School closed AGAIN tomorrow

[weirjf]

before everyone goes too far. my wife is a teacher, and in their messages they found out it is a transportation issue. the buses are diesels. they are either not starting or dying. even colowyoming said today he saw a lot of diesels on the road because the gelled up.
so unless you want your kids stranded on the side of the road in a poorly heated bus to begin with, then with no heat, you would probably appreciate having them at home for the day.

other kids have to walk to school. I have been out and about a few times today, not a problem walking I think, but there are also some kids who don't even have winter jackets. I know because I bought a couple last year.

One of my people forwarded the anouncement from the schools stating why they were closing. It prompted a "when I was a kid" reply:

When I was a kid; I walked to school every day starting 1st grade until I graduated from high school and this was in northern Michigan. I know what -70 wind chill feels like from several occasions and the skin on parts of my ears that got frostbite didn’t come off until 5 years later. The schools expected that the kids would be dressed appropriately which consisted of a parka, mittens (not gloves, you’d lose your fingers) and “snowmobile boots” which were rated for being in the elements for 5+ hours. Snow days meant zero visibility and having to jump out the 2nd story window to clear the front door so your parents could get out; they gave you the day off because you would be spending the day in shifts removing snow from the roof or risk having it cave in and killing everyone. In my home town you don’t see the streets from November until usually March, you just aim for your half of the road between the snow banks and hope for the best. Because everything was white ALL THE TIME you had to either wear sun glasses 365 days a year or come in from a snow ball fight and spend the next 30 minutes feeling your way around the house because you were struck with total snow blindness. Fun while clearing the snow off of the garage was hopping onto the shovel your dad was using and having him push you off the roof. I know what end-stage hypothermia feels like; the stage where you feel like you can’t stay awake but if you fall asleep, you die.


And not a single kid died from exposure in the 21 years I spent in that frozen hell.

[sniper7]

true they do gel up and nowadays with the budget cuts they dont want to pay for the xtra time for the maint guys to prep them before hand
i remember in school the guys would prep the busses the night before
they just dont do that anymore

be ready for it to get worse next year.

they are talking 10% salary cuts. probably some staffing cuts. possibly 4 day school weeks. lots of options on the table (locally here in 27J district), and I am sure there are some of the same things going on in other districts.

[zteknik]

be ready for it to get worse next year.

they are talking 10% salary cuts. probably some staffing cuts. possibly 4 day school weeks. lots of options on the table (locally here in 27J district), and I am sure there are some of the same things going on in other districts.

with all of the budget cuts going on its no wonder more parents are doing home schooling
i dont know if i would have the patience-my son allready laughs when i tell him to drop untill i get tired!!

[JohnTRourke]

What a fucking joke

Are you kidding me?
there's a grand total of 1/2" of snow on the ground and ohhhhh, it down to like minus 5

BIG FUCKING DEAL

it's wintertime
it's Colorado

Big fucking clue: IT GETS COLD HERE IN THE WINTER, SNOWS SOMETIMES TOO!!!!!!!!!

IT'S NOT FUCKING FLORIDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Minus 30 and 2 feet of snow is probably a good time to cancel. This is ridiculous. For fuck's sake, coming back from plowing yesterday (oh yes, we don't get any days off and my diesels all run fine down to minus 30 or so) there was a guy on his bicycle (yes really, what a nut, minus 10, snow and ice covered, but on his bike).

They still have to heat the buildings, everyone still gets paid, the buses are still plugged in.

for fuck's sake, in 5 years if it even threatens to get around zero they'll cancel school (it gets below zero here every year ), and within 10 years when it gets close to freezing.

I weep for the future.

[Colorado Osprey]

Interesting responses...

Only -22 yesterday morning.. got up to -9 as a high
My kid doesn't take the bus.. it is only 16 mile drive to school.
Roads were still iced under the light snow from monday's frozen drizzle.
I think school closings here are a good idea.
BTW wind chill put temps between -50 and -60 most of the day

Today.. warmer
-16 this morning... wind chills are warmer too, only -28
I can't see making the kids wait for a bus in that weather, when they are usually late in weather like this. I'm glad our school leaders put the kids safety priority in front of parents work.

Plus, most Colorado school districts put extra days on the school calendar for snow days. These days get taken or the kids end up doing fluff work in school which benefits nobody. I'd rather my kid in school learning or at work with me working/learning.


To put this in perspective I did most of my schooling in Canada. minus 35 and lower was a common temp all winter. I lived NNE of the Great Lakes and 6' of snow a week was not at all uncommon due to lake effect. There were no buses. We walked to school. The difference here is the warmer temps in the summer we get used to and acclimate to. In Canada we didn't wear a jacket when it was around freezing... the shorts started to come out. People started to sunbathe when temps got close to freezing.

I also remember that in school they weren't teaching global warming, but the opposite... the next ice age was coming. Wonder what happened to that idea?

[mx'r]

Interesting responses...

Only -22 yesterday morning.. got up to -9 as a high
My kid doesn't take the bus.. it is only 16 mile drive to school.
Roads were still iced under the light snow from monday's frozen drizzle.
I think school closings here are a good idea.
BTW wind chill put temps between -50 and -60 most of the day

Today.. warmer
-16 this morning... wind chills are warmer too, only -28
I can't see making the kids wait for a bus in that weather, when they are usually late in weather like this. I'm glad our school leaders put the kids safety priority in front of parents work.

Plus, most Colorado school districts put extra days on the school calendar for snow days. These days get taken or the kids end up doing fluff work in school which benefits nobody. I'd rather my kid in school learning or at work with me working/learning.


To put this in perspective I did most of my schooling in Canada. minus 35 and lower was a common temp all winter. I lived NNE of the Great Lakes and 6' of snow a week was not at all uncommon due to lake effect. There were no buses. We walked to school. The difference here is the warmer temps in the summer we get used to and acclimate to. In Canada we didn't wear a jacket when it was around freezing... the shorts started to come out. People started to sunbathe when temps got close to freezing.

I also remember that in school they weren't teaching global warming, but the opposite... the next ice age was coming. Wonder what happened to that idea?

^^This. I totaly agree. Icy roads, -21, long wait for the bus(if it shows), women bus drivers,etc,etc,... No, they can stay at home in front of the stove and feed it all day. I dont want my kids out in this crap, you guys that dont agree can send yours out for a long walk. Mine will be warm and safe.

[BigBear]

They will only close school when it hits 0 or below. They only do this nowadays because PARENTS were concerned about their poor little kids standing outside at the busstop waiting. It has nothing to do with road conditions, etc.

Plus you have to think of the kids that don't have coats (but their parents have enough for cigs and booze). The problems with busses and money/budget cuts, etc....

It's just a bad time for schools right now. But don't worry, the athletics program will still be going when they cut math, science, music, etc... hehehe

[Irving]

People sure bitch a lot about parents being more responsible for their kids. That is, until school is closed for a day...