How to fight this new anti-childcare winter weather approach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The district is sort of already being broken down into 6 regions, as proposed. If that passes, can schools in Silver Spring open even if there's an unplowed road in Damascus?

The 6 regions are just for the purpose of determining which special programs students are eligible to attend. Right now, each high school cluster is part of MCPS. These regions are just super-clusters.

Yes, but with the end of county-wide magnet programs, it would be possible for each region to manage their own bus schedule.

Will each region operate their buses independently? What about special ed programs that serve multiple regions?

The special schools would probably have to close if any of the other schools were closed. But perhaps schools in Regions 1-5 could open even if schools in Region 6 have to close. I'm trying to make lemonade out of the regional proposal.

This isn't going to happen. Special Ed is not just special schools. It is programs in schools and they won't be part of the regional model. It is a totally separate system that has to meet le GF al requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is now in the text of MCPS's official "code yellow" delayed opening policy (the only delayed opening option), so it looks like that is what needs to be amended:

"CODE YELLOW - DELAYED OPENING
Schools and offices will open two hours late.
Emergency personnel report should report as directed.
Morning bus routes will operate on a two-hour delay.
All field trips and activities that begin at 10:30 AM or earlier are canceled, including programs at Thomas Edison High School of Technology.
Infant and Toddler appointments scheduled before 10 AM are canceled; appointments scheduled at 10 AM or later will continue as planned.
Morning PreK/Head Start and AM PreK Special Education programs are canceled.
Morning childcare is canceled.
All-day childcare programs will operate on a two hour delay.
Afternoon PreK/Head Start and PM PreK Special Education programs will begin at their regular time.
Schools will dismiss at their normal time.
After-school childcare programs will operate as scheduled.
Community Use programs occur as scheduled"

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/closings/

In the email they sent us literally yesterday (https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2025-2026/Community-Message-20251201.html), it said Code Yellow (delayed opening) means before, afterschool, and child care may operate as scheduled. Now today the website says something totally different about beforecare being closed on delayed opening days.

MCPS is a mess. An infuriating mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Help me understand. What is the typical schedule for morning care?

If that morning staff is normally scheduled to be off by 9 AM then I can understand canceling care because I’m assuming most of those people or many of those people have other jobs they must get to. Nobody can live off a salary that only pays for 2 to 3 hours a day.

If they operate on a normal schedule, they would work until 9 AM and then you have staff we need to go to their second job which would mean the student to teacher ratio would be off.

If you operate on a two hour delay again many of the staff would not be able to work because they have other job commitments.

That's a theoretical possibility, but before recently, they did exactly that, and it was fine. Beforecare opened at the usual time and there was staff there until school started, KAH at least used to open on days when school was cancelled for weather, and they had no problem getting staff for the whole day. If that's the justification, it's obviously not what's happening in reality. There's no reason to cancel because you can imagine a problem that we know isn't real from experience.

Me again. Who or what kind of people work at before and after care? Seniors? People who have wide open schedules for the day and are OK living on just a couple hours salary? I keep thinking it’s a staffing issue that was finally addressed. I think about ratios, and either paying staff or finding enough staff to work.

There must be a real concrete reason to cancel childcare and not just make it a willy-nilly decision. I’m sure childcare businesses were consulted.

Well KAH does not seem to think so. Here is the text of the message they sent this morning:

Dear Parents,



I am so sorry for the confusion about our opening time this morning. For YEARS we could open when Admin. Offices opened.



We just heard from the county that we CANNOT open this morning. I am so sorry for the inconvenience. Drive Safely and have a Great Day!



Bob

The Big Cheese

NP - when DH and I saw that email, we were like, Bob is *pissed*. KAH definitely was not consulted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is now in the text of MCPS's official "code yellow" delayed opening policy (the only delayed opening option), so it looks like that is what needs to be amended:

"CODE YELLOW - DELAYED OPENING
Schools and offices will open two hours late.
Emergency personnel report should report as directed.
Morning bus routes will operate on a two-hour delay.
All field trips and activities that begin at 10:30 AM or earlier are canceled, including programs at Thomas Edison High School of Technology.
Infant and Toddler appointments scheduled before 10 AM are canceled; appointments scheduled at 10 AM or later will continue as planned.
Morning PreK/Head Start and AM PreK Special Education programs are canceled.
Morning childcare is canceled.
All-day childcare programs will operate on a two hour delay.
Afternoon PreK/Head Start and PM PreK Special Education programs will begin at their regular time.
Schools will dismiss at their normal time.
After-school childcare programs will operate as scheduled.
Community Use programs occur as scheduled"

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/emergency/closings/

In the email they sent us literally yesterday (https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2025-2026/Community-Message-20251201.html), it said Code Yellow (delayed opening) means before, afterschool, and child care may operate as scheduled. Now today the website says something totally different about beforecare being closed on delayed opening days.

