Governor (GA) asks schools to close 2 days to save fuel

[RamblingRose]

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue asked the state's schools to take two "early snow days" and cancel classes Monday and Tuesday to help conserve gasoline as Hurricane Rita threatens the nation's fuel supply line.

If all of Georgia's schools close, the governor estimated about 250,000 gallons of diesel fuel would be saved each day by keeping buses off the road.

The governor also said an undetermined amount of regular gasoline also would be saved by allowing teachers, other school staff members and some parents to stay home those days. Electricity also would be conserved by keeping the schools closed.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/0905/24perdue.html

[Claymore]

1. ....

Woohoo! That means I get to telework Monday and Tuesday...gotta love those gummint jobs!

[Iris]

2. So, who's in charge of allowing "some parents" to be off from work?

What a dumb ass idea. First of all, there was just an editorial in the AJC about how many parents DRIVE their kids to school because they "can't get up in time to catch the bus, " or are "threatened by bullies" or some other bull shit excuse.

And second, the parents who are not "some" parents will be driving them SOMEPLACE where they can be looked after while the "not some parents" go to WORK!!!!


God, what an IDIOT!

Of course, the same people who voted for him had a field day when it was suggested black parents keep their kids out of school for the Million Man March.

How soon we do forget.


ok. Rant over.

[Claymore]

6. Dang!!

Thanks a lot Captain Bringdown...I was looking forward to spending the next four days with my kid...

[Iris]

7. well, take 2 days off and keep him out of school.

It's your perogative.

But keeping kids out of school based on snow days that will probably be needed when those 2 snowflakes fall in late Novmber or sometime in Jan. or Feb is just plain dumb.

[Claymore]

9. ....

Like most school systems, we have the days built in and can supplement with teacher in-service days if need be. Frankly, considering how fucking stupid everyone here acted post-Katrina, I'm sort of glad someone did something to head this bullshit off. There were gas retailers in Conyers (an Atlanta suburb) who were charging $6 a gallon for freakin' regular. We had people hoarding gas like you wouldn't believe. It is amazing how retarded people can get when faced with a little hardship.

[MGKrebs]

34. Hey, if you are in a position to take advantage of this, more power to ya'

But I expect that for many people this will just be a pain in the ass. This was announced late Friday, and is supposed to happen Monday? How many people can arrange that? And like somebody else said, it may save the school system a few bucks in gas, but it's going to cost a bunch of people SOMETHING, whether it is day care, a day off, a used vacation day or two.

Not only that, do the teachers get the day off? With or without pay?

And I thought those extra unused snow days and other off days were meant to be used AFTER the winter.

It's really scary PR. Of ALL the things to cut back on, Sonny chooses education.

[iamjoy]

65. Yeah, That's What I Thought

Does he think it is 1955 where mothers stay home with their kids?

If a child's parent(s) have to work, who is supposed to watch him/her? Of course, some clueless Conswervatives would say our tax dollars shouldn't go to pay for their daycare - totally missing the point.

[Iris]

66. I noticed an editorial in the ajc that suggested all the high school

kids would be out driving around for 7 hours on Mon. and Tues. rather than just to and from school activities.

[RamblingRose]

3. And things will be all better by Wednesday!!

[MGKrebs]

4. Whale hayell. Wha nawt jus cancel skool

altogether? Dat would save a lots a gayas.

(I can do that, I'm from Georgia.)

[superconnected]

5. Gas is more important than education?

Congratulations Mr. Bush, you are more of an ass every day.

Look where he put us.

[Iris]

8. No student left behind unless there's a gas line going around the block!

[DaDeacon]

38. Ah no, This is a good Idea!

Sorry I know that Idea of kids missing school is one that will make them all dumb and lead to them watching large amounts of fox news and all but the fact remains that these are snow days in Georgia! SNOW DAYS in GEORGIA!:sarcasm: The days are built into each year in case, of snow (yes snow in GA) most years they just give them to students as a holiday/teacher workday anyway in April or May. So they get them in september. This keeps the state from buying gus at a high amount for the refuling tanks next next week during the gas price spike! This is a win win for many as this also gives some parent a reason to stay home and do the same.

[AirmensMom]

10. If we want to save fuel, why not ground AirForce One?

How much does dubya spend cruising around in his own personal jumbo jet? And what good does he ever do? Oh, I forgot -- he gives out jobs and tax cuts to his friends and gets all those heroic pictures taken. Send the kids to school and let dubya ride his bike to his photo ops.

