Schools closed for students Monday Feb 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are not going in. Teleworking

That's not what all the language about carpooling suggests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This county is a joke

100%

[Anonymous]

This is wild. Open the schools.

[Anonymous]

What exactly is the plan here? Waiting for all sidewalks to melt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the county was just willing to devolve school closing authority to the cluster or individual school level, we wouldn't have such a problem. But since they insist that the lowest denominator principle apply to everything, this is what we get.

So, let the upcounty schools open? You think the Whitman and Churchill parents would let that happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Came to see the absolute meltdown. DCUM parents you never disappoint.

I was resigned to a week's closure, but this is complete and utter nonsense. Conditions won't change this week. I've seen entire families walking on ice and snow without any issues, mine included, so if MCPS is hiding behind bad plowing by the county on side streets and accessibility concerns for door-to-door buses, it's a scandal. I've had to drive around these past few days, and I am sure buses could get into most streets. Their routes would take longer, of course and kids might arrive late to school, but tardies could be excused for this week.

If they really want to hang their hat on kids in wheelchairs, then I suggest they pay for emergency plowing of their specific addresses ASAP. Stop hijacking the thousands of families who need to get back to normal.

Don't forget AP exams are in May, and many APs cannot be self-studied. High schoolers need to learn their entire AP curriculum before May - extending the school year is useless for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is the plan here? Waiting for all sidewalks to melt?

There is no plan. That's the problem. Taylor needs to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is the plan here? Waiting for all sidewalks to melt?

There is no plan. That's the problem. Taylor needs to go.

MCPS could have submitted a virtual learning plan to the State like other Maryland school districts did. They didn’t bother.

But maybe if I watch Taylor’s snow day video again I will feel better about my kids not getting an education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This county is a joke

The county is bad, but somehow Taylor and MCPS are even worse. He has no idea what he's doing. Replace him with someone who has worked in a northern state.

And raise taxes in the county by 10% to give him the funding to handle this scenario

They found $800,000 to do background check screenings at the last minute. So clearly they can get their hands on emergency funds when they need it. Why didn't he tap those emergency funds to get additional supplies and/or contractors?

We knew this winter was likely to be more impactful than previous winters since November: https://www.nbcwashington.com/weather/weather-stories/storm-team4s-winter-weather-outlook-is-this-the-year-for-snow-lovers/4012806/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uggh.

I was thinking a 2 hour delay every day next week might happen.

I dont want any more days off, nor do I want to come in for a staff development day or whatever they are throwing together tomorrow.

-a teacher

I think it's a grading and planning day?

We’ve all had grades done since last week. This is ridiculous. Either open for real or don’t make us drive there just to sit and stare.

Unless you are a first year teacher you can telework. This isn’t that dramatic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thomas Taylor should kill himself.

I'm fine with him just resigning in disgrace.

Leaders have to make tough and unpopular decisions sometimes. You don’t know all the variables that went into the decision he made.

We know what he's chosen to tell us. Which is nonsensical given the snow isn't going anywhere. He clearly doesn't have a real plan for reopening. Whether you agree with tomorrow's closure or not, that shouldn't be acceptable to anyone.

He and the staff he has chosen to lead district operations are not qualified to run MCPS. Thomas, Adnan, and Cat should all resign.

Yeah, the lack of even submitting a virtual learning plan for this year is total malpractice on his part. Too scared of all the whiny "noooo, anything with the words Virtual Learning in it must be terrible and I will fight it to the death" folks on here, presumably. But part of being a leader is doing the right thing for kids even when it'll make people mad at you.

(Also, if the damn virtual learning haters would just shut up, that would be nice too. No one is going to force your kids into a whole year of virtual, we promise, so get a grip. Freaking out about a few days of it is absolutely ridiculous.)

Obviously people disagree with you. The district can and should make up school days. Virtual is not a good alternative to actual school days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uggh.

I was thinking a 2 hour delay every day next week might happen.

I dont want any more days off, nor do I want to come in for a staff development day or whatever they are throwing together tomorrow.

-a teacher

I think it's a grading and planning day?

We’ve all had grades done since last week. This is ridiculous. Either open for real or don’t make us drive there just to sit and stare.

Unless you are a first year teacher you can telework. This isn’t that dramatic.

Can they? The announcement said you need to report to work. There wasn't an allowance for telework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:🤣 I’m going to sit back with a blunt while you all watch your own damn kids, again! 😂

Girl most of us on DCUM with kids who need "watching" are sending them to childcare tomorrow. There are also some places doing camps tomorrow. Sorry if that makes your day less joyful, for some reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you adjust a bus route for a kid who has a federally mandated bus pickup at their house? You can’t tell these families to go two blocks down the road to get on their bus

You send a smaller bus or a car to get them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is the plan here? Waiting for all sidewalks to melt?

There is no plan. That's the problem. Taylor needs to go.

MCPS could have submitted a virtual learning plan to the State like other Maryland school districts did. They didn’t bother.

But maybe if I watch Taylor’s snow day video again I will feel better about my kids not getting an education.

Not submitting a virtual no-learning plan might be his only good decision this year.