Early Release tomorrow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please point me towards the FCPS plan for tornados or 80 mph winds during the school day?

Sure. It’s right here in this regulation:
https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/DQTUUM7DC4A0/$file/R8625.pdf

Thank you. My child has to ride the school bus home, so it was good to read about the bus policy.

For other parents, just so you know, school buses do not operate normally during a tornado warning or severe weather emergency. If buses have not yet left the school, their departure is delayed until conditions are safe. If buses are already transporting students when severe weather develops, drivers may be directed to return to the nearest school or safe building to shelter students. Students are kept inside buildings rather than traveling because sheltering in a structure is safer than being on a bus during a tornado-producing storm. Normal bus routes resume only after the warning has ended and officials determine it is safe.

[Anonymous]

Saw this on Twitter by a local metrologlist. I would love to get an email from FCPS addressing all of his bullet points.

Tweet:
DMV school districts – as we said Thursday/Friday, it's imperative you have a severe weather plan and don't try to "wing it." Nobody has any excuse to be caught with their pants down.

Ask yourselves the following:
– If a tornado warning is issued, where will the kiddos shelter?
– If kiddos are on the bus, do the bus drivers know what to do?
– How will bus drivers be notified of warnings?
– Will dismissal occur if storms are approaching? Will dismissal be delayed?
– Have parents been clued in about the approaching severe weather?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS just announced they are monitoring for a likely early release.

Where?

It's on their website https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/

Sunday Important Message: Watching the Weather!

School will open On-Time for Monday March 16 with an announcement about any updates to the school day Monday morning

We are watching the weather and we are expecting a strong storm on Monday, March 16, which could bring severe thunderstorms, high winds, hail and the potential for tornadoes. Current forecasts indicate the strongest elements of the storm may move through our area between approximately 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., just as many of our students typically begin outdoor after-school activities and athletic practices. We will continue to monitor the forecast closely and will share any updates on Monday morning.

We encourage families to take a few moments to plan ahead for tomorrow’s weather:

Plan for bus stops: Consider how students will safely get from the bus stop to home if heavy rain or stronger elements of the storm develops.
Map a safe route home: Students who walk should think ahead about the safest route and places to shelter if weather conditions worsen.
Student drivers should use extra caution or seek alternative transport: Wet roads, strong winds and reduced visibility can make driving conditions more difficult, especially for inexperienced drivers

This is not accurate timing. Per Capital Weather game: "The storms’ timing still needs to be pinned down, but they are most probable between about 1 and 7 p.m. Monday, when an organized and violent squall line is expected to pass. That said, widely scattered showers and storms, some of which could be intense, are possible before this window, as early as 9 or 10 a.m"

School districts appear to be engaged in wishful thinking that it will be 3:00 - 7:00 pm. None of the forecasts are showing that it will wait until 3:00.

Capital Weather Gang and some of the other local weather people are talking about the risk of tornados in the late morning. These are called "squall-line tornadoes" - they are weaker and short-lived, but can be very deadly because they pop up quickly and with no warning. Because the storm line moves quickly, the tornado can form and hit a location extremely fast. They are also obscured by rain, so they are really hard to see.

Sounds like it would be almost impossible for a bus driver to have warning or really any time to even react to a squall-line tornado.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They won’t do call early dismissal but regardless instruction will stop early. Here is how the end of the day goes in elementary if there is a big storm around dismissal:

2:30-3:25 dark clouds on the radar. The early kiss and ride parents and risk adverse parents will say f- that and come in to get “just their child”. Repeat 5-6 times per classroom spread out just enough that by the time you get the kids settled and ready to listen, the speaker will beep again. The front office is clearly stressed by their voices over the speaker.. Zero concentration is going on.

3:15 walker parents appear at the back door wanting their kids because of the storm. We have to tell them to go to the office. Announcements to classrooms continue…

3:25 storm hits- kids are staring at windows, but packed up and ready to go. Dismissal should start in 5 minutes

3:30 (dismissal bell rings) school wide announcement: teachers please hold your kids in the classroom none of the busses are here.

3:35 tornado watch- go to the hallway!

3:45 all clear return to the classroom! Buses still aren’t here, but parents can receive their children.

3:55- buses trickle in…the office is manically sending out emails to remind parents to call transportation not the school about buses


There wasn’t any instruction after about 2:30 and everyone gets home late, but hey the what about the CALENDAR people are happy!

Let’s all hope the storms hit after 5:00!

Tornados are now forcasted to begin as early as 10:00 am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone please point me towards the FCPS plan for tornados or 80 mph winds during the school day?

All classrooms have evacuation locations—hallways or rooms away from exterior doors and windows. Unsafe rooms evacuate to there, and wait. There is no learning happening when hundreds of kids are in a hallway for hours.

My entire department is in trailers. I imagine we will all be told to relocate to the auditorium tomorrow and will just be trying to maintain relative calm.

