What is Jack Dale thinking?

[Anonymous]

With many roads and sidewalks still impassable all over the county, I cannot believe Jack Dale is willing to risk the safety of the children who walk and ride school buses. I will not be sending my child to school tomorrow out of concern for her safety, but am still worried sick that this is a terrible accident waiting to happen. If you feel the same PLEASE email [e-mail] and let him know that the safety of our children is the MOST important thing!

[Anonymous]

VA Public Schools Forum, please!

With that said, the county is in a tough spot. If they close schools, parent will be up in arms, and if they open them, they have complainers like you. You are doing what you can for your family and other parents will do what's best for them.

[Anonymous]

PP here. I expect the roads and sidewalks to remain like this for weeks. Are you proposing that schools not open until everything is clear? When do you think you'll be sending your child to school?

[Anonymous]

OP - drive your child to school then.

[Anonymous]

I think we all know the conditions are less than favorable. But I have to agree with the other posters, what do you expect them to do? How long can we keep them out of school? The temps are supposed to warm up later this week, but then they are going to get cold again with another chance for snow.

I think if you are going to complain to Jack Dale you should be able to offer a reasonable alternative. You will have better luck with your argument if you can offer a solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I expect the roads and sidewalks to remain like this for weeks. Are you proposing that schools not open until everything is clear? When do you think you'll be sending your child to school?

I agree. I think parents need to make the decision that is best for them and their child(ren). If you don't feel comfortable sending your child to school, don't. But like the PP said, the roads are likely to be like this for weeks, there has to be a time when school reopens again.

[Anonymous]

I am quite certain Jack Dale is aware of the dangers and is even more nervous than the OP (think of the liability). As other PPs have noted, these conditions are going to last for quite some time and you can't simply shut school down. I got an automated voicemail from him and it urged parents to make sure their children were able to get to school safely. I even think he mentioned keeping them home if a safe route or option was unavailable.

OP -- are you unable to drive your child to and from school to make sure they get there and home safely? Perhaps a carpool could be worked out in your neighborhood?

[Anonymous]

We drive to school every morning since my kids are in morning SACC. They normally take the bus home, but I'll be picking them up at dismissal until the roads/sidewalks/bus stop situation is a bit better.

[Anonymous]

We shoveled out our bus stop so the kids have a safe place to stand, back from the road, and the sidewalk from the bus stop to our house was cleared days ago. I would not let my kids go to the bus stop if they had to walk in the street, but they will go down our driveway to the sidewalk, and down to the corner, via the sidewalk, to their bus stop. I also checked out the school parking lot and bus loading area today and those are clear as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am quite certain Jack Dale is aware of the dangers and is even more nervous than the OP (think of the liability). As other PPs have noted, these conditions are going to last for quite some time and you can't simply shut school down. I got an automated voicemail from him and it urged parents to make sure their children were able to get to school safely. I even think he mentioned keeping them home if a safe route or option was unavailable.

OP -- are you unable to drive your child to and from school to make sure they get there and home safely? Perhaps a carpool could be worked out in your neighborhood?

What liability does the school district have?? Is FCPS responsible from your doorstep to school--no way! They are responble for education not private homeowners who are not clearing their sidewalks.

[Anonymous]

I am the poster you quoted and I completely agree with you!!! However, we all know that if a child is injured tomorrow morning, it is likely to be argued that the county should not have opened at all.

[Anonymous]

I used to live in Chicago and I'd walk to school in two feet of snow, four miles uphill, in a blizzard--all the time.

It will be some time before everything is "clear." Parents must use good judgement. In most cases, there is a safe way for kids to get to school. Some parents will need to consider alternate modes of transportation and even consider keeping children at home. Everybody else can go.

Caution kids about walking on ice.

Hopefully, with a little common sense nobody will get seriously hurt and schools will be open just fine.

[Anonymous]

Seroiusly OP-what are YOU thinking??

Parents should be ultimately responsible for getting their kids to school safely-not the FCPS bureaucrats! Give me a break!