MCPS is a mess. An infuriating mess.

Yeah, whatever your opinion is of the decision, the communication on it is an objective f**kup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pretty furious that MCPS is forcing beforecare to be closed this morning even in parts of the county where it's just raining. It's not just an inconvenience for families of elementary school kids, but a significant financial burden as well (for example, I am paid hourly and am losing 3 hours of work unnecessarily this morning, and I imagine some parents might have to call off a whole full-day shift of work if they have to watch their kids until 11am.). It's really hostile and punitive for working families.

Combined with the similar forced closures at the tail end of snow cleanup last winter, this seems like a new policy direction under the new MCPS administration and I hate it. I get that when there is bad weather anywhere in the county that all schools need to be delayed or closed accordingly, but there is no reason why before/aftercare providers shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about opening based on local conditions, like they used to do prior to last year. But MCPS has been prohibiting them from opening even when it is perfectly safe locally and they want to be open serving families.

How do we fight this and go back to the old policies of letting the providers make decisions about opening based on local conditions? Who do we contact?

Do the people that work in the childcare center live close by as well? The delays/closures are for their benefit as well, in terms of not having to drive in poor conditions.

I'm not sure why you think an employer should care where a person lives? Does your work close because someone lives further away?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pretty furious that MCPS is forcing beforecare to be closed this morning even in parts of the county where it's just raining. It's not just an inconvenience for families of elementary school kids, but a significant financial burden as well (for example, I am paid hourly and am losing 3 hours of work unnecessarily this morning, and I imagine some parents might have to call off a whole full-day shift of work if they have to watch their kids until 11am.). It's really hostile and punitive for working families.

Combined with the similar forced closures at the tail end of snow cleanup last winter, this seems like a new policy direction under the new MCPS administration and I hate it. I get that when there is bad weather anywhere in the county that all schools need to be delayed or closed accordingly, but there is no reason why before/aftercare providers shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about opening based on local conditions, like they used to do prior to last year. But MCPS has been prohibiting them from opening even when it is perfectly safe locally and they want to be open serving families.

How do we fight this and go back to the old policies of letting the providers make decisions about opening based on local conditions? Who do we contact?

Do the people that work in the childcare center live close by as well? The delays/closures are for their benefit as well, in terms of not having to drive in poor conditions.

I'm not sure why you think an employer should care where a person lives? Does your work close because someone lives further away?

Yes, many employers care about where their employees live when considering transportation in inclement weather. Indeed, this board generally hears about teachers that don't live in the county (or who live in different parts of the county), and that is a reason why delays/closures occur for the entire county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pretty furious that MCPS is forcing beforecare to be closed this morning even in parts of the county where it's just raining. It's not just an inconvenience for families of elementary school kids, but a significant financial burden as well (for example, I am paid hourly and am losing 3 hours of work unnecessarily this morning, and I imagine some parents might have to call off a whole full-day shift of work if they have to watch their kids until 11am.). It's really hostile and punitive for working families.

Combined with the similar forced closures at the tail end of snow cleanup last winter, this seems like a new policy direction under the new MCPS administration and I hate it. I get that when there is bad weather anywhere in the county that all schools need to be delayed or closed accordingly, but there is no reason why before/aftercare providers shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about opening based on local conditions, like they used to do prior to last year. But MCPS has been prohibiting them from opening even when it is perfectly safe locally and they want to be open serving families.

How do we fight this and go back to the old policies of letting the providers make decisions about opening based on local conditions? Who do we contact?

Do the people that work in the childcare center live close by as well? The delays/closures are for their benefit as well, in terms of not having to drive in poor conditions.

I'm not sure why you think an employer should care where a person lives? Does your work close because someone lives further away?

Yes, many employers care about where their employees live when considering transportation in inclement weather. Indeed, this board generally hears about teachers that don't live in the county (or who live in different parts of the county), and that is a reason why delays/closures occur for the entire county.

