I'm going to offer a suggestion to APS. Their current policy is that closure/delay announcements are made at 5:00 or not at all. So the default is that we should all assume that school will start on time if they haven't announced a delay by that time. On a day like today, where some people were getting notices indicating that a delay was possible or probable, that information should be posted on the website. A simple "we are assessing conditions and an announcement will be made shortly" would have been easy to post and would not have committed anyone to anything. At 6:00 a.m., well after the established announcement time, the APS website was unequivocally stating that APS was operating on time. I'm all for announcing a delay and being flexible if conditions are deteriorating and it's a tough call, but why not have a notification system that reflects that the decision making remains fluid?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This really sucked, because I didn't get any "planning delay email." I foolishly relied on the website, which at 6:15 was still saying things were on time. For those of us who use early extended day, this resulted in a drive to the school. A drive home. And what will soon be a drive back to the school. Such a waste of time and the roads were totally fine.

C'mon, that's on you. Check ARLNow from now on in the morning, they post the Arlington school delays and closings. You leaving the house when there was an announced delay is totally on you.

? I guess, but I was already in the car when they announced the delay, so I would have had to be checking the internet in the car. Next time I'll try that, I guess.

Anonymous wrote:This really sucked, because I didn't get any "planning delay email." I foolishly relied on the website, which at 6:15 was still saying things were on time. For those of us who use early extended day, this resulted in a drive to the school. A drive home. And what will soon be a drive back to the school. Such a waste of time and the roads were totally fine.

C'mon, that's on you. Check ARLNow from now on in the morning, they post the Arlington school delays and closings. You leaving the house when there was an announced delay is totally on you.

Can Arlington do anything right anymore? Will the last person to leave please shut off the LEED certified lights.

This really sucked, because I didn't get any "planning delay email." I foolishly relied on the website, which at 6:15 was still saying things were on time. For those of us who use early extended day, this resulted in a drive to the school. A drive home. And what will soon be a drive back to the school. Such a waste of time and the roads were totally fine.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely delay. Will reassess about closing at 7.

Agree. They confirmed delay and if weather deteriorates, they may close.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely delay. Will reassess about closing at 7.

No, they will reassess the DELAY at 7. To wit:

"At this time, based on the current weather forecast and conditions, Arlington Public Schools plans to open two hours late today. We are going to continue to monitor the weather with APS road crews evaluating road conditions throughout the county and we will reassess the status of a delayed opening within the next two hours. We will reconfirm our status for today's operations by 7 a.m. Please check for an update at that time to confirm our operations status has not changed due to deteriorating road conditions."

Probably the most aggravating communication ever. I wake my middle-schooler at 6:45. Do I get her up or not? I'm guessing not.

I still read that as reassess about closing since at 7 they are going to check it hasn't changed 'due to deteriorating road conditions'. I guess we'll know in 8 minutes!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely delay. Will reassess about closing at 7.

No, they will reassess the DELAY at 7. To wit:

"At this time, based on the current weather forecast and conditions, Arlington Public Schools plans to open two hours late today. We are going to continue to monitor the weather with APS road crews evaluating road conditions throughout the county and we will reassess the status of a delayed opening within the next two hours. We will reconfirm our status for today's operations by 7 a.m. Please check for an update at that time to confirm our operations status has not changed due to deteriorating road conditions."

Probably the most aggravating communication ever. I wake my middle-schooler at 6:45. Do I get her up or not? I'm guessing not.

Better than FCPS. They just closed and there is no snow outside.

APS Website at 6:30 now says 2-hour delay.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely delay. Will reassess about closing at 7.

No, they will reassess the DELAY at 7. To wit:

"At this time, based on the current weather forecast and conditions, Arlington Public Schools plans to open two hours late today. We are going to continue to monitor the weather with APS road crews evaluating road conditions throughout the county and we will reassess the status of a delayed opening within the next two hours. We will reconfirm our status for today's operations by 7 a.m. Please check for an update at that time to confirm our operations status has not changed due to deteriorating road conditions."

Probably the most aggravating communication ever. I wake my middle-schooler at 6:45. Do I get her up or not? I'm guessing not.

Better than FCPS. They just closed and there is no snow outside.

It's like a parody of bureaucratic writing. I would give it an F.

Anonymous wrote:Definitely delay. Will reassess about closing at 7.

No, they will reassess the DELAY at 7. To wit:

"At this time, based on the current weather forecast and conditions, Arlington Public Schools plans to open two hours late today. We are going to continue to monitor the weather with APS road crews evaluating road conditions throughout the county and we will reassess the status of a delayed opening within the next two hours. We will reconfirm our status for today's operations by 7 a.m. Please check for an update at that time to confirm our operations status has not changed due to deteriorating road conditions."

Probably the most aggravating communication ever. I wake my middle-schooler at 6:45. Do I get her up or not? I'm guessing not.

Definitely delay. Will reassess about closing at 7.

I don't even understand what they mean. Does it mean we definitely have a delay, and they're going to reassess whether to close? Or is it possible we won't have a delay at all?

What?

According to 4:45 am email. But won't confirm until 7 am.

SMH.