FCPS closed Monday

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like virtual lessons and hope schools will be open but safety comes first. Maybe school can open for kindergarten through 2nd or 3rd grades for parents need child care (since school bus stop situation parents may need to drop off & pick up), then 3rd grades and above can do virtual lessons ( Fcps student all have school issued laptops at home, unless some students may not have reliable home network). That way older kids can continue learning, while younger ones can get day care service from school so parents can work, and it’s easier handling kiss n ride.

I think that’s a good idea.

It’ll never happen. It wouldn’t be fair that only certain ages get to go in. Virtual learning doesn’t work for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I

- Staggered drop off times (e.g. A-F 8-8:15, G-L 8:20-8:35, etc etc) for walkers to mitigate (as best as possible) the sure to backed up kiss and ride lines since there’s always the sidewalks that never do get shoveled.

- Something simple like a flag/pole that can be stuck in the ground at a FCPS bus stop so the plows know to not push piles of snow up for an x foot distance, etc. Someone at the bus stop could elect to be the keeper/planter of the flag in the event of expected weather.

Staggered drop-off times will result in 80% showing up in the last 15 minutes, figuring they can sleep in later and how are they gonna check which letter you are?

Having the plows not push snow results in the ground not being plowed so the bus can't drive and stop on it. Plows clear the road by pushing snow forward and letting it overflow on the side.

Got other ideas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is responsible for sidewalks?

DH thinks it is VDOT. Is it FCPS? Homeowners?

We don’t have a sidewalk in front of our house.

Property owners are encouraged to shovel. They’re not required to in Fairfax.

Moving forward they should be required by law to shovel their driveway and sidewalk. Many states have this law in place and I don’t see why Virginia doesn’t. This is one of the main reasons that has caused a delay in school openings.

It's locality-specific. Some places in VA do require it.

Yes but even some of those waived that requirement for this storm because of the challenging nature of this snow/ice combination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I

- Staggered drop off times (e.g. A-F 8-8:15, G-L 8:20-8:35, etc etc) for walkers to mitigate (as best as possible) the sure to backed up kiss and ride lines since there’s always the sidewalks that never do get shoveled.

- Something simple like a flag/pole that can be stuck in the ground at a FCPS bus stop so the plows know to not push piles of snow up for an x foot distance, etc. Someone at the bus stop could elect to be the keeper/planter of the flag in the event of expected weather.

Staggered drop-off times will result in 80% showing up in the last 15 minutes, figuring they can sleep in later and how are they gonna check which letter you are?

Having the plows not push snow results in the ground not being plowed so the bus can't drive and stop on it. Plows clear the road by pushing snow forward and letting it overflow on the side.

Got other ideas?

plows can work a block and move or consolidate a pile. They have to work at it, but it can be done. They can plow on angles and be strategic on where the pile goes. These plows did one single pass down the center and did not come back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who is responsible for sidewalks?

DH thinks it is VDOT. Is it FCPS? Homeowners?

We don’t have a sidewalk in front of our house.

Homeowners! How is this even a question?

Wrong! Apparently no one is responsible for clearing sidewalks. There is no requirement for Fairfax County residents to clear snow from the sidewalk adjacent to their property.

Maybe this event will, if enough people complain, get the Board of Supervisors to pass an ordinance requiring to shovel their sidewalks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m very surprised. And there is a lot of anger!

You seriously cannot be surprised by the anger. No matter what was decided for Monday, people were going to rage. This was a no-win situation for any local superintendent.

Ms. Reid,

I am writing to formally state my anger and frustration over the continued failure of FCPS to provide education during recent snow closures. This situation is unacceptable and reflects a serious lack of planning and leadership.

FCPS previously implemented online learning successfully under Dr. Brabrand. The infrastructure already exists. There is no reasonable explanation for why instruction completely stops now whenever there is snow on the ground. Closing schools without offering online learning is a choice — not a necessity — and it is harming students.

The majority of families and teachers want schools open. Most students want to be in class. Decisions should not be driven by a small minority who dislike school or are unwilling to work during weather events. Other districts manage this. FCPS should be capable of doing the same.

My second grader has already begun forgetting basic skills, including telling time and spelling, after nearly two weeks of missed instruction. That is not a weather issue — that is a leadership failure. Children are losing learning time that cannot simply be “made up.”

Seven inches of snow does not justify prolonged closures. FCPS remained open longer during the 2010 storms when snowfall totals were significantly higher. The current response is excessive and indefensible.

If schools cannot safely reopen in person, then online instruction must immediately resume. Continuing to provide no education at all is not acceptable. If you believe FCPS is incapable of operating either in person or online under these conditions, then you should step aside for leadership that can.

Parents expect solutions, not excuses. Our children deserve better than this.

