What do we think will happen on Monday?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think it’s hilarious FCPS is asking the community to essentially provide free labor to shovel sidewalks and bus stops. WTF are our tax dollars going to? That will be a no from me.

Are you serious? "Free labor"?

Shoveling sidewalks has ALWAYS been the responsibility of the community, not of VDOT, FCPS, or Fairfax County. ALWAYS.

You are a complete jerk if you seriously have the attitude "that will be a no from me." How selfish and self-serving you are!

Go out and shovel even just 20 feet of sidewalk. If every able-bodied person would shovel 20 feet of sidewalks, we could make them safe for all pedestrians, including for school children.

+1
After the Snowmaggen storm, FCPS asked families to do the same thing.

It is completely within the realm of reason for the school district to ask people who live in the neighborhoods to pitch in and shovel and clear the sidewalks and bus stops so the kids of that neighborhood can go to school. You live there. That is your home. Shoveling it is within your sphere of responsibility. It is borderline sociopathic to think this is an unreasonable ask. Some of you NEED to start viewing yourself as part of your community vs some isolated island whose only responsibility is to yourselves.

+100. If only people had been considerate neighbors and gotten out on Sunday and Monday to clean the snow and their sidewalks we won’t be in this position. The entitlement some people are showing in this thread about not wanting to clean their own sidewalks and help out their neighbors is so sad. No wonder this country is in the political state it is. No sense of community and no regard for the safety of children. There’s a reason this county is obsessed with guns and their own comfort.

Since so many people are selfish and entitled in this area, I hope the county passes an ordinance where homeowners are required to shovel their sidewalk within 24 hours of any snowfall or they will face a hefty monetary penalty.

Residents are not legally obligated to do it. Planning for student safety can’t depend on voluntary labor!

If the only time you show care for others is when you are legally obligated to do something, you are an *&%$@*#.

I mow the lawn and shovel the sidewalks of my neighbors who are busy with infants, away on vacations, ill, injured, or disabled. Am i legally obligated to do so? Of course not. But good people help others.

I pick up trash as I walk my dogs. I am not legally obligated to do so, but I am a member of the community, so I pitch in to clean up the community.

Why is it so difficult for some people to show basic humanity, kindness, and care for others? It is incredibly disturbing.

You also missed that mowing the lawn, or picking up trash is not the same as clearing 6 feet wall of ice. You need professional equipment to do it.

A bunch of people with metal shovels can clear the sidewalks. It will take time and teamwork, but progress can be made. Not every sidewalk has a six-foot wall of ice.

OK come to my neighborhood and start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s hilarious FCPS is asking the community to essentially provide free labor to shovel sidewalks and bus stops. WTF are our tax dollars going to? That will be a no from me.

Are you serious? "Free labor"?

Shoveling sidewalks has ALWAYS been the responsibility of the community, not of VDOT, FCPS, or Fairfax County. ALWAYS.

You are a complete jerk if you seriously have the attitude "that will be a no from me." How selfish and self-serving you are!

Go out and shovel even just 20 feet of sidewalk. If every able-bodied person would shovel 20 feet of sidewalks, we could make them safe for all pedestrians, including for school children.

+1
After the Snowmaggen storm, FCPS asked families to do the same thing.

It is completely within the realm of reason for the school district to ask people who live in the neighborhoods to pitch in and shovel and clear the sidewalks and bus stops so the kids of that neighborhood can go to school. You live there. That is your home. Shoveling it is within your sphere of responsibility. It is borderline sociopathic to think this is an unreasonable ask. Some of you NEED to start viewing yourself as part of your community vs some isolated island whose only responsibility is to yourselves.

+100. If only people had been considerate neighbors and gotten out on Sunday and Monday to clean the snow and their sidewalks we won’t be in this position. The entitlement some people are showing in this thread about not wanting to clean their own sidewalks and help out their neighbors is so sad. No wonder this country is in the political state it is. No sense of community and no regard for the safety of children. There’s a reason this county is obsessed with guns and their own comfort.

Since so many people are selfish and entitled in this area, I hope the county passes an ordinance where homeowners are required to shovel their sidewalk within 24 hours of any snowfall or they will face a hefty monetary penalty.

Residents are not legally obligated to do it. Planning for student safety can’t depend on voluntary labor!

If the only time you show care for others is when you are legally obligated to do something, you are an *&%$@*#.

