MCPS closing/delaying on Monday?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is closed today. My doctors office was closed yesterday and also today. Yet, only MCPS is getting a torrent of abuse for being closed. Why such double standards?

I do not see a "torrent of abuse". I see out my window that the roads are fine right now, yet I expect there to be no school tomorrow.

And teachers will take the blame for that, even though they have absolutely no control over school closures.

And my roads aren’t fine. We had a plow come through midday yesterday, and now it is a packed sea of snow and ice.

Same here. It's like that for two blocks until we get to a road that goes out of the neighborhood. That road is plowed out to major roads.

It was fine. It was a slow 2 blocks, but drivable.

Why do you think you can't drive on snow?

Why are you being so condescending? Many people here are not from upstate New York or New England and are not used to driving in snow and ice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is closed today. My doctors office was closed yesterday and also today. Yet, only MCPS is getting a torrent of abuse for being closed. Why such double standards?

I do not see a "torrent of abuse". I see out my window that the roads are fine right now, yet I expect there to be no school tomorrow.

And teachers will take the blame for that, even though they have absolutely no control over school closures.

And my roads aren’t fine. We had a plow come through midday yesterday, and now it is a packed sea of snow and ice.

Same here. It's like that for two blocks until we get to a road that goes out of the neighborhood. That road is plowed out to major roads.

It was fine. It was a slow 2 blocks, but drivable.

Why do you think you can't drive on snow?

Why are you being so condescending? Many people here are not from upstate New York or New England and are not used to driving in snow and ice

DP my parents have never lived in NY or New England or anywhere with a lot of snow or ice and they can drive in the snow. They just use common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is closed today. My doctors office was closed yesterday and also today. Yet, only MCPS is getting a torrent of abuse for being closed. Why such double standards?

I do not see a "torrent of abuse". I see out my window that the roads are fine right now, yet I expect there to be no school tomorrow.

I'll be shocked if school opens thursday.

Agree MCPS needs to build in more snow days to begin with. Seems like they try to have it both ways- say they don't have the resources/capability to clear parking lots, etc. but the schedule doesn't redlect that.

Except the parking lots are already cleared.

The MCPS middle school in my neighborhood (Olney) has snow covered parking lots. The sidewalks have been cleared on the property, but no snow plow has cleared them yet.

Hopefully the PM building services workers will take care of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I am loving about this thread is that it shows MCPS cannot please everyone. We have people complaining that the school is closed, that there is not virtual option, and kids are missing a day of school work. And we have people complaining that teachers emails work assignments to students on a snow day—“contact the principal” someone suggested.

DCUM posters never fail to disappoint.

The consensus from parents seems to be that schools should quickly schedule a meaningful make-up day that occurs as soon as possible.

Really? OK, try getting a consensus on when the make up day should be. It is always the same. People complaining that the way things are being done is wrong, but so solutions offered.

We already picked the days. If people don't like them, take it up on next year's calendar. 1/29 is the obvious choice.

When is the final grading and report card stuff supposed to happen? Do you have an answer for that? MCPS knows that teachers do real work on 1/29. If they make it a school day, schools will probably house kids in the auditorium and show movies so teachers can get their shit done. That might be just fine with some folks who are looking for free babysitting

From a supervision standpoint, I don’t think middle schools will do that, but individual teachers may need to show movies in their classrooms. The fact that parents would rather have that on 1/29 than mid June is telling about priorities.

Or they could teach.

Shut off the internet and have the principal and APs verifyiny there's no movie playing. Apparently we can't trust teachers to be professionals.

Are you slow? They’ll be doing the grading that was supposed to be taking place that day.

And who is “we?” Because you’ll be “shutting off” nothing.

Ok, but it's designated as a potential makeup day. Guys, if you don't want these days to potentially become instructional days, I urge you to submit your feedback on the calendar to MCPS and ask them to build more actual snow days into the school year. Until they do, this is just the way it is.

Exactly. We need more snow days built-in from the start, and we need to automatically select the next available make-up day if we go over.

I disagree that the next available day should be automatically selected. Some makeup days are better to use than others, and the decision should be made deliberately.

This.

There are consequences to all decisions. The decision to use a grading day when there are other days available is going to have negative consequences on students.

Everything has negative consequences. Do you want to single out a specific religious group by selecting their holiday as the make up? Doesn't sound positive to me. Also, if you don't select the next available day, you could lose the option permanently when it passes. Then you have even fewer options when the next storm comes. It's smart to use the next available day because it ensures you have the ones after that also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WHY Can't Maryland change to 1000 HOURS requirements instant of 180 days? It work for VIRGINIA SCHOOLS

Help me understand how this will make a difference

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I am loving about this thread is that it shows MCPS cannot please everyone. We have people complaining that the school is closed, that there is not virtual option, and kids are missing a day of school work. And we have people complaining that teachers emails work assignments to students on a snow day—“contact the principal” someone suggested.

