Did ANYONE from DCPS apologize for the debacle today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Bowser should apologize--instead she was interviewed gently and responded like a High School sophomore, "...uh...we need to clear streets...we r not just out writing tickets..."...WAT?? But she looked cute in her Lexus 4 door with her cute bangle bracelet (shells? Reminder of a tropical vacation?) and furry parka.

Bowser is the responsible officer in the government. Public Works, DDOT and the chancellor all report to her, and it is her fault that coordination seemed totally lacking. DC got "Bowsered" and she needs to apologize and explain what steps she will take so it doesn't happen again.

Y'all are trying really hard to make that a thing.

So far the new mayor is acting like she hasn't got a clue.

She's not acting. She really doesn't have a clue.

Ever stop to think that maybe she has principles, just maybe not principles that are convenient for those who receive a taxpayer-paid paycheck or not convenient for those who'd rather not brave the weather and snuggle up in front of their TV? I for one liked her unapologetic "the government must be open for business whenever possible". She - along with the weathermen - may have underestimated how difficult that may become but I much prefer a mayor err on the side of keeping things running than closing it all down at every whim. She'll butt heads with some unions and a few SAHMs and SAHDs but so be it.

PP sounds like DCPS Central talking. Safety does matter, get it? Bowser is already sounding like an arrogant Fenty who'll be here for one miserable term. No, schools are not glorified soup kitchens; they're primarily where kids go to learn and be challenged in a safe environment - but not so EoTP. Run it like a school, because that's what it is.

Yeah all us EOTP schools are just crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bowser should apologize--instead she was interviewed gently and responded like a High School sophomore, "...uh...we need to clear streets...we r not just out writing tickets..."...WAT?? But she looked cute in her Lexus 4 door with her cute bangle bracelet (shells? Reminder of a tropical vacation?) and furry parka.

Bowser is the responsible officer in the government. Public Works, DDOT and the chancellor all report to her, and it is her fault that coordination seemed totally lacking. DC got "Bowsered" and she needs to apologize and explain what steps she will take so it doesn't happen again.

Y'all are trying really hard to make that a thing.

So far the new mayor is acting like she hasn't got a clue.

She's not acting. She really doesn't have a clue.

Ever stop to think that maybe she has principles, just maybe not principles that are convenient for those who receive a taxpayer-paid paycheck or not convenient for those who'd rather not brave the weather and snuggle up in front of their TV? I for one liked her unapologetic "the government must be open for business whenever possible". She - along with the weathermen - may have underestimated how difficult that may become but I much prefer a mayor err on the side of keeping things running than closing it all down at every whim. She'll butt heads with some unions and a few SAHMs and SAHDs but so be it.

"Whenever possible" yet with 58 WMATA bus routes canceled, and most of the remainder on severely limited routes and schedules, how was it so possible? Did she even pay attention to what was going on with the mass transit system in the city? Sure didn't seem that way...

[Anonymous]

Yes, the Bowser apologists and defenders would do better to just put their heads down and MoveOn. Stop trying to spin her failure to lead last week as anything but a failure. She was obviouslynot on top of what was going on in the city. Let's hope she learned from this first stumble out of the block

[Anonymous]

Did anyone/everyone get the message from DCPS about their decision making?

I'm using someone else's computer so don't have access, but it was basically a lot of words that didn't say anything except we take it seriously and use all information.

I really, really don't understand DCPS's aversion to delayed openings.

I know there are many people on here who automatically write " delayed openings do nothing, the conditions are exactly the same." But those people are wrong. The weather may be similar, but there's been an hour (or two) of radiant heating from the sun, which does make a difference (in icing, particularly). In addition, the primary condition that is different is the sheer # of people on the roads. Let rush hour be a disaster, THEN get kids to school. (in addition, people about to ignore the facts about pressure melting- the pressure of people walking and cars driving gets rid of some of the ice on sidewalks and roads - overly simplistic but I'm typing quickly).

I also reject the argument that poor people need to put their kids in school. Well, in deleted openings, there is still someone at school. So some kids can be dropped off early. BUT, more importantly, I'd love to see the data on absence patterns during weather events. I'd wager a lot of money that more higher SES kids are at school than poor kids. It's the "rule followers" and teachers who are hurt by DC's refusal to delay openings.

