Early Release tomorrow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s honestly exhausting watching the same handful of people complain about every single decision FCPS makes, as if there’s some magical option that would satisfy them. I’m sorry to break it to you, but FCPS does not own a crystal ball. They can’t predict the exact path of a storm, the timing of a tornado warning, or the minute‑by‑minute whims of Virginia weather. They make the best decisions they can with the information they have at the time—just like every other school system in the country.

And let’s be real:
If FCPS hadn’t sent students home early and something catastrophic had happened—say a tornado actually touched down—you would be the very first people online screaming about negligence, incompetence, and “putting children in danger.” The outrage would be deafening.

So which is it?

Do you want them to act with caution, or do you want them to gamble with kids’ safety so you don’t have to adjust your afternoon schedule?

Because from the outside, it looks like some folks simply enjoy being angry. No matter what FCPS does—close, open, delay, dismiss early, hold steady—you find a way to twist it into a personal affront. That’s not civic engagement. That’s not advocacy. That’s just chronic dissatisfaction dressed up as concern.

If you’re genuinely worried about student safety, great—join the conversation in good faith. But if your only contribution is perpetual outrage, maybe take a step back and ask yourself why you’re so committed to being unhappy and being such a malcontent. There are healthier, more productive ways to engage with your community than tearing down every decision made by people who are trying to keep 180,000 students safe.

I think what some are trying to point out is that FCPS went with the least safe option. The safest option would have been to outright close. The next option would have been a delayed closing. The least safe option was to pick an operational breaking point to send kids off on buses. The tornado warning in Loudoun nearly overlapped with when FCPS was starting to dismiss students.

Luckily it was uneventful and now we can freely whine about what a waste of time it was.

Yet again, FCPS cannot predict the future. How on Earth could they have known that the tornado warning in Loudoun would be precisely at the time FCPS middle schools were dismissed? There was no way to know that the times would overlap.

Aren't you grateful it turned out to be uneventful?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s honestly exhausting watching the same handful of people complain about every single decision FCPS makes, as if there’s some magical option that would satisfy them. I’m sorry to break it to you, but FCPS does not own a crystal ball. They can’t predict the exact path of a storm, the timing of a tornado warning, or the minute‑by‑minute whims of Virginia weather. They make the best decisions they can with the information they have at the time—just like every other school system in the country.

And let’s be real:
If FCPS hadn’t sent students home early and something catastrophic had happened—say a tornado actually touched down—you would be the very first people online screaming about negligence, incompetence, and “putting children in danger.” The outrage would be deafening.

So which is it?

Do you want them to act with caution, or do you want them to gamble with kids’ safety so you don’t have to adjust your afternoon schedule?

Because from the outside, it looks like some folks simply enjoy being angry. No matter what FCPS does—close, open, delay, dismiss early, hold steady—you find a way to twist it into a personal affront. That’s not civic engagement. That’s not advocacy. That’s just chronic dissatisfaction dressed up as concern.

If you’re genuinely worried about student safety, great—join the conversation in good faith. But if your only contribution is perpetual outrage, maybe take a step back and ask yourself why you’re so committed to being unhappy and being such a malcontent. There are healthier, more productive ways to engage with your community than tearing down every decision made by people who are trying to keep 180,000 students safe.

I think what some are trying to point out is that FCPS went with the least safe option. The safest option would have been to outright close. The next option would have been a delayed closing. The least safe option was to pick an operational breaking point to send kids off on buses. The tornado warning in Loudoun nearly overlapped with when FCPS was starting to dismiss students.

Luckily it was uneventful and now we can freely whine about what a waste of time it was.

Yet again, FCPS cannot predict the future. How on Earth could they have known that the tornado warning in Loudoun would be precisely at the time FCPS middle schools were dismissed? There was no way to know that the times would overlap.

Aren't you grateful it turned out to be uneventful?

The safest place for FCPS students to be for the weather that was predicted was in schools. FCPS made the foolish choice to have them in busses, sidewalks, and roads during what was predicted to be a hazardous time. This wasn’t a “we were so careful count your blessings” situation, it was a mistake. They need to own it.

[Anonymous]

My weather app is showing ice and snow late evening. Like a huge band of both.

