Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 11:58     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
I walked my son to his MCPS elementary this AM, saw no problems other than slightly more traffic (but not epic traffic.) Saw plenty of teachers and kids already there. Drove into my office in downtown DC, again saw no problems and actually had a quick ride. Anyone who can't drive in an inch of snow needs to learn - that is normal conditions for this area and you can't demand that the world shut down for perfectly normal weather conditions.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 11:47     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
Anonymous wrote:Maryland is not made up of former new englanders. There are people from all over the world who don't know how to drive in snow and think they can. We also have a climate of our job is so important we have to get to work no matter what. Yes a delay would have been helpful. I have heard reports of several school bus accidents, really bad traffic, and teachers who have turned around to go home, for their own safety, to try again later. Which means your child really won't be learning much because the school will be trying to find coverage for all the classes missing a teacher, not to mention subs who decided not to pick up jobs because they didn't have to. So adjust to being in Maryland or go back to New England where people know how to drive, and there are never any weather related accidents.


Well put, pp. I hate all those people from up North, Chicago or wherever talking about us like we're weenies. Just go back where you're from if it's so great.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 11:30     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:A delayed opening would have afforded the teachers more time to get to school. My HS child had no teachers for the first two periods . . .


Well your high school's teachers should have left their homes a little earlier then.


I teach HS. My colleague left his house at 5:30am and didn't get here utnil 7:45.

how much earlier should he have left?!?!?!!?!?
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 11:29     Subject: Re:Shocked there's no delay
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's a matter of MSA's next week. MoCo is loathe to miss any prep time.

And I should have imposed my own delay. Good thinking PP.


MoCo doesn't care about MSAs this year. I'm an MCPS ES teacher and had taken off today for a couple of doctor's appointments. Already got the call that my sub cancelled this morning, and my principal called to see if I could come in anyway because at 8:30, half the staff either hasn't shown up or called to say they would not be in by the time school starts.

Sitting in the doctor's office now, and yeah, roads and conditions were far worse than what MCPS usually tolerates for on-time openings. Surprised there wasn't a delay.


hahahahahaha
I'm sure your boss would love to hear that MoCo doesn't care about MSAs this year. Funny, because MSA prep has been the focus of the learning at my son's MS all month. Pray tell, why doesn't MoCo care about MSA's this year? I would LOVE to hear this one.


It's not aligned to the new curriculum and there is a state-wide petition to not even take it this year because the test, and its results, are irrelevant because of this. Twenty-two school districts, including MCPS, have asked permission to not give it but Gov. O'Malley has denied the request. And yes, many principals share this sentiment (at least in elementary--can't speak for middle schools). When they switch to PARCC next year, everyone will surely go back into full test-prep mode.


So, PP, she answered your question. I guess by your silence you LOVE her response?
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 11:26     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
Anonymous wrote:A delayed opening would have afforded the teachers more time to get to school. My HS child had no teachers for the first two periods . . .


Well your high school's teachers should have left their homes a little earlier then.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 11:08     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
A delayed opening would have afforded the teachers more time to get to school. My HS child had no teachers for the first two periods . . .
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 11:08     Subject: Re:Shocked there's no delay
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:It's a matter of MSA's next week. MoCo is loathe to miss any prep time.

And I should have imposed my own delay. Good thinking PP.


MoCo doesn't care about MSAs this year. I'm an MCPS ES teacher and had taken off today for a couple of doctor's appointments. Already got the call that my sub cancelled this morning, and my principal called to see if I could come in anyway because at 8:30, half the staff either hasn't shown up or called to say they would not be in by the time school starts.

Sitting in the doctor's office now, and yeah, roads and conditions were far worse than what MCPS usually tolerates for on-time openings. Surprised there wasn't a delay.


hahahahahaha
I'm sure your boss would love to hear that MoCo doesn't care about MSAs this year. Funny, because MSA prep has been the focus of the learning at my son's MS all month. Pray tell, why doesn't MoCo care about MSA's this year? I would LOVE to hear this one.