DCUM posters never fail to disappoint.

The consensus from parents seems to be that schools should quickly schedule a meaningful make-up day that occurs as soon as possible.

Really? OK, try getting a consensus on when the make up day should be. It is always the same. People complaining that the way things are being done is wrong, but so solutions offered.

We already picked the days. If people don't like them, take it up on next year's calendar. 1/29 is the obvious choice.

When is the final grading and report card stuff supposed to happen? Do you have an answer for that? MCPS knows that teachers do real work on 1/29. If they make it a school day, schools will probably house kids in the auditorium and show movies so teachers can get their shit done. That might be just fine with some folks who are looking for free babysitting

From a supervision standpoint, I don’t think middle schools will do that, but individual teachers may need to show movies in their classrooms. The fact that parents would rather have that on 1/29 than mid June is telling about priorities.

Or they could teach.

Shut off the internet and have the principal and APs verifyiny there's no movie playing. Apparently we can't trust teachers to be professionals.

Are you slow? They’ll be doing the grading that was supposed to be taking place that day.

And who is “we?” Because you’ll be “shutting off” nothing.

Ok, but it's designated as a potential makeup day. Guys, if you don't want these days to potentially become instructional days, I urge you to submit your feedback on the calendar to MCPS and ask them to build more actual snow days into the school year. Until they do, this is just the way it is.

Exactly. We need more snow days built-in from the start, and we need to automatically select the next available make-up day if we go over.

I disagree that the next available day should be automatically selected. Some makeup days are better to use than others, and the decision should be made deliberately.

This.

There are consequences to all decisions. The decision to use a grading day when there are other days available is going to have negative consequences on students.

Everything has negative consequences. Do you want to single out a specific religious group by selecting their holiday as the make up? Doesn't sound positive to me. Also, if you don't select the next available day, you could lose the option permanently when it passes. Then you have even fewer options when the next storm comes. It's smart to use the next available day because it ensures you have the ones after that also.

Why are you so obsessed with make up days? Make up days are inefficient and not much learning takes place. Give it up already.

[Anonymous]

2 hour delay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is closed today. My doctors office was closed yesterday and also today. Yet, only MCPS is getting a torrent of abuse for being closed. Why such double standards?

I do not see a "torrent of abuse". I see out my window that the roads are fine right now, yet I expect there to be no school tomorrow.

And teachers will take the blame for that, even though they have absolutely no control over school closures.

And my roads aren’t fine. We had a plow come through midday yesterday, and now it is a packed sea of snow and ice.

Same here. It's like that for two blocks until we get to a road that goes out of the neighborhood. That road is plowed out to major roads.

It was fine. It was a slow 2 blocks, but drivable.

Why do you think you can't drive on snow?

Why are you being so condescending? Many people here are not from upstate New York or New England and are not used to driving in snow and ice

That's something they should work on themselves, not bringing down others because they're scared of frozen water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is closed today. My doctors office was closed yesterday and also today. Yet, only MCPS is getting a torrent of abuse for being closed. Why such double standards?

I do not see a "torrent of abuse". I see out my window that the roads are fine right now, yet I expect there to be no school tomorrow.

And teachers will take the blame for that, even though they have absolutely no control over school closures.

And my roads aren’t fine. We had a plow come through midday yesterday, and now it is a packed sea of snow and ice.

Same here. It's like that for two blocks until we get to a road that goes out of the neighborhood. That road is plowed out to major roads.

It was fine. It was a slow 2 blocks, but drivable.

Why do you think you can't drive on snow?

The issue is that the BUSES cannot drive on snow. The majority of kids in our school travel by school bus each day. If the buses cannot safely transport these kids, school will be closed or delayed.

I just drove to an appointment in Rockville. My street (which intersects with a main road) is the only street that has been plowed so far. That surprised me, but I assume they will finish the rest today, because there’s no way that school buses will be allowed on those streets.

The main roads are plowed, but the melted snow will re-freeze tonight and be icy early in the morning, I imagine. Based on past experience with MCPS, I’m guessing two hour delay.

Buses absolutely can drive on snow. They're heavy. Who told you they can't?

Good question. Over the years I’ve heard that the reason they close so often is due to the buses. And one time they stayed open and there was an accident (I can’t remember the details but it was in recent years). Am I wrong?

I have heard its because we don't have heated bus bays like they do up north, and the busses can't run well because the engines and/or oils are not able to heat up properly. Maybe that's another myth...

They don't have heated bus bays in the north either. Where do you think they'd get the money for that?