Are the emergency plans posted somewhere where parents can access them? It would be good to know ahead of time what the schools would do if truly severe weather occurs.

https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/files/DQTUUM7DC4A0/$file/R8625.pdf

Given that the storm is supposed to be hazardous from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm or later, its possible that students and staff could be stuck at school until after dark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Saw this on Twitter by a local metrologlist. I would love to get an email from FCPS addressing all of his bullet points.

Tweet:
DMV school districts – as we said Thursday/Friday, it's imperative you have a severe weather plan and don't try to "wing it." Nobody has any excuse to be caught with their pants down.

Ask yourselves the following:
– If a tornado warning is issued, where will the kiddos shelter?
– If kiddos are on the bus, do the bus drivers know what to do?
– How will bus drivers be notified of warnings?
– Will dismissal occur if storms are approaching? Will dismissal be delayed?
– Have parents been clued in about the approaching severe weather?

I’m an administrator and am happy to answer these:
1. Every school has places designated where students need to go. Kids in trailers and above the first floor all have places in the hallways and interior spaces on the first floor that are away from exterior glass.

2. Yes. They go to the nearest school immediately.

3. They would get a message on their radio from a dispatcher as they are driving.

4. If there is a tornado warning just as dismissal is approaching, it would be delayed. This has happened in the past, and there is no reason why it wouldn’t happen again. No administrator wants to send children out into a dangerous weather event. It’s easier to keep them inside.

5. At this moment on a Sunday afternoon, parents have not been told about possible severe weather from FCPS. One assumes they are checking their own news and weather outlets.

[Anonymous]

In 2007 or 2008, a tornado warning was issued in the Springfield area after high school busses were on the road and most high schoolers dropped off and right before middle school dismissal. Middle schools and elementary schools there had to go to their tornado locations and stay there until the threat passed (maybe an hour?) and everyone was very late getting home.
I can’t imagine what a more prolonged threat of severe weather would look like. The students were so scared! Some schools have not practiced their tornado drills this year. Many are doing them this week. My school has a ton of windows and my classroom is assigned to a hallway to crouch in that I am not convinced would protect us from flying debris. There are windows on either end of the hallway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not going to lie...if it looks like it's lining up to be a 4-5 pm storm, I'll be one of those obnoxious parents picking up my kid early. Dismissal is 4:05, I don't need him on a bus when it hits or stuck at school until 6 pm or later because roads are closed for downed trees and power lines.

I'm signing out my high schoolers for 1....can you imagine all the young drivers on the road. Just no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Early release does not appear that it will safe - might be even better to wait. Bad weather of 60-80 miles and EF2 Tornados starting at 10:00 am. But it could also miss us entirely?

Very tough call for FCPS. I feel for them. Noone want to close schools.

They cancel for a few snowflakes so why not close for actual dangerous weather?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Early release does not appear that it will safe - might be even better to wait. Bad weather of 60-80 miles and EF2 Tornados starting at 10:00 am. But it could also miss us entirely?

Very tough call for FCPS. I feel for them. Noone want to close schools.

I'm seeing a morning round and an evening round starting at 3-7?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's impossible to do a last minute early release.

No we would get notice by tonight

It used to be early releases had to be announced by 11 am to allow for buses to get to the middle schools on time.

11 would be late....they need to get all three school levels home. Cutting it close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Now Kammerer has advised of danger tomorrow. That 2013 derecho was terrifying. I really hope we aren’t getting one of those again.

Actually it was in June of 2012. School was already done. It hit the DC area around 9:30pm.

6 days without power

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Early release does not appear that it will safe - might be even better to wait. Bad weather of 60-80 miles and EF2 Tornados starting at 10:00 am. But it could also miss us entirely?

Very tough call for FCPS. I feel for them. Noone want to close schools.

I'm seeing a morning round and an evening round starting at 3-7?

I see it forcasted to possibly begin as early as 10:00 am and the risk ramps up at 12:00 - 8:00 pm/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's impossible to do a last minute early release.

No we would get notice by tonight

It used to be early releases had to be announced by 11 am to allow for buses to get to the middle schools on time.

11 would be late....they need to get all three school levels home. Cutting it close.

Early release seems to be also hazardous. I think they should just hold school as normal and then hold children at school if conditions are bad. Schools have enough food just in case they need to hold staff and students into the evening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Early release does not appear that it will safe - might be even better to wait. Bad weather of 60-80 miles and EF2 Tornados starting at 10:00 am. But it could also miss us entirely?

Very tough call for FCPS. I feel for them. Noone want to close schools.

I'm seeing a morning round and an evening round starting at 3-7?

Per Capital Weather game: "The storms’ timing still needs to be pinned down, but they are most probable between about 1 and 7 p.m. Monday, when an organized and violent squall line is expected to pass. That said, widely scattered showers and storms, some of which could be intense, are possible before this window, as early as 9 or 10 a.m"