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

[Anonymous]

People sure do have a ton of free time to vent here.....

and yes this: "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:People sure do have a ton of free time to vent here.....

and yes this: "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."

Of course I have a lot of time, I couldn't go to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP does not comprehend that workers at childcare centers exist and go home at night.

That's a decision for their employers to make, not for MCPS to force upon private child care providers. In the past, some opened and some did not, based on local conditions and staffing capacity. It is ridiculous and offensive for MCPS to force this in a top down manner.

where is the child care? In the school? The one that MCPS operates? The one with heating and water and things that need to operate for the child care center to be safe?

There are child care services that are not housed at an MCPS. The child care company has van/bus/shuttle used to transport students to and from their schools. Families can look into that if they are fed up with child care programs that are housed in a MCPS building closing on inclement weather days because MCPS doesn't allow the programs to open.

[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?

Tbh if someone said we should show up with signs outside central office on this date and time (weekly options better), I'd be there, and a lot of people would be there. Seriously, name a date and time, I'll be there with my sign.

[Anonymous]

OPM did not allow federal employees to telework for weather today. Extremely poor MoCo decision. Horrible for working families.

[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.

Who is in charge of treating spaces and clearing sidewalks, walkways, entrances, parking lots around MCPS? Is it an MCPS crew? Or county? Or does KAH and other child care programs have their own snow and ice maintenance group?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People sure do have a ton of free time to vent here.....

and yes this: "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."

Of course I have a lot of time, I couldn't go to work.

It's noon. Schools are open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OPM did not allow federal employees to telework for weather today. Extremely poor MoCo decision. Horrible for working families.

MoCo does not cater only to OPM. You need to understand this.

[Anonymous]

The part that makes no sense is that if high schools can start at 9:45, why can't childcare start at 9:45? Most elementary schools start between 11 and 11:30 on 2 hour delay days. This would make a huge difference.......

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OPM did not allow federal employees to telework for weather today. Extremely poor MoCo decision. Horrible for working families.

MoCo does not cater only to OPM. You need to understand this.

You missed the point. Horrible for all sorts of working families. There are certainly many feds, teachers, medical workers, who need childcare. MoCo does not cater to working parents, clearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The part that makes no sense is that if high schools can start at 9:45, why can't childcare start at 9:45? Most elementary schools start between 11 and 11:30 on 2 hour delay days. This would make a huge difference.......

Even less sense: full-day child care providers in MCPS buildings could open on a 2 hour delay, but beforecare providers in those same buildings could not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The part that makes no sense is that if high schools can start at 9:45, why can't childcare start at 9:45? Most elementary schools start between 11 and 11:30 on 2 hour delay days. This would make a huge difference.......

+100. And a bit earlier so teachers can get to school. We are talking about rain for the most part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Tbh if someone said we should show up with signs outside central office on this date and time (weekly options better), I'd be there, and a lot of people would be there. Seriously, name a date and time, I'll be there with my sign.

Make the signs.

Board of Education has meetings. This is the Board that you and likely other families voted in. They answer to you. If you don't contact them, organize and show up, they sit quietly, laugh and let mcps do what they want.

Show up to the Board meetings.

Organize with McCPTA.

Or with your school PTA. With parents in your neighborhood.

Or give your testimony at a meeting or video or write in. You have power. It takes time. Time when you are tired from work and family obligations.

December 11 they vote on next school year's calendar. How many snow days have they built in? There are threads on next year's calendar.

Welcome to the largest school district in Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Form response from Cat Malchodi, who I doubt believes what she was for Ed to write:

"Good afternoon,

On behalf of Dr. Taylor and the MCPS leadership team, thank you so much for sharing this concern about the availability of before school or morning childcare programs that utilize MCPS schools. We greatly appreciate the feedback from our staff and families. As a working mother who utilized these programs when my children were in elementary school for many years, I can certainly appreciate your frustration. We will certainly elevate this to the leaders who are involved in the decision making process and in our discussions with our community partners.

Inclement weather decisions are made with great care and always with safety at the center. This morning’s delay reflected a combination of factors: forecasts showing a meaningful risk of ice, the potential for hazardous road conditions across our large county, and the need to ensure that staff could travel safely to open our schools and offices. These decisions must account for the well-being of both employees and students. Although childcare is a Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF) function, it still relies on MCPS staff to open and prepare buildings for use. Given all these considerations, delaying the opening of schools, including canceling before-school childcare, was the safest and most responsible choice.

We know today’s decision had a real impact on families, especially those who rely on morning childcare to support work and daily routines. We truly understand how disruptive these changes can be, and we weigh those impacts carefully each time. Our first responsibility, however, is ensuring the safety of students and staff.

Making decisions of this nature is difficult because weather forecasts are never guaranteed, and events may occur sooner or worse than anticipated. Again, we do not take these types of decisions lightly—they truly have everyone’s best interest at the forefront, especially as it relates to safety.

Thank you,
Cat"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OPM did not allow federal employees to telework for weather today. Extremely poor MoCo decision. Horrible for working families.

MoCo does not cater only to OPM. You need to understand this.

You missed the point. Horrible for all sorts of working families. There are certainly many feds, teachers, medical workers, who need childcare. MoCo does not cater to working parents, clearly.

You fixed it to "working parents." That previous comment was a response to the post stating OPM. Not everyone works federal