[Anonymous]

Pp, I agree with you. But I will just add that all of our mayors, in the past 10 years have been reluctant to close schools. I teach in DCPS and long ago accepted that the people who make decisions largely do no care about safety for teachers, students, parents ect. It plays better for them to take on this soup kitchen role. Whatever, I honestly don't care.
There is a reason DC teachers get paid more than surrounding areas. It's because of crap like that. So either take the extra 10k and the disregard- or don't.
As for the teachers who commute from VA and MD... My sympathy extends only so far. I want safety for my fellow teachers- but those folks are kind of carpetbaggers. They come to DC for the higher salaries, so put up with the junk. Or teach in the county you live in.
To act like DC has a history of caring about the safety of folks is just wrong. They never have. So either accept it or move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pp, I agree with you. But I will just add that all of our mayors, in the past 10 years have been reluctant to close schools. I teach in DCPS and long ago accepted that the people who make decisions largely do no care about safety for teachers, students, parents ect. It plays better for them to take on this soup kitchen role. Whatever, I honestly don't care.
There is a reason DC teachers get paid more than surrounding areas. It's because of crap like that. So either take the extra 10k and the disregard- or don't.
As for the teachers who commute from VA and MD... My sympathy extends only so far. I want safety for my fellow teachers- but those folks are kind of carpetbaggers. They come to DC for the higher salaries, so put up with the junk. Or teach in the county you live in.
To act like DC has a history of caring about the safety of folks is just wrong. They never have. So either accept it or move on.

I teach in DC too-if I could find some decent AFFORDABLE housing without having a roomate, I would live in DC. The majority of teachers are in my position as well-forced to commute.
But I take it DC doesn't give a sh*t about that, and would rather drag this "soup kitchen" image on.

[Anonymous]

2 hour delay fo DCPS on Monday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp, I agree with you. But I will just add that all of our mayors, in the past 10 years have been reluctant to close schools. I teach in DCPS and long ago accepted that the people who make decisions largely do no care about safety for teachers, students, parents ect. It plays better for them to take on this soup kitchen role. Whatever, I honestly don't care.
There is a reason DC teachers get paid more than surrounding areas. It's because of crap like that. So either take the extra 10k and the disregard- or don't.
As for the teachers who commute from VA and MD... My sympathy extends only so far. I want safety for my fellow teachers- but those folks are kind of carpetbaggers. They come to DC for the higher salaries, so put up with the junk. Or teach in the county you live in.
To act like DC has a history of caring about the safety of folks is just wrong. They never have. So either accept it or move on.

I teach in DC too-if I could find some decent AFFORDABLE housing without having a roomate, I would live in DC. The majority of teachers are in my position as well-forced to commute.
But I take it DC doesn't give a sh*t about that, and would rather drag this "soup kitchen" image on.

Right. So knowing that they don't care- you make a choice to continue to work in the district, correct? So deal with the natural consequences. Either drag in on bad weather days. It's the soup kitchen or the ECE parents who are workaholics that drive the descion making. It stinks. But it is what it is.
I live in DC and could easily commute to fairfax for work. I'd have a better work environment, not just talking about snow day closings. However I'd make less. So I choose to teach in DC. Just like you.

[Anonymous]

Why sweat the small stuff. Call in sick on bad weather days like everyone else who works for DCPS. At least half the kids are absent anyway so there's no point in wasting good lessons when most of the kids are absent.

Good teachers don't use most of their sick days so you have an abundant supply.

If you know you are not going to beat the weather and traffic or be able to make it to your school, you have to make the executive Snow Day decision in behalf of the chancellor, call in sick.

Teaching is difficult enough already, don't sweat the small stuff.

[Anonymous]

Is there a new debacle today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a new debacle today?

DC seemed to do better this time. The streets I've seen are salted and fine. The two hour school delay gave the trucks more time to do their work and staggered the rush hour. DCPS also needs time to salt the sidewalks around schools, which can be treacherous. All in all, it seems that the local government learned a little from last week's debacle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why sweat the small stuff. Call in sick on bad weather days like everyone else who works for DCPS. At least half the kids are absent anyway so there's no point in wasting good lessons when most of the kids are absent.

Good teachers don't use most of their sick days so you have an abundant supply.

If you know you are not going to beat the weather and traffic or be able to make it to your school, you have to make the executive Snow Day decision in behalf of the chancellor, call in sick.

Teaching is difficult enough already, don't sweat the small stuff.

Lord help us if you are a teacher. Many teachers I know love having a smaller group to work with; allows them to focus on each child a little better.

[Anonymous]

^^^ what does teaching a small group of kids have to do with commuting in bad weather? The highlighted poster was saying don't make this snow day stuff an issue. Either come in safely, or not.
Not sure how you got a dislike of small group instruction ...