Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 10:03     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yesterday I saw a metro bus and a semi both stuck navigating corners with high snow piles. It seems like most roadway entrances are much more narrow making bus driving really tough out there.


It must be really hard for them. If only MCPS had an option to close schools due to the difficult conditions for buses but keep offices open so child care can operate given everything else is open and people are expected to go to work (unless you work for MCPS then you won't so much as send an email)


Keep sending those emails.

And looking for new childcare.


There are zero providers aside from a private nanny (and part time nannies are not only expensive but difficult to find) that drop kids of at or pick up kids from our school.


Have you done anything since you started complaining last year to solve your problem?

Backup childcare on days MCPS is closed? Anything?


DP. We don't owe you our backup to the backup childcare plan. Thankfully we are aging out of this next year, but I would like MCPS to confirm and explain the policy change. As others have explained, this does not just affect MCPS based childcare, it affects and causes confusion for other childcares that have traditionally followed MCPS admin offices. MCPS has seemingly changed their policy but I have yet to see clear communication documenting and justifying the change. You seem to think parents and providers should just accept the disrespect and confusion and move on but no, it's not acceptable.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 10:02     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m nervous about my high school kids losing a week before APs since they are already really far behind. Wish those teachers could email out the assignments so kids could get ahead. It’s going to be brutal when they get back.


I agree that MCPS teachers should send out homework at least. Seems like they have been instructed not to do any work though.


Why aren’t more people talking about this? One DC is at W HS and the other is at private. Private school kid was given a freebie snow day on Monday, but had work Tuesday and will again today—it amounted to roughly four hours of wreading, writing, prepping for an upcoming lab, and problem sets. I get that it’s the start of the new term and many students have a new teacher even but that shouldn’t impact teachers’ ability to assign work. Not blaming the teachers as I am aware this is an mcps issue vs individual issue, but frankly it’s pathetic.

I understand the upset about childcare for those with younger kids but why aren’t families with MS/HS students more upset that there kids aren’t being asked to do anything academic?


So you want more free labor from teachers.


That’s ridiculous. Teachers are still getting paid, even with the snow day. And sending out a few assignments is hardly a crushing work load.

Yes, teachers got paid for the one snow day, but that is it. And their professional day for grading was taken away. They won't get that time back. And if you think it is that easy to send out a few assignments, then you should be able to go online and print off a couple of activities for your kid. They are on your time now, you need to take care of them.


I don’t understand why you say you are not being paid and your professional day for grading was taken away. I assume you had lessons planned for this week so why is it crazy to ask why teachers don’t posted some sort of assignment for HS kids this week? Like read x-y in book etc.


This has been explained but I will explain it again. We are now on day 2 of regular school that has been canceled. That means we will be making up 2 days in June. If we receive pay for those 2 days this week, we are not going to be paid to teach on those 2 June days. As for the professional day, no we will not make it up. It’s just gone.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 10:01     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m nervous about my high school kids losing a week before APs since they are already really far behind. Wish those teachers could email out the assignments so kids could get ahead. It’s going to be brutal when they get back.


I agree that MCPS teachers should send out homework at least. Seems like they have been instructed not to do any work though.


Why aren’t more people talking about this? One DC is at W HS and the other is at private. Private school kid was given a freebie snow day on Monday, but had work Tuesday and will again today—it amounted to roughly four hours of wreading, writing, prepping for an upcoming lab, and problem sets. I get that it’s the start of the new term and many students have a new teacher even but that shouldn’t impact teachers’ ability to assign work. Not blaming the teachers as I am aware this is an mcps issue vs individual issue, but frankly it’s pathetic.

I understand the upset about childcare for those with younger kids but why aren’t families with MS/HS students more upset that there kids aren’t being asked to do anything academic?


So you want more free labor from teachers.


That’s ridiculous. Teachers are still getting paid, even with the snow day. And sending out a few assignments is hardly a crushing work load.

Yes, teachers got paid for the one snow day, but that is it. And their professional day for grading was taken away. They won't get that time back. And if you think it is that easy to send out a few assignments, then you should be able to go online and print off a couple of activities for your kid. They are on your time now, you need to take care of them.


