What schools still aren’t plowed?

[Anonymous]

The threads the last few days have made me really happy I got out of teaching last year. Nothing like being told how lazy you are when you give these kids everything you have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm appreciative that they were slow to reopen for the reasons described in this thread. But more time out of school just isn't tenable. It's going to be below zero all week. The problems present now will also be there a week from now.

I think they should institute some flexibility. For instance, starting 2 hours late but allowing drop off from normal start time until the delayed start time to reduce traffic. Maybe even putting busses on a different schedule spanning that full window (though this may be difficult given that they haven't telegraphed it ahead of time).

I wonder if they could enlist MOCO law enforcement to do traffic control for the morning and afternoon hours?

Ideally, MCPS will use this opportunity to come up with an emergency plan for severe weather in the coming year-- for instance, building it into some employees' contracts that on certain emergency days they are assigned crossing guard duty or bus stop duty to keep kids safe in the morning before school.

This is the most reasonable comment I've come across in the last few days. CREATIVE thinking is what's going to help resolve this mess. I encourage you to email Dr. Taylor and whomever else to try to give them some ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm appreciative that they were slow to reopen for the reasons described in this thread. But more time out of school just isn't tenable. It's going to be below zero all week. The problems present now will also be there a week from now.

I think they should institute some flexibility. For instance, starting 2 hours late but allowing drop off from normal start time until the delayed start time to reduce traffic. Maybe even putting busses on a different schedule spanning that full window (though this may be difficult given that they haven't telegraphed it ahead of time).

I wonder if they could enlist MOCO law enforcement to do traffic control for the morning and afternoon hours?

Ideally, MCPS will use this opportunity to come up with an emergency plan for severe weather in the coming year-- for instance, building it into some employees' contracts that on certain emergency days they are assigned crossing guard duty or bus stop duty to keep kids safe in the morning before school.

This is the most reasonable comment I've come across in the last few days. CREATIVE thinking is what's going to help resolve this mess. I encourage you to email Dr. Taylor and whomever else to try to give them some ideas.

DP. I don’t think adding EVEN MORE to teachers’ contracts will be well received. Also, those same teachers you want to ask even MORE of also have to get their own children to schools and have to commute themselves over icy streets. They’ll all call out when they have to report for snow duty two hours before their own kids’ schools open.

And law enforcement? MCPS is between 25-30% understaffed and can’t fill existing shifts. They can’t divert the few officers they have from calls to direct traffic. They aren’t as available as the PP thinks they are.

Who will staff the school for two hours during extended drop-off? The same teachers who were just diverted to traffic duty?

Yes, we need creative thinking. But the suggestions have to be realistic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm appreciative that they were slow to reopen for the reasons described in this thread. But more time out of school just isn't tenable. It's going to be below zero all week. The problems present now will also be there a week from now.

I think they should institute some flexibility. For instance, starting 2 hours late but allowing drop off from normal start time until the delayed start time to reduce traffic. Maybe even putting busses on a different schedule spanning that full window (though this may be difficult given that they haven't telegraphed it ahead of time).

I wonder if they could enlist MOCO law enforcement to do traffic control for the morning and afternoon hours?

Ideally, MCPS will use this opportunity to come up with an emergency plan for severe weather in the coming year-- for instance, building it into some employees' contracts that on certain emergency days they are assigned crossing guard duty or bus stop duty to keep kids safe in the morning before school.

Having a 2 hour delay means teachers don’t have to come in at regular time. If kids are allowed to be dropped off at regular time, the county will have to pay staff overtime to watch those students

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rock Creek Forest

They had crews plowing when I drove by at around 2pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm appreciative that they were slow to reopen for the reasons described in this thread. But more time out of school just isn't tenable. It's going to be below zero all week. The problems present now will also be there a week from now.

I think they should institute some flexibility. For instance, starting 2 hours late but allowing drop off from normal start time until the delayed start time to reduce traffic. Maybe even putting busses on a different schedule spanning that full window (though this may be difficult given that they haven't telegraphed it ahead of time).

I wonder if they could enlist MOCO law enforcement to do traffic control for the morning and afternoon hours?

