According to WTOP: DCPS schools are late or optional

[Anonymous]

It's really not a safe walk yet - at least not in my area of Capitol Hill. The plows have dumped a ton of snow on the sidewalks in the intersections so you have to go out into the street to get by. Lots of sidewalks still have a ton of snow. I wouldn't be sending my kid tomorrow. DCPS clearly knows this - hence the excused absence bs.

[Anonymous]

Even more fun-- bet you OPM sends the federal government back tomorrow too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids have perfect attendance, will an excused absence get in the way of their perfect record?

STFU

[Anonymous]

FFS, do you people living in your bubble realize that for many, many kids in dcps, school breakfast and lunch are the only two solid meals they get? And how many parents who do not get paid when they don't come into work, but can't afford to miss work, have kids in dcps? Perhaps you don't, but obviously the mayor does. Plenty of streets are fine, especially for walking within the neighborhood. It's ridiculous to continue to put added stress on families and kids when conditions are safe for many to come to school. Yes, some streets are not in good shape, and for those of you who feel that way, keep your kids home and be grateful that you're fortunate enough to have that choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, You are a babysitter. Signed, DCPS.

Oh, come on. They are trying to walk the line between two vastly different groups of families - those who can easily walk to school and are eager to get back to work, and those who legitimately can't make it due to the lack of plowing or bus access. They think most kids can make it, but aren't going to punish those who can't. Teachers got one more day off than all other DC government employees.

This is so, so unfair to teachers. They'll be docked a day if they don't come in for minimal attendance. Either open all the way or close.

How do you know what attendance is going to be like? DCUM is seething with angry, affluent parents who want their kids back in school so they can get to work. Parents who are wage workers want their kids to be back in school. School is open; teachers need to figure out how to get in.

Teachers are the least of my concern too.

The real issue is that the city is under a snow emergency and all kids can't get to school through no fault of their own. It's not fair to them.

DCPS KNOWS the roads arent safe and ready so why bother?

Because many of the roads are safe, and because students can either walk or take public transportation. Which is the whole point of living in a city.

Many?????

ALL of the roads should be safe before schools are opened.

Public transportation should be FULLY functioning.

And the snow emergency should be lifted.

DC's gonna be more embarrassed tomorrow than they were last Wednesday. The liability they're taking upon themselves is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids have perfect attendance, will an excused absence get in the way of their perfect record?

Yes and it will go down on their permanent record.

Will this affect admission to Ivy's?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FFS, do you people living in your bubble realize that for many, many kids in dcps, school breakfast and lunch are the only two solid meals they get? And how many parents who do not get paid when they don't come into work, but can't afford to miss work, have kids in dcps? Perhaps you don't, but obviously the mayor does. Plenty of streets are fine, especially for walking within the neighborhood. It's ridiculous to continue to put added stress on families and kids when conditions are safe for many to come to school. Yes, some streets are not in good shape, and for those of you who feel that way, keep your kids home and be grateful that you're fortunate enough to have that choice.

FFS the purpose of school is not to feed and babysit kids.

I can assure you DCPS will not have a legal leg to stand on if someone is hurt trying to get to school.

They can't use 'but we gave a caveat about excusing absences' as a legal defense if someone is injured trying to get to school during a snow emergency.

The caveat is proof they knew of the dangers but opted to open anyway.

Maybe a good lawsuit is just what they need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FFS, do you people living in your bubble realize that for many, many kids in dcps, school breakfast and lunch are the only two solid meals they get? And how many parents who do not get paid when they don't come into work, but can't afford to miss work, have kids in dcps? Perhaps you don't, but obviously the mayor does. Plenty of streets are fine, especially for walking within the neighborhood. It's ridiculous to continue to put added stress on families and kids when conditions are safe for many to come to school. Yes, some streets are not in good shape, and for those of you who feel that way, keep your kids home and be grateful that you're fortunate enough to have that choice.

I am so tired of hearing the "they need to eat" excuse. I am a teacher at a title 1 school. Over half the free breakfast AND lunch goes into the trash because the students don't like it. Schools were opened earlier this week for meals and very few showed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FFS, do you people living in your bubble realize that for many, many kids in dcps, school breakfast and lunch are the only two solid meals they get? And how many parents who do not get paid when they don't come into work, but can't afford to miss work, have kids in dcps? Perhaps you don't, but obviously the mayor does. Plenty of streets are fine, especially for walking within the neighborhood. It's ridiculous to continue to put added stress on families and kids when conditions are safe for many to come to school. Yes, some streets are not in good shape, and for those of you who feel that way, keep your kids home and be grateful that you're fortunate enough to have that choice.

Yeah! So what if a few poor kids get run over by a car! At least Bowser will look good for her constituency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, You are a babysitter. Signed, DCPS.