I mow the lawn and shovel the sidewalks of my neighbors who are busy with infants, away on vacations, ill, injured, or disabled. Am i legally obligated to do so? Of course not. But good people help others.

I pick up trash as I walk my dogs. I am not legally obligated to do so, but I am a member of the community, so I pitch in to clean up the community.

Why is it so difficult for some people to show basic humanity, kindness, and care for others? It is incredibly disturbing.

The point was that planning for student safety can’t depend on voluntary labor!

It doesn’t typically. This is clearly a unique situation. But sure, stand firm on your stance of “it’s not my problem” rather than help work toward getting the kids back to school.

+1

+2. I am shocked at how selfish some of you are. We can work together to problem solve and get the kids back. It won't be perfect but let's work together instead of being so hateful and anti-community and anti-education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s hilarious FCPS is asking the community to essentially provide free labor to shovel sidewalks and bus stops. WTF are our tax dollars going to? That will be a no from me.

Where do you see/read this?

Hello FCPS Staff and Families,

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have worked through the many challenges brought on by the recent winter storm. Weather events like these are never easy, and I am deeply grateful for the support our community has shown one another during this time.
....

We do not take any closure lightly because we know that it causes disruptions to teaching and learning, to families, to work schedules, and student routines. We are working hard to reopen schools and that is where we need to ask for the community’s help. The forecast indicates that the cold weather is not going away, and that means conditions of neighborhood sidewalks and bus stops will likely continue to be an issue next week.

We are asking for your support in coming together as a community to clear ice and snow in areas that are outside of our control, like neighborhood sidewalks and bus stops. If you are able to do so safely, help a neighbor, work with your neighborhood association, or lend a friend a shovel (metal one, preferably.)

FCPS cannot stay closed until the snow and ice completely melts, but working together, we can help students and staff get to and from school safely.

Next week, when we try to re-open, please also consider carpooling and sharing rides for walkers, when possible, and make sure that students are dressed for the weather. As always, if parents or caregivers do not feel it is safe for their student, they may remain home.

I didn’t read this message as waffling on opening Monday. Interesting so many of you do.

She’s telling you to figure it out because school will open.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I’ve been teaching almost 30 years and I’ve never seen an ice storm like this. I can get to school if we open but I won’t be able to drive my kids, since their school is in the opposite direction of my school. They are teens, it’s okay, they can get assignments on Schoology and make up the work until it’s safe for them to walk to the bus stop. Our street is plowed as a single lane and the sidewalks are not clear. There is no way they can walk to the bus stop, it’s far. Hopefully it’s not too long until it melts enough. I don’t think a bus can even get down our road yet.

Seriously what is up with the streets being plowed as a single lane. That’s how it is in our area too. Who had the bright idea to send a plow truck but just plow enough to make a single lane? And they did this on Sunday when the snow had not hardened to ice yet. Why couldn’t they plow wide enough to make sure the road had enough clearance? This is all on VDOT.

Do you want to pay the taxes to have VDOT equipped to handle storms that happen once every 20 years?

I am from a midwest state that gets this kind of ice storm nearly every year, sometimes twice.

We havs a lot of rednecks with pick up trucks who live for these storms.

They go out as volunteers and clear just about all the back roads in a couple of days.

People here are thinkiers, not doers, and other than the neighborhoods with lots of military and red state transplants, they cannot seem to accomplish much of anything that requires grit, hard work and ingenuity.

People are lazy and soft here.

I’m thinking maybe you need to move back to the Midwest if we’re all too soft and lazy for you.

Just making an honest observation.

It is the same reason why contractors can charge you all so much.

No, you’re being judgmental, and it’s not helpful at all. Just rude and condescending. Have a super day.

I tend to agree with the PP. The helpless whining how will Junior get to school is nuts and waiting for someone or something else to save the day.

Exactly.

This entire discussion has pages of examples of soft, lazy and/or an incredible lack of grit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s hilarious FCPS is asking the community to essentially provide free labor to shovel sidewalks and bus stops. WTF are our tax dollars going to? That will be a no from me.

Are you serious? "Free labor"?

Shoveling sidewalks has ALWAYS been the responsibility of the community, not of VDOT, FCPS, or Fairfax County. ALWAYS.

You are a complete jerk if you seriously have the attitude "that will be a no from me." How selfish and self-serving you are!

