school closings?

[bombermwc]

ANother point is, the kids that are from families that are so economically deprived that maybe they can't afford the clothing....they can't afford the heat/electricity to keep their homes warm or the food to feed their children. These kids often have a better experience at school where they stay warm and get a hot meal. The Free Lunch programs help these children far more than them staying home to not eat at all because 1 - they probably don't know how to cook yet and their parent had to go to work, and 2- they probably have their heat turned down to 55 or 60 at home anyway because they can't afford it.

ONG and OG&G have programs to help these people, but that doesn't mean that they can afford to crank the heat up (and no they won't cut people off in extreme conditions like this), but when that bill comes at the end of the month...something has to give.

Now they have 2 more days of ONG to pay.

[kmf563]

When I was growing up we didn't have heat or air. Not that we couldn't afford to turn it up...we didn't HAVE it. I remember a year when it was terribly cold and snow was everywhere, had to be the early 80"s. We literally lit the oven, it was gas, and left it open to warm the house. There are several homes that still do not have heat or air. These are the homes that house some of these kids in the okc school district.

[OKCisOK4me]

And yet another point - What are we teaching these kids? Are they going to be responsible enough to make that decision to go to work when their outer bubble is not all warm & fuzzy?! Will future work forces receive calls from these kids when they're all grown up telling them they can't come to work because it's too cold outside? Or that it's raining too hard?? Or will they even have jobs because they expect everyone to hand them their life on a silver platter?!

I'm sorry, but life on a silver platter is suppose to be given to you by your parents--not society. These kids, if we keep doing this to them will expect this as the norm and will in effect become as worthless as the parents, who can't dress them properly or understand that their work will be completely fine with them being late to work or having to leave work for a half hour because for two days they actually had to drive their kids to school because the buses weren't running and classes were delayed a couple of hours for warmer temperatures.

What is wrong with a half day? I think the superintendent of the district or whoever it is that made that decision needs to rethink their decision making skills. Besides, it could very well be another 20 years before temps like this happen again...

[gmwise]

How many of you claiming how wussy kids are nowadays are posting that from a warm home or building? If you are so tough, park you car a mile or 2 from your job and walk in tommorow morning.

And spare me the "back in my day" bs. I was talking to relatives last night and the last time it was this cold (early 1980's) most schools were closed. Also, Oklahoma schools are now required to attend schools at least 170 days or an hour equivalent, so its much easier to make up days now versus in the past.

Good post.

[rcjunkie]

And yet another point - What are we teaching these kids? Are they going to be responsible enough to make that decision to go to work when their outer bubble is not all warm & fuzzy?! Will future work forces receive calls from these kids when they're all grown up telling them they can't come to work because it's too cold outside? Or that it's raining too hard?? Or will they even have jobs because they expect everyone to hand them their life on a silver platter?!

I'm sorry, but life on a silver platter is suppose to be given to you by your parents--not society. These kids, if we keep doing this to them will expect this as the norm and will in effect become as worthless as the parents, who can't dress them properly or understand that their work will be completely fine with them being late to work or having to leave work for a half hour because for two days they actually had to drive their kids to school because the buses weren't running and classes were delayed a couple of hours for warmer temperatures.

What is wrong with a half day? I think the superintendent of the district or whoever it is that made that decision needs to rethink their decision making skills. Besides, it could very well be another 20 years before temps like this happen again...

It was not only the outside temperature, but due to mechanical problems, several schools had NO HEAT.

I hope it doesn't happen for at least another 20 years, I hate hearing people bitch about something so stupid.

[bandnerd]

[/COLOR][/COLOR]

...I hate hearing people bitch about something so stupid.

This. 100% this.

[Buickcarnut]

How many of you claiming how wussy kids are nowadays are posting that from a warm home or building? If you are so tough, park you car a mile or 2 from your job and walk in tommorow morning.

And spare me the "back in my day" bs. I was talking to relatives last night and the last time it was this cold (early 1980's) most schools were closed. Also, Oklahoma schools are now required to attend schools at least 170 days or an hour equivalent, so its much easier to make up days now versus in the past.

Your kidding me right? What's next, it's too hot outside and my kids will have heatstroke. I went to grade school up north and it wasn't uncommon to have temps with a windchill in the negative. And no, I won't spare you the "back in my day" talk. Back in my day kids respected their parents and their teachers, back in my day you went to school no matter what, back in my day you got the hand or the belt, not timeout, I could go on and on. Let's stop making excuses about why they can't do this or that, and while I'm at it, parents need to step up to the plate!!!

BTW, I don't have any problem with the cold, heck lets push it to 5 miles walking to work, the distance I walked in the winter to school if I missed the bus.

[rcjunkie]

Your kidding me right? What's next, it's too hot outside and my kids will have heatstroke. I went to grade school up north and it wasn't uncommon to have temps with a windchill in the negative. And no, I won't spare you the "back in my day" talk. Back in my day kids respected their parents and their teachers, back in my day you went to school no matter what, back in my day you got the hand or the belt, not timeout, I could go on and on. Let's stop making excuses about why they can't do this or that, and while I'm at it, parents need to step up to the plate!!!

BTW, I don't have any problem with the cold, heck lets push it to 5 miles walking to work, the distance I walked in the winter to school if I missed the bus.

Apparently you failed to read the entire reason for closing the OKC schools, while they did consider the outside temperature, many schools had no heat (due to mechanical problems). Having kids sit in unheated classrooms for 7 hours would accomplish what ?, How could the teacher effectively teach in this environment.

[sacolton]

Strange. Where's the rush for the school closings on a day that actually makes sense? They sure are taking their time to make an announcement. As this time, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Edmond, Putnam City Schools are still open.

Now they are crying because if they close it'll tap into their summer vacation.

