MCPS delayed Thursday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

DC Public Schools is also a city school system with no county buses aka no lawsuit concerns. I live here in the city and work for MCPS. Residents are used to returning to work with uncleared sidewalks and schools. There were so many people walking on Wisconsin Ave this morning because the sidewalks by the metro stop hadn't been cleared! The mayor just opens when she wants and everyone is used to adjusting.

Weather-related accidents make up a very small percentage of bus accidents. If lawsuits from bus accidents were a real concern, they'd never operate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

DC Public Schools is also a city school system with no county buses aka no lawsuit concerns. I live here in the city and work for MCPS. Residents are used to returning to work with uncleared sidewalks and schools. There were so many people walking on Wisconsin Ave this morning because the sidewalks by the metro stop hadn't been cleared! The mayor just opens when she wants and everyone is used to adjusting.

Weather-related accidents make up a very small percentage of bus accidents. If lawsuits from bus accidents were a real concern, they'd never operate.

Bus routes are absolutely factored into deciding whether or not to open county schools. That is not the case for city school systems. The mayor of DC was actually pushing hard for schools to open Tuesday without anything being plowed or shoveled. That would never fly in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

So…. At 1:30 - what’s your best guess?

I think closed again tomorrow.

[Anonymous]

2 pencils.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So…. At 1:30 - what’s your best guess?

I think closed again tomorrow.

I think delayed.

[Anonymous]

(to be clear, that's my prediction) - 13:31

[Anonymous]

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.

Just use Full Self Driving. If you don't have it, hop on the back of passing CyberTruck.

What's the problem?

[Anonymous]

What's the reasoning why trash trucks can go on residential streets and school buses cannot.

[Anonymous]

I'd rather they make the call early (like tonight or this afternoon) than make us scramble at the last minute like HoCo. (My work bestie was planning on delayed opening, only to find out at 6:55AM this morning that school were closed.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the reasoning why trash trucks can go on residential streets and school buses cannot.

Because trash trucks hold trash. And obvi school buses don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the reasoning why trash trucks can go on residential streets and school buses cannot.

Because trash trucks hold trash. And obvi school buses don't.

Interesting that the first poster did not differentiate, though...

[Anonymous]

2 hr delay definitely. the elderly people on my neighborhood listserv are complaining their roads weren't plowed property/were icy.

i wouldn't be shocked if it's closed completely because MCPS is always so eager to close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the reasoning why trash trucks can go on residential streets and school buses cannot.

Because trash trucks hold trash. And obvi school buses don't.

Interesting that the first poster did not differentiate, though...

I mean they also have workers on them that have to not just walk on the roads and sidewalks but lift heavy items onto the trucks. But I guess you all think they are trash too, which speaks volumes.

[Anonymous]

Who is clearing snow and ice and treating walkways for 211 MCPS schools and offices? The roads have been treated, according to MoCo snow removal portal website:

"MCDOT has finished treating all county maintained streets, and will continue to monitor pavement conditions and address as needed."

MCDOT = Montgomery County Department of Transportation

You can check status of your area via their portal. If they are saying they have finished, your area's service page is probably going to show they are done treating your street and the areas around it (stage 5).

[Anonymous]

20 °F tomorrow morning at 7am. 15 mile an hour wind so wind chill to 6 °F.

Definitely at least a delay is my guess.

I was surprised how bad the roads were in Poolesville. If roads were not getting sunlight the ice wasn't melting.