Go out and shovel even just 20 feet of sidewalk. If every able-bodied person would shovel 20 feet of sidewalks, we could make them safe for all pedestrians, including for school children.

+1
After the Snowmaggen storm, FCPS asked families to do the same thing.

It is completely within the realm of reason for the school district to ask people who live in the neighborhoods to pitch in and shovel and clear the sidewalks and bus stops so the kids of that neighborhood can go to school. You live there. That is your home. Shoveling it is within your sphere of responsibility. It is borderline sociopathic to think this is an unreasonable ask. Some of you NEED to start viewing yourself as part of your community vs some isolated island whose only responsibility is to yourselves.

We don’t live in a neighborhood. Do you expect residents to clear public roads too? Because in our case, VDOT plowed and left a 6-foot pile of ice exactly where the bus stop is. That’s not something I can reasonably or safely fix with my shovel.

If 10 of you and your neighbors got out there with shovels and such, yes you could address that bus stop. It’s on a public road you don’t think is your problem ? Well your kid needs to use it to get to school. So it kind of is your problem. Or you can stand on principle and make the county handle it and let your kid miss more school than necessary.

Unfortunately, even if everyone in your community chipped in and made the sidewalks safe and enabled *your* school to open, all schools need to be able to open for FCPS to open, and it’s unrealistic to assume all “neighborhoods” (because not everyone lives in a suburban neighborhood) will come together and get the work done.

Nonetheless, I find your spirit and your commitment to your community both noble and inspiring.
Your neighborhood is lucky to have you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would the USA take Greenland and Canada and rule them if it could - You people can't even clear a foot of snow on your drive way or remove it from your school bus.

Yes, because this area is soft and lazy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s hilarious FCPS is asking the community to essentially provide free labor to shovel sidewalks and bus stops. WTF are our tax dollars going to? That will be a no from me.

Are you serious? "Free labor"?

Shoveling sidewalks has ALWAYS been the responsibility of the community, not of VDOT, FCPS, or Fairfax County. ALWAYS.

You are a complete jerk if you seriously have the attitude "that will be a no from me." How selfish and self-serving you are!

Go out and shovel even just 20 feet of sidewalk. If every able-bodied person would shovel 20 feet of sidewalks, we could make them safe for all pedestrians, including for school children.

+1
After the Snowmaggen storm, FCPS asked families to do the same thing.

It is completely within the realm of reason for the school district to ask people who live in the neighborhoods to pitch in and shovel and clear the sidewalks and bus stops so the kids of that neighborhood can go to school. You live there. That is your home. Shoveling it is within your sphere of responsibility. It is borderline sociopathic to think this is an unreasonable ask. Some of you NEED to start viewing yourself as part of your community vs some isolated island whose only responsibility is to yourselves.

+100. If only people had been considerate neighbors and gotten out on Sunday and Monday to clean the snow and their sidewalks we won’t be in this position. The entitlement some people are showing in this thread about not wanting to clean their own sidewalks and help out their neighbors is so sad. No wonder this country is in the political state it is. No sense of community and no regard for the safety of children. There’s a reason this county is obsessed with guns and their own comfort.

Since so many people are selfish and entitled in this area, I hope the county passes an ordinance where homeowners are required to shovel their sidewalk within 24 hours of any snowfall or they will face a hefty monetary penalty.

Residents are not legally obligated to do it. Planning for student safety can’t depend on voluntary labor!

If the only time you show care for others is when you are legally obligated to do something, you are an *&%$@*#.

I mow the lawn and shovel the sidewalks of my neighbors who are busy with infants, away on vacations, ill, injured, or disabled. Am i legally obligated to do so? Of course not. But good people help others.

I pick up trash as I walk my dogs. I am not legally obligated to do so, but I am a member of the community, so I pitch in to clean up the community.

Why is it so difficult for some people to show basic humanity, kindness, and care for others? It is incredibly disturbing.

The point was that planning for student safety can’t depend on voluntary labor!

It doesn’t typically. This is clearly a unique situation. But sure, stand firm on your stance of “it’s not my problem” rather than help work toward getting the kids back to school.

+1

+2. I am shocked at how selfish some of you are. We can work together to problem solve and get the kids back. It won't be perfect but let's work together instead of being so hateful and anti-community and anti-education.