Our childcare provider wanted to open and was confident they could. MCPS should not be making this decision for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pretty furious that MCPS is forcing beforecare to be closed this morning even in parts of the county where it's just raining. It's not just an inconvenience for families of elementary school kids, but a significant financial burden as well (for example, I am paid hourly and am losing 3 hours of work unnecessarily this morning, and I imagine some parents might have to call off a whole full-day shift of work if they have to watch their kids until 11am.). It's really hostile and punitive for working families.

Combined with the similar forced closures at the tail end of snow cleanup last winter, this seems like a new policy direction under the new MCPS administration and I hate it. I get that when there is bad weather anywhere in the county that all schools need to be delayed or closed accordingly, but there is no reason why before/aftercare providers shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about opening based on local conditions, like they used to do prior to last year. But MCPS has been prohibiting them from opening even when it is perfectly safe locally and they want to be open serving families.

How do we fight this and go back to the old policies of letting the providers make decisions about opening based on local conditions? Who do we contact?

Do the people that work in the childcare center live close by as well? The delays/closures are for their benefit as well, in terms of not having to drive in poor conditions.

I'm not sure why you think an employer should care where a person lives? Does your work close because someone lives further away?

Yes, many employers care about where their employees live when considering transportation in inclement weather. Indeed, this board generally hears about teachers that don't live in the county (or who live in different parts of the county), and that is a reason why delays/closures occur for the entire county.

Our childcare provider wanted to open and was confident they could. MCPS should not be making this decision for them.

+1. The employee and employers know where people live and what they can do. MCPS coming in and saying "sorry, we think you might live far away, we're taking four hours off your next paycheck" is insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pretty furious that MCPS is forcing beforecare to be closed this morning even in parts of the county where it's just raining. It's not just an inconvenience for families of elementary school kids, but a significant financial burden as well (for example, I am paid hourly and am losing 3 hours of work unnecessarily this morning, and I imagine some parents might have to call off a whole full-day shift of work if they have to watch their kids until 11am.). It's really hostile and punitive for working families.

Combined with the similar forced closures at the tail end of snow cleanup last winter, this seems like a new policy direction under the new MCPS administration and I hate it. I get that when there is bad weather anywhere in the county that all schools need to be delayed or closed accordingly, but there is no reason why before/aftercare providers shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about opening based on local conditions, like they used to do prior to last year. But MCPS has been prohibiting them from opening even when it is perfectly safe locally and they want to be open serving families.

How do we fight this and go back to the old policies of letting the providers make decisions about opening based on local conditions? Who do we contact?

Do the people that work in the childcare center live close by as well? The delays/closures are for their benefit as well, in terms of not having to drive in poor conditions.

I'm not sure why you think an employer should care where a person lives? Does your work close because someone lives further away?

Yes, many employers care about where their employees live when considering transportation in inclement weather. Indeed, this board generally hears about teachers that don't live in the county (or who live in different parts of the county), and that is a reason why delays/closures occur for the entire county.

Our childcare provider wanted to open and was confident they could. MCPS should not be making this decision for them.

If they use MCPS space, MCPS can make that decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pretty furious that MCPS is forcing beforecare to be closed this morning even in parts of the county where it's just raining. It's not just an inconvenience for families of elementary school kids, but a significant financial burden as well (for example, I am paid hourly and am losing 3 hours of work unnecessarily this morning, and I imagine some parents might have to call off a whole full-day shift of work if they have to watch their kids until 11am.). It's really hostile and punitive for working families.

Combined with the similar forced closures at the tail end of snow cleanup last winter, this seems like a new policy direction under the new MCPS administration and I hate it. I get that when there is bad weather anywhere in the county that all schools need to be delayed or closed accordingly, but there is no reason why before/aftercare providers shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about opening based on local conditions, like they used to do prior to last year. But MCPS has been prohibiting them from opening even when it is perfectly safe locally and they want to be open serving families.

How do we fight this and go back to the old policies of letting the providers make decisions about opening based on local conditions? Who do we contact?

Do the people that work in the childcare center live close by as well? The delays/closures are for their benefit as well, in terms of not having to drive in poor conditions.

I'm not sure why you think an employer should care where a person lives? Does your work close because someone lives further away?

Yes, many employers care about where their employees live when considering transportation in inclement weather. Indeed, this board generally hears about teachers that don't live in the county (or who live in different parts of the county), and that is a reason why delays/closures occur for the entire county.

Our childcare provider wanted to open and was confident they could. MCPS should not be making this decision for them.

If they use MCPS space, MCPS can make that decision.