Haven'theard the weather forecasters talk about this. Too warm to stick? Temps are plummeting to 34..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s honestly exhausting watching the same handful of people complain about every single decision FCPS makes, as if there’s some magical option that would satisfy them. I’m sorry to break it to you, but FCPS does not own a crystal ball. They can’t predict the exact path of a storm, the timing of a tornado warning, or the minute‑by‑minute whims of Virginia weather. They make the best decisions they can with the information they have at the time—just like every other school system in the country.

And let’s be real:
If FCPS hadn’t sent students home early and something catastrophic had happened—say a tornado actually touched down—you would be the very first people online screaming about negligence, incompetence, and “putting children in danger.” The outrage would be deafening.

So which is it?

Do you want them to act with caution, or do you want them to gamble with kids’ safety so you don’t have to adjust your afternoon schedule?

Because from the outside, it looks like some folks simply enjoy being angry. No matter what FCPS does—close, open, delay, dismiss early, hold steady—you find a way to twist it into a personal affront. That’s not civic engagement. That’s not advocacy. That’s just chronic dissatisfaction dressed up as concern.

If you’re genuinely worried about student safety, great—join the conversation in good faith. But if your only contribution is perpetual outrage, maybe take a step back and ask yourself why you’re so committed to being unhappy and being such a malcontent. There are healthier, more productive ways to engage with your community than tearing down every decision made by people who are trying to keep 180,000 students safe.

No I think you’re wrong. The perennial complaint is that FCPS always closes. Always. So yes they’re mad at every bad call because they never EVER err on the side of keeping students in classrooms.

when has FCPS closed for weather this year that every other school in the dmv has also not closed?? There was one delay a few weeks ago where some other smaller districts did not delay. Do not use LCPS as the example today. Kids were in lockdown tornado positions so that’s definitely not better. Move to a private school that doesn’t follow a public schools weather decisions if you are that unhappy. The sheer size of population and square miles that FCPS has to make decisions for is daunting. If they break the county in half then they would have to get rid of many inter county programs… it’s has been discussed for as long as I’ve had kids in the system(oldest is 20). The religious holiday calendar is an issue as of the last few years in several public school system in this area. I’m hoping this will change.

[Anonymous]

FCPS dismissed classes today at the worst part of the storm. Now is my ES regular dismissal time and not a storm in sight. Great job again. My kid is off school for the next 4 Fridays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s honestly exhausting watching the same handful of people complain about every single decision FCPS makes, as if there’s some magical option that would satisfy them. I’m sorry to break it to you, but FCPS does not own a crystal ball. They can’t predict the exact path of a storm, the timing of a tornado warning, or the minute‑by‑minute whims of Virginia weather. They make the best decisions they can with the information they have at the time—just like every other school system in the country.

And let’s be real:
If FCPS hadn’t sent students home early and something catastrophic had happened—say a tornado actually touched down—you would be the very first people online screaming about negligence, incompetence, and “putting children in danger.” The outrage would be deafening.

So which is it?

Do you want them to act with caution, or do you want them to gamble with kids’ safety so you don’t have to adjust your afternoon schedule?

Because from the outside, it looks like some folks simply enjoy being angry. No matter what FCPS does—close, open, delay, dismiss early, hold steady—you find a way to twist it into a personal affront. That’s not civic engagement. That’s not advocacy. That’s just chronic dissatisfaction dressed up as concern.

If you’re genuinely worried about student safety, great—join the conversation in good faith. But if your only contribution is perpetual outrage, maybe take a step back and ask yourself why you’re so committed to being unhappy and being such a malcontent. There are healthier, more productive ways to engage with your community than tearing down every decision made by people who are trying to keep 180,000 students safe.

No I think you’re wrong. The perennial complaint is that FCPS always closes. Always. So yes they’re mad at every bad call because they never EVER err on the side of keeping students in classrooms.

when has FCPS closed for weather this year that every other school in the dmv has also not closed?? There was one delay a few weeks ago where some other smaller districts did not delay. Do not use LCPS as the example today. Kids were in lockdown tornado positions so that’s definitely not better. Move to a private school that doesn’t follow a public schools weather decisions if you are that unhappy. The sheer size of population and square miles that FCPS has to make decisions for is daunting. If they break the county in half then they would have to get rid of many inter county programs… it’s has been discussed for as long as I’ve had kids in the system(oldest is 20). The religious holiday calendar is an issue as of the last few years in several public school system in this area. I’m hoping this will change.

