The DOE showed how bad their decision making is by waiting for children to be dropped off at their school Friday and at 9 a.m cancelled after-school programs and activities. Too late for parents to make alternate plans. Why did the Chancellor decide so late? Because he claimed that he was unaware until that time that 10% of the yellow bus fleet was adversely impacted by the snowstorm. This shows that the DOE was lax in obtaining up-to-date information on the yellow bus fleet that transports students to and from school. The DOE's lack of oversight of these bus companies must share the blame for this travesty.
On Thursday, due to the snowstorm, It turns out that one Special Education child did not arrive home until 3am on Friday!. How can that be? In another case five Special Education students were trapped on their broken down yellow school bus for 10 hours! The DOE, flush with money, would have called a taxi to transport these Special Education students to their home?
In another case parent Veronica Sterling wrote the following at 9:48 pm on Thursday on Facebook.
My son is still not home from school. He was been waiting for a bus for over 4 hours. I am glad he has a wonderful staff keeping them calm, active and fed. I normally do not tweet about things like this but I am concerned parent of a special needs child in D75
Then there is this story in the New York Post. Finally, teachers at P.S. 128 in Washington Heights proceeded with open school night, despite the weather and teachers were forced to stay all night at the school due to hazardous weather conditions. Why wasn't it cancelled?
More DOE incompetence and uncaring of their students and staff if you ask me.