What do we think will happen on Monday?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Pp here. We haven’t seen a plow for days. The street next to ours is plowed much better than ours. We only have one lane cleared and the area where our bus stop is has 8 feet of ice. It is like all the snow got pushed to that corner.

Plows are ineffective at this point. You’d need heavy construction equipment to break through. If people still think school should be closed tomorrow, they’re effectively saying it should be closed for the next several weeks.

I can drive my kids to school and would prefer school be open.

I can still acknowledge it isn’t safe for kids and buses.

It is what it is. Things aren’t changing for weeks. Canceling school tomorrow would be irrelevant to a longer term solution.

I don’t think a bus could make a turn on our street with the mountain of ice. Add in cars on opposite sides.

I hope school opens but if they do, there will definitely be some bad bus outcomes.

Then they need to figure out alternatives. Mountains of ice will take absolutely the longest to clear. You’re looking at March.

I already said I can and will drive my kids to school.

My oldest is in high school. A decade ago, we had a huge snow event and school was closed for two weeks. Our street was cleared by day 2. Fcps said roads out in western fcps weren’t cleared.

This time, our street still is in very poor condition. Can’t imagine how bad all those other streets out there where parents probably aren’t on dcum are.

Our new governor is doing a terrible job managing Vdot snow removal. She must be too busy signing all those new taxes, which ironically will add additional taxes to home maintenance and yardwork, including snow removal.

[Anonymous]

The optics of a full on closure would be horrible. I could see a 2 hour delay (and it might be a good thing honestly), but a closure when everything else is open, people are out and about, back at work, kids are back at activities, and there is no threat of snow/severe weather other than possibly a dusting mid-week? I’m very skeptical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A pedestrian died yesterday in Centreville - “Officers are on scene of a death investigation near Route 29 and Rydell Road in Centreville. Preliminarily, an adult male has been found unresponsive near the roadway.”

Happens all the time, even in the summer

I read this comment and I think about the PP who said you are the reason we have a stupid president. It fits. No care for anyone but yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp here. We haven’t seen a plow for days. The street next to ours is plowed much better than ours. We only have one lane cleared and the area where our bus stop is has 8 feet of ice. It is like all the snow got pushed to that corner.

Plows are ineffective at this point. You’d need heavy construction equipment to break through. If people still think school should be closed tomorrow, they’re effectively saying it should be closed for the next several weeks.

I can drive my kids to school and would prefer school be open.

I can still acknowledge it isn’t safe for kids and buses.

It is what it is. Things aren’t changing for weeks. Canceling school tomorrow would be irrelevant to a longer term solution.

I don’t think a bus could make a turn on our street with the mountain of ice. Add in cars on opposite sides.

I hope school opens but if they do, there will definitely be some bad bus outcomes.

Then they need to figure out alternatives. Mountains of ice will take absolutely the longest to clear. You’re looking at March.

I already said I can and will drive my kids to school.

My oldest is in high school. A decade ago, we had a huge snow event and school was closed for two weeks. Our street was cleared by day 2. Fcps said roads out in western fcps weren’t cleared.

This time, our street still is in very poor condition. Can’t imagine how bad all those other streets out there where parents probably aren’t on dcum are.

Our new governor is doing a terrible job managing Vdot snow removal. She must be too busy signing all those new taxes, which ironically will add additional taxes to home maintenance and yardwork, including snow removal.

This wins for stupidest comment. WE get it you're still hurt a democrat won.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The optics of a full on closure would be horrible. I could see a 2 hour delay (and it might be a good thing honestly), but a closure when everything else is open, people are out and about, back at work, kids are back at activities, and there is no threat of snow/severe weather other than possibly a dusting mid-week? I’m very skeptical.

I don’t care about the optics.

I care about the feasibility of putting normal school day traffic on these roads. Sure, I can get out and about. But I’m just one car. What happens when we put a couple thousand school busses on these one-way, narrow side roads? Add to that the tens of thousands of teacher and student/family cars? It’s a volume issue.

Of course we can’t stay closed until the ice melts. But I’m not going to sit here and pretend that we can just go back to normal operations considering what’s outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The optics of a full on closure would be horrible. I could see a 2 hour delay (and it might be a good thing honestly), but a closure when everything else is open, people are out and about, back at work, kids are back at activities, and there is no threat of snow/severe weather other than possibly a dusting mid-week? I’m very skeptical.

I don’t care about the optics.

I care about the feasibility of putting normal school day traffic on these roads. Sure, I can get out and about. But I’m just one car. What happens when we put a couple thousand school busses on these one-way, narrow side roads? Add to that the tens of thousands of teacher and student/family cars? It’s a volume issue.

Of course we can’t stay closed until the ice melts. But I’m not going to sit here and pretend that we can just go back to normal operations considering what’s outside.

Considering how the “snowcrete” won’t be melting until MARCH - yes, in practice, the two options are get on with it, however imperfect, or stay closed for a month.

[Anonymous]

We should be closed. We’ve only used 2.5 snow days. We started two weeks before Labor Day and are going until June 17. We can take another day off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 hour delay is almost certain for Monday, probably Tuesday as well. I doubt FCPS will be closed b/c of the PR problem, though I do worry about people getting hurt as the volume of people trying to navigate the snowcrete increases and more students (including youngkids walking/waiting for buses in the streets AND teen drivers) are out in the mix. Would be safest to stay closed Mon, delay opening Tues, and hope the increased temps make things safe from then on.

I don’t think we should keep schools closed/shortened so parents can avoid, you know, parenting. If its not safe for a teen to drive, the teens parents need to say they can’t drive and bring the kid to school themselves. If the bus stop is blocked parents need to either drive the kids or wait with them.