It absolutely is better. I would rather my child was in lockdown position in a hallway than on the bus. On the sidewalk. Under a falling tree. That is the entire purpose of tornado drills and it is why — by code — schools are meant to resist storms. LCPS made the right call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people would have more goodwill to FFX schools if kids didn't have yet another day off on Friday and then whatever is going on at Memorial Day

Right on!!!!!!!!!! And also the days off after SB.

Yes! The 3 day week right after spring break is ridiculous along with the 2 day week after Memorial Day, just 2 weeks before the end of the school year. These kids never go to school!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s honestly exhausting watching the same handful of people complain about every single decision FCPS makes, as if there’s some magical option that would satisfy them. I’m sorry to break it to you, but FCPS does not own a crystal ball. They can’t predict the exact path of a storm, the timing of a tornado warning, or the minute‑by‑minute whims of Virginia weather. They make the best decisions they can with the information they have at the time—just like every other school system in the country.

And let’s be real:
If FCPS hadn’t sent students home early and something catastrophic had happened—say a tornado actually touched down—you would be the very first people online screaming about negligence, incompetence, and “putting children in danger.” The outrage would be deafening.

So which is it?

Do you want them to act with caution, or do you want them to gamble with kids’ safety so you don’t have to adjust your afternoon schedule?

Because from the outside, it looks like some folks simply enjoy being angry. No matter what FCPS does—close, open, delay, dismiss early, hold steady—you find a way to twist it into a personal affront. That’s not civic engagement. That’s not advocacy. That’s just chronic dissatisfaction dressed up as concern.

If you’re genuinely worried about student safety, great—join the conversation in good faith. But if your only contribution is perpetual outrage, maybe take a step back and ask yourself why you’re so committed to being unhappy and being such a malcontent. There are healthier, more productive ways to engage with your community than tearing down every decision made by people who are trying to keep 180,000 students safe.

No I think you’re wrong. The perennial complaint is that FCPS always closes. Always. So yes they’re mad at every bad call because they never EVER err on the side of keeping students in classrooms.

when has FCPS closed for weather this year that every other school in the dmv has also not closed?? There was one delay a few weeks ago where some other smaller districts did not delay. Do not use LCPS as the example today. Kids were in lockdown tornado positions so that’s definitely not better. Move to a private school that doesn’t follow a public schools weather decisions if you are that unhappy. The sheer size of population and square miles that FCPS has to make decisions for is daunting. If they break the county in half then they would have to get rid of many inter county programs… it’s has been discussed for as long as I’ve had kids in the system(oldest is 20). The religious holiday calendar is an issue as of the last few years in several public school system in this area. I’m hoping this will change.

It absolutely is better. I would rather my child was in lockdown position in a hallway than on the bus. On the sidewalk. Under a falling tree. That is the entire purpose of tornado drills and it is why — by code — schools are meant to resist storms. LCPS made the right call.

bottom line all districts had to predict and make a call from the information they were given. The bad weather hit a 2pm. Our ES is one of the latest starts at 9:20(normal start time)dismissed at 1:05 today I’m not sure who was still on a bus but that must have been hard on both student and parent happy there have not been and reports of accidents.

[Anonymous]

I’m a Loudoun teacher and the day was “fine” in the sense we had no storm damage but it was a bad day generally and not worth all the stress. Tons of absent kids and staff, kids being dismissed all day by parent pickup, we spent 45 minutes in the hall for a tornado warning which disrupted all the kids taking the writing SOL and led to testing discrepancies. Some kids were freaking out about a tornado, nobody could focus afterward. It was a really bad really stressful day that instructionally was worthless. And that was after navigating major multiple plans for my kids about how they’d get home in the event of a regular dismissal or emergency early dismissal. I’m wiped getting home from that day. I can’t see how it was better than just having an early release and being able to plan for that and not start testing that got interrupted .

[Anonymous]

Has the SB acknowledged how terrible this year been for students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think people would have more goodwill to FFX schools if kids didn't have yet another day off on Friday and then whatever is going on at Memorial Day

Right on!!!!!!!!!! And also the days off after SB.

Yes! The 3 day week right after spring break is ridiculous along with the 2 day week after Memorial Day, just 2 weeks before the end of the school year. These kids never go to school!

