Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 18:31     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Just received this message:
A message from FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Fairfax County Public Schools is monitoring the weather for any impacts to school operations tomorrow, Monday, January 8.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for early tomorrow afternoon that forecasts a wintry mix for Fairfax County, with either freezing rain or rain that will freeze on contact with very cold ground surfaces.
An update will be provided by 5:15 a.m.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 18:29     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Come on! This is getting ridiculous.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 18:23     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Anonymous wrote:They're not prepping you for early dismissal, they're prepping you for closure. Schools do not like to dismiss elementary students early - no guarantee there's anyone there to receive them. So they close.


Thanks to irresponsible parents.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 18:22     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Nooooo!
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 18:21     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Fairfax County Public Schools is monitoring the weather for impacts to school operations tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 8. A Winter Weather Advisory for early tomorrow afternoon forecasts a wintry mix, with either freezing rain or rain that will freeze on contact. An update will be provided by 5:15 a.m.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 18:21     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
I remember early dismissals were not that unusual years ago but those were the days before they were trying to hold onto a pre-Labor Day start waiver.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 18:13     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
They're not prepping you for early dismissal, they're prepping you for closure. Schools do not like to dismiss elementary students early - no guarantee there's anyone there to receive them. So they close.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 17:59     Subject: Re:Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I'm just concerned about a repeat of the situation that happened several years ago in the south when schools remained open because the snow was not expected until after the school day ended. Welp! Snow doesn't follow directions or come on our schedule and schools had to close early. It was an absolute NIGHTMARE trying to get the kids home. Traffic was insane and several people were stuck in schools for HOURS. After that, schools in that area closed no matter what time the bad weather was expected. Snow at 9 pm? Don't open schools that day. I believe it was in Atlanta, but I'm sure everybody knows what I'm talking about. FCPS doesn't want the lawsuits and families don't need the hassle. Furthermore, it's likely to be below zero at bus stop time anyway.


You’re using Atlanta’s random disastrous weather day as an example for why schoolshould be shutdown?? Come on. Go do your homework. Or your lesson plans.


ABSOLUTELY! OF COURSE! We're supposed to learn from disasters no matter where they take place. Don't be foolish.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 17:48     Subject: Re:Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Anonymous wrote:I'm just concerned about a repeat of the situation that happened several years ago in the south when schools remained open because the snow was not expected until after the school day ended. Welp! Snow doesn't follow directions or come on our schedule and schools had to close early. It was an absolute NIGHTMARE trying to get the kids home. Traffic was insane and several people were stuck in schools for HOURS. After that, schools in that area closed no matter what time the bad weather was expected. Snow at 9 pm? Don't open schools that day. I believe it was in Atlanta, but I'm sure everybody knows what I'm talking about. FCPS doesn't want the lawsuits and families don't need the hassle. Furthermore, it's likely to be below zero at bus stop time anyway.


You’re using Atlanta’s random disastrous weather day as an example for why schoolshould be shutdown?? Come on. Go do your homework. Or your lesson plans.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 17:45     Subject: Re:Will FCPS ever Reopem?
I'm just concerned about a repeat of the situation that happened several years ago in the south when schools remained open because the snow was not expected until after the school day ended. Welp! Snow doesn't follow directions or come on our schedule and schools had to close early. It was an absolute NIGHTMARE trying to get the kids home. Traffic was insane and several people were stuck in schools for HOURS. After that, schools in that area closed no matter what time the bad weather was expected. Snow at 9 pm? Don't open schools that day. I believe it was in Atlanta, but I'm sure everybody knows what I'm talking about. FCPS doesn't want the lawsuits and families don't need the hassle. Furthermore, it's likely to be below zero at bus stop time anyway.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 17:41     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I promise you, it takes A LOT to get an unscheduled early dismissal. This advisory begins at 3pm when the temperature will be hovering around the freezing mark. By that point, half of the county (all middle & high schools) have dismissed. That leaves the elementary schools. My guess is that dismissal will be on-time with a cancellation of all afternoon & evening activities. These events tend to get worse as the sun goes down.


My son is in elementary school and his bus drops him off at about 5 pm on days he rides the bus home. Our stop is the last one on the route. School dismisses at 4:05. Tons of kids ride the bus, so it takes a while and there is a lot of very busy roads near our home & school.


They should just close tomorrow.

Schools would have to be released early in order for the buses to get to the elementary school earlier so they can get home earlier.

Besides, there's no telling when the dangerous conditions will begin and no one wants to be on the roads once they do.

FCPS has like 10,000 snow days built into the school year so no harm no foul.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 17:31     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Anonymous wrote:I promise you, it takes A LOT to get an unscheduled early dismissal. This advisory begins at 3pm when the temperature will be hovering around the freezing mark. By that point, half of the county (all middle & high schools) have dismissed. That leaves the elementary schools. My guess is that dismissal will be on-time with a cancellation of all afternoon & evening activities. These events tend to get worse as the sun goes down.


My son is in elementary school and his bus drops him off at about 5 pm on days he rides the bus home. Our stop is the last one on the route. School dismisses at 4:05. Tons of kids ride the bus, so it takes a while and there is a lot of very busy roads near our home & school.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 17:00     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why is the NWS making this call now? How about some heads up so we could prepare for possible. I could have brought my work home Friday!!!!


Read page 5 of this thread. It’s not a new discussion. It’s changed a little but freezing rain has been a topic.



I've been following and it's been said it would be too warm for ice/snow.


Obviously not following the national weather service. NWS has been predicting ice on Monday for days now. The only thing that has changed with them is the timing (before noon and after five was the preediction last week, switching to mid day now).

The other sites like weather .com etc had a different forecast but the NWS has been very consistent that it will ice on Monday.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 16:54     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I promise you, it takes A LOT to get an unscheduled early dismissal. This advisory begins at 3pm when the temperature will be hovering around the freezing mark. By that point, half of the county (all middle & high schools) have dismissed. That leaves the elementary schools. My guess is that dismissal will be on-time with a cancellation of all afternoon & evening activities. These events tend to get worse as the sun goes down.


There are also very recent memories of disruptive ice storms. I think in sending out the warning today, they are preparing us for the possibility of closing early.


Who is "they?" FCPS has sent nothing about this weather event. The information quoted here has come from the National Weather Service. It's their job to report on the weather as they get information so that citizens can be safe in whatever they are doing. If today happened to be Saturday, the NWS would have still sent out this warning, even though there is no school or rush hour on a Sunday. They would have simply taken out the part about the Monday evening "commute." You're making it sound like they posted this warning because they know school is back in session tomorrow.
Anonymous
Post 01/07/2018 16:39     Subject: Will FCPS ever Reopem?
Anonymous wrote:I promise you, it takes A LOT to get an unscheduled early dismissal. This advisory begins at 3pm when the temperature will be hovering around the freezing mark. By that point, half of the county (all middle & high schools) have dismissed. That leaves the elementary schools. My guess is that dismissal will be on-time with a cancellation of all afternoon & evening activities. These events tend to get worse as the sun goes down.


There are also very recent memories of disruptive ice storms. I think in sending out the warning today, they are preparing us for the possibility of closing early.