My babysitter is closed (she has power lines in her driveway, a leaking roof, and no power) and the schools in my county closed again tomorrow. All of the businesses are open, and I'm confused as to why they are closing for two days again. Irene came through here on Saturday. If there are a few schools that have no power or dangerous situations, why not just close those and not the whole county? My husband stayed home today, but tomorrow is his last day on his contract before he starts a new one on Wednesday - so he needs to go in. I started a new job last week, and thank God they give us 3 floating holidays that I need to use by the end of December, or I'd lose a LOT of money tomorrow since I have no other leave yet. So what do you all think of them closing schools again when only a few are really impacted? I'm annoyed, even though some of my friends are annoyed that I'm annoyed - if that makes sense. OBVIOUSLY safety first!! Not saying I want anyone in harm's way, just saying the county should exercise some common sense in this case.
I'm going to have to take off tomorrow...but DC and Montgomery County both closed only certain schools today, and I'm willing to bet they do the same tomorrow. It just doesn't make sense to me that if ONE school in the whole county isn't working right that they all close. Safety first of course, but hearing that they are talking about a 3rd day on Wednesday is getting to be a bit much!
they close schools by county so the whole county is on the same schedule. So you don't' end up with this school in and that one out. Also there might be dangerous situations that wouldn't allow some of the kids that attend some of the schools to get to them.
I am not where you are but have grown up and am now a parent of school age kids in an area with a HUGE county that has school cancellations for weather many winters. Because the county is so huge there is not a realistic possibility of saying the following schools are out... and the following schools are in session... Here when school is cancelled doe to weather it is pretty much a dangerous commute for all in the county but I am sure there are parts who get mad everytime because they can make it through, don't have backup care, or whatever other reason to be mad about it. Sorry to hear about the inconvenience but it will pass soon enough. Is having the kids with a neighbor a possibility or working from home for the day or a portion of it possible either?
Our schools are closed as well. The way it was explained to me is that there are still downed trees and power lines and that makes it a hazard for the buses to pick up children. So unless all routes are open for the buses, they will not resume school.
In my area schools open as emergency shelters for people that have lost power, house isn't safe, flooding, etc they can't be open to kids if they have residents sleeping on cots there. If one is being used they all close so that stay on the same schedule. Do you have a friend you trust that could babysit for you?
I think it would be difficult to coordinate make up days if only certain schools are closed. It would be hard to coordinate school bus routes and what not. They may want to wait until all the roads are clear and noone puts themselves or kids in danger trying to get to school. These are just my assumptions.
Well I'd say the big response is halfway political. Yes it was a small hurricane. I've been through a lot worse. But DC is not set up and prepared like we are in Florida. I'm not sure what age your child is but maybe she can have a play date at some friends house? Do you trust this lady to come sit at your house? If they have issued a state of emergency then you would be in your right to maybe bring your kid to work with you or stay home another day.
If she is licensed she cannot be open without power it is against the law to provide care for children in a child care setting if you don't have basic power. If your employers don't understand then perhaps you need to start looking for ones that understand a hurricane caused damage that is out of your control..
Where I grew up, schools closed on a school by school basis.
Listening to the tv/radio for snow closings was something that took a long time, but it was quite a build up when you FINALLY heard that your school was closed.
The schools in the DC area are set up so it's all or nothing for a whole county.
I can't tell you how many times Loudoun county would close because the western end of the county had a bit of snow or ice, but the rest of the county from Leesburg to the Fairfax county line was just fine.
It's just extremely inefficient.
In the mean time, if you can't find a relative who can watch the kids, try finding a drop in day care (Kindercare or something like that) where they can take your kids for a day.
It's not ideal, but some parents (if the kids are older) will drop them off at a library for a day (or leave them home alone) and it's SUCH a dangerous practice I don't know what they could be thinking.
I've heard such horrible stories about this I'm surprised the librarians don't call CPS for child abandonment more often.