It's not aligned to the new curriculum and there is a state-wide petition to not even take it this year because the test, and its results, are irrelevant because of this. Twenty-two school districts, including MCPS, have asked permission to not give it but Gov. O'Malley has denied the request. And yes, many principals share this sentiment (at least in elementary--can't speak for middle schools). When they switch to PARCC next year, everyone will surely go back into full test-prep mode.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 11:01     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
Buses came late. Principal showed up late. Teachers came late. Everyone was late today. It was unavoidable because Montgomery County failed to treat the roads in advance.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 10:59     Subject: Re:Shocked there's no delay
Anonymous wrote:I almost got hit 2 times by drivers who were going too fast for the conditions. One minivan could not stop as she was traveling down a hill. I saw her coming, so I stopped to let her run the stop sign and watched as she plowed into a neighbor's yard. Another Mercedes must have thought it was the Daytona 500 and was weaving between cars and almost hit me head on in front of the Elementary school. In that situation, I tried stopping (even though I was on my side of the road) but was sliding with the antilock brakes kicking in. He missed me by only inches.

A delayed opening would have helped a lot. The roads are almost clear now.

A delayed opening would have only possibly helped the elementary schools. The HS and MS students just would have been on the roads instead at the time the ES were on the road.

Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 10:56     Subject: Re:Shocked there's no delay
I almost got hit 2 times by drivers who were going too fast for the conditions. One minivan could not stop as she was traveling down a hill. I saw her coming, so I stopped to let her run the stop sign and watched as she plowed into a neighbor's yard. Another Mercedes must have thought it was the Daytona 500 and was weaving between cars and almost hit me head on in front of the Elementary school. In that situation, I tried stopping (even though I was on my side of the road) but was sliding with the antilock brakes kicking in. He missed me by only inches.

A delayed opening would have helped a lot. The roads are almost clear now.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 10:52     Subject: Re:Shocked there's no delay
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My HS DC had a self imposed delay - overslept because we assumed there would be a delay so missed first period. But at least where we are the roads are fine, DC had no trouble getting to school, and a 2 hour delay would have meant more snow rather than less. Our street is clear and has not been treated.

Overall if they were going to have school today I think they needed to do it on time. And cancelling really isn't a good option at this point - these kids need to go to school.

Unless you live on a main road, where is there a "clear" street?


I'm in Bethesda. My neighborhood street is clear. It was clear when I went out at 8 this morning and is clear now. I didn't drive down every street in my neighborhood this morning but they seemed mostly clear curb to curb. There is definitely snow on the grass and sidewalks of course.

I'm just glad DC is in school.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 10:19     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
I briefly glanced outside the window and see the snow is still coming down. How would a 2 hour delay have helped anything today?
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 10:16     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
Let's see. The weather forecast called for snow beginning before dawn and lasting a few hours. 1 - 2 inches forecast for the lower county and 1 inch for the upper county.

Smart parents would plan to get up a half an hour early and get a head start on what MIGHT be a tricky commute.

Stupid parents get up at the regular time, look outside and see snow, and then take to the Internet to whine about the decision of the school system.

God help the next generation.
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 10:13     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am surprised b/c this would have been a closing 1 month ago. I know the MSA's are next week, so I am wondering if that is related, but who knows.

The problem for me is that my middle school kid will likely get in late while I dust off the car and drive slow to school.

I think your problem is wasting your time on DCUM.

LOL Seriously, your kid is going to be late because you have to dust the car off? Good lord. How about you get your face out of the screen typing away like a whiny kid and leave with enough time to get there on time. Is anyone not accountable for themselves anymore?? Kids lead by example.


+ 1,000,000

Either stay home or allow time to get there. The End
Anonymous
Post 02/26/2014 10:05     Subject: Shocked there's no delay
Our bus never showed up either. I suppose we could have waited all day for it to "eventually" arrive, but after 20+ minutes of waiting, we drove the kids. Based on the loooong line of cars at school, our bus wasn't the only one missing in action.
As I look out my window at about 2 inches of snow and the snow continuing to come down, I am baffled that there was no delay. Yes, some roads are slippery and I don't think this was a good call. What is the afternoon drive going to look like?? Bad call MCPS!