A message just went out from Superintendent Fleishman to all Newton school parents that all Newton schools will be closed tomorrow
Newton schools closed on Monday
by Chuck Tanowitz | Feb 10, 2013 | Newton | 14 comments
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
drivers man be like
Why? The kids were home all day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. My ten year old could not believe it. He WANTED school on Monday – he is sick of me! LOL. I grew up in the Boston area, and except for 1978 I can’t remember two no school days in a row. This year NPS had two for Sandy and two for this. Comments?
@Newton Mom: If I had to guess, I’d say it’s because they couldn’t get all the sidewalks cleared. Kids need to be able to walk to school safely. A lot of surrounding districts are closed too. There’s a lot of snow to displace.
I was just over by the Franklin School. The sidewalks in front of the school are clear but there’s no place to for parents to drop off or pick up kids. Derby St is much too narrow.
In that case, I propose we cancel February vacation week!
(ducking out of here before the shoes start flying at me)
Is it because of the sidewalks or because of the Buses? Could it also be because Boston closed and we cannot get the buses to Boston for the Metco children ? And even our kids that take the buses if the streets are so narrow it is not safe too.
Even though February is a short month it is turning into what is going to be a VERY long month!
The kids are sledding, walking around, eating treats at the local places. How is this safer than being in school? I don’t know any parent that is planning a day inside due to the storm.
I thought the cancellation was silly till I read that warm temperatures and a lot of rain are predicted today. I drove through Newton last night and there are still impressive amounts of snow in the streets, and most of the storm drains are blocked. If it does rain and melt a lot, the streets will be lakes. And with only narrow lanes ploughed on most streets, even a few flooded-out cars would hold up everyone. So I think it makes sense–even though my antsy 11-year-old is driving me crazy!
My son goes to Needham High School (his dad lives in Needham), and I had to drive him this morning after only a two-hour delay. People were walking in the middle of the street at various points all along the way from Needham Street to our destination, and it was a harrowing drive because of that and the rapidly-devolving road conditions due to the rain and ice. Though one of us may not have come out of it alive after another day indoors together, I absolutely wish Needham had made the same wise call as Newton and another day off was given. Of course, Max is a senior so extra school days won’t affect us at all, but still- the old maxim of “better safe that sorry” truly applies here.
The streets are not wide enough. I applaud this call and was happy to hear it. The thought of adding all those children trying to get into school into the morning commute mix was not a pleasant thought, as borne out by the experience related above in Needham.
Thankfully the Newton YMCA is open and my boys were there playing Basketball most of the day.
Regarding School Closings, I don’t mind. The roads are so narrow and the sidewalks are not clear. I passed NNHS, Cabot and Ward and it is still unsafe for children to walk to school….and where the sidewalks are clear, children will be stopped by a mountain of snow at the intersections and corners forcing them to climb over snow mounds into the street. I know the City is working as best they can…but perhaps another day may be needed to clear intersections and corners from mountains of snow to get to the schools.
Boston cancelled school again tomorrow. Anyone know if Newton will as well?
The Patch just announced that Newton schools are back in session tomorrow.
Newton schools are open tomorrow!!!
Very, very happy about this. My kids are ready to go back (and we’re ready to have them go back!)