MCPS Snow Day “Likely” Thursday if Predictions Ring True
It is “highly unlikely we will have school tomorrow.”
That is according to MCPS’s spokesman Dana Tofig who told MyMCMedia Wednesday that if snow accumulation predictions are accurate school will likely be cancelled Thursday.
“If it is a foot that is a lot of snow that has to be moved around,” Tofig said.
Forecasters are calling for between 8 to 12 inches of snow in Montgomery County starting early Thursday morning and continuing through the day.
What happens on Friday could be a trickier question. Friday, temperatures are expected to be below freezing.
“Friday’s decision will depend on how quickly we can clear the snow. It is not just clearing the schools it is about main arteries and clearing 202 parking lots and making sure buses are running and ready to go,” Tofig said.
The decision on Thursday may come before 5 a.m. depending on how the weather matches predictions, Tofig said.
“It will be no later than 5 a.m.,” he said. “If we can have school we will have school. If all that is predicted stays on track it doesn’t look likely.”
It costs the school system $400,000 a day when school is cancelled for snow and MCPS has to hire outside contractors to clear school property, Tofig said.
As for making up any lost snow days, Tofig said that decision will come when winter closes up shop.
“In consultation with the board, we will see how many days we might seek a waiver for, but there is no guarantee of a waiver even if we ask for one,” Tofig said.
So far the school system has had five snow days, four of which were built-into the school calendar.
“It is important to begin plan the school year right now,” Tofig said. “Right now the year ends June 15. If we are out tomorrow it is June 16 and people need to plan accordingly.”
I like the phrase and I strongly encourage it: “Winter… CLOSE up shop!”