I don’t understand why you say you are not being paid and your professional day for grading was taken away. I assume you had lessons planned for this week so why is it crazy to ask why teachers don’t posted some sort of assignment for HS kids this week? Like read x-y in book etc.


My lessons planned for this week were basically get to know you type activities because I have like 25% new kids I have never seen before. We weren’t planning on doing anything real until next week.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:59     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Good. Sucks for parts but good call. Many streets haven't even see a plow, too cold to move snow and I bet many teachers are bonding out yet. Many school lots (from friends pictures) are not clean either.


Many lots are cleared and they could let the child care providers decide if they could open in those cases but MCPS doesn't care


None of the downcounty schools in my area are cleared. They prioritized the meal distribution school sites, which makes sense.

It is what it is. I approve the decision from a safety standpoint, but I really wish there was virtual learning for high schoolers: AP exams are in May and the College Board doesn't care how many days schools were closed.



I noticed that, and wondered why they didn't choose to clear a downcountry's school lot for food distribution.


Because they calculated that there are more hungry kids around the food distribution sites. Downcounty, especially to the west, is mostly economically stable.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:56     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m nervous about my high school kids losing a week before APs since they are already really far behind. Wish those teachers could email out the assignments so kids could get ahead. It’s going to be brutal when they get back.


I agree that MCPS teachers should send out homework at least. Seems like they have been instructed not to do any work though.


Why aren’t more people talking about this? One DC is at W HS and the other is at private. Private school kid was given a freebie snow day on Monday, but had work Tuesday and will again today—it amounted to roughly four hours of wreading, writing, prepping for an upcoming lab, and problem sets. I get that it’s the start of the new term and many students have a new teacher even but that shouldn’t impact teachers’ ability to assign work. Not blaming the teachers as I am aware this is an mcps issue vs individual issue, but frankly it’s pathetic.

I understand the upset about childcare for those with younger kids but why aren’t families with MS/HS students more upset that there kids aren’t being asked to do anything academic?


So you want more free labor from teachers.


That’s ridiculous. Teachers are still getting paid, even with the snow day. And sending out a few assignments is hardly a crushing work load.

Yes, teachers got paid for the one snow day, but that is it. And their professional day for grading was taken away. They won't get that time back. And if you think it is that easy to send out a few assignments, then you should be able to go online and print off a couple of activities for your kid. They are on your time now, you need to take care of them.


I don’t understand why you say you are not being paid and your professional day for grading was taken away. I assume you had lessons planned for this week so why is it crazy to ask why teachers don’t posted some sort of assignment for HS kids this week? Like read x-y in book etc.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:54     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yesterday I saw a metro bus and a semi both stuck navigating corners with high snow piles. It seems like most roadway entrances are much more narrow making bus driving really tough out there.


It must be really hard for them. If only MCPS had an option to close schools due to the difficult conditions for buses but keep offices open so child care can operate given everything else is open and people are expected to go to work (unless you work for MCPS then you won't so much as send an email)


Keep sending those emails.

And looking for new childcare.


There are zero providers aside from a private nanny (and part time nannies are not only expensive but difficult to find) that drop kids of at or pick up kids from our school.


Have you done anything since you started complaining last year to solve your problem?

Backup childcare on days MCPS is closed? Anything?


I wonder why you are trying to shut people up
Are you one of the central office workers enjoying your vacation this week?


So nothing?
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:53     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m nervous about my high school kids losing a week before APs since they are already really far behind. Wish those teachers could email out the assignments so kids could get ahead. It’s going to be brutal when they get back.


I agree that MCPS teachers should send out homework at least. Seems like they have been instructed not to do any work though.


Why aren’t more people talking about this? One DC is at W HS and the other is at private. Private school kid was given a freebie snow day on Monday, but had work Tuesday and will again today—it amounted to roughly four hours of wreading, writing, prepping for an upcoming lab, and problem sets. I get that it’s the start of the new term and many students have a new teacher even but that shouldn’t impact teachers’ ability to assign work. Not blaming the teachers as I am aware this is an mcps issue vs individual issue, but frankly it’s pathetic.

I understand the upset about childcare for those with younger kids but why aren’t families with MS/HS students more upset that there kids aren’t being asked to do anything academic?


So you want more free labor from teachers.


That’s ridiculous. Teachers are still getting paid, even with the snow day. And sending out a few assignments is hardly a crushing work load.