— A Frustrated FCPS Parent

Why are they forgetting basic skills? That’s not school issue, parents can easily review at home in 2nd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like virtual lessons and hope schools will be open but safety comes first. Maybe school can open for kindergarten through 2nd or 3rd grades for parents need child care (since school bus stop situation parents may need to drop off & pick up), then 3rd grades and above can do virtual lessons ( Fcps student all have school issued laptops at home, unless some students may not have reliable home network). That way older kids can continue learning, while younger ones can get day care service from school so parents can work, and it’s easier handling kiss n ride.

I think that’s a good idea.

It’ll never happen. It wouldn’t be fair that only certain ages get to go in. Virtual learning doesn’t work for anyone.

Oh the drama, It worked with plenty of kids.

[Anonymous]

My kid missed 2.5 days of school and now can’t tell time is not the slam dunk you think it is 😂😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood is about a 20 minute walk to the high school. The majority of the sidewalks, that line roads to the school have not been plowed. We do not have bus service (that pesky 1 mile radius rule). There is no way the kids can make it to the high school. The sidewalk area next to the main crosswalk to cross a major road, is full of ice. We drove past the high school this morning. The parking spots are cleared, but the sidewalks leading into the school are packed with ice. Do you expect the kids to walk on the aslphalt, along with a bunch if new drivers? Also, what is up with people assuming teachers would have to help clear the ice/snow!? That is ridiculous!

Reid expects the parents will do it. Why not the teachers?

It is not their job! Period, end of story. My kid has a teacher that walks with a cane. Should he go out, cut through the ice and shovel it?! Should that job be only for the younger healthier teachers? Did they go to college for 5+ years to end up being forced to clean up the snow? They didn’t sign up for that job! You signed up to have kids.

It’s not the parents job either, but that didn’t stop Reid from telling them to get out and shovel.

Teachers can go out and break up the ice/snowcrete on sidewalks/at bus stops in their own neighborhoods--if the community spirit moves them--just like accountants, software engineers, grocery cashiers, retail managers, lawyers, realtors, doctors, waitstaff, chefs, dentists, SAHM, landscape company owners, florists and mechanics can.

FCPS's email specified that they would like people to take care of the areas outside of its area of responsibility, which is school grounds. I don't care for Gatehouse either, but let's not misrepresent their communications. They suck enough in reality.

What makes you think teachers haven’t been? And what makes you think accountants, software engineers, etc, have?

I’m a teacher. I’ve shoveled myself out as well as several neighbors. I’m comfortable saying I’ve done most of the work on my street.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t like virtual lessons and hope schools will be open but safety comes first. Maybe school can open for kindergarten through 2nd or 3rd grades for parents need child care (since school bus stop situation parents may need to drop off & pick up), then 3rd grades and above can do virtual lessons ( Fcps student all have school issued laptops at home, unless some students may not have reliable home network). That way older kids can continue learning, while younger ones can get day care service from school so parents can work, and it’s easier handling kiss n ride.

I think that’s a good idea.

It’ll never happen. It wouldn’t be fair that only certain ages get to go in. Virtual learning doesn’t work for anyone.

Oh the drama, It worked with plenty of kids.

No it didn’t and research backs this up. The learing that was lost during Covid was profound and one of the biggest failures if the lockdown and school closings.

[Anonymous]

Whether distance learning was effective or not isn’t germane to the convo because ad hoc virtual learning with a bunch of kids and teachers who a) never have done it and b) don’t know how to do it wouldn’t be the same as distance learning even if it HAD been good. That was an entirely different format of teaching that was designed to last an entire school year for some kids - we can’t even compare it to “oh sh! were closed again , quick, throw together something to do online.”

Those of you whose kids are now 2nd graders have no clue how many days would be wasted just getting the kids to figure out how to sign in to their video platform, mute their mics and cameras, respond in the chat, click links and do activities, and not generally act like idiots because they see the whole thing as fake and silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who is responsible for sidewalks?

DH thinks it is VDOT. Is it FCPS? Homeowners?

We don’t have a sidewalk in front of our house.

Property owners are encouraged to shovel. They’re not required to in Fairfax.

Moving forward they should be required by law to shovel their driveway and sidewalk. Many states have this law in place and I don’t see why Virginia doesn’t. This is one of the main reasons that has caused a delay in school openings.

It's locality-specific. Some places in VA do require it.

Yes but even some of those waived that requirement for this storm because of the challenging nature of this snow/ice combination.

As they should have. I'm not for a law, I was just pointing out it's not decided at the state level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood is about a 20 minute walk to the high school. The majority of the sidewalks, that line roads to the school have not been plowed. We do not have bus service (that pesky 1 mile radius rule). There is no way the kids can make it to the high school. The sidewalk area next to the main crosswalk to cross a major road, is full of ice. We drove past the high school this morning. The parking spots are cleared, but the sidewalks leading into the school are packed with ice. Do you expect the kids to walk on the aslphalt, along with a bunch if new drivers? Also, what is up with people assuming teachers would have to help clear the ice/snow!? That is ridiculous!

Reid expects the parents will do it. Why not the teachers?

