QOTD 1-28-13

[sarahisis]

What is your take on the school closings? Do you think, at this point schools should be open and parents have that option... should there be a set temp that schools have to abide by for closing?

[onlyoneboy]

I think schools should be open with the option of parents to DROP their kid off at school. That way parents can still work and they don't have to worry about kids waiting for buses. If you can't drop your kid off then stay home and it is excused.

[ladyandrearose]

I really think it should be up to the parents. If I feel I can get my child to school safely, she should be able to go. Likewise if a parent decides it is too dangerous they should be allowed to keep their child home without recriminations. I think the schools would be surprised at how many would show up.

[apryllraye87]

Since I don't have the ability to drive my son to school (I leave for work long before school starts) I prefer that he stays home. However, I have back-up childcare because he goes to daycare in the morning and gets on the bus there. So if he doesn't have school I just pay her extra and he stays there for the day. I bundle him up but he is 6 and thinks he doesn't need gloves/hats or to zip up his jacket and I don't trust that he would do these things while waiting for the bus or if the bus were to break down.

For other parents that don't have other childcare options I think that if they have the ability to drive their kids to school, it should be open.

The part that is also difficult is that many parents bundle up their kids before sending them off. However, some parents do not. It worries me that there might be children who are not properly dressed walking around outside, or on a cold bus, as a result of their parent and not their own choice.

[cissy]

I am ok with the school closings and both of my kids get picked up at the driveway. What would happen if the bus broke down, what if the child got off at the wrong stop and had to walk the rest of the way home. I would rather have the days off so I knew my kids were safe. I counted the days and Anoka/Hennepin has 170 school days this year and they need to have 165, as long as I have counted correct we will not have to make any days up yet, still if they have more days off they can add a day here or there, take out some of the not important days off or add to the schedule.
I think the schools are playing it safe and they should, if the kids went to school and got stuck out side too long and got frost bite parents are going to start having issues with the schools and possibly suing them due to them having to go. To me it is easier to keep them home.

[bunsy]

I mostly agree with cissy. A lot of kids would be fine headed to school. But there are too many kids with flaky parents, parents who leave for work early, or are totally responsible for themselves in the morning. I've heard too many stories of kids found walking to school underdressed or waiting for buses that don't come. It just isn't a risk worth taking.

[dara1012]

It's a hard decision and I don't think any of the school administrators are taking it lightly.

Our district was open today. Even though the bus stop is 40 ft from our front door and we could have sat in the warm car waiting, DH drove DS into school.

We are fortunate that we can either drive him or have him home and it doesn't effect our income. He also is a kid who is willing to wear hat, mittens, scarf, etc.

There are many kids whose parents can't afford the warm clothing that is needed, or who can't wait until school starts to drop kids off or keep them warm while waiting for the bus. It is hard to balance the needs of all the parents and kids. I am not sure what the right answer is either way. But I don't fault the schools for erring on the side of caution.

[sarahisis]

I can see it both ways... it definitely can be dangerous for walkers and bus stop kids, especially if the bus is unreliable. We don't have to deal with that quite yet.. if ever.

But I can also understand those parents who pay a fortune for preschool and even daycare and they close with the district they are in... They are mostly brought in by parents. We've lost out on a lot of time... and today it seemed that Preston was starting over with going back to school. He's only been 3 times not including today since mid December. His teacher said he was looking a little lost in routine and being really weird like rolling on the floor. lol I just hope were not canceled again! I think that there is a point where it should be up to the school... as long as they are respectful and understanding of parents who choose to keep their kids home.

[sharon]

Sometimes it's the domino effect that closes preschools too. If too many of their staff have school age kids then they can't keep legal ratios.

I've been on both sides of this and know these are not decisions made lightly. A lot goes into it and half the people are mad no matter what they do. We have all had to go to our three schools the last two days and I've been fine with that but would have been fine if it had gone the other way too.