School Closings

everyone wishes the roads were clear, it makes like a lot difficult.
i hadn't even gone into work today. i felt it was too dangerous to drive, and it has.
a lot of car problems, with either crashes, or getting stuck.

 

Just find it hard to believe that folks keep comparing NOVA to upstate NY. It's not, never will be. We don't drive exceptionally in snow and as a collection of folks from all over the country/world....never will.

 

Myth: "I know how to drive in snow." We have lived in Green Bay and many northern cities. Everyone up north who lives in the "south" claims they know how to drive in snow. BS. It's different up north. They have the budgets and plows to clear the roads. We never had a problem driving in Green Bay. But no one can drive on the ice we had in Atlanta and NC. You hit the wrong spot and it doesn't matter how much experience you have.

Kids are better off not being in school anyway. They can learn so much more outside of school if we take the time to teach them. Plus, it's a great part of being a kid. So enjoy the days off!!

 

I agree. I love hanging with the kids. In fact my last "zero risk" contemplation was taking some very young kids up a very difficult mountain. It was a sketchy at times, and many people would say too dangerous. I felt that the experience (the outdoors and the physical accomplishment), was worth it. They talk about that hike to this day.

 

Loudoun County schools will be closed tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 16 as well:

http://cmsweb1.loudoun.k12.va.us/loudoun/site/default.asp

FYI, you can register to have a text message alert sent to your cell phone as soon as the closing/delay is announced:

https://alert.loudoun.gov/index.php?CCheck=1

 

Schools closing again on Friday!!! I agree that safety is paramount, but three days for an ice storm (one that arguably, was only moderate) is a bit much!

 

that's totally ridiculous! if they just plowed and salted the roads properly, there would be no reason to close school...

 

Have you driven the one lane roads in Western Loudoun County recently??? They do not get plowed or salted and children do need to be picked up and put on a school bus that would not be able to drive well on these roads.

 

It's partly the icy sidewalks where the kids have to walk and wait for buses. I dig the snow and cold, but am having trouble doing the 3-mile walk with the puppy on this ice

 

I wonder if they have given any thought to dividing the Loudoun Cty district in half, just for weather reasons. It seems kind of silly to have our kids at home because the kids 30 miles away can't get to school.

 

It's not just kids who live 30 miles away. Just a few miles away in Leesburg, my parent's neighborhood is awful - VDOT did a horrible job and I imagine you will find similar conditions in areas very close to us. On Fox 5 news tonight, they were at Stone Bridge HS showing the conditions of the roads into the school and the surrounding sidewalks, which were still very icy. That's just down the road from us so it seems the school's decision is not just because of "western" loudoun.

 

They did try that, or worked on the plan, many many moons ago. Apparently, one of the problems was a pay issue for the teachers/staff.

To me, it sounds like a logistical nightmare.

 

It's also difficult for the teachers to get to work. I don't have the figures and don't know if they exist but because of housing prices, there are lots of teachers who live outside the county, commuting in from West Virginia and surrounding localities. My daughter's teacher last year lived in Charles Town and one of her teachers this year is out in Haymarket. Believe me, I know how hard it is having the kids out of school but I'd rather play it safe with ice than not.

 

That's why they have substitute teaches....where I'm from = they close schools according to the school district.....and have done that for years.....it always worked. So - it doesn't look like temps are getting any warmer over the weekend...what's the plan now...are they going to work on getting rid of the ice over the weekend so kids can get back to school on Tues.?? I just can't believe VDOT and how they deal with snow around here.....it's not like they NEVER get snow...if this were Atlanta, I could understand...OK - I've vented enough about - it's never going to change.

 

Everyone should walk out their front door and look at the sidewalks... could a child walk safely on the sidewalk in front of your house to school or the school bus stop? I know on my street that would be impossible and the children would have to walk in the road.

Isn't there an HOA rule about clearing your sidewalks by a certain time? How is this enforced? What if a child fell on an uncleared sidewalk... couldn't the homeowner be sued?

 

It's a County law - you must have your sidewalk shoveled within 24 hours of the storm. I am a daily walker and my husband and I were out walking last night...unbelievable how many people DON't shovel their sideswalks. Here's one way the county could get extra money....by ENFORCING this law. Last year - I talked to someone at the County about this and they said it's impossible to enforce......I'd gladly volunteer to give addresses......

 

It is not an HOA rule it is a county rule. And I am not sure how the county enforces it as most of the snow removal equipment belongs to the state. But give Steve Snow's office a call and see what they do to enforce their policies.

Staci

 

When I called Snow's office - I was told that they don't have the manpower to enforce.....WHAT???? There's lost $$$ for the County.....

 

I've also noticed that common area sections are not cleaned off either .... so are homowners supposed to go out and clean those trails? Or was HOA supposed to do that? How are the kids going to walk those trails and sidewalks to school?