It is not their job! Period, end of story. My kid has a teacher that walks with a cane. Should he go out, cut through the ice and shovel it?! Should that job be only for the younger healthier teachers? Did they go to college for 5+ years to end up being forced to clean up the snow? They didn’t sign up for that job! You signed up to have kids.

It’s not the parents job either, but that didn’t stop Reid from telling them to get out and shovel.

Teachers can go out and break up the ice/snowcrete on sidewalks/at bus stops in their own neighborhoods--if the community spirit moves them--just like accountants, software engineers, grocery cashiers, retail managers, lawyers, realtors, doctors, waitstaff, chefs, dentists, SAHM, landscape company owners, florists and mechanics can.

FCPS's email specified that they would like people to take care of the areas outside of its area of responsibility, which is school grounds. I don't care for Gatehouse either, but let's not misrepresent their communications. They suck enough in reality.

Is everything in FCPS responsibility done? Including public sidewalks leading to schools? I don’t see how Reid can tell parents they should shovel out public bus stops but not expect the FCPS staff who work for her to put in a few hours on a day they’re being paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood is about a 20 minute walk to the high school. The majority of the sidewalks, that line roads to the school have not been plowed. We do not have bus service (that pesky 1 mile radius rule). There is no way the kids can make it to the high school. The sidewalk area next to the main crosswalk to cross a major road, is full of ice. We drove past the high school this morning. The parking spots are cleared, but the sidewalks leading into the school are packed with ice. Do you expect the kids to walk on the aslphalt, along with a bunch if new drivers? Also, what is up with people assuming teachers would have to help clear the ice/snow!? That is ridiculous!

Reid expects the parents will do it. Why not the teachers?

It is not their job! Period, end of story. My kid has a teacher that walks with a cane. Should he go out, cut through the ice and shovel it?! Should that job be only for the younger healthier teachers? Did they go to college for 5+ years to end up being forced to clean up the snow? They didn’t sign up for that job! You signed up to have kids.

It’s not the parents job either, but that didn’t stop Reid from telling them to get out and shovel.

Teachers can go out and break up the ice/snowcrete on sidewalks/at bus stops in their own neighborhoods--if the community spirit moves them--just like accountants, software engineers, grocery cashiers, retail managers, lawyers, realtors, doctors, waitstaff, chefs, dentists, SAHM, landscape company owners, florists and mechanics can.

FCPS's email specified that they would like people to take care of the areas outside of its area of responsibility, which is school grounds. I don't care for Gatehouse either, but let's not misrepresent their communications. They suck enough in reality.

Is everything in FCPS responsibility done? Including public sidewalks leading to schools? I don’t see how Reid can tell parents they should shovel out public bus stops but not expect the FCPS staff who work for her to put in a few hours on a day they’re being paid.

No, in fact, the faculty are professionals who have contracts that outline their roles and duties and “shoveling sidewalks for angry parents” is not among them. They’re not indentured servants who can be assigned any task that dumb people on message boards dream up in frustration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighborhood is about a 20 minute walk to the high school. The majority of the sidewalks, that line roads to the school have not been plowed. We do not have bus service (that pesky 1 mile radius rule). There is no way the kids can make it to the high school. The sidewalk area next to the main crosswalk to cross a major road, is full of ice. We drove past the high school this morning. The parking spots are cleared, but the sidewalks leading into the school are packed with ice. Do you expect the kids to walk on the aslphalt, along with a bunch if new drivers? Also, what is up with people assuming teachers would have to help clear the ice/snow!? That is ridiculous!

Reid expects the parents will do it. Why not the teachers?

It is not their job! Period, end of story. My kid has a teacher that walks with a cane. Should he go out, cut through the ice and shovel it?! Should that job be only for the younger healthier teachers? Did they go to college for 5+ years to end up being forced to clean up the snow? They didn’t sign up for that job! You signed up to have kids.

It’s not the parents job either, but that didn’t stop Reid from telling them to get out and shovel.

Teachers can go out and break up the ice/snowcrete on sidewalks/at bus stops in their own neighborhoods--if the community spirit moves them--just like accountants, software engineers, grocery cashiers, retail managers, lawyers, realtors, doctors, waitstaff, chefs, dentists, SAHM, landscape company owners, florists and mechanics can.

FCPS's email specified that they would like people to take care of the areas outside of its area of responsibility, which is school grounds. I don't care for Gatehouse either, but let's not misrepresent their communications. They suck enough in reality.

Is everything in FCPS responsibility done? Including public sidewalks leading to schools? I don’t see how Reid can tell parents they should shovel out public bus stops but not expect the FCPS staff who work for her to put in a few hours on a day they’re being paid.

No, in fact, the faculty are professionals who have contracts that outline their roles and duties and “shoveling sidewalks for angry parents” is not among them. They’re not indentured servants who can be assigned any task that dumb people on message boards dream up in frustration.

This response exemplifies the problem with FCPS and its defenders.