gaslight the people who are asking questions about the poor performance of MCPS during this snow event by calling them "hysterical" and telling them need to "relax" while being unable to refute any complaints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you seem to think only MCPS deserves "grace" y'all are a bunch of narcissists that are convinced it was okay to get a 5 day vacation while our community was in crisis

It is not about giving “grace.” I just don’t understand the unhinged reactions to having a week off for the biggest storm in years. Breathe.

This is not the only snow storm in MCPS history. Just last year we also had 4 snow days even though MCPS only built one into the calendar. They didn't change anything--there's still only 1 snow day built into the calendar.

MCPS could have submitted the required virtual learning plan for snow emergencies to MSDE that it said it would do in 2024. It didn't do it.

And now this year we have 5 snow days, with two months of winter remaining, and we're in far worse shape than last year, where we had full days of school instructional time removed and replaced with 3 crappy half days at the end of June where kids watched videos.

You sound hysterical over this.

You sound like you read it, and can't think of a good response and just decided to call names. Showing both intellectual limitations and immaturity in one post!

+1 No one needs to gaslight the people who are asking questions about the poor performance of MCPS during this snow event by calling them "hysterical" and telling them need to "relax" while being unable to refute any complaints.

Your complaints have been refuted. You just want to keep complaining.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard about that. I think MCPS was asleep at the wheel all of last week, not realizing that this snowstorm was different from all the other storms we've had, and that snowplows had great difficulty clearing the ice... and so MCPS panicked over the weekend when they realized parents would be furious if Monday wasn't open, and threw everyone under the bus. I noticed they blamed homeowners as well.

They were asleep because they didn't have to go to work at all. Code Red means everything is closed, and it was Code Red Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week. GMAFB

Seriously? Don’t public entities have a core of personnel that have to work to keep emergency operations going.

Contrast that with DC and Alexandria where they opened up on Wednesday including with food distribution sites.

I guess no one is holding MCPS accountable to a high standard. Or even a mediocre standard

Taylor likes to make sweeping changes, but his weak link is logistics. And logistics, while boring to him, matter.

That's unfortunate, because we don't need a visionary. We need someone who can make the trains run on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of you seem to think only MCPS deserves "grace" y'all are a bunch of narcissists that are convinced it was okay to get a 5 day vacation while our community was in crisis

It is not about giving “grace.” I just don’t understand the unhinged reactions to having a week off for the biggest storm in years. Breathe.

This is not the only snow storm in MCPS history. Just last year we also had 4 snow days even though MCPS only built one into the calendar. They didn't change anything--there's still only 1 snow day built into the calendar.

MCPS could have submitted the required virtual learning plan for snow emergencies to MSDE that it said it would do in 2024. It didn't do it.

And now this year we have 5 snow days, with two months of winter remaining, and we're in far worse shape than last year, where we had full days of school instructional time removed and replaced with 3 crappy half days at the end of June where kids watched videos.

You sound hysterical over this.

You sound like you read it, and can't think of a good response and just decided to call names. Showing both intellectual limitations and immaturity in one post!

+1 No one needs to gaslight the people who are asking questions about the poor performance of MCPS during this snow event by calling them "hysterical" and telling them need to "relax" while being unable to refute any complaints.

Your complaints have been refuted. You just want to keep complaining.

Calling someone "hysterical" for complaining is not refuting the complaints. Perhaps you missed too much instructional time at school to learn to write properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard about that. I think MCPS was asleep at the wheel all of last week, not realizing that this snowstorm was different from all the other storms we've had, and that snowplows had great difficulty clearing the ice... and so MCPS panicked over the weekend when they realized parents would be furious if Monday wasn't open, and threw everyone under the bus. I noticed they blamed homeowners as well.

They were asleep because they didn't have to go to work at all. Code Red means everything is closed, and it was Code Red Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week. GMAFB

Seriously? Don’t public entities have a core of personnel that have to work to keep emergency operations going.

Contrast that with DC and Alexandria where they opened up on Wednesday including with food distribution sites.