Ideally, MCPS will use this opportunity to come up with an emergency plan for severe weather in the coming year-- for instance, building it into some employees' contracts that on certain emergency days they are assigned crossing guard duty or bus stop duty to keep kids safe in the morning before school.

Having a 2 hour delay means teachers don’t have to come in at regular time. If kids are allowed to be dropped off at regular time, the county will have to pay staff overtime to watch those students

None of those ideas are actually good. Creative, maybe...but not feasible at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm appreciative that they were slow to reopen for the reasons described in this thread. But more time out of school just isn't tenable. It's going to be below zero all week. The problems present now will also be there a week from now.

I think they should institute some flexibility. For instance, starting 2 hours late but allowing drop off from normal start time until the delayed start time to reduce traffic. Maybe even putting busses on a different schedule spanning that full window (though this may be difficult given that they haven't telegraphed it ahead of time).

I wonder if they could enlist MOCO law enforcement to do traffic control for the morning and afternoon hours?

Ideally, MCPS will use this opportunity to come up with an emergency plan for severe weather in the coming year-- for instance, building it into some employees' contracts that on certain emergency days they are assigned crossing guard duty or bus stop duty to keep kids safe in the morning before school.

Having a 2 hour delay means teachers don’t have to come in at regular time. If kids are allowed to be dropped off at regular time, the county will have to pay staff overtime to watch those students

None of those ideas are actually good. Creative, maybe...but not feasible at all.

Of course they are feasible. There are lots of options. MCPS and many other school systems have made adjustments in the past as emergencies required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The sidewalk off darnestown road and quince orchard road to Quince Orchard HS were not plowed at all yesterday. It is quite dangerous for kids/teens to walk on the road to get to school.

Then walk on the snow. I'm sure there are plenty of footsteps to follow.

Snow is manageable. Being pushed into traffic because sidewalks weren’t plowed is not. The concern is that unplowed sidewalks force students into the roadway. That’s why sidewalks are supposed to be cleared.

They don't force them onto the road. They can walk on sidewalks that haven't been cleared. They can walk on lawns.

It’s hilarious that you think homeowners will allow that. Also, my school is a neighborhood that is all fenced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm appreciative that they were slow to reopen for the reasons described in this thread. But more time out of school just isn't tenable. It's going to be below zero all week. The problems present now will also be there a week from now.

I think they should institute some flexibility. For instance, starting 2 hours late but allowing drop off from normal start time until the delayed start time to reduce traffic. Maybe even putting busses on a different schedule spanning that full window (though this may be difficult given that they haven't telegraphed it ahead of time).

I wonder if they could enlist MOCO law enforcement to do traffic control for the morning and afternoon hours?

Ideally, MCPS will use this opportunity to come up with an emergency plan for severe weather in the coming year-- for instance, building it into some employees' contracts that on certain emergency days they are assigned crossing guard duty or bus stop duty to keep kids safe in the morning before school.

Having a 2 hour delay means teachers don’t have to come in at regular time. If kids are allowed to be dropped off at regular time, the county will have to pay staff overtime to watch those students

What staff do you think will be there two hours early? Building services?

[Anonymous]

This is like during post pandemic or when the pandemic was ongoing and schools reopened and MCPS was sending out covid case numbers at each school but the report wasn't getting updated accurately or regularly and people were asking how many cases at that school and at that high school. What a mess. Close until the blocks of freezing rain have melted on pavements. Reopen on Wed. Announce closure Mon and Tues with childcare delayed opening. Announce early so families can plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The threads the last few days have made me really happy I got out of teaching last year. Nothing like being told how lazy you are when you give these kids everything you have.

Amen to that. From a current MCPS teacher.

We only take care of and love on and look out for THE most important thing in most people's lives (their children) and get shit on at every turn.

Storytime...we had a beloved teacher who had been a part of the school community for many years pass away a few years ago. Want to know how many parents/students/school community showed up at her funeral to pay their respects? 2 parents. That's it.

My whole view of my job changed after that.

[Anonymous]

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The threads the last few days have made me really happy I got out of teaching last year. Nothing like being told how lazy you are when you give these kids everything you have.

Also...where did you end up going?? What career field? Was it a difficult switch?

[Anonymous]

Dogwood

[Anonymous]

No school monday because there are so many sidewalks that need to be plowed