FCPS Closings/Who to contact about this issue/What can we do as parents to solve this problem

[Anonymous]

Parents can network with each other to solve these problems. Why not?

[Anonymous]

As a parent make it clear to your employers that you follow fcps days off.

[Anonymous]

If you don't have a nanny you either mommy track or sah. There are a lot of mommy track friendly jobs in this area like associations etc... where the pay is a little lower but better benefits and flexibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents can network with each other to solve these problems. Why not?

Exactly, find two other families. Each family is responsible for every third day off. To make it fun and community building, you can even add that one of the none off families is responsible for dinner that night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Inclement Weather Decision Making Process Outlined
Fairfax County Public Schools is aware of the implications of opening school during less than perfect conditions and of delaying or closing schools when poor weather conditions exist or are predicted. The school system understands that its students are better served--both academically and socially—by being in school. On the other hand, the school system knows that it operates within an area whose transportation system has difficulty operating efficiently even when the weather is perfect. Fairfax County’s transportation system includes high speed, high volume roadways such as Route 66, Route 495, Route 95, the Fairfax County Parkway, and others. The county’s transportation system also includes narrow, winding roads in still relatively rural parts of the county such as Clifton and Great Falls.

Because Fairfax County encompasses approximately 400 square miles, the weather can vary significantly—as can road conditions--in different parts of the county. While the western and northern parts of the county usually have colder temperatures--and thus the worst conditions--sometimes the reverse is true. Often the major roadways are in good driving condition, but neighborhood roads remain treacherous.

Since this is true, maybe they should consider dividing the county into zones for making weather decisions? That way if western fairfax county has several inches of snow and bad conditions but closer in doesn't, then only certain schools need to close?

[Anonymous]

Since this is true, maybe they should consider dividing the county into zones for making weather decisions? That way if western fairfax county has several inches of snow and bad conditions but closer in doesn't, then only certain schools need to close?

Unfortunately, transportation is too interconnected county-wide for this to be a realistic option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents can network with each other to solve these problems. Why not?

Of course! Why not connect with my neighbors?!? How about taking turns watching each other's kids??? How about building community???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am good with how they have handled this year other than the day they failed to close but should have.

I agree. You are exactly right. I have been laughing like crazy at how angry some of these people are getting on here. The moms I know are also fine with how they have done things this year.

+1. The torch and pitchfork crowd is entertaining, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents can network with each other to solve these problems. Why not?

Exactly, find two other families. Each family is responsible for every third day off. To make it fun and community building, you can even add that one of the none off families is responsible for dinner that night.

That sounds lovely, but doesn't work for everyone. We are going to start looking for back up college or HS students for days that it is extremely difficult to take off and that our after school program is also closed for camp. Work isn't a luxury for our family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, I'm tired of complaining and feeling overwhelmed about this, so I started thinking about solutions today and how parents could make a change.

Someone on a previous forum mentioned open the cafeterias early so parents can drop off their children if the issue relates to children waiting in the cold for the bus. Brilliant idea and doable.

Other ideas....

Who are you going to pay to watch the kids? The school parking lots still need to be cleared along with the sidewalks. Never going to happen.

[Anonymous]

FCPS has over 180,000 students.

The school system has more buses than Greyhound.

A couple days every year is not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents can network with each other to solve these problems. Why not?

Exactly, find two other families. Each family is responsible for every third day off. To make it fun and community building, you can even add that one of the none off families is responsible for dinner that night.

That sounds lovely, but doesn't work for everyone. We are going to start looking for back up college or HS students for days that it is extremely difficult to take off and that our after school program is also closed for camp. Work isn't a luxury for our family.

It doesn't work if you don't try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has over 180,000 students.

The school system has more buses than Greyhound.

A couple days every year is not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

Last week they were closed 3 days for weather. That's more than "a couple days every year."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents can network with each other to solve these problems. Why not?

Exactly, find two other families. Each family is responsible for every third day off. To make it fun and community building, you can even add that one of the none off families is responsible for dinner that night.

That sounds lovely, but doesn't work for everyone. We are going to start looking for back up college or HS students for days that it is extremely difficult to take off and that our after school program is also closed for camp. Work isn't a luxury for our family.

It doesn't work if you don't try.

We tried a similar situation in the summer to avoid camp every week. Many children of drastically different ages together didn't work well. The kids were ok for a couple of hours. 9 hours together was too much for everyone. Maybe if everyone only has 1 child and or they are close in age it would be different. We have 2 children 3 years apart and other families we know here also have multiple children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Parents can network with each other to solve these problems. Why not?

Exactly, find two other families. Each family is responsible for every third day off. To make it fun and community building, you can even add that one of the none off families is responsible for dinner that night.

That sounds lovely, but doesn't work for everyone. We are going to start looking for back up college or HS students for days that it is extremely difficult to take off and that our after school program is also closed for camp. Work isn't a luxury for our family.

It doesn't work if you don't try.

We tried a similar situation in the summer to avoid camp every week. Many children of drastically different ages together didn't work well. The kids were ok for a couple of hours. 9 hours together was too much for everyone. Maybe if everyone only has 1 child and or they are close in age it would be different. We have 2 children 3 years apart and other families we know here also have multiple children.

A whole week is very different from a random snow day.