[sweetjake]

12. Could go even a step further..

have all private jets take 2 days off. Businesses, entertainers, etc..Everyone with a Corporate or private plane take 2 days off of flying it. It would be less of an inconvenience than thousands of working parents suddenly having to locate daycare for their children or having to take vacation time from work.

[sweetjake]

11. This can be extremely difficult...

for working parents. Not everyone can just take time off of work. Not everyone can just find daycare for their children that easily. Nice way to leave people hanging.

[MichiganVote]

13. Then pay for education. Even a raise of a penny in gas results in

thousands of dollars to fill the tanks of buses. Its a sad fact.

[Iris]

14. Huh? Is this like the "public education is from the communist 7th circle

of HELL" argument about education?

Because we do pay for education w/our tax dollars. And, in fact, many people who do not even own property in this state play the lottery, which is supposed to further support public education.


I don't see how closing schools will solve the gas problem simply because many kids don't even ride the bus and because parents will just be transporting them somewhere besides school while the parents to to work.

[MichiganVote]

16. No, my comments are not meant to be argumentative. Yet,

its a little known fact that transportation makes up a huge share of the public school budget. Busing is a service that is offered by schools but it is not a mandated service. Schools can cut it out entirely if they so choose, except for special education students. Closing the schools solves a gas problem for the schools, not for the people or families who have enrolled their kids. Moreover, the costs of other energy in the schools will undeniably take a hit too in the near future.

Some people in some locale support higher taxes for education than others, regardless of the reasons why. Schools need money to operate. Fewer and fewer commnities support them by voting for the millages. They have their reasons.

Whether this is the right course of action or not, education is not a day care for working parents. A likely scenario may well involve special millages specifically for busing if that is what people want to support. Till then....

[Erika]

42. Schools here are mandated to pick up students more than

1.5 miles away. What does day care have to do with it? Education is required by law.

[MichiganVote]

52. Education is required to provide X number of days per year

of school attendance. This is a standard set by the Federal gov't for federal dollars. Schools or states may set their own standard for transportation pick up. It may be 1 mile in one area and five miles in another. That is a local standard. Transportation is not a requirement for federal dollars except in the case of special education.

[sweetjake]

61. I'm not sure if this was to me or not, but if it is...

I just meant that for a lot of people, it's difficult to call in to work and get 2 days off on such short notice. If they even have the time off coming to them. A lot of companies these days work on accrued PTO days. So, they have to find quick day care for their kids. Regular gasoline isn't really saved in the end, because they still have to drive their kids to day care, and then themselves to work.

[RamblingRose]

15. There will be many kids waiting out for the bus on Mon. due to the timing

[Claymore]

17. ...

Doubtful. Purdue was on all the major new outlets, it'll be carried in the state newspapers, the radio stations will be covering this, and many employers are contacting their employees (my boss has already emailed me). This appears to be more than a last minute decision...

[RamblingRose]

19. My daughter's school has a very large latino population and many don't

speak english and all school information is sent home in spanish and english. I don't imagine they watch the local news or read the paper. A lot of those parents work in construction or as day contractors. I guess they could hear it on the spanish radio station.:shrug:

[Claymore]

29. ....

I'm not sure about where you live, but in our school system, there is a Spanish speaking educator in every school.

[RamblingRose]

31. The announcement was made after school was out and nothing was sent home

and the children weren't notified, so a spanish speaking educator at the school doesn't do much good.


And I live in Gwinnett County near Norcross & Lilburn

[RamblingRose]

32. Welcome to DU. I think it would be appreciated if you ditch the ...

in your headline

[DaDeacon]

40. Why don't they watch the news?

"I don't imagine they watch the local news" really why is that? hmmm you need to think about the things you say. I'm from Metro Atlanta and have worked with many in the local latino population they stay very informed and have a get interpersonal network with non-english speakers! That statement seem a little racist:dunce:

[1932]

18. Jesus. Why do they have cripple education to address this problem?

We're going to pay for that stupid decision down the road.

Literacy, numeracy and good health are the foundation of a functioning society.

They're pulling out the bricks from the bottom of the pyramid.

[Robeson]

20. My thoughts exactly. And while private schools will get to remain open,..

...once again, the public schools get the short end of the stick.

