Melanie Meren's FB post about the calendar
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Anonymous
School will be closed on the SP day, Nov 3 because it is Election Day and schools are used as a polling place. Moving the Nov 2 TW to Nov 11 or Nov 22 means students would be in school Monday, off Tuesday, then back Wed-Thurs. It’s fine the way it is. |
Anonymous
It could be fine. Or you could save every household a couple hundred dollars by moving it to November 11. |
Anonymous
I'm glad to see you say that, because the state code calls it Columbus Day.
Code of Virginia Code - Chapter 33. State Holidays and Other Special Days https://share.google/8p5AT5wimA2TvoYGN |
Anonymous
Why is it fine? Outside the normal vacations, every optional day off of school should be waited against the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars to parents. |
Anonymous
Fairfax County does not list Indigenous People/Columbus/Yorktown Day as a holiday. I believe that’s why it can be classified as a SP day while county holidays are all listed as SH. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/Calendar/showCalendar.aspx |
Anonymous
+ 1 million |
Anonymous
You don't save EVERY household a couple hundred dollars. Lets say little Johnny doesn't like riding the bus, so the parents drive them to school. Mom & Dad usually have grandma watch little johnny on TW/SP days, but now little Johnny needs to go to school. This will actually cost the parents money in gas driving them to school. Yes, that is a wild scenario. Yes, Johnny could take the bus. Yes, Johnny could carpool. But to say that EVERY household would save money is inaccurate. Just because it fits your life, doesn't mean it fits everyone else's. |
Anonymous
Shhhh don't make it make sense for the geriatrics. They can't handle the thought of not honoring Columbus. |
Anonymous
You’re right, it saves most working families a couple hundred dollars. Not every. There is also of course the harm it avoids when little Johnny’s parents have to work, can’t afford care, and he stays home alone. |
Anonymous
For most, you’re only displacing the childcare burden to June 17, because school would end a day earlier, and you would still be signing up for one off care rather than a full week of camp. |
Anonymous
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Wow. I can't believe I just read all of this. This is... a lot.
The idea that the school board/school system is somehow responsible for easing the financial burden of child care costs (or the costs of ANYTHING outside of school is ludicrous. Your child is your financial responsibility. It's called being a parent. The fact that needs to be explained to people who are currently parents is incredibly sad. For what it's worth, the Virginia Department of Education has a Child Care Subsidy Program. Explain your circumstance and try applying. Here is the link for those who actually need it: https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/families/paying-for-child-care I truly feel bad for the people struggling, but help/solutions are out there beyond hoping that the schoolboard will change the schedule on the sole basis that it financially helps families. Hope isn't a plan. But YOU do need a plan on how to financially be responsible for YOUR child. The calendar is released well in advance. There are numerous changes YOU can make as a parent for YOUR child to better be able to handle the financial burden of increased childcare needs besides hoping for someone else to help YOU afford YOUR child. Own? Move to a smaller house with less of a mortgage. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs. Rent? Move to a cheaper apartment. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs. Have a car payment? Sell it and buy a cheaper car. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs. Car paid off? Sell it and buy a used older car. Use the money you made off of your car sale to offset the increased childcare costs. Eat at home? Shop at cheaper grocery stores and buy in bulk. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs. Eat out? Eat out a few times less per month. Use the savings to offset the increased childcare costs. These are just a few of MANY solutions/sacrifices that YOU as a parent should be willing to make to financially support YOUR child. Are these difficult changes? Yes, and I'm sure there will be lots of arguments why they're preposterous ideas to some and how they shouldn't have to make them. But again, it's YOUR child and YOU should be willing to do anything to be able to financially provide the best YOU can. The hard truth is, if it was that important of an issue or was really hurting your pockets that much, you would. But it's easier to anonymously complain on the internet, send some emails to your school board politicians, and rely on hope. |
Anonymous
+1000 People keep saying the schoolboard could save them hundreds/thousands of dollars a year, yet they have the ability to do that themselves. They just don't want to change their own lifestyles bad enough. |
Anonymous
Members of the school board seemed to disagree with you. Why do you think that is? |
Anonymous
You sound a bit like the Trump appointed who said that people should be happy to pay tariffs and just get fewer toys for their children. As though not having tariffs wasn’t a very obvious and available option. Changes to the calendar are obvious and available. |
Anonymous
| There is no requirement to make public school as expensive as possible. There is however, virtue in publicly elected officials showing concern and compassion for people in their community. Yes that includes kitchen table issues. |