Yes, teachers got paid for the one snow day, but that is it. And their professional day for grading was taken away. They won't get that time back. And if you think it is that easy to send out a few assignments, then you should be able to go online and print off a couple of activities for your kid. They are on your time now, you need to take care of them.


I do not understand what you are saying. They aren’t docking teachers salaries for this week right? Then they are getting paid. And how was their grading day taken away? Why can’t you do the grading from home? We all worked from home Monday and Tuesday (I’m on metro now heading into the office).
I just would really like the HS teachers to send out an email saying — the next reading assignment will be pages x-y in the book, the reading guide is available here: “. Or “the next unit for Spanish class will be food and restaurants. The vocab list is here and the quizzes are here.” The kids are all going to have to do double work next week to make up — why can’t they get started on th reading this week?


Teachers aren't paid the way you think they are. They get a set amount of money for the school year and are expected to work a certain number of days. The pay is divided among the number of paychecks they will receive - and some elect to have their checks spread over 10 months and others over 12. So, come the end of the year when they have to work those extra days because they are off today and tomorrow, they will not receive additional pay and they will be working beyond the number of contracted days if they have to work today and tomorrow. All that means is that their work schedule is shifted from today and tomorrow to days later in June and by asking them to work today and tomorrow, you are asking that they work for free because it would be beyond the contracted days for which they are paid.


So are they going to add a grading day at the end of the year after grades have already been turned in? I'm not following.


Still confused about this notion that teachers have "lost a grading day" - are you all going to be forced to go in at the end of the year to do nothing to make up for it?
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:51     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yesterday I saw a metro bus and a semi both stuck navigating corners with high snow piles. It seems like most roadway entrances are much more narrow making bus driving really tough out there.


It must be really hard for them. If only MCPS had an option to close schools due to the difficult conditions for buses but keep offices open so child care can operate given everything else is open and people are expected to go to work (unless you work for MCPS then you won't so much as send an email)


Keep sending those emails.

And looking for new childcare.


There are zero providers aside from a private nanny (and part time nannies are not only expensive but difficult to find) that drop kids of at or pick up kids from our school.


Have you done anything since you started complaining last year to solve your problem?

Backup childcare on days MCPS is closed? Anything?


Go eat a lemon, you're tiring
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:50     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Opening some childcare centers and not others would be very inequitable. What about people who live upcounty and get their streets plowed last.

Just because your neighborhood is prioritized first, doesn't mean that everything should be able to revolve around you.


I honestly can't tell- is this post a joke?


No it's not. Just reflect and think. People need to understand that this is MCPS, in all CAPS. It's not just your own bubble that dictates these decisions. Have some heart.


Child care programs inherently aren't "equitable" in the way you're trying to use the term. You have to pay to
use them.

Should we close down all child care programs until they're universally accessible?


That's how it should be for childcare that is non-MCPS run. It makes sense that if MCPS is closed, then activities in MCPS buildings should be closed. Everyone around the county pays to use childcare programs. Why should the child care near you be open while less privileged families are unable to send their children to childcare due to unplowed roads and schools?


If Taylor wants that to be the policy, then he should say that. But Montgomery County and neighboring counties have never taken the all-or-nothing approach to paid child care.


Mcps is closed due to safety. You need a back up plan. What do you do holidays and summers?


I pay for child care, just like I am right now. Except the child care I'm paying for isn't being allowed to operate.


Apparently on top of the 600$ a month we pay for childcare, including for backup care when schools are closed, we need to find a good backup to our backup care which MCPS won’t let operate.


+1. Totally ridiculous.


Isn’t every childcare in the county closed right not? They all follow MCPS. The two childcare programs in my neighborhood are shut down.


Many independent off-site childcares used to follow MCPS office closures-- open when offices were open even when schools were closed, but closed when MCPS offices are closed.

Now that Taylor is letting central office staff have a paid snow day off every single time schools are closed and there's no "offices open but schools closed" status anymore, private child care providers are having to change their approach because schools are generally closed for so long for each weather event. Not all of them have made the pivot yet (especially since Taylor has not officially announced that he is no longer using the Code Orange "offices open, schools closed, child care programs in schools allowed to open based on local discretion" status anymore) but more and more of them are. They know it doesn't make sense for private businesses to stay closed for however long it takes to get 200+ MCPS schools cleared out after every storm.