[1932]

22. They're using F.U.D. to achieve conservative political goals.

The corporatocracy causes a gas crisis which justifies the dismantling of social infrastructure which will destroy the middle class, so the corporatocracy can have their wage-slave labor going into crippling debt buying their shit.

[Robeson]

27. Yep. Fascism 101.

[Lumily]

49. Not true.

My daughter goes to private school, and they are going to be closed as well. I have no doubt that all the private schools in my county (Forsyth) will also be closed. If a Republician commands it, they do it. :(

[Robeson]

50. Then thats good to hear....

...however, he was asking state schools. I doubt if all private schools will go along with that. I wish they would. Whats good for the goose, is good for the gander.

on edit: but none of it is good.

[krkaufman]

21. Why not shift to a slightly longer, 4-day school week?

[1932]

23. Reject the frame. Education, health and welfare should not be on the

chopping block.

[krkaufman]

28. Hey, I'm not saying cut education....

... I'm suggesting putting in the same or longer hours per week, but in 4 days instead of 5. So much of each day is burned in transit, much more could be accomplished for less cash -- I expect -- in a 4-day week with longer days than the current 5-day schoolweek.

It'd only work, though, if workplaces allowed parents to synch their schedules w/ their kids; otherwise, day care would be problematic.

[Shadder]

30. Current system is based on number of days atended

Not hours. The kids are required by state law to attend x number of days per year. In order to accomplish this you would need to revamp the entire system.

[RamboLiberal]

35. Some states must do by hours - seems 4 days is a hot topic

Across Kentucky, school districts are cutting field trips, redrawing bus routes or curtailing athletic events to cope with rising fuel costs. But no one's making quite as dramatic a change as Jackson County.

Starting the week of Oct. 17, students will get every Friday off. Teachers will work half a day.

With the move, approved by the school board Sept. 5, Jackson becomes the fourth school district in the state to implement a four-day week, and the first to do so primarily for financial reasons.

It's probably not going to be the last. Brad Hughes, spokesman for the Kentucky School Boards Association, predicts the subject will be as hot a topic as year-round schools were a decade ago.

<snip>

The Colorado Department of Education found that 80 percent to 90 percent of community members it surveyed liked the four-day week. In one town, a school board reverted to a five-day week shortly before an election, and voters replaced all of the board members.

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/12719269.htm

[krkaufman]

77. Right. The "days per year" criteria is obviously flawed. n/t

[LeftyMom]

33. Kids can only concentrate so long

The current school day is already too long for many children.

[krkaufman]

76. Yes, and too short for others.

[LeftyMom]

81. Yeah, but there are extra classes, sports and clubs for those kids

The kids who can't hang in the whole day or who can absorb the material in much less time are stuck.

[RamboLiberal]

24. Recently I heard of 1 school district that wants to do this

Cause they can't afford the price of diesel and the cost of AC/Heating 5 days a week. I'm betting the cost of energy is going to have more school districts considering just such a scenario.

[krkaufman]

25. And hopefully workplaces, as well. n/t

[krkaufman]

80. Yep, good quick way to cut your school bus fuel consumption by 20%

As well as heating costs.

[salin]

64. During the energy crisis in the 1970s

our school shifted hours slightly (I think we started and ended an hour later in order to have more daylight and use less energy) - and turned the thermostats waay down, and students had to wear coats to class. Can't remember how long that went on - just remember that my sports team started having early am practices that I hated (and at least in that part of the school we weren't conserving energy.)

Point being - there were community wide efforts to address what was then considered to be a national crisis. Not that long ago, really, but these days we are asked to do little to contribute to addressing a bigger community need/cause - that I can imagine that such an action would be outright rejected in these times.

Not suggesting that this is a solution (that dealt with power, this situation is talking about gasoline), but that we, as a society, seem to have really changed our orientation. But that was clear when the pres. response to what the rest of the country could do in the post 911 days : Go Shopping! *sigh*

[krkaufman]

79. I think you'll see similar things happening this winter.

The talk is about gasoline right now, but natural gas is going to be problematic this winter.

[hatrack]

26. "World's Only Superpower" "World's Only Superpower" . . . .

"World's Only Superpower" "World's Only Superpower" "World's Only Superpower"

There, I feel much better!! How about you?

[Erika]

36. We close schools down because we can't afford gas for buses

How fast we are turning into a banana republic.

[Erika]

37. Kentucky is closing schools down also

W has his priorities. And these stupid states keep voting red.

