This is the problem with having a huge, County-wide school system. East of 95 and along 95 we’re getting nothing but a light rain. It’s 35 degrees out. I believe that people way out west and north experienced sleet/freezing rain, but in Springfield we got nothing. The students in this section of the county also tend to be lower SES and I’m sure they could have really benefited from having school today in so many ways.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo just called it for 2.5 hours early release. at least fcps gave us some heads up. it would be a pain to find out now and scramble to get kids.

I prefer the 2.5 hour early release. MCPS waited to make the decision until 10:30am and gave advance notice that they would do so at that time in advance. I had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. I feel bad for FCPS and LCPS working parents who are suffering through a 3rd day of unnecessary closings.

- MCPS working parent

MCPS dithered. The forecast didn't change. They could have made the decision at 5am. Why didn't they? Pure dithering.

Because the weather COULD have changed. Look it already did. FC barely got a thing. The radar shows nothing over our county. What a waste.

Anonymous wrote:Arlington also called early release. Got notification shortly after 9am. I appreciate this MUCH more than closing. I mean I got almost 7 hours of work in before DS came home .

Lucky! I wasted an entire vacation day for nothing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that it is parents; responsibility to feed children, but unfortunately we know that is not always happening and the children are the ones who do without. Also, I think at this point most workers have exhausted whatever flexibility they have.

Yes, this is reality for many. And going to work to keep job (or jobs!) and avoid getting kicked out of housing, etc. IS parenting, even if unfortunately it means you must leave the kids home alone and hope for the best.

Not everyone has the luxury of parenting by spending cozy snow days on enrichment and hot cocoa with their kids.

I know this is a side conversation but it gets me fired up when people are so insensitive and judgmental about other families' situations!

I think this is completely understandable. When schools are closed high schoolers are off. Perhaps there are some that would be happy to child sit?

Arlington also called early release. Got notification shortly after 9am. I appreciate this MUCH more than closing. I mean I got almost 7 hours of work in before DS came home .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why aren’t we expecting better? The weather is snowy every winter. Why aren’t we asking why it cannot be taken care of without having to cancel school?

That is how you take care of winter weather. What's the point of having forecasts if we just ignore them?

Ugh. If snow and cold are the norm, you plan so that generally you figger out how to keep stuff open during snow and cold.

Ooooh, its starting!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo just called it for 2.5 hours early release. at least fcps gave us some heads up. it would be a pain to find out now and scramble to get kids.

I prefer the 2.5 hour early release. MCPS waited to make the decision until 10:30am and gave advance notice that they would do so at that time in advance. I had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. I feel bad for FCPS and LCPS working parents who are suffering through a 3rd day of unnecessary closings.

- MCPS working parent

Yep, MCPS handled it well

Anonymous wrote:I agree that it is parents; responsibility to feed children, but unfortunately we know that is not always happening and the children are the ones who do without. Also, I think at this point most workers have exhausted whatever flexibility they have.

Yes, this is reality for many. And going to work to keep job (or jobs!) and avoid getting kicked out of housing, etc. IS parenting, even if unfortunately it means you must leave the kids home alone and hope for the best.

Not everyone has the luxury of parenting by spending cozy snow days on enrichment and hot cocoa with their kids.

I know this is a side conversation but it gets me fired up when people are so insensitive and judgmental about other families' situations!

See? MCPS can close early. FCPS Snowflakes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo just called it for 2.5 hours early release. at least fcps gave us some heads up. it would be a pain to find out now and scramble to get kids.

I prefer the 2.5 hour early release. MCPS waited to make the decision until 10:30am and gave advance notice that they would do so at that time in advance. I had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. I feel bad for FCPS and LCPS working parents who are suffering through a 3rd day of unnecessary closings.

- MCPS working parent

+1, from an FCPS parent. There shouldn't be there scrambling or logistical nightmare if the early closing is forewarned and decided/announced at a predetermined time. I get that it would be really tough to arrange for a sudden early closure announced mid-day with no notice. But being told the night before "we're monitoring and will announce a decision at 5:15 am" (or 10am or whatever), followed by an announcement at that time? There's no reason people need to scramble with that kind of advance notice, any more than we needed to scramble for the day off.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo just called it for 2.5 hours early release. at least fcps gave us some heads up. it would be a pain to find out now and scramble to get kids.

I prefer the 2.5 hour early release. MCPS waited to make the decision until 10:30am and gave advance notice that they would do so at that time in advance. I had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. I feel bad for FCPS and LCPS working parents who are suffering through a 3rd day of unnecessary closings.

- MCPS working parent

MCPS dithered. The forecast didn't change. They could have made the decision at 5am. Why didn't they? Pure dithering.

They prudently waited to see if the storm system changed. You should be asking what prompted Stafford to do a 2-hour delayed opening this morning instead of criticizing MCPS, which actually handled this in a reasonable manner.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MoCo just called it for 2.5 hours early release. at least fcps gave us some heads up. it would be a pain to find out now and scramble to get kids.

I prefer the 2.5 hour early release. MCPS waited to make the decision until 10:30am and gave advance notice that they would do so at that time in advance. I had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. I feel bad for FCPS and LCPS working parents who are suffering through a 3rd day of unnecessary closings.

- MCPS working parent

MCPS dithered. The forecast didn't change. They could have made the decision at 5am. Why didn't they? Pure dithering.

Anonymous wrote:MoCo just called it for 2.5 hours early release. at least fcps gave us some heads up. it would be a pain to find out now and scramble to get kids.

I prefer the 2.5 hour early release. MCPS waited to make the decision until 10:30am and gave advance notice that they would do so at that time in advance. I had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements. I feel bad for FCPS and LCPS working parents who are suffering through a 3rd day of unnecessary closings.

- MCPS working parent

I am praying that we have already experienced the coldest day of 2018.