100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone should relax. We got an email from our principal (high school) explaining the plan for parking and arriving on Monday and throughout the week. They are planning to go ahead as long as nothing changes and making necessary adjustments. It will all be fine.

How is your school handling parking?

Hundreds of our high schoolers park on neighborhood streets that are now ice mounds.

They are letting them park on the blacktop.

Your school has enough unallocated parking spots to accommodate the hundreds of high school students who usually street park off campus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone should relax. We got an email from our principal (high school) explaining the plan for parking and arriving on Monday and throughout the week. They are planning to go ahead as long as nothing changes and making necessary adjustments. It will all be fine.

How is your school handling parking?

Hundreds of our high schoolers park on neighborhood streets that are now ice mounds.

They are letting them park on the blacktop.

Thr blacktop? That could only be a few extra spots.

What school allows high schoolers to park in neighborhoods? I though paid parking passes were required.

There are not enough paid parking spaces for mire tgan a couple hundred students, so most high school drivers park in surrounding neighborhood streets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone should relax. We got an email from our principal (high school) explaining the plan for parking and arriving on Monday and throughout the week. They are planning to go ahead as long as nothing changes and making necessary adjustments. It will all be fine.

How is your school handling parking?

Hundreds of our high schoolers park on neighborhood streets that are now ice mounds.

They are letting them park on the blacktop.

Your school has enough unallocated parking spots to accommodate the hundreds of high school students who usually street park off campus?

Problem solve. You're just sitting there throwing road blocks. Whiners.

[Anonymous]

So what are we thinking for Monday? I say 2 hr. delay but I musT admit I’m still wary myself of driving with the reduced lanes, tight turns, and disappearing lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mail isn’t being delivered, the garbage isn’t being picked up (in my neck of the woods, anyway), so I am losing confidence that the busses will be able to safely pick up and deliver children to school next week.

This!!! If the county isn’t confident sending their mail and garbage trucks out, why would we send out our school buses?

Mail has been delivered since Tuesday.

So has Amazon and Fedex.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what are we thinking for Monday? I say 2 hr. delay but I musT admit I’m still wary myself of driving with the reduced lanes, tight turns, and disappearing lanes.

I heard that a county in MD has announced a two-delay for Monday and Tuesday. I like this approach. Just tell us now so that parents and staff can plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If there's no parking those high schoolers need to take the bus or be dropped off. Its not rocket science.

As has been discussed previously, most busses are full already and don’t have the extra capacity to add another few hundred kids.

Plus the shoulders that the high school kiss and rides usually use to turn into the schools are now ice mounds.

Adding hundreds of students to high school kiss and ride lanes are going to turn any major roads near high schools into parking lots the first few mornings back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s hilarious FCPS is asking the community to essentially provide free labor to shovel sidewalks and bus stops. WTF are our tax dollars going to? That will be a no from me.

Where do you see/read this?

Hello FCPS Staff and Families,

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have worked through the many challenges brought on by the recent winter storm. Weather events like these are never easy, and I am deeply grateful for the support our community has shown one another during this time.
....

We do not take any closure lightly because we know that it causes disruptions to teaching and learning, to families, to work schedules, and student routines. We are working hard to reopen schools and that is where we need to ask for the community’s help. The forecast indicates that the cold weather is not going away, and that means conditions of neighborhood sidewalks and bus stops will likely continue to be an issue next week.

We are asking for your support in coming together as a community to clear ice and snow in areas that are outside of our control, like neighborhood sidewalks and bus stops. If you are able to do so safely, help a neighbor, work with your neighborhood association, or lend a friend a shovel (metal one, preferably.)

FCPS cannot stay closed until the snow and ice completely melts, but working together, we can help students and staff get to and from school safely.

Next week, when we try to re-open, please also consider carpooling and sharing rides for walkers, when possible, and make sure that students are dressed for the weather. As always, if parents or caregivers do not feel it is safe for their student, they may remain home.

I didn’t read this message as waffling on opening Monday. Interesting so many of you do.

She’s telling you to figure it out because school will open.

Maybe. I think she’s trying to mitigate backlash for an inevitable closure. The email is her way of saying, “Look, we tried.”

Based on what I know of FCPS and its decision making patterns in the past, I’ll be surprised if it opens on Monday, but not astonished. I really don’t know. I’m preparing for either scenario.