What about Tuesday Feb 24?

[Anonymous]

Delay tomorrow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is barely an inch here in Bethesda. Could have had normal school today.

In fairness I beleive there is more elsewhere, but there was no need for "code red."

The laws of physics have changed since the end of January such that it is quite impossible to open offices or child care if a single school bus cannot navigate its route.

The district makes decisions for the entire district, the conditions of your own privileged little corner of the world notwithstanding. Feel free to pay for private if you want decisions made based on just your school (just be sure to choose a private that doesn’t follow the local public school closures). 🤷‍♀️

Funny how just recently on January 30 they allowed child care providers in certain schools, but not all, to open. I didn't realize that on that day that MCPS temporarily became a private school system. Amazing. I will look for the tuition bill in the mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is barely an inch here in Bethesda. Could have had normal school today.

In fairness I beleive there is more elsewhere, but there was no need for "code red."

Based on what? I’m not even upcounty and we got 4 inches. School lots need to be plowed, sidewalks cleared. That was not going to happen before 9 am for all schools. Code red was needed- just maybe not for your neighborhood.

NP and longtime MCPS teacher here, historically this would have been more of a code orange event. Schools closed, admin offices open, childcares open at the discretion of the provider. We have around 3 inches in our neighborohood, unplowed but DH made it to work no problem.

+1
MCPS has changed longstanding practice resulting in thousands of families lacking access to an essential service they are paying for. It is sociopathic.

Are you always this absurdly melodramatic, or only on DCUM?

Which part do you think is melodramatic? In your main is child care not an essential service? Do childcare providers in MCPS schools not serve thousands of families? Is it reasonable to force all of them to close when both the federal and county governments are open?

[Anonymous]

Correct me if I am wrong (I'm sure you all will do so even without asking), but didn't MCPS move central offices out of a large privately maintained office building and into an older facility they are required to clear on their own? Feels like in the past they could open offices because the landlord spent 100k on snow removal contracts to ensure its fully clear. They don't have that anymore so they aren't opening offices because either the budget or manpower isn't allowing for immediate response for the central office lots.

Sure there probably should be something done to address this but it feels much more of a logistical issue/decision than a "we don't want to go to work" issue

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Correct me if I am wrong (I'm sure you all will do so even without asking), but didn't MCPS move central offices out of a large privately maintained office building and into an older facility they are required to clear on their own? Feels like in the past they could open offices because the landlord spent 100k on snow removal contracts to ensure its fully clear. They don't have that anymore so they aren't opening offices because either the budget or manpower isn't allowing for immediate response for the central office lots.

Sure there probably should be something done to address this but it feels much more of a logistical issue/decision than a "we don't want to go to work" issue

In other words you are hypothesizing that MCPS is simply declining to hire contractors to clear the snow from its parking lots, unlike every other commercial property owner in the county?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct me if I am wrong (I'm sure you all will do so even without asking), but didn't MCPS move central offices out of a large privately maintained office building and into an older facility they are required to clear on their own? Feels like in the past they could open offices because the landlord spent 100k on snow removal contracts to ensure its fully clear. They don't have that anymore so they aren't opening offices because either the budget or manpower isn't allowing for immediate response for the central office lots.

Sure there probably should be something done to address this but it feels much more of a logistical issue/decision than a "we don't want to go to work" issue

In other words you are hypothesizing that MCPS is simply declining to hire contractors to clear the snow from its parking lots, unlike every other commercial property owner in the county?

I'm saying they likely are not budgeting for the need to hire contractors, many of which are probably not cutting any sort of good faith deals either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is barely an inch here in Bethesda. Could have had normal school today.

In fairness I beleive there is more elsewhere, but there was no need for "code red."

There’s a decent amount of snow here in Gaithersburg, and have seen that there was even more in Damascus/Clarksburg area. As frustrating as this is, MCPS made the right call with code red today.

I mean, "decent amount" is pretty subjective to begin with, but you're entitled to your opinion. The way MCPS has called this has certainly changed since Taylor came along.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Correct me if I am wrong (I'm sure you all will do so even without asking), but didn't MCPS move central offices out of a large privately maintained office building and into an older facility they are required to clear on their own? Feels like in the past they could open offices because the landlord spent 100k on snow removal contracts to ensure its fully clear. They don't have that anymore so they aren't opening offices because either the budget or manpower isn't allowing for immediate response for the central office lots.

Sure there probably should be something done to address this but it feels much more of a logistical issue/decision than a "we don't want to go to work" issue

In other words you are hypothesizing that MCPS is simply declining to hire contractors to clear the snow from its parking lots, unlike every other commercial property owner in the county?

I'm saying they likely are not budgeting for the need to hire contractors, many of which are probably not cutting any sort of good faith deals either.

Clearing snow from your sidewalks and parking lot is one of the responsibilities that comes with being a property owner. County law requires property owners to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours after the snow stops. But you are right that MCPS has not been very responsible with regards to budgeting for managing and maintaining its properties. That's pretty irresponsible of them and no wonder they are crying about getting sued. That's not because it's unreasonable to open offices, that's because MCPS is incapable of meeting its basic responsibilities as a property owner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is barely an inch here in Bethesda. Could have had normal school today.