It's insane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Loudoun teacher and the day was “fine” in the sense we had no storm damage but it was a bad day generally and not worth all the stress. Tons of absent kids and staff, kids being dismissed all day by parent pickup, we spent 45 minutes in the hall for a tornado warning which disrupted all the kids taking the writing SOL and led to testing discrepancies. Some kids were freaking out about a tornado, nobody could focus afterward. It was a really bad really stressful day that instructionally was worthless. And that was after navigating major multiple plans for my kids about how they’d get home in the event of a regular dismissal or emergency early dismissal. I’m wiped getting home from that day. I can’t see how it was better than just having an early release and being able to plan for that and not start testing that got interrupted .

LCPS parents in my workplace were thrilled with the call. Hopefully they are in touch with leadership to express their appreciation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s honestly exhausting watching the same handful of people complain about every single decision FCPS makes, as if there’s some magical option that would satisfy them. I’m sorry to break it to you, but FCPS does not own a crystal ball. They can’t predict the exact path of a storm, the timing of a tornado warning, or the minute‑by‑minute whims of Virginia weather. They make the best decisions they can with the information they have at the time—just like every other school system in the country.

And let’s be real:
If FCPS hadn’t sent students home early and something catastrophic had happened—say a tornado actually touched down—you would be the very first people online screaming about negligence, incompetence, and “putting children in danger.” The outrage would be deafening.

So which is it?

Do you want them to act with caution, or do you want them to gamble with kids’ safety so you don’t have to adjust your afternoon schedule?

Because from the outside, it looks like some folks simply enjoy being angry. No matter what FCPS does—close, open, delay, dismiss early, hold steady—you find a way to twist it into a personal affront. That’s not civic engagement. That’s not advocacy. That’s just chronic dissatisfaction dressed up as concern.

If you’re genuinely worried about student safety, great—join the conversation in good faith. But if your only contribution is perpetual outrage, maybe take a step back and ask yourself why you’re so committed to being unhappy and being such a malcontent. There are healthier, more productive ways to engage with your community than tearing down every decision made by people who are trying to keep 180,000 students safe.

No I think you’re wrong. The perennial complaint is that FCPS always closes. Always. So yes they’re mad at every bad call because they never EVER err on the side of keeping students in classrooms.

when has FCPS closed for weather this year that every other school in the dmv has also not closed?? There was one delay a few weeks ago where some other smaller districts did not delay. Do not use LCPS as the example today. Kids were in lockdown tornado positions so that’s definitely not better. Move to a private school that doesn’t follow a public schools weather decisions if you are that unhappy. The sheer size of population and square miles that FCPS has to make decisions for is daunting. If they break the county in half then they would have to get rid of many inter county programs… it’s has been discussed for as long as I’ve had kids in the system(oldest is 20). The religious holiday calendar is an issue as of the last few years in several public school system in this area. I’m hoping this will change.

It absolutely is better. I would rather my child was in lockdown position in a hallway than on the bus. On the sidewalk. Under a falling tree. That is the entire purpose of tornado drills and it is why — by code — schools are meant to resist storms. LCPS made the right call.

bottom line all districts had to predict and make a call from the information they were given. The bad weather hit a 2pm. Our ES is one of the latest starts at 9:20(normal start time)dismissed at 1:05 today I’m not sure who was still on a bus but that must have been hard on both student and parent happy there have not been and reports of accidents.

Yes, and even last night, it was clear that the safest place for students to be this early afternoon would’ve been in schools. Canceling after school activities would have been sufficient. FCPS was not making the call in the interest of student safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Loudoun teacher and the day was “fine” in the sense we had no storm damage but it was a bad day generally and not worth all the stress. Tons of absent kids and staff, kids being dismissed all day by parent pickup, we spent 45 minutes in the hall for a tornado warning which disrupted all the kids taking the writing SOL and led to testing discrepancies. Some kids were freaking out about a tornado, nobody could focus afterward. It was a really bad really stressful day that instructionally was worthless. And that was after navigating major multiple plans for my kids about how they’d get home in the event of a regular dismissal or emergency early dismissal. I’m wiped getting home from that day. I can’t see how it was better than just having an early release and being able to plan for that and not start testing that got interrupted .

LCPS parents in my workplace were thrilled with the call. Hopefully they are in touch with leadership to express their appreciation.

Ok?

[Anonymous]

Way to go.
Please wait until after 5PM when the late start elementary students would be getting off the bus before you start bragging.

It's after 5 PM now. Told you so. It was a nothingburger.