How are DC schools open when VA and MD are closed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More to the point, the vast majority of DC school teachers are driving in from VA and MD (and their kids have no school)

I know this is just based on my personal contact with the DCPS teachers, which is limited, but aren't most teachers child-free? That's a big part of the disconnect some of our teachers have with assigning homework and so on. I don't know why I should feel sorry for a person commuting into a job that pays them 80k+ when they have no kids.

Wusses.

Eh? Did going into the teaching profession put them off having kids?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know this area is not set up for winter weather, but it is getting a bit ridiculous when people want schools closed because snow might start after 2 pm. At worst there will be more traffic, and maybe one or two idiots who end up in a ditch because they drive like the laws of physics don't apply to them. I see trucks putting down salt on side streets. And it's not even freezing.

I think preemptive salt probably is a good idea.

To echo others' answers to OP's question, we're simply less vulnerable to weather-related transportation problems here in the District. First of all, the effects of most storms are usually at least a bit milder because of the usual urban micro climate issues. Plus we have fewer miles of roads that need plowing and less dependence on roads in general. Many of us can accomplish everything we really need to do without entering a vehicle at all. And public transit is usually minimally affected, since our train service is all underground and our buses are able to push through most weather situations. Even for those who do need to drive, they're more likely to park on city streets and can't be stranded in drive-on housing "developments" with too-complacent snow removal arrangements.

I think the Fed. Gov't does give some consideration to suburban transit situations, but it would be ridiculous for DCPS to do so. Sure, at least a significant number of older teachers live outside the city, though I think the current generation of young teachers favors group houses in Columbia Heights/ Mt. Pleasant/ Petworth like other professionals their age. But an occasional increase in weather-related inconvenience is simply one of the drawbacks of suburban living and has to be factored into the larger life equation. Not really DCPS's problem or even DC's problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More to the point, the vast majority of DC school teachers are driving in from VA and MD (and their kids have no school)

I know this is just based on my personal contact with the DCPS teachers, which is limited, but aren't most teachers child-free? That's a big part of the disconnect some of our teachers have with assigning homework and so on. I don't know why I should feel sorry for a person commuting into a job that pays them 80k+ when they have no kids.

Wusses.

Eh? Did going into the teaching profession put them off having kids?!

Very likely.

This is my observation, too. A lot of teachers leave the business when they become mothers themselves. In fact, I did. In my kid's schools and in my own experience, I've known many older teachers with older children and many just-out-of-college teachers, as well as a few dads, but relatively few women with younger children.

[Anonymous]

That's because teaching doesn't pay enough for full-time childcare in many instances. But that's another thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's because teaching doesn't pay enough for full-time childcare in many instances. But that's another thread.

Indeed.

[Anonymous]

I am a FCPS parent and not too happy about school being closed today. The roads were fine when I left my house. But, if they had to do a two hour delay for the am snow, and a 2 hour early release for the pm snow - no point in opening school at all.

I work in DC. It is often warmer here than in the burbs, by enough to make the difference between ice and water.

I respect the people who have to make these decisions - they can't please everyone, so they just have to do what they think is right.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's the confluence of having an icy/sleet morning and predicted snow fall in the afternoon.

We are FCPS and the high school bus stop in my neighborhood picks up at 6:10 am! But my DD's ES doesn't start until 9:15. So if they did a 2 hour delay and then had a 2 hour early release they would have been a transportation logistics nightmare. FCPS has over 130 elementary schools alone and a very complex bussing scheudle. It's a much more complex situation than DCPS.

But I am a fed and it sucks for me. I had to take leave and my boss was not happy. But it was either that or leave my kids home alone! They were saying rain last night and I think the sleet/ice was a bit of a surprise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More to the point, the vast majority of DC school teachers are driving in from VA and MD (and their kids have no school)

And let's not forget all the MD residents who enroll their kids in DCPS. How are they supposed to get their kids to school???

[Anonymous]

Typical DC government. Always screwing up. It's actually funny that their schools are open, since they're kids don't learn anything anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC schools shouldn't be closed today. It's wet and slushy out, not piled with snow and ice. Maybe you should ask why are MD and VA schools closed?

Great point!

I'm in Germantown and we have ice, snow, and sleet. It's not raining here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Typical DC government. Always screwing up. It's actually funny that their schools are open, since they're kids don't learn anything anyway.

How exactly did they screw up? It looks like they made the right call. It's 2 PM and there's no accumulation.

As for "they're kids", you could at least spell correctly when you criticize someone else's education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More to the point, the vast majority of DC school teachers are driving in from VA and MD (and their kids have no school)

And let's not forget all the MD residents who enroll their kids in DCPS. How are they supposed to get their kids to school???

Don't. get. me. stahhhted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Typical DC government. Always screwing up. It's actually funny that their schools are open, since they're kids don't learn anything anyway.

How exactly did they screw up? It looks like they made the right call. It's 2 PM and there's no accumulation.

As for "they're kids", you could at least spell correctly when you criticize someone else's education.

"they're".

Moron.

[Anonymous]

Is anyone getting snow yet in the DC area?

[Anonymous]

the second round of a winter storm expected to bring between 6 and 10 inches of snow to the D.C. area will create a potentially dangerous evening rush as weather conditions deteriorate.