Predictions Snow Feb 11?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

Now do this for special ed and FAPE and make it legal. "Candlewood is open but the Extensions program is closed. Dufief is open but if you need busing to the Learning Center from anywhere not in Rockville or North Potomac, tough cookies."

Hint: preventing special ed students from accessing their education while the general ed students go to school is a violation of FAPE and will trigger lawsuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

Now do this for special ed and FAPE and make it legal. "Candlewood is open but the Extensions program is closed. Dufief is open but if you need busing to the Learning Center from anywhere not in Rockville or North Potomac, tough cookies."

Hint: preventing special ed students from accessing their education while the general ed students go to school is a violation of FAPE and will trigger lawsuits.

Couldnt same "policy" apply for Spe Ed as for magnets? SpEd stays home if their program is closed for the day due to weather? If their program is open but the kid/family can't leave because street hasn't been plowed, parent calls school and let's school know kid can get there because of transportation which is an excused abscense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

You're asking who can break MCPS down into smaller school districts? That would be the state legislature, but I would expect that would take years to get agreement on if ever. Maryland has had county-wide school districts for a long time and it would be very controversial to change that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

Now do this for special ed and FAPE and make it legal. "Candlewood is open but the Extensions program is closed. Dufief is open but if you need busing to the Learning Center from anywhere not in Rockville or North Potomac, tough cookies."

Hint: preventing special ed students from accessing their education while the general ed students go to school is a violation of FAPE and will trigger lawsuits.

Couldnt same "policy" apply for Spe Ed as for magnets? SpEd stays home if their program is closed for the day due to weather? If their program is open but the kid/family can't leave because street hasn't been plowed, parent calls school and let's school know kid can get there because of transportation which is an excused abscense.

You can't open part of the school and then tell the special ed students they can't come. You can't tell them their program is open but they have no transportation. The special ed bus is a service on the IEP. Meaning the student is legally entitled to it and MCPS can be sued under IDEA for not providing it. Unlike magnet kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

Now do this for special ed and FAPE and make it legal. "Candlewood is open but the Extensions program is closed. Dufief is open but if you need busing to the Learning Center from anywhere not in Rockville or North Potomac, tough cookies."

Hint: preventing special ed students from accessing their education while the general ed students go to school is a violation of FAPE and will trigger lawsuits.

And a lot of magnet students are also special ed students.

Plus, how does it work if some schools have makeup days, but others don’t. Your high schooler might owe 4 days while your MS owes none. Good luck planning that Fathers’ Day weekend vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

Now do this for special ed and FAPE and make it legal. "Candlewood is open but the Extensions program is closed. Dufief is open but if you need busing to the Learning Center from anywhere not in Rockville or North Potomac, tough cookies."

Hint: preventing special ed students from accessing their education while the general ed students go to school is a violation of FAPE and will trigger lawsuits.

And a lot of magnet students are also special ed students.

Plus, how does it work if some schools have makeup days, but others don’t. Your high schooler might owe 4 days while your MS owes none. Good luck planning that Fathers’ Day weekend vacation.

Like COSA, or sibling preference for lottery programs, you can get a "waiver" by the school or simply choose not to send in kid if that happens. Or if it's easier, announce by HS clusters which means 26 different inclement weather related announcements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

Now do this for special ed and FAPE and make it legal. "Candlewood is open but the Extensions program is closed. Dufief is open but if you need busing to the Learning Center from anywhere not in Rockville or North Potomac, tough cookies."

Hint: preventing special ed students from accessing their education while the general ed students go to school is a violation of FAPE and will trigger lawsuits.

And a lot of magnet students are also special ed students.

Plus, how does it work if some schools have makeup days, but others don’t. Your high schooler might owe 4 days while your MS owes none. Good luck planning that Fathers’ Day weekend vacation.

Like COSA, or sibling preference for lottery programs, you can get a "waiver" by the school or simply choose not to send in kid if that happens. Or if it's easier, announce by HS clusters which means 26 different inclement weather related announcements.