For all saying FCPS will get sued remember VA has contributory negligence.

It is perfectly safe for teens to drive.

Even the unplowed roads have had enough passes to make the residual ice chunky. The air is cold enough to prevent the chunky ice from becoming wet and slick. Chunky ice is very safe to drive on in this cold because your car can get traction as long as you don't drive or accelerate quickly. Ice driving becomes an issue when the ice is soft, wet, or flat, thin and glossy. The ice currently left on the roads is none of those things. It is hard, chunky and dry, which is very easy to drive on.

All of the main and secondary roads are bone dry and clear.

The roads all are clear enough for us to have school.

The only issues are parking, especially roadside parking, and sidewalks/bus stops which are often treacherous due to being unshoveled or covered with ice mounds.

The parking is an inconvenience.

The sidewalks and bus stops are a safety hazard.

Vdot needs to clear all the school bus stops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We should be closed. We’ve only used 2.5 snow days. We started two weeks before Labor Day and are going until June 17. We can take another day off.

Or, crazy idea here, we could send children to school to learn?

[Anonymous]

What is the point of kids lugging laptops to and from school? Just have them study from home. Learning isn’t a place, it’s a state of mind. Also the lanes aren’t wide enough for 2 lanes of traffic in some spots which can cause accidents. Kids walking in the streets with maniacs trying to get to work is a bad combination. Not to mention the buses are late or don’t come frequently and kids don’t even wear coats because they don’t have lockers. So either cancel, delay, or turn in school work from home.

[Anonymous]

We can talk about optics all we want but I just saw a picture of the state of the buses in my school’s lot…. Still buried in snow, ice on the roof, etc. I don’t even know if that physically can be resolved by tomorrow morning.

[Anonymous]

I disagree it’s safe for most teens to drive. Parking lot space is reduced from snow piles - easier to bump a car backing up. Medians and corners are piled up - harder to see if traffic is coming when making a turn. Streets are narrowed / easier to hit parked cars or not leave space for another car. I AM NOT SAYING this should mean schools close mind you. I am saying I’d be wary of many teens driving right now.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

I’m a teacher. I’ve worked every single day since the snow and ice started falling, including weekends. I’m taking a break from work now just to write this!
PLEASE follow me around for a day. Any day. Then tell me I do nothing.

I know mocking and insulting teachers is a sport on this site, but I’m tired of it. Find something better to do with your time. Go shovel out a narrow street. Then maybe we can get schools open and you can stop complaining about lazy teachers. Heck, this lazy teacher will even join you once I complete my plans for tomorrow.

Huh I’m not a teacher hater but confused. You had enough work to fill 3 8-hour days you would have been in school teaching? I presume you will say grading? If you are also working weekends, when would you have fit in all this grading if school had been open if you’re already working 7 days a week?

Grading is a second full time job for teachers.

How do you not know this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We should be closed. We’ve only used 2.5 snow days. We started two weeks before Labor Day and are going until June 17. We can take another day off.

To what end? How does Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, etc. look any different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Moreover - in all my years on this site, FCPS parents have shown themselves to be the most self-important and aggrieved about school closures, often demanding openings when NO other district does and griping at length about legitimate closures. Yet this majority of this thread is commentary of people saying their streets aren’t passable, sidewalks are blocked, how will people drive in reduced lanes, etc etc. If THAT is the tenor of the postings here, those concerns are almost certainly broadly shared by the people who are liable for school transportation-related injuries or accidents and are in charge of determining when/if it’s safe to open.

You never know who is posting on here. Could be Gatehouse or teachers posing as parents who just want another day off.

Really, grow up. Teachers enjoy snow days like anyone else but most of us are also parents so we want our kids back in school as much as anyone else AND I don’t think any of us are enthused about the idea of closures and the cascade of issues that come from things that have to be shifted as a result continuing into another week. There’s federal and state testing going on, remediation and prep for state testing that is coming, school events that aren’t easily moved. It’s so dumb and juvenile to just pretend teachers sit on here pretending to be something they’re not.

No, teachers get unearned PTO and are not required to find childcare during snow days, or go to work regardless of the conditions. No other profession gets that. You don’t enjoy snow days “like anyone else” and so please check your privilege.

I’m a teacher in my 20s who lives with roommates who are all consultants who can work remote. My roommates worked less this snow week than I did lol.

So your roommates aren’t either of the referenced groups— parents responsible for finding childcare or people required to go to work. Check your privilege because you’re contributing to the narrative of entitlement.

Calm down. You said “no other profession” enjoyed the snow days so I just pointed out that some of the highest paid professions in the area let you work from home. It’s bonkers to try to dunk on teachers as some privileged class in Fairfax County.

When it comes to wanting schools closed, teachers are a privileged class. They get to stay home and get paid for doing nothing!

I’m a teacher. I’ve worked every single day since the snow and ice started falling, including weekends. I’m taking a break from work now just to write this!
PLEASE follow me around for a day. Any day. Then tell me I do nothing.

I know mocking and insulting teachers is a sport on this site, but I’m tired of it. Find something better to do with your time. Go shovel out a narrow street. Then maybe we can get schools open and you can stop complaining about lazy teachers. Heck, this lazy teacher will even join you once I complete my plans for tomorrow.

Huh I’m not a teacher hater but confused. You had enough work to fill 3 8-hour days you would have been in school teaching? I presume you will say grading? If you are also working weekends, when would you have fit in all this grading if school had been open if you’re already working 7 days a week?

Grading is a second full time job for teachers.

How do you not know this?

It’s not for the vast majority of teachers but it is for some high school teachers. Appreciate the ones doing it.