I'm in Bethesda, too. We got between 1-2 inches. The pavement is covered. Unless you just moved to this area from New England or the Midwest, you know there's no way this could've been a normal school day. Even when I was in MCPS as a student 30+ years ago schools would've closed with this amount of snow.

DP and I'm not necessarily arguing that schools should have been open, I'm from one of the northern states and have fully accepted that this amount of snow will close the schools here. However, I do think that admin offices should be open and childcares allowed to operate. Adults may have to drive slower on covered pavement but this is hardly a shut-everything-down event.

FWIW, our former daycare used to follow MCPS admin offices for closures - the director says they've done this since they've opened- and just switched to OPM.

[Anonymous]

They need to split the county is this keeps happening. We had snow and my spouse cleaned the driveway, but our roads are totally clear. Clearly, we can't assume the same weather-related decisions should be made for Olney, Silver Spring, Bethesda etc. Stop having the perfect be the enemy of the good and the entire school system being paralyzed for issues in one specific part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is barely an inch here in Bethesda. Could have had normal school today.

In fairness I beleive there is more elsewhere, but there was no need for "code red."

Based on what? I’m not even upcounty and we got 4 inches. School lots need to be plowed, sidewalks cleared. That was not going to happen before 9 am for all schools. Code red was needed- just maybe not for your neighborhood.

I guess it idea that kids could wear boots does not work here? There are many areas with low income families that some how have school in the winter. Our standards are really very high.

Kids are still walking in the dark, and we still have a lot of snow left from the last snow, plus the new snow. We had to dig out our cars and our street is still not driveable.

Same. Come on guys kids are not used to walking in snow here, they might fall and break something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They need to split the county is this keeps happening. We had snow and my spouse cleaned the driveway, but our roads are totally clear. Clearly, we can't assume the same weather-related decisions should be made for Olney, Silver Spring, Bethesda etc. Stop having the perfect be the enemy of the good and the entire school system being paralyzed for issues in one specific part.

Just a few weeks ago MCPS allowed child care providers to open in certain schools but not others. They have the capability to do this at least already but affirmatively choose not to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My feeling is that if adults can reasonably get to work, it should be a code orange so that childcare providers can open. I'm in Silver Spring and was able to get to work without much of a problem. Side streets slushy but major roads clear. I recognize that other parts of the county are worse, but in that case childcare providers in those areas would have the option to stay closed.

+1 they should really tie MCPS office closures to the County or federal government. Both of these are open today with option for unscheduled leave/telework. That's a signal it is reasonable to expect people to try to go to work if they can (but give them the option to stay home if they can't).

Larlo Sr doesn't ride the yellow cheese school bus to get to the FDA in Silver Spring. But Larlo Jr does.

Montgomery County Government is open today with liberal leave and Ride On buses are operating on a normal schedule. Today should absolutely have been Code Orange. Code Orange means schools are closed, buses do not run, and kids do not go to school. But office staff go to work like every other office in the county today.

But who wants to dig out their car and drive on slippery roads if they don't have to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My feeling is that if adults can reasonably get to work, it should be a code orange so that childcare providers can open. I'm in Silver Spring and was able to get to work without much of a problem. Side streets slushy but major roads clear. I recognize that other parts of the county are worse, but in that case childcare providers in those areas would have the option to stay closed.

+1 they should really tie MCPS office closures to the County or federal government. Both of these are open today with option for unscheduled leave/telework. That's a signal it is reasonable to expect people to try to go to work if they can (but give them the option to stay home if they can't).

Larlo Sr doesn't ride the yellow cheese school bus to get to the FDA in Silver Spring. But Larlo Jr does.

Montgomery County Government is open today with liberal leave and Ride On buses are operating on a normal schedule. Today should absolutely have been Code Orange. Code Orange means schools are closed, buses do not run, and kids do not go to school. But office staff go to work like every other office in the county today.

But who wants to dig out their car and drive on slippery roads if they don't have to?

Most people and business owners who don't get paid if they don't work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is barely an inch here in Bethesda. Could have had normal school today.

In fairness I beleive there is more elsewhere, but there was no need for "code red."

Based on what? I’m not even upcounty and we got 4 inches. School lots need to be plowed, sidewalks cleared. That was not going to happen before 9 am for all schools. Code red was needed- just maybe not for your neighborhood.

I guess it idea that kids could wear boots does not work here? There are many areas with low income families that some how have school in the winter. Our standards are really very high.

Kids are still walking in the dark, and we still have a lot of snow left from the last snow, plus the new snow. We had to dig out our cars and our street is still not driveable.

Same. Come on guys kids are not used to walking in snow here, they might fall and break something.

Maybe they could get used to it? I feel like soon we will have to close for rain...I mean not everyone has an umbrella. I am guessing at least half the people on this thread are also going nuts about adding days in June.