There are a bunch of MS or ES that articulate to two clusters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

Now do this for special ed and FAPE and make it legal. "Candlewood is open but the Extensions program is closed. Dufief is open but if you need busing to the Learning Center from anywhere not in Rockville or North Potomac, tough cookies."

Hint: preventing special ed students from accessing their education while the general ed students go to school is a violation of FAPE and will trigger lawsuits.

And a lot of magnet students are also special ed students.

Plus, how does it work if some schools have makeup days, but others don’t. Your high schooler might owe 4 days while your MS owes none. Good luck planning that Fathers’ Day weekend vacation.

Like COSA, or sibling preference for lottery programs, you can get a "waiver" by the school or simply choose not to send in kid if that happens. Or if it's easier, announce by HS clusters which means 26 different inclement weather related announcements.

There are a bunch of MS or ES that articulate to two clusters.

Ok. And so...?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, why would schools need to close for a couple inches of snow? I don’t get it.

Because some models predicted 8 inches as of this Sunday morning. So unless there’s more of a consensus on 2 inches… every school district will err on the side of caution.

There’s actually a plausible scenario where, due to marginal temps, it starts snowing Tuesday morning but doesn’t accumulate seriously until the sun sets, which shaves off multiple inches from the snowfall total. In which case we should have school, but cancel after school activities on Tuesday (or early release), and then have a delayed start or a closure on Wednesday and a full day on Thursday.

Point is: still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast!

I’d like to reiterate that it’s not the school districts’ fault that we live in an urban setting prone to traffic woes AND a climate that’s always on the edge of snowstorms. Everyone wants to avoid the Stuck in Snow On 495 With Multiple Accidents scenario. We lived it once before.

Is it state, BOE, Superintendent that can change this policy for making same weather announcement for all parts of the county ( largest school district in MD)? On delayed opening days, special programs that are at Edison HS do not open, so, for those who continue to write "...but but but magnet programs has students from all over the county...", the magnet students will just follow the schedule of their magnet program/school rather than the neighborhood they live in. You live in Woodmoo Silver Spring but attend Richard Montgomery HS? If RMHS is closed for inclement weather, you stay home, even if your home HS of Blair is open that day. They need to divide up county into quadrants.

Now do this for special ed and FAPE and make it legal. "Candlewood is open but the Extensions program is closed. Dufief is open but if you need busing to the Learning Center from anywhere not in Rockville or North Potomac, tough cookies."

Hint: preventing special ed students from accessing their education while the general ed students go to school is a violation of FAPE and will trigger lawsuits.

And a lot of magnet students are also special ed students.

Plus, how does it work if some schools have makeup days, but others don’t. Your high schooler might owe 4 days while your MS owes none. Good luck planning that Fathers’ Day weekend vacation.

Like COSA, or sibling preference for lottery programs, you can get a "waiver" by the school or simply choose not to send in kid if that happens. Or if it's easier, announce by HS clusters which means 26 different inclement weather related announcements.

There are a bunch of MS or ES that articulate to two clusters.

Ok. And so...?

Announcing closures by cluster isn't straightforward.

[Anonymous]

The timing of snow on Tuesday makes me wonder if an early release is possible, but how common are those? Is a closure more likely?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The timing of snow on Tuesday makes me wonder if an early release is possible, but how common are those? Is a closure more likely?

They’ve done it before yes.
I don’t see a closure Tuesday unless the forecast moves earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The timing of snow on Tuesday makes me wonder if an early release is possible, but how common are those? Is a closure more likely?

They’ve done it before yes.
I don’t see a closure Tuesday unless the forecast moves earlier.

When was the last time they did an early closing for snow rather than a full closure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The timing of snow on Tuesday makes me wonder if an early release is possible, but how common are those? Is a closure more likely?

They’ve done it before yes.
I don’t see a closure Tuesday unless the forecast moves earlier.

When was the last time they did an early closing for snow rather than a full closure?

Right before Covid happened we had a couple of early release days, maybe 6-7 years ago

[Anonymous]

I think it will be early release.