[DaDeacon]

39. Again!!!!

Sorry I know that Idea of kids missing school is one that will make them all dumb and lead to them watching large amounts of fox news and all but the fact remains that these are snow days in Georgia! SNOW DAYS in GEORGIA! The days are built into each year in case, of snow (yes snow in GA) most years they just give them to students as a holiday/teacher workday anyway in April or May. So they get them in september. This keeps the state from buying gus at a high amount for the refuling tanks next next week during the gas price spike! This is a win win for many as this also gives some parent a reason to stay home and do the same.

[Shadder]

41. Last year we used all three days

We do have bad weather here during the winter. Last year we had several ice storms in January and it was just not safe to run the busses and take chance. The year befor that we used one day and two the year before that. The days are there for a reason and it's a good one no matter what you want to think.

[sweetjake]

63. The school district I just moved away from..

closed school at even the threat of snow or ice. However, they didn't bother to build in "snow" or "bad weather" days into the school year.

So, every year my daughter would end up going to school during holidays like President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, 2-3 days of her Spring Break, and several Saturdays in a row to make up for the bad weather days.

Every year from kindergarten thru 8th grade and we just moved. They never changed the policy.

Crazy.

[Robeson]

45. How is it "win win" when that parent has to work to put clothes on the...

...backs of their family and food on the table? It ain't a fun-filled holiday, when you don't know how you are going to pay the light bill next month, and now you've got to figure out who's going to watch your child? Sorry, but that's the real world. Geez.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Erika]

43. W backs NCLB

He could care less if his oil buds break public budgets. He talks the talk and goes along with Babs to let "them" eat cake if they don't like it.

[hullbert]

44. University System not included...

I'm still trying to figure this one out. So many people here in Athens are either employed by or attend the University of Georgia, that local schools schedule their holidays to coincide with UGA holidays. But in this situation, kids will be out of school while their parents still have to truck over to UGA. Brilliant!

[DaDeacon]

47. This is about buses and gas DUH !!!!

C'mon people really now ! The parents at the University level have built in personal days and if you are a student tell your prof. and I'm sure they'll be more than understanding. Stop making this the end of the world!

[Pharlo]

51. Well, if it's REALLY about buses and gas,

why not shut down the public transit systems in GA for two days?

It's not JUST about buses and gas.

Just out of curiousity Governor, how many forums are you visiting in an attempt to defend this latest 'decision' of yours?

[Robeson]

53. I hear ya.....

...read my post #48 above before it get deleted. I'd finally had enough.

[Name removed]

68. Deleted message

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[Citizen Jane]

59. fyi, professors are parents too...

...and we do not have built-in personal days. In some classes it may be okay or fairly easy to cancel class, but in introductory classes, where you are on an extremely tight schedule because you have to get to "x" point in the curriculum by the end of the semester (in case your student takes a different professor for the second semester) so that the start points are synched in the next semester, it really is a problem, not just an inconvenience.

Yes, as a professor I would be more than understanding if my student had to miss class because of this, but two days in a row of me cancelling class would not just take a little effort to fix. It would mean forcing my students to suffer academically. For my colleagues teaching intensive courses where two semesters are crammed into one, it would be awful. And, no, we can't necessarily schedule extra meetings on other days because the scheduling is a nightmare--the bigger the class, the bigger the nightmare.

I understand that this is about busses and gas, but there is no denying this will cause a much larger impact and hardship on significant portions of the population.

BTW, it is NOT easy to schedule daycare if you do not already have it, especially when thousands of other parents are trying to do so simultaneously. I do not consider the schools daycare for children, I consider education and learning and playing their jobs just like mine is teaching. I have plenty of good friends who could watch my child in the evenings, but most of my friends and neighbors work too eliminating them as caretakers during the day. Our families live out of state. With planning, I can easily get my Mom to come to town to help out, but not for Monday and Tuesday when it is announced at 4pm on Friday.

It may be an easy situation for you, but it won't be for a lot of people across the socio-economic spectrum. My friend's daughter will probably have to miss work to take care of her 6 school-age children. She works as a hotel maid. She frequently changes jobs because if something happens and she misses work for the kids repeatedly, she gets fired. She works very hard to put food on the table and her husband does too, but they don't have money for daycare, grandma will be working, and one of them will have to put their job in jeopardy to stay home.They are the working poor.

