Understand school closures but the admin offices closed seems excessive

[Anonymous]

The argument for the school closure is the complexity of the school bus routes, how early high school starts and the ability of buses to navigate side streets. This all makes sense. What doesn't make sense is why MCPS keeps closing the admin offices too. The roads are not bad. In the past it has always been very rare for admin offices to close.

Why the change? I clearing the parking lot a school responsibility and they cut the budget? Is clearing the parking lot a county responsibility and they've de-prioritized the schools? Do MCPS employees just not like going to work?

[Anonymous]

I don't know about the administrative offices. I had a doctor's appointment at 8am this morning, and was impressed that the medical park had all its lots almost completely cleared, and three or four trucks still going.

Then I passed by Wootton high school on my way to work, and saw one lone riding mower with a tiny blade attached, trying to do their whole lot. (He'd done about 10%). If that's what they are using at area schools, it's no wonder school never opens.

[Anonymous]

Child care is probably an issue for the staff. Not every road is cleared so just because your area is does not mean that is true for everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Child care is probably an issue for the staff. Not every road is cleared so just because your area is does not mean that is true for everywhere.

Offices don't close because staff have issues with childcare.

[Anonymous]

I would just think it means that the school doesn't think there is that much need for the admin staff if the students aren't around.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's child care for the staff. If that's the reason, it's weak. (Meaning, ALL employers have employees who have kids with child care issues.)

I do wonder if there's really a third tier of "readiness" for the schools. If the Admin offices are open, then usually the onsite child care is open. If Admin offices are closed, onsite childcare must be closed.

So perhaps it isn't that MCPS is concerned about employees being able to get to work safely, etc... but are concerned about the ability to have the various schools "ready enough" for onsite childcare programs (certain level of plowing, sidewalks, etc.) And likely the County puts school maintenance at a lower priority than streets.

But this year, we've had a higher percentage of admin office closings of total closings than we've had the last 3-4 years. And it's frustrating to those of us who use the onsite child care programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just think it means that the school doesn't think there is that much need for the admin staff if the students aren't around.

That's a bad assumption. Central office is admin staff.

[Anonymous]

Saves $$ by not heating and lighting for a small staff at each school.

[Anonymous]

Even stranger is that Montgomery County gov't isn't closed today but MCPS offices including central are closed. Aren't these offices all in the same location?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even stranger is that Montgomery County gov't isn't closed today but MCPS offices including central are closed. Aren't these offices all in the same location?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even stranger is that Montgomery County gov't isn't closed today but MCPS offices including central are closed. Aren't these offices all in the same location?

Different locations. The county government rarely closes. It makes no sense as the clients who are going to many of the offices are on public transportation and very few actually go in on snow days. They don't value the safety of their employees. They stress customer service. It will take a dead employee or customer to have any change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Child care is probably an issue for the staff. Not every road is cleared so just because your area is does not mean that is true for everywhere.

Offices don't close because staff have issues with childcare.

My workplace definitely doesn't close because of this issue!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even stranger is that Montgomery County gov't isn't closed today but MCPS offices including central are closed. Aren't these offices all in the same location?

Different locations. The county government rarely closes. It makes no sense as the clients who are going to many of the offices are on public transportation and very few actually go in on snow days. They don't value the safety of their employees. They stress customer service. It will take a dead employee or customer to have any change.

Actually, Mont. Co. Gov't has been closed 3 times this year, which is unheard of. (I'm a Mont. Co. Gov't employee.) But normally we do not close.

Mont. Co Gov't has offices ALL OVER the county. Government services are everywhere. The Schools are a separate entity. And they close separately. So do the Courts.

[Anonymous]

Never much thought about it. If the kids aren't in school, I don't need the admin staff so it's no biggie to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just think it means that the school doesn't think there is that much need for the admin staff if the students aren't around.

Central office staff members work on curriculum. They handle safety matters. They train teachers. They handle technology. They oversee building services. They monitoring testing procedures. They developing training plans and materials. They facilitate principals' meetings.

There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Testing, for example, doesn't stop b/c kids aren't in school. Materials are collected. They're checked in. They're reviewed.

At the school level, an administrator's job doesn't "end" on a snow day either. There is always paperwork to handle, meetings to attend at central office, financial management issues to deal with, etc. It's worse for elementary school principals b/c they usually have no one to delegate projects to. So sometimes a day w/o the kids allows them to catch up to some extent.

I love how everyone is an expert on education.