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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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"

MCPS cared about MCPS staff. What horrible people.

But that doesn’t make sense either. In the 5am email, emergency personnel (the custodial staff who open the buildings) were instructed to report on time (not delayed). There was no snow or ice to clear for the majority of them. They were there and the buildings were being opened on time.

When they were hired, they were hired as essential or know that typically they show up on time. Some days to clear, and on days such as today where in some places there was only rain, they show up on time. Do you now want custodians to babysit your kids on top of their other duties??

No, what are you talking about? What I meant was if they show up on time as they are expected and unlock the door and turn on the heat, then why can’t the 3rd party childcare providers then open up thereafter?

As has been repeated on this board but you and or other posters refuse to try to understand. The 3rd party childcare workers do not live at the school to pop up out of bed and go next door to welcome your little Larlo. And some of the before care workers do not come in on late openings because they work elsewhere. You know to pay their own life's bills.

You are such a troll. So now before care workers are incapable of getting out of bed in order to get to their regular job location at their regular time, due to rain?

[Anonymous]

I agree that nothing about school is great for working families.

But OP’s problem is with the weather call. They can’t have a halfway policy for when they make a marginal delay call. You have to imagine today as if there were a foot of snow. The weather delay/cancel system only has off and on. It can’t flex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that nothing about school is great for working families.

But OP’s problem is with the weather call. They can’t have a halfway policy for when they make a marginal delay call. You have to imagine today as if there were a foot of snow. The weather delay/cancel system only has off and on. It can’t flex.

Literally every time there is a weather closure, they make different decisions about whether offices are open or closed, childcare, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that nothing about school is great for working families.

But OP’s problem is with the weather call. They can’t have a halfway policy for when they make a marginal delay call. You have to imagine today as if there were a foot of snow. The weather delay/cancel system only has off and on. It can’t flex.

Bullshit. They used to make exactly the call OP wants as a matter of course.

[Anonymous]

Guys, there is some snow in the forecast on Friday afternoon. Buckle up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that nothing about school is great for working families.

But OP’s problem is with the weather call. They can’t have a halfway policy for when they make a marginal delay call. You have to imagine today as if there were a foot of snow. The weather delay/cancel system only has off and on. It can’t flex.

Literally every time there is a weather closure, they make different decisions about whether offices are open or closed, childcare, etc.

It actually can flex- and did for years before this change in policy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that nothing about school is great for working families.

But OP’s problem is with the weather call. They can’t have a halfway policy for when they make a marginal delay call. You have to imagine today as if there were a foot of snow. The weather delay/cancel system only has off and on. It can’t flex.

Literally every time there is a weather closure, they make different decisions about whether offices are open or closed, childcare, etc.

These days that is true. In the past they let the providers open on time unless admin offices were closed. That changed for an unknown reason that they are not disclosing.

[Anonymous]

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?

Shut up done have kids it’s not their responsibility it is yours

I’m tired of these stupid posts

[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?

Shut up done have kids it’s not their responsibility it is yours

I’m tired of these stupid posts

You deserve to spend your final years lying in your own feces in an understaffed nursing home

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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"

MCPS cared about MCPS staff. What horrible people.

Cat you already wrote your message. No need for you to reply to comments.

I know it is your stock response to claim that only CO responds positively about MCPS, but I am not CO or Cat, and I think MCPS should care about their staff traveling in inclement weather. Just as I am happy that my employer cares about me traveling in inclement weather.

Most employers opened on time today but the staff that rely on beforecare couldn't make it on time, including MCPS high school teachers.

and you're saying that MCPS teachers should ignore the safety of the lowly maintenance workers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see "Morning childcare is canceled. All-day childcare programs will operate on a two hour delay."

Could it be the staff at morning only programs may have other jobs and their ability to report is hours/time based? I.e. someone who can only work till 9 am, in the event of a delay, it doesn't make sense for them to come in 2 hours late when they have another location to report to? Just curious

That is a perfectly reasonable decision a beforecare provider could make. (Although in the many many years when they were allowed to open on delayed opening days, I don't remember ever hearing about staffing issues like that coming up, FWIW.)

The issue is that MCPS is no longer letting beforecare providers make their own decisions. They need to butt out of things that are not their business. If the child care provider needs to close, they will ,close, but why should MCPS force every single beforecare provider to be claimed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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"

MCPS cared about MCPS staff. What horrible people.

Cat you already wrote your message. No need for you to reply to comments.

I know it is your stock response to claim that only CO responds positively about MCPS, but I am not CO or Cat, and I think MCPS should care about their staff traveling in inclement weather. Just as I am happy that my employer cares about me traveling in inclement weather.

Most employers opened on time today but the staff that rely on beforecare couldn't make it on time, including MCPS high school teachers.

and you're saying that MCPS teachers should ignore the safety of the lowly maintenance workers?

DP. Well the maintenance workers were already out and opening up buildings at 9am, so either it wasn't unsafe for them to be out or MCPS still ignored their safety.

[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?

Shut up done have kids it’s not their responsibility it is yours

I’m tired of these stupid posts

You deserve to spend your final years lying in your own feces in an understaffed nursing home

Can you not come up with something new? Not a good rep for MCPS parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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"

MCPS cared about MCPS staff. What horrible people.

Cat you already wrote your message. No need for you to reply to comments.

I know it is your stock response to claim that only CO responds positively about MCPS, but I am not CO or Cat, and I think MCPS should care about their staff traveling in inclement weather. Just as I am happy that my employer cares about me traveling in inclement weather.

Most employers opened on time today but the staff that rely on beforecare couldn't make it on time, including MCPS high school teachers.

and you're saying that MCPS teachers should ignore the safety of the lowly maintenance workers?

The maintenance workers had to report on time today

[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?

Shut up done have kids it’s not their responsibility it is yours

I’m tired of these stupid posts

You deserve to spend your final years lying in your own feces in an understaffed nursing home

Can you not come up with something new? Not a good rep for MCPS parents.

I hear that you don't like being called out for thinking that making life impossible for parents has zero impact on you, but it does.