CHEERS For Cobb/Douglas As Other Schools Wimp Out! (Atlanta: house, buy) - Georgia (GA) - City-Data Forum

KevK · 03-02-2009, 09:06 AM

As usual the Cobb Schools came through for us who live here. As other distrcts wimped out by using yesterday's LIGHT snow that ended by 5PM as an EXCUSE to take a day off, we have school in Cobb today. The fact is that there was not good reason for ANY district to cancel school today EXCEPT Athens/Clarke County which has alot more standing snow to deal with. As far as the rest of the metro, there is no snow in the streets and they are bone dry. Good for Cobb and Douglas and shame on the others!

DeaconJ · 03-02-2009, 09:22 AM

There were areas of Metro Atlanta that got more accumulation...my area in Fulton County got 3"...plus there was a significant amount of ice on the roads this morning.

What do you mean by "came through"? That has a suspicious ring to it...I don't see any need to risk injuries to students riding buses that must travel all the back roads and small residential streets that get very little traffic and can be dangerous when the main streets are clear. It's the first weather cancellation this school year I believe.

I think Paulding County was in school today as well. Obviously the west and northwest sectors didn't get as much snow as many other areas. It was still snowing at my house well past 5:00 - more like 8:00 or later - and it snowed hard all afternoon.

wxjay · 03-02-2009, 09:29 AM

This is a state in which counties call off school when it's too "cold", so really, for some parts of the metro like the city of Atlanta itself, this snow day is a joke. But, one of my friends told me that there are built in snow-days to the schedule, so you use them or lose them. Hence, when the smallest event occurs, then I guess school systems feel justified in calling off school.

KevK · 03-02-2009, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wxjay

This is a state in which counties call off school when it's too "cold", so really, for some parts of the metro like the city of Atlanta itself, this snow day is a joke. But, one of my friends told me that there are built in snow-days to the schedule, so you use them or lose them. Hence, when the smallest event occurs, then I guess school systems feel justified in calling off school.

You may have a point with that. And considering that we are close to spring now this may be the last (pray to God) winter weather event for this year so they decided to take advantage of it.

KevK · 03-02-2009, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeaconJ

There were areas of Metro Atlanta that got more accumulation...my area in Fulton County got 3"...plus there was a significant amount of ice on the roads this morning.

What do you mean by "came through"? That has a suspicious ring to it...I don't see any need to risk injuries to students riding buses that must travel all the back roads and small residential streets that get very little traffic and can be dangerous when the main streets are clear. It's the first weather cancellation this school year I believe.

I think Paulding County was in school today as well. Obviously the west and northwest sectors didn't get as much snow as many other areas. It was still snowing at my house well past 5:00 - more like 8:00 or later - and it snowed hard all afternoon.

What "came through" means is that they came through for thousands of parents here who would have had to miss a work day or otherwise find last minute care for their children today.

lastminutemom · 03-02-2009, 09:52 AM

Cobb had a real dilemma (I was at a meeting this morning where this was discussed) because some parts of Cobb got almost no snow.

However, on the way to my meeting I passed at least 5 schools that had parking lots that were totally iced over. Streets are clear because most people where out and about yesterday and then the wind came in and blew away what was left. Not on unused parking lots...

south-to-west · 03-02-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevK

As usual the Cobb Schools came through for us who live here. As other distrcts wimped out by using yesterday's LIGHT snow that ended by 5PM as an EXCUSE to take a day off, we have school in Cobb today. The fact is that there was not good reason for ANY district to cancel school today EXCEPT Athens/Clarke County which has alot more standing snow to deal with. As far as the rest of the metro, there is no snow in the streets and they are bone dry. Good for Cobb and Douglas and shame on the others!

Cobb almost completely dodged the bullet in regards to the snowstorm yesterday while the southwestern, eastern, and northeastern portions of the metro got blanketed with 3". In a lot of areas the slush froze overnight--turning roads into sheets of ice. Now you can talk all the trash you want, but driving on untreated ice is very risky.

Before you or anyone else even begins to criticize me, I was raised in Wisconsin. Back there, we knew how to drive on snow, but at the same time our roads were plowed and salted promptly so that we never had to drive in extremely hazzardous conditions. Untreated ice is a whole new ballgame and if you trust putting your kids on a bus in those conditions then be my guest. My guess is that others wouldn't.

TakeAhike · 03-02-2009, 10:40 AM

There was a serious accident with 2 fatalities in Cobb County yesterday/last night.

DeaconJ · 03-02-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wxjay

This is a state in which counties call off school when it's too "cold", so really, for some parts of the metro like the city of Atlanta itself, this snow day is a joke. But, one of my friends told me that there are built in snow-days to the schedule, so you use them or lose them. Hence, when the smallest event occurs, then I guess school systems feel justified in calling off school.

Most school systems across the country will cancel school in the event of frigid conditions that may endanger students. Many families can't afford decent/warm winter clothing and the kids may be standing at the bus stop in 2 degree weather - not a good idea. It varies depending on the location, but in a city like Atlanta where less warm winter clothing is needed, there are too many kids that don't have any.

There are built-in snow days...for the students. Teachers have to make up each day off.

This was the largest snowfall I can remember for at least a couple of years...not exactly a small event.

KevK...that's what I thought you meant when you stated that "Cobb County schools came through". I would hope you want the school system to make decisions with your child's safety in mind - not have child care at all cost because you have to work. Believe me, the administration does not take it lightly when making a decision to cancel school. They look at every area of the district for dangerous conditions and try very hard to make the right decsion. They would rather have school in session, but it isn't always possible.

wxjay · 03-02-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TakeAhike

There was a serious accident with 2 fatalities in Cobb County yesterday/last night.

There are serious accidents almost daily in metro Atlanta. Perhaps we should just cancel school altogether to avoid people from having to drive in traffic?

Sorry for the sarcasm, but I just don't buy into "reasons" like this for the cancellation of school when every major road in the city of Atlanta was completely fine. Of course it is terrible that people died because of icy roads (I assume that is the cause), but stopping an entire region because of that is just not practical.