Anonymous wrote:Also the highest parts of Montgomery County are about 800 feet higher than the lowest parts. So it might be raining in Bethesda and Potomac, but sleeting/snowing/icing in Damascus. And MCPS can't close just the schools at the higher elevations.

Anonymous wrote:There are so many problems with this. Yes, its wrong for kids to tweet threats to anyone, including a public figure, and there should be consequences for kids that used any threats or racial comments.

However, it amazes me that Starr never took the opportunity to point out the larger problem with cyber bullying where kids in power use technology to hurt kids that are less powerful. This is truly harmful and a real problem in MCPS which MCPS does nothing to address. Is he so self absorbed that he only sees himself as a "parental figure" when kids in a less powerful position than he, act inappropriately toward him? He can't be bothered to do anything for kids who are real victims of constant bullying from those with more power then themselves?

There are have been several instances of sex offenders caught in MCPS on Starr's watch. Starr could have and should have sent a county-wide note about this..how to protect your children, what to watch for and how to talk to your child, apologizing that MCPS failed to act to protect these kids, and educating kids. Instead, Starr's PR team reacts to avoid or hope it doesn't get out. However if Starr is criticized then they fly into action scheduled press conferences and sending out county-wide email.

Its quite likely that the first post and quick "kudos to Starr" posts in fast succession are from his PR team. Everything he does aligns with the actions of someone who is more interested in self-promotion and establishing a name for himself than actually leading a large education system and serving students, parents and taxpayers.

Anonymous wrote:Road inspections start at 3am. It's rare any jurisdiction in this area, where winters tend to be mild, are made the day before. So much can be cleaned up overnight with light snows and freezing rain. It may have seemed miserable yesterday, but fine this morning. Maybe Fairfax closed unnecessarily. You never know.

Plus, MCPS has 200+ schools it needs to clear, sidewalks and parking lots, to ensure people are safe. I drove into Rockville today and many sidewalks aren't cleared yet. Do you want your kids walking and slipping to school with already-crazy drivers speeding by?

And ice can be more time and labor consuming to remove. If they cleared it yesterday afternoon, they'd have to come back and do a repeat in the early morning anyway. That costs $$.

Anonymous wrote:I want to know why Fairfax County can make a decision at a reasonable hour the day or night before, but MCPS has to wait until 4:34 am the day of to post closures. I think they love messing with us.

We moved to Montgomery County for so many reasons, and the schools were a huge draw for us. Sometimes I wonder if we'd been better off with Fairfax County schools. MCPS = SMH.