I guess no one is holding MCPS accountable to a high standard. Or even a mediocre standard

Taylor likes to make sweeping changes, but his weak link is logistics. And logistics, while boring to him, matter.

That's unfortunate, because we don't need a visionary. We need someone who can make the trains run on time.

Or at least run the trains at all...

[Anonymous]

Our school had major plumbing issues again. Maybe the delays were for clean up too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im team MCPS in this. Their job is not to clear bus stops or flag issues in streets. Never has been in the past. Their job is to clear school properties.

This was a colossal FUBAR situation by the county and I’m sick of Marc Elrich’s appointees failing taxpayers and never having to face a single consequence.

Yes.

No it's MCPS fault. they sat around for a week and didn't do any clearing of their parking lots and sidewalks. Also, county trash trucks were picking up trash and they need the same requirements as school buses. there is no excuse for MCPS. It's complete lack of doing anything but sitting on their buts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listening to County Council snow session now. Rich Madaleno stated in response to a question from Councilmember Balcombe that MCPS first formally communicated with the County a list of issues they needed fixed at 2:13pm in Sunday. Less than 2 hours later they send out a public message blaming the County for MCPS's decision to close on Monday.

Doesn't Cmember Balcombe represent District 2? That's the area bordering Frederick and Potomac river.

Were roads promptly cleared in District 2? Any District 2 posters here to chime in?

Council member Balcombe is also on the Transportation & Environment (TE) Committee, Climate change, energy policy, water and sewer issues and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; issues relating to environmental protection and conservation, including forest conservation; and solid waste, County infrastructure issues including public transportation, roadway and street construction and maintenance.

I'm in District 2. The first time I went out was Monday (last week) at noon. The roads were already in pretty good shape.

The roads were in pretty good shape but all the sidewalks and bus stops for kids were not. My HSers bus stop is at the entrance to neighborhood and no way were kids safely getting to or standing around that. Other county sidewalks had snow still late last week.

Went out some places and the parking lots while mostly clear still had snow/ice in several spots and piles of snow/ice.

I agree with the posters who say this 1 week for this major snow/ice event that doesn’t happen often is not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Listening to County Council snow session now. Rich Madaleno stated in response to a question from Councilmember Balcombe that MCPS first formally communicated with the County a list of issues they needed fixed at 2:13pm in Sunday. Less than 2 hours later they send out a public message blaming the County for MCPS's decision to close on Monday.

Doesn't Cmember Balcombe represent District 2? That's the area bordering Frederick and Potomac river.

Were roads promptly cleared in District 2? Any District 2 posters here to chime in?

Council member Balcombe is also on the Transportation & Environment (TE) Committee, Climate change, energy policy, water and sewer issues and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission; issues relating to environmental protection and conservation, including forest conservation; and solid waste, County infrastructure issues including public transportation, roadway and street construction and maintenance.

I'm in District 2. The first time I went out was Monday (last week) at noon. The roads were already in pretty good shape.

The roads were in pretty good shape but all the sidewalks and bus stops for kids were not. My HSers bus stop is at the entrance to neighborhood and no way were kids safely getting to or standing around that. Other county sidewalks had snow still late last week.

Went out some places and the parking lots while mostly clear still had snow/ice in several spots and piles of snow/ice.

I agree with the posters who say this 1 week for this major snow/ice event that doesn’t happen often is not a big deal.

Sure, sidewalks, particularly at intersections have had snow, but that didn't stop us from going out on foot last week. And it certainly did stop all the other kids that were playing in the snow. Why should it have stopped kids from getting on a bus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Im team MCPS in this. Their job is not to clear bus stops or flag issues in streets. Never has been in the past. Their job is to clear school properties.

This was a colossal FUBAR situation by the county and I’m sick of Marc Elrich’s appointees failing taxpayers and never having to face a single consequence.

Yes.

No it's MCPS fault. they sat around for a week and didn't do any clearing of their parking lots and sidewalks. Also, county trash trucks were picking up trash and they need the same requirements as school buses. there is no excuse for MCPS. It's complete lack of doing anything but sitting on their buts.

Funny how it was only MCPS that continued to be affected on Friday and Monday.