Code Orange used to be a good guideline for when it was safe and reasonable for most workers to be out on the streets, and so they let MCPS handle that decisionmaking for them. But if they're never going to use it, it isn't anymore.


+1 it's really embarrassing that the county government is completely open, not even liberal leave, and MCPS won't open offices so people can get childcare. They probably feel really proud of themselves for sticking it to families and workplaces which is just pathetic


Yeah, my kid goes to a pre-school (not in an MCPS building) that follows MCPS policy. With this particular storm, the roads seem bad enough in many places that the preschool may have closed at least for Weds even if they made the decision independently. But I'm not sure about Thurs and possibly Fri, and I wish MCPS was trustworthy in setting a sensible policy to follow.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:50     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Good. Sucks for parts but good call. Many streets haven't even see a plow, too cold to move snow and I bet many teachers are bonding out yet. Many school lots (from friends pictures) are not clean either.


Many lots are cleared and they could let the child care providers decide if they could open in those cases but MCPS doesn't care


None of the downcounty schools in my area are cleared. They prioritized the meal distribution school sites, which makes sense.

It is what it is. I approve the decision from a safety standpoint, but I really wish there was virtual learning for high schoolers: AP exams are in May and the College Board doesn't care how many days schools were closed.



I noticed that, and wondered why they didn't choose to clear a downcountry's school lot for food distribution.


That would require foresight and communication.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:50     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

These wicked Arctic blasts are reaching us because the polar vortex is dislodged from its historic pattern. Sign of the future.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:47     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Good. Sucks for parts but good call. Many streets haven't even see a plow, too cold to move snow and I bet many teachers are bonding out yet. Many school lots (from friends pictures) are not clean either.


Many lots are cleared and they could let the child care providers decide if they could open in those cases but MCPS doesn't care


None of the downcounty schools in my area are cleared. They prioritized the meal distribution school sites, which makes sense.

It is what it is. I approve the decision from a safety standpoint, but I really wish there was virtual learning for high schoolers: AP exams are in May and the College Board doesn't care how many days schools were closed.



I noticed that, and wondered why they didn't choose to clear a downcountry's school lot for food distribution.
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:39     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yesterday I saw a metro bus and a semi both stuck navigating corners with high snow piles. It seems like most roadway entrances are much more narrow making bus driving really tough out there.


It must be really hard for them. If only MCPS had an option to close schools due to the difficult conditions for buses but keep offices open so child care can operate given everything else is open and people are expected to go to work (unless you work for MCPS then you won't so much as send an email)


Keep sending those emails.

And looking for new childcare.


There are zero providers aside from a private nanny (and part time nannies are not only expensive but difficult to find) that drop kids of at or pick up kids from our school.


Have you done anything since you started complaining last year to solve your problem?

Backup childcare on days MCPS is closed? Anything?


I wonder why you are trying to shut people up
Are you one of the central office workers enjoying your vacation this week?
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:38     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yesterday I saw a metro bus and a semi both stuck navigating corners with high snow piles. It seems like most roadway entrances are much more narrow making bus driving really tough out there.


It must be really hard for them. If only MCPS had an option to close schools due to the difficult conditions for buses but keep offices open so child care can operate given everything else is open and people are expected to go to work (unless you work for MCPS then you won't so much as send an email)


Keep sending those emails.

And looking for new childcare.


There are zero providers aside from a private nanny (and part time nannies are not only expensive but difficult to find) that drop kids of at or pick up kids from our school.


Have you done anything since you started complaining last year to solve your problem?

Backup childcare on days MCPS is closed? Anything?
Anonymous
Post 01/28/2026 09:36     Subject: Mcps no school wed and thursday

I already pay $1300 monthly for 2 kids' school onsite aftercare, and I do not justify and do not want to pay an extra $160-$200 for 2 kids "per day" to an offsite day camp that are opened now. Good thing that I am allowed to ask to work from home with unexpected situations happen like that even though my kids are pretty much on screentime all days and drive me nuts. I know a few offsite offer day camp today and tomorrow like gynmastic, dance, and others. If needed, I will just suck up and pay to send them there even though the kids would rather stay home.