Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even if no early dismissal ends up being the “right” call, it was the wrong call because it was a gamble that was not worth taking given the information available.

I kind of agree, they took a gamble and got lucky. Forecasts were showing them to be wrong.

Forecasts showed the temperature above freezing until long after ES dismissals. That is what they cited. By 10:30 when they confirmed their decision it was clear they were correct.

Anonymous wrote:Even if no early dismissal ends up being the “right” call, it was the wrong call because it was a gamble that was not worth taking given the information available.

Oh whatever. MCPS can't win. They get it right and it was still wrong!

Anonymous wrote:Even if no early dismissal ends up being the “right” call, it was the wrong call because it was a gamble that was not worth taking given the information available.

I kind of agree, they took a gamble and got lucky. Forecasts were showing them to be wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so glad to see MCPS making such a sensible call; I wish they took a reasonable approach more often. It seems the specter of another week of school in June has a positive effect.

Early closure has nothing to do with a missed day

There was no reason to shorten a day. This affects time available for tests and how much material can be covered in a day.

I’m surprised that MCPS made the right call.

We can say it was the right call when everyone is home without incident or traffic catastrophe at 5pm. They have really put themselves out on a limb here.

Even if no early dismissal ends up being the “right” call, it was the wrong call because it was a gamble that was not worth taking given the information available.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so glad to see MCPS making such a sensible call; I wish they took a reasonable approach more often. It seems the specter of another week of school in June has a positive effect.

Early closure has nothing to do with a missed day

There was no reason to shorten a day. This affects time available for tests and how much material can be covered in a day.

I’m surprised that MCPS made the right call.

+1
Very pleasantly surprised.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm so glad to see MCPS making such a sensible call; I wish they took a reasonable approach more often. It seems the specter of another week of school in June has a positive effect.

Early closure has nothing to do with a missed day

There was no reason to shorten a day. This affects time available for tests and how much material can be covered in a day.

I’m surprised that MCPS made the right call.

Very light snow just began in SE DC

Anonymous wrote:No snow yet in northern silver spring. I

Approaching from the south. Radar shows light snow in Fairfax County

Do I think it’s going to be icy or slippery at regular dismissal times? No not all.

Do I think purposely being the only school district to not close early to get their high school drivers, staff, bus drivers, and students and the student’s parents home before rush hour is smart? No not all

Yes it is excessive caution to close early BUT the more people off the roads at rush hour when it is coming in hard, the better. That is why many colleges and governments closed early too. We’ve seen massive thoroughfares (GW Parkway, 95, 270, etc…. get stuck for hours if not overnight when too many are on the road during heavy traffic and winter precipitation. Risking that is 10x worse than calling a delay for some leftover icy sidewalks or cold weather.

Not worth the risk.

Anonymous wrote:13:33 :
Has the MCPs board discussed and "authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization."?

• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s website.

• The county superintendent may decide to provide a day of virtual education (not less than four hours of synchronous instruction) only if the LEA has used all the days incorporated into its calendar for school closures for severe weather conditions."


Doesn't sound like a state thing.

Well, it is a "state thing" in that there is now state law governing this.
I think the bigger issue for MCPS is that they have to use all the identified make-up instruction days before they can do it. As discussed ad nauseum on a prior thread, the January and March dates were/are non-starters for MCPS, so there is no way they are using all the identified days. There is really no point in discussing it at the BOE level, given that they are not willing to use the identified make-up days.

No snow yet in northern silver spring. I

13:33 :
Has the MCPs board discussed and "authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization."?

• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s website.

• The county superintendent may decide to provide a day of virtual education (not less than four hours of synchronous instruction) only if the LEA has used all the days incorporated into its calendar for school closures for severe weather conditions."


Doesn't sound like a state thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Closed Wednesday, delayed Thursday, based on CWG forecast below. If it's colder than expected on Wed and it does NOT turn to rain, then closure Thurs.

Per CWG - "Snow could be heavy at times this evening before easing in the predawn hours. After a pause, a wintry mix develops Wednesday afternoon before turning to rain overnight."

Anne Arundel county for today:

"Due to the forecast for significant snowfall that could inhibit the safe transport of students home from schools in the afternoon, all AACPS schools will operate on virtual learning schedules on Tuesday, February 11."

"Could...Safe transport..." They got a virtual day and it hasn't started snowing. So, why was it that MCPS can't offer a virtual day to avoid adding more days at end of year?

I am confused about this becuase I thought it was the state that wouldn't allow a virtual day unless school was already closed for at least 2 weeks.

Here is the memo on virtual learning for this school year on the MSDE website: https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/Documents/2024/0123/Virtual-Education-for-Severe-Weather-Conditions-2024-2025-School-Year.pdf

This is from the executive summary:

Executive Summary
Senate Bill 610 Prinmary and Secondary Education – Virtual Education (Chapter 804) was passed by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor on May 28, 2023. § 7-103.2, a section of the legislation, defines a new set of allowarnces and requirements for Virtual Education for Severe Weather Conditions beginning with the 2024-2025 School Year. The general requirements of the new statute include:
• The county school board may authorize the use of virtual education days in severe weather conditions. Before this authorization is given to local school superintendents, the county school board must discuss this topic at an open meeting and vote affirmatively on the authorization.
• The county school board shall publish the county’s plan for virtual education on the LEA’s website.
• The county superintendent may decide to provide a day of virtual education (not less than four hours of synchronous instruction) only if the LEA has used all the days incorporated into its calendar for school closures for severe weather conditions.

In MCPS, to my knowledge, none of these conditions has been met. Maybe AACPS has done so.

Anonymous wrote:I'm so glad to see MCPS making such a sensible call; I wish they took a reasonable approach more often. It seems the specter of another week of school in June has a positive effect.

Early closure has nothing to do with a missed day