I am NOT saying "oh poor me." Indeed, my daughter will be able to attend her private daycare, so I am not directly affected by this. I am, however, trying to show you that it is simplistic to call this merely an inconvenience or to chide others for lack of "effort." This is not "the end of the world," but to deny it was a capricious and ill-planned political maneuver that will negatively impact millions of people in this state is indefensible.

[lizziegrace]

54. This isn't enough notice

I have a friend outside Atlanta (rural area), single parent who has a special needs son in kindergarten. He has to take the bus or there's no way his mother can get to her job. She is just above the line for any assistance and must work 5 days a week. (Customer service can't shut down because the governor wants to close schools.) Her son's routine is extremely important and this past week of fall break has set him back. Two more days trying to figure out how to manage him, a boss and child care for two MORE days after she's already paid for 5 is more than her wallet can bear.

Noble idea, but just not practical for ordinary working people with small children. We all don't have huge networks of friends and family around and unlimited amounts of money to spend.

[Robeson]

55. Thank you....

...I'm glad others still believe in a little place called "Reality".

[lizziegrace]

57. Been wanting to post here

As soon as I read the thread topic, I immediately thought of my friend. I know the hellish week she's already had. This might push her over...

Just didn't get a chance to post til now.

[Robeson]

58. And your post was a heartbreaker.....

...And a testimony of the real world. Thanks for posting.

[DaDeacon]

69. School is NOT DAY CARE!!!

Sorry to sound like a dick but that is the truth. It is a educational service that is offered by that the state for that education of it ciziens. Unless it is private and being paid for by tuision then you are at the mercy of your elected officals (local voting is Super imprtant ain't it). We must deal with this issue and stop giving our sobb stories and "special exceptons " Most people I know work pay check to pay chack and missing even half a day of work could mean that the rent might be late, again. I know, however, this is going to happen, give solutions and help and no more " how dumb that is" from pepole who are just reacting. You used to be able to come to this site and read real solutions an insite on issues now it's just become a bunch of winny-baby, woe is us, losser talk! Come on kids off that mat and back in the fight. Hold the line and stop licking your wounds!

[RamblingRose]

56. "Perdue's request, short notice rile parents"

Gas jitters close schools, jam pumps


Gov. Sonny Perdue asked Georgians late Friday to remain calm as a hurricane again threatened to disrupt the state's gasoline supply. It didn't work.

Within minutes of his canceling school for two days next week and asking Georgians to conserve fuel in anticipation of a repeat of the Hurricane Katrina gas crunch, motorists began queuing up at gas stations, and anxious parents wondered what to do with their children on Monday and Tuesday.

Cars were 10 deep Friday afternoon at a Sam's Club in Marietta, where regular unleaded gasoline was sold out by 5 p.m. Gas manager Steve Stephens predicted that the rest would be gone within hours.

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/0905/24perdue.html


After the hurricane any ideas about conservation will be long forgotten :(

[Francine Frensky]

60. Perdue is a moron. I live in a very conservative area

of Georgia and the no-school thing was announced at a high school football game last night, and not even the students were happy.

I'm lucky as a stay-at-home mom that this doesn't affect my schedule, but I can't imagine what would happen for parents who both work, what single moms will do, and what about people who have already left for the weekend? Or who don't follow the news?

This just seems like a really stupid idea. I know in my area, plenty of cars will be on the road as everyone takes their kids to the mall and movies on monday and tuesday.

[sweetjake]

62. I agree

Most people can't just take time off at the drop of a hat.

[RebelOne]

74. Sam's Club must have been the only place where cars

were lined up. I live in Woodstock and work in Marietta. And I did not see any lines at any stations either Friday or Saturday. It was business as usual at all the stations that I passed with only a couple of cars at each pump.

[Gyre]

67. Stupid shit!

Why doesn't he lay off his own state workers for two days. No, let's make the taxpayer/citizens even dumber than they are now. Now that's an effed up set of priorities!

On the other hand, by following this kind of economic austerity measure the repiglicans don't even need to steal elections. And based on the sole fact of Saxby Chambliss's election the good people of Georgia are at the absolute top of the heap in the shit-for-brains department already so nobody will notice any difference.

Gyre

[Name removed]

70. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DaDeacon]

71. 500,000 gallons of fuel will be saved!

look it that's the current low ball figure for the amount of gas that state will save. When you factor in the short term spike of gas of that nest week that we as Georgians will not be paying damn that's huge it could be any where from 1.5 million to 4 million buy just not running school buses. Hmm any low ball numbers on lost parental income? I think we should make the school busses a pay service at the point! (pay like school lunches, voluntary and discounted)

[Barkley]

72. The oil companies are not going to like this 'gas-out'!

its got to lower demand and price.