Okay? Are you also going to tell us the sky is blue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pretty furious that MCPS is forcing beforecare to be closed this morning even in parts of the county where it's just raining. It's not just an inconvenience for families of elementary school kids, but a significant financial burden as well (for example, I am paid hourly and am losing 3 hours of work unnecessarily this morning, and I imagine some parents might have to call off a whole full-day shift of work if they have to watch their kids until 11am.). It's really hostile and punitive for working families.

Combined with the similar forced closures at the tail end of snow cleanup last winter, this seems like a new policy direction under the new MCPS administration and I hate it. I get that when there is bad weather anywhere in the county that all schools need to be delayed or closed accordingly, but there is no reason why before/aftercare providers shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about opening based on local conditions, like they used to do prior to last year. But MCPS has been prohibiting them from opening even when it is perfectly safe locally and they want to be open serving families.

How do we fight this and go back to the old policies of letting the providers make decisions about opening based on local conditions? Who do we contact?

Do the people that work in the childcare center live close by as well? The delays/closures are for their benefit as well, in terms of not having to drive in poor conditions.

I'm not sure why you think an employer should care where a person lives? Does your work close because someone lives further away?

Yes, many employers care about where their employees live when considering transportation in inclement weather. Indeed, this board generally hears about teachers that don't live in the county (or who live in different parts of the county), and that is a reason why delays/closures occur for the entire county.

Our childcare provider wanted to open and was confident they could. MCPS should not be making this decision for them.

If they use MCPS space, MCPS can make that decision.

And parents can pressure and lobby MCPS about how they make that decision, because they're answerable to voters through the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am pretty furious that MCPS is forcing beforecare to be closed this morning even in parts of the county where it's just raining. It's not just an inconvenience for families of elementary school kids, but a significant financial burden as well (for example, I am paid hourly and am losing 3 hours of work unnecessarily this morning, and I imagine some parents might have to call off a whole full-day shift of work if they have to watch their kids until 11am.). It's really hostile and punitive for working families.

Combined with the similar forced closures at the tail end of snow cleanup last winter, this seems like a new policy direction under the new MCPS administration and I hate it. I get that when there is bad weather anywhere in the county that all schools need to be delayed or closed accordingly, but there is no reason why before/aftercare providers shouldn't be able to make their own decisions about opening based on local conditions, like they used to do prior to last year. But MCPS has been prohibiting them from opening even when it is perfectly safe locally and they want to be open serving families.

How do we fight this and go back to the old policies of letting the providers make decisions about opening based on local conditions? Who do we contact?

Do the people that work in the childcare center live close by as well? The delays/closures are for their benefit as well, in terms of not having to drive in poor conditions.

I'm not sure why you think an employer should care where a person lives? Does your work close because someone lives further away?

Yes, many employers care about where their employees live when considering transportation in inclement weather. Indeed, this board generally hears about teachers that don't live in the county (or who live in different parts of the county), and that is a reason why delays/closures occur for the entire county.

Our childcare provider wanted to open and was confident they could. MCPS should not be making this decision for them.

If they use MCPS space, MCPS can make that decision.

And parents can pressure and lobby MCPS about how they make that decision, because they're answerable to voters through the board.

of course. are you going to tell us the sky is blue?

[Anonymous]

I wonder if MCPS did all this so they can now make the "concession" of allowing beforecare to open on a 2 hour delay in the future (i.e. at the same time as full-day child care providers in school buildings), which is still far worse than what we used to have (full provider discretion except on the worst snow days.). But it will feel like a big improvement over today's mess. Maybe that's their game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if MCPS did all this so they can now make the "concession" of allowing beforecare to open on a 2 hour delay in the future (i.e. at the same time as full-day child care providers in school buildings), which is still far worse than what we used to have (full provider discretion except on the worst snow days.). But it will feel like a big improvement over today's mess. Maybe that's their game.

I think Taylor is just flooding the zone. He knows how much time it takes for organize and advocate and it's better for him if people are overwhelmed. Sound like anybody else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if MCPS did all this so they can now make the "concession" of allowing beforecare to open on a 2 hour delay in the future (i.e. at the same time as full-day child care providers in school buildings), which is still far worse than what we used to have (full provider discretion except on the worst snow days.). But it will feel like a big improvement over today's mess. Maybe that's their game.

I think Taylor is just flooding the zone. He knows how much time it takes for organize and advocate and it's better for him if people are overwhelmed. Sound like anybody else?

+100