And that's a temperature issue, not a snow issue. 17F is warm enough to not have to do anything special with diesel engines. It will start fine, but you'll want it to run for a few minutes before you drive. In northern states, they have school when it starts out below zero. That creates bigger challenges and that's where I would expect MCPS to have problems with their buses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The federal government is closed today. My doctors office was closed yesterday and also today. Yet, only MCPS is getting a torrent of abuse for being closed. Why such double standards?

I do not see a "torrent of abuse". I see out my window that the roads are fine right now, yet I expect there to be no school tomorrow.

And teachers will take the blame for that, even though they have absolutely no control over school closures.

And my roads aren’t fine. We had a plow come through midday yesterday, and now it is a packed sea of snow and ice.

So the abuse hasn't happened? You are just expecting it? What will that look like? Troll posts on DCUM?

This was just a couple pages ago:

“Or they could teach. Shut off the internet and have the principal and APs verifyiny there's no movie playing. Apparently we can't trust teachers to be professionals.”

Want me to keep digging? Because those sorts of comments are all over this thread. Let’s not play pretend. DCUM is very unfriendly toward teachers.

That wasn't vilifying teachers. That was in response to a comment saying that we shouldn't have school on the make-up day because teachers would just show movies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I am loving about this thread is that it shows MCPS cannot please everyone. We have people complaining that the school is closed, that there is not virtual option, and kids are missing a day of school work. And we have people complaining that teachers emails work assignments to students on a snow day—“contact the principal” someone suggested.

DCUM posters never fail to disappoint.

The consensus from parents seems to be that schools should quickly schedule a meaningful make-up day that occurs as soon as possible.

Really? OK, try getting a consensus on when the make up day should be. It is always the same. People complaining that the way things are being done is wrong, but so solutions offered.

We already picked the days. If people don't like them, take it up on next year's calendar. 1/29 is the obvious choice.

When is the final grading and report card stuff supposed to happen? Do you have an answer for that? MCPS knows that teachers do real work on 1/29. If they make it a school day, schools will probably house kids in the auditorium and show movies so teachers can get their shit done. That might be just fine with some folks who are looking for free babysitting

From a supervision standpoint, I don’t think middle schools will do that, but individual teachers may need to show movies in their classrooms. The fact that parents would rather have that on 1/29 than mid June is telling about priorities.

Or they could teach.

Shut off the internet and have the principal and APs verifyiny there's no movie playing. Apparently we can't trust teachers to be professionals.

Are you slow? They’ll be doing the grading that was supposed to be taking place that day.

And who is “we?” Because you’ll be “shutting off” nothing.

Ok, but it's designated as a potential makeup day. Guys, if you don't want these days to potentially become instructional days, I urge you to submit your feedback on the calendar to MCPS and ask them to build more actual snow days into the school year. Until they do, this is just the way it is.

Exactly. We need more snow days built-in from the start, and we need to automatically select the next available make-up day if we go over.

I disagree that the next available day should be automatically selected. Some makeup days are better to use than others, and the decision should be made deliberately.

This.

There are consequences to all decisions. The decision to use a grading day when there are other days available is going to have negative consequences on students.

What day would have fewer negative consequences on students?

We all know days added to the end of the year are a joke. We also know students (and probably teachers) would skip any make-up days added over spring break, making those similarly worthless. That leaves 1/29 and 3/31. Assuming we close tomorrow, there's a good chance we'll close at least one more day this winter, meaning we'll need both days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WHY Can't Maryland change to 1000 HOURS requirements instant of 180 days? It work for VIRGINIA SCHOOLS

Help me understand how this will make a difference

DP. I was a student in Virginia when they made that change. I think basically as long as students have been in school for a minimum number of hours, they don’t have to make up excessive snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WHY Can't Maryland change to 1000 HOURS requirements instant of 180 days? It work for VIRGINIA SCHOOLS

Help me understand how this will make a difference

DP. I was a student in Virginia when they made that change. I think basically as long as students have been in school for a minimum number of hours, they don’t have to make up excessive snow days.

Yes. MCPS more than meets the minimum hours requirement for instruction, but Maryland also has 180 days minimum. So we have to make up days missed, even if we meet the hours. In years past (pre-Hogan) they used to get waivers from the state using the hours justification. More recently the state has not been generous about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the moment, we don’t have any days to make up. The state typically waves days of school missed when under a state of emergency.

Give teachers their work day to submit grades. It’s a no brainer.

The state doesn't waive days for snow. We saw that last year. If we close tomorrow, we're going to need a make-up day.

They have in the past.

State law says that schools must use 3 make-up days before even considering a waiver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:WHY Can't Maryland change to 1000 HOURS requirements instant of 180 days? It work for VIRGINIA SCHOOLS

Help me understand how this will make a difference

MCPS’ school day exceeds the minimum length required by law. If we miss days, the excess in minutes covers any inclement weather days. If you end up short minutes, you can just extend school by 10/15 minutes instead of adding days.