Our country is looking more and more like a third world country each day.

We're the richest country in history and cannot fuel school buses?!?!?!

[dsc]

75. I am not totally convinced of the wisdom of this plan

but some of the arguments being raised against it strike me as insipid. On child care concerns, what do parents do in the event of real snow days. Most districts give a couple hours notice to at most overnight. Here people had a whole weekend. I would think most parents have some arrangement with their summer day care provider to use them on a day to day basis for this kind of thing.

Secondly, the days are there for the use. They are unlikely to be needed for weather but if they are then days will have to be added. My district has to add from the get go. We lose workdays immediately when a day is lost for weather.

In all honesty, gas conservation measures make perfect sense to impliment when gas is spiking for a short term reason like this.

[lizziegrace]

78. No subject

This comes on the heals of a week-long fall break. Parents have already had to arrange child care (or take off work) for an entire week. Two more days? Big deal? Yes, it is. Reality is that many people are an island. They don't have networks of friends who are stay-at-home moms who can babysit a special needs child at the drop of a hat. Snow days? You usually can plan that you will take a day or two off during the WINTER.

And the poorest of the poor? No school lunch or breakfast for an entire week and now two more days.

I think another solution could have been found. To put this on the backs of working families, many in rural areas is unfair and very, very poorly timed.

edited for title

[dsc]

86. A week long fall break?

That sounds a little early in the year for a week off. I know schools there start in early August, but even with that we are talking a month on with a week off. I admit I didn't know about the week off and that makes some difference.

[DaDeacon]

82. Thank you for Thinking beyond reaction!

I must that the Flaming here on this issue has gotten out of hand. Many who have never know much abut south GA politics forget that our now Republican Governor was a yellow dog democrat for most of his life until he couldn't get the nomination away for Roy Barnes and ran as a Republican to beat him. The reason I bring this up is that some of the bashing of his plan stems more from his party affiliation and geographical location than it's true logic or failure there of. Moreover many of the people who will be hit hardest by this are the poor in rural mid and south GA, the heart of his voter base. We must look deeper at issues and not just react. Is he shooting his foot here, I say no. These rural area would be hit the hardest from gas spike in and the local county govt. would have to take most of the hit. In the long run to this seem to be a good move. Not the best but good.

[Francine Frensky]

87. You've got two things wrong, plus one thing you didn't think of:

number one, when there is a snow day (actually it's usually ice storms that shut down the schools; we get one per year), businesses close down too, really the whole city shuts down. That's because there is no snow/ice removal equipment, so people just sit at home and wait for the stuff to melt (only takes a few hours to a day to melt). Every office is closed. So this is a much different situation, where it's business as usual except for kids.

Second, this is NOT about gas conservation. Just two weeks ago, our governor CUT THE STATE SALES tax on gasoline to effectively HOLD DOWN gas prices (really, all he did was make big oil richer since they still charged $3 a gallon, they just didn't have to take anything out to pay the state). Obviously, by trying to artificially lower the price of gas, all that does is encourage people to continue their normal driving patterns. To the governor, his goal is to keep the gas price as low as possible. This does NOT encourage gas conservation, it encourages lots of driving.

If this really was about gas conservation, the governor could order all the hummers and large SUV's off the road. That would save more in the long run, because guess what all the moms are doing with their kids for the next two days? Driving them to the zoo, the mall, the movies, the mountains.... of course there will be extra driving going on.

Now, here's the other thing you're not thinking of: what message this sends to parents and kids: your education is not worth the price of gasoline. In other words, kids education is the lowest priority in the state and the most easily cut.

[DaDeacon]

88. Good points however ...

It is coast that is the heart of the matter but it that county and state cost that is in question. Yes two days of school isn't worth large economic/fuel concessions for poor rural counties. Hey, the library is still open on monday and tuesday and it's free kids!

[Endangered Specie]

83. They have snow days in Georgia?

:shrug: jk ;)


I bet the kids approve of this.

[DaDeacon]

84. They do, LOL! and my kids love it LOL! (n/t)

[Chi-Town Exile]

85. Got That Right!

First year we lived in GA they closed schools for what was the equivalent of Sweet-in-Low swirling on the street.

My son got two days off and thought it was the greatest thing ever!