[venture]

I think all are closed now. There was confusion on the timing of the freezing rain...with some outlets saying it would hold off until afternoon, when it actually won't now.

[rcjunkie]

Schools Close--people complain
Schools Don't Close--people complain
Schools Don't Announce Early that they are Closed--people complain

"YOU CAN PLEASE SOME OF THE PEOPLE SOME OF THE TIME, BUT NOT ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME"

[kevinpate]

Norman Schools pulled the plug about 6 am

I woulda been fine with a telly announcement rather than the house phone and the cell going off within 30 seconds of each other via the auto-dial. I was up, but the lovely was not.

[PennyQuilts]

Norman Schools pulled the plug about 6 am

I woulda been fine with a telly announcement rather than the house phone and the cell going off within 30 seconds of each other via the auto-dial. I was up, but the lovely was not.

The local school has our number listed for an hispanic family whose kids apparently cut class all the time. We've told them to change it but they don't so I keep calling them to tell them that Junior's parents have NOT been notified but I hope he gets his homework done. We got a spanish speaking message right at 6:00 this morning. It is a bad feeling for the phone to ring at 6:00 in the morning when your kids aren't home. We THINK they were cancelling school but aren't sure.

[Becka]

The whole thing is stupid. The news hyped up an ice storm and everyone is acting like they are preparing for Y2K all over again. Now, there is nothing wrong with being prepared, but people have literally lost their minds over the potential of an ice storm.

IT'S WINTER PEOPLE, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS!! IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!!

Signed,

Born in Michigan

[nik4411]

becka, maybe you don't realize it, but ice is a completely different story than snow. snow can be cleared and driven on carefully. trust me, i know. i lived in utah for a while. but ice is a different monster. 2-3 years ago, the big ice storm we got, made my neck of the woods down here in norman look like it got bombed. we were without power for 10 days. trees and power lines everywhere.
and after the snowstorm on christmas eve, they are making sure people know about this one and are prepared. so no, it isn't stupid. i'm glad they let us know so now i'm prepared to be without power for a while if it happens.

[PennyQuilts]

The whole thing is stupid. The news hyped up an ice storm and everyone is acting like they are preparing for Y2K all over again. Now, there is nothing wrong with being prepared, but people have literally lost their minds over the potential of an ice storm.

IT'S WINTER PEOPLE, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS!! IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!!

Signed,

Born in Michigan

A lot of us are just having fun, Becka. We think this stuff is cool but do worry about people who have to be out in it or lose power.

[Becka]

I'm perfectly aware that ice is different than snow. I was here in the ice storm of 2007 and I was without power for 5 days. I said there is nothing wrong with being prepared. I'm glad the news is warning people too, it's people's reactions to the news that have been stupid, because they are acting like it's the end of the world and it's some new phenomenon that they have never seen before.

It's ice and snow, because it's winter. It's not the first time in history that it's happened, you should know how to deal with it by now without losing your mind. There is no need to fight over the last can of soup at the grocery store.

[bandnerd]

Plenty of soup at my grocery store...but they were nearly out of bagged salad.

People buy strange things.

I got my call about 6:15...I'd been up for 30 minutes and had showered already and was planning to go in. Yesterday we figured we'd have until at least lunch but it came sooner than some predicted. We don't have buses--the kids have to get there through metro transport, carpools, parents, or their own vehicles, and when that's the case, you just don't want kids out; they have no clue how to drive on this (though, does anyone really know how to drive on it, really?).

I'd rather the announcement be a little late than not at all.

[kevinpate]

Plenty of soup at my grocery store...but they were nearly out of bagged salad.

People buy strange things.
...

Our basics are typically already in place, but we noticed some runs in our area here as well. For us, we recognize as well there's waiting things out and then there's planning to hunker down with style. We're opting for the latter this time around.

[venture]

Far be it from me to jump into this, but just had an observation. Four days after the snow has stopped, and they are still having to cancel school?

I would be interested in know exactly what their reasoning is and if it is still related to residential areas not being clean?

I'm wondering exactly how many trucks are still out cleaning roads or if they are all parked and just waiting for mother nature to handle it?

[PennyQuilts]

Far be it from me to jump into this, but just had an observation. Four days after the snow has stopped, and they are still having to cancel school?

I would be interested in know exactly what their reasoning is and if it is still related to residential areas not being clean?

I'm wondering exactly how many trucks are still out cleaning roads or if they are all parked and just waiting for mother nature to handle it?

They haven't even made a run at the roads in my neck of the woods.

[rcjunkie]

The City only concentrates on major streets. They don't have the equipment or manpower to clear residential or neighborhood streets.

[PennyQuilts]

The City only concentrates on major streets. They don't have the equipment or manpower to clear residential or neighborhood streets.

I'm talking South Council. Yesterday, it was ice packed - even the tire marks didn't go all the way to the pavement.

[venture]

The City only concentrates on major streets. They don't have the equipment or manpower to clear residential or neighborhood streets.

I guess my point is, with no new precip falling for days - the main primary/secondary roads should be squeaky clean by now. If they aren't, then they need to look at improving how they spend their time. So while they may not have the equipment or manpower to clear the residential areas immediately after the storm...4 days later, when it is still causing school closings, they need to get off their dead butts and get it done. You do the job until it is done completely...you don't just stop because, well, its not a primary artery.

[rcjunkie]

I guess my point is, with no new precip falling for days - the main primary/secondary roads should be squeaky clean by now. If they aren't, then they need to look at improving how they spend their time. So while they may not have the equipment or manpower to clear the residential areas immediately after the storm...4 days later, when it is still causing school closings, they need to get off their dead butts and get it done. You do the job until it is done completely...you don't just stop because, well, its not a primary artery.

When it's impossible to clear all of the streets, who decides ? and how do you pick a starting point ?