FCPS delayed returning from winter break for four extra days this week, after up to ten inches of snow covered parts of the county. Snow storms, which have been hitting much of the east coast and south for the last week, led to snowy and icy conditions, which have yet to melt.
On Instagram, school board member at-large Ryan McElveen posted a video on January 4th with the hashtag, #closeFCPS, garnering over 150 thousand views and 6 thousand likes from students hoping for school cancellations in light of the snow storm. Fairfax County Public Schools also took to Instagram pre-cancellations, posting a video January 3rd about how they decide what qualifies a snow day.
FCPS has continued providing food to families in need over the extended break, distributing over 3,000 meals and 1,000 snacks despite the snowy conditions. On their Instagram, the county posted pictures of lunchroom staff at work with the caption, “Snow days don’t stop meals!”
Despite having the majority of the week off, students and teachers were dismayed at the announcement that school would be back in session Friday the 10th. After announcing Friday’s 2-hour delay on Instagram, FCPS’s comments section was filled with students and parents requesting another day off. One user commented, “This makes no sense just cancel”, while others described feeling unsafe walking to school with the icy conditions. Several others shared the injuries they had received due to the snowy weather.
More snow is expected on Monday the 20th, meaning that this return to the school building might be short lived. Weather.com notes that meteorologists currently expect up to four more inches, but only time will tell if new snow will cause more cancellations.