Oh, come on. They are trying to walk the line between two vastly different groups of families - those who can easily walk to school and are eager to get back to work, and those who legitimately can't make it due to the lack of plowing or bus access. They think most kids can make it, but aren't going to punish those who can't. Teachers got one more day off than all other DC government employees.

THIS! You selfish bunch of ninnies. Imagine if you cleaned hotel rooms for a living and would lose your job over these damn snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, You are a babysitter. Signed, DCPS.

Oh, come on. They are trying to walk the line between two vastly different groups of families - those who can easily walk to school and are eager to get back to work, and those who legitimately can't make it due to the lack of plowing or bus access. They think most kids can make it, but aren't going to punish those who can't. Teachers got one more day off than all other DC government employees.

This is so, so unfair to teachers. They'll be docked a day if they don't come in for minimal attendance. Either open all the way or close.

How do you know what attendance is going to be like? DCUM is seething with angry, affluent parents who want their kids back in school so they can get to work. Parents who are wage workers want their kids to be back in school. School is open; teachers need to figure out how to get in.

Teachers are the least of my concern too.

The real issue is that the city is under a snow emergency and all kids can't get to school through no fault of their own. It's not fair to them.

DCPS KNOWS the roads arent safe and ready so why bother?

Because many of the roads are safe, and because students can either walk or take public transportation. Which is the whole point of living in a city.

Many?????

ALL of the roads should be safe before schools are opened.

Public transportation should be FULLY functioning.

And the snow emergency should be lifted.

DC's gonna be more embarrassed tomorrow than they were last Wednesday. The liability they're taking upon themselves is ridiculous.

Oh, please. It is going to be days more before ALL the sidewalks and roads are perfectly clear. At some point you just have to pull the trigger. A snow emergency merely means that you can't park on major arteries, which makes sense because those streets are either not completely at full width or people will be sticking to the big roads versus taking their special cutoffs and using Waze to shave off a few minutes. Giving families who don't want to send their kids the option to keep them home minimizes their liability, not increases it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, You are a babysitter. Signed, DCPS.

Oh, come on. They are trying to walk the line between two vastly different groups of families - those who can easily walk to school and are eager to get back to work, and those who legitimately can't make it due to the lack of plowing or bus access. They think most kids can make it, but aren't going to punish those who can't. Teachers got one more day off than all other DC government employees.

THIS! You selfish bunch of ninnies. Imagine if you cleaned hotel rooms for a living and would lose your job over these damn snow days.

So teachers become babysitters? Clearly no instruction is expected to occur. DPR should have some special snow day camps/ drop offs. I think it's a slap in teachers face to minimize them to just babysitting.

[Anonymous]

And while the roads looked mostly cleared, the sidewalks are horrible! Many (but not all)homes did clear the sidewalks, but businesses did not, although they cleared their parking lots. Hopefully, we won't have a freeze overnight, since there is so much slush. My DC is a senior so I don't have a problem sending her to school, but I would be concerned for little ES that walk to school on their own. Plus, the bus stops are not cleared! Whose job is that?? Annoyed!

[Anonymous]

Wisconsin Ave in NW only had one lane open heading north today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dear teachers, You are a babysitter. Signed, DCPS.

Oh, come on. They are trying to walk the line between two vastly different groups of families - those who can easily walk to school and are eager to get back to work, and those who legitimately can't make it due to the lack of plowing or bus access. They think most kids can make it, but aren't going to punish those who can't. Teachers got one more day off than all other DC government employees.

This is so, so unfair to teachers. They'll be docked a day if they don't come in for minimal attendance. Either open all the way or close.

How do you know what attendance is going to be like? DCUM is seething with angry, affluent parents who want their kids back in school so they can get to work. Parents who are wage workers want their kids to be back in school. School is open; teachers need to figure out how to get in.

Teachers are the least of my concern too.

The real issue is that the city is under a snow emergency and all kids can't get to school through no fault of their own. It's not fair to them.

DCPS KNOWS the roads arent safe and ready so why bother?

Because many of the roads are safe, and because students can either walk or take public transportation. Which is the whole point of living in a city.

Many?????

ALL of the roads should be safe before schools are opened.

Public transportation should be FULLY functioning.

And the snow emergency should be lifted.

DC's gonna be more embarrassed tomorrow than they were last Wednesday. The liability they're taking upon themselves is ridiculous.

Oh, please. It is going to be days more before ALL the sidewalks and roads are perfectly clear. At some point you just have to pull the trigger. A snow emergency merely means that you can't park on major arteries, which makes sense because those streets are either not completely at full width or people will be sticking to the big roads versus taking their special cutoffs and using Waze to shave off a few minutes. Giving families who don't want to send their kids the option to keep them home minimizes their liability, not increases it.

Pull the trigger when it's actually safe for all kids. You know like functional, successful schools with great test scores do.

And trust me, in a court of law a half-decent attorney can successfully argue the caveat shows that DCPS KNEW of the dangers. The fact a snow emergency in effect will be the nail.