The Journal Times Online - Racine, Wisconsin

Posted by: mic on January 30, 2008 8:17AM CST We never had cold days when I was a kid. Your mom bundled you up good and sent you off to school. Then you had indoor recess. This really is brought on by this age of busing these little kids all around town.

Posted by: B-Wi on January 30, 2008 8:34AM CST My husband and I chose to work opposite shifts once we had children so daycare and now snow/cold days have never been an issue in our household. It's kind of hard not seeing my spouse during the week, but having one of us always home with the kids is very important to us.

Posted by: rak on January 30, 2008 8:42AM CST I can usually take her to the daycare that she's gone to since infancy (and still uses for school holidays and summer). They are so accomodating. If not, my husband and I are usually able to work it out just like when she's sick. Thankfully we both have pretty accomodating supervisors and jobs.

Posted by: Cheers on January 30, 2008 9:06AM CST Well, up until a few months ago I was a FT stay at home mom so it wasnt an issue. And luckily it still isnt really. At my PT job - it is extremly flexible and I can call them any time I need off and they couldnt care less. I basically make my own hours anyway. So, today I am sitting here listening to the girls fighting and bickering over a Princess magazine for the fourth time. yeahhh. I am thinking of leaving out a big bowl of food and sneaking my way into my bedroom with a box of chocolates and headphones and locking the door. Think that will work????

Posted by: mic on January 30, 2008 9:09AM CST Cheers, good luck with that.

Posted by: HSmom on January 30, 2008 9:24AM CST I have been a childcare provider for about 25 years now. Last summer, before the school year started, I ran ads in both the JT and Craigslist for just this sort of thing - stating that I could provide before/after school care or care for kids when school was called off or for school holidays, etc. I didn't get any responses. Either there isn't really any need for this kind of temporary care (people have flexible jobs or other care already lined up) or parents don't think about these situations before they happen. So, I am currently just caring for an infant (who is sleeping at the moment).

Posted by: my2sense on January 30, 2008 12:04PM CST I was caught off guard by the school closing this morning. I guess that's what happens when your alarm clock is set to an IL radio station. I was trying to keep an eye on Fox News this morning, but saw Milwaukee had schools and really didn't have time to sit and watch the ticker...I mean it really took FOREVER! Think we had been watching for 1/2 hour and didn't see Racine. We had just missed first time and then by time they got back to them I was ready to leave. I got to my son's school and sure enough...No cars. I was lucky because he does attend a before after school program and although it is a first come first serve basis I was able to bring him there. I'm not sure if my job is accommodating or they really just don't have a choice. I mean what am I gonna do? They know (and knew before hiring me) I was a single mom, without many options. I try my darndest, but hey sometimes I'm either late (like today) or I have to take a the day off. My child comes first

Posted by: Cheers on January 30, 2008 12:17PM CST You can sign up at WISN to get an email whenever Unified is cancelled. THat way, you dont have to watch for it on TV. I know that takes forever!!

Posted by: Susie on January 30, 2008 12:21PM CST I have a flexible boss and a mother in-law who is willing to keep my son. It always works out somehow.

Posted by: Mrs. DMJ on January 30, 2008 12:51PM CST I am a teacher. Although we have to make these days up at the end of the school year, I love having this extra day to spend at home with my 3 year old! My mother retired when she found out that I was pregnant so she could watch our son. We are very fortunate that she wanted to watch him so he didn't have to go to daycare (her idea!!!). Keep warm!

Posted by: stevelovejoy on January 30, 2008 1:07PM CST My2sense, Journaltimes.com today began a new feature that lists school closings for area districts. It's at the top of the main page and is updated early in the morning by area school administrators when they make a decision to close schools because of snow or other weather conditions. Steve Lovejoy Editor, Journal Times

Posted by: Secret on January 30, 2008 1:07PM CST I heard MPS (Milwaukee Public Schools) announced an "option" if you wanted your kids to go or not. Those poor teachers still had to show up, regardless of the number of kids that were there. I'll be interested to hear if many kept their kids home or sent them to school.

Posted by: my2sense on January 30, 2008 2:21PM CST thanks Steve, Unfortunately I usually don't get online until I get to work. My mornings are hectic and therefore I don't logg onto my home computer in the am. Not to mention it's old & takes forever to boot up. *had to hold off on our new computer for X-mas due to car repair :( I will keep it in mind once we get the new computer (hopefully for Easter) or will check before I leave work in the eveing if I know we due for inclement weather. Does the public access chanel also post that type of info?

Posted by: justme on January 30, 2008 2:35PM CST I work full time and am a single parent. I learned 30 years ago to have a back up plan. I seek out a neighbor or childs school friend parent to do the favor if it comes up. the schools do not have control over mother nature. and I would much rather stay home or hire someone than have my child walking in below zero weather or a bus breaking down. They are our children, and I believe we should prepare for things, not rely on the school to be our daytime babysitter all the time.

Posted by: my2sense on January 30, 2008 4:10PM CST justme, that's wonderful that you do have a back up plan for favors. Unfortunately all of my family either lives in IL or WAAAY southside of Kenosha (basically IL border) so family really isn't an option for me. I just recently moved to Racine so I really don't have neighbors I know well enough to entrust my son, let alone my son friends parents work as well. I certainly am not a parent who uses school as a daycare for my Son. I'm actually against the whole free K4 situation. I paid to send my child to a pre-school so should others if they want that option. But that isn't what this blog is about, so enough with that...... I drive my son to and from school (actually the before & after school programlocated @his school) everyday. I'm not complaining about school closures, just stating that if I can't make arrangements either with the daycare or family I'll either have to be late or take the day off. Unpaid or not

Posted by: Personal Rights = Personal Responsibility on January 30, 2008 6:10PM CST I'm a stay-at-home dad but think it is poor social engineering to close schools simply because it is 5* and warming. Come on, that is what they make coats, hats and gloves for. There is no reason no kid should have them, if they are not cheap enough for one to afford there are many give-aways for them. I wonder what kids up in Ashland/Superior do. What about those in the Dakota's? I'll be nice and not ask about the ones in Canada or Alaska...

Posted by: DBomb on January 30, 2008 6:44PM CST Hey mic, they used to have wood burning stoves the one room school house when you were a kid, which meant you could stay warm all day. What they don't tell you these days is that the schools themselves are so energy inefficient that some rooms get down to 40 degrees on days like today. Sit in a class room in 40 degree weather when they wouldn't dare let you wear your coat in class or a hat for that matter (hats mean gangs dontcha know). I was in school in the early 1970's and I can remember snow days, so you have to be dirt old.

Posted by: DBomb on January 30, 2008 6:49PM CST Personal Rights - They have community schools in Alaska now that can be accessed over the Internet. On cold days the kids stay in and go to school. And I know that you live in a world where all parents care about their kids and by appropriate outer wear, but a good number of parents are just room mates to their children and really give a rats crap about them as long as they are not near them for eight hours a day. So I think it wise to not have those children walking to the bus stop or school with a hoodie and jeans on when it is -20 below. Temp does not factor as much as wind, which can cause frost bite and tissue damage faster than temp alone.

Posted by: justme on January 30, 2008 8:12PM CST ah, my grandchild lives in Ashland, and there schools are closed too! Our buses and vehicles are prepared for normal winter weather, around 10 below and above. there is alot of vehicles that broke down on freeways in this weather, with NO warning. I travel two hours a day to take my children to an out of district school, and would of gone today if the school was open, so I am not a chicken of the weather. my family also lives way on the south side of Kenosha, I still am a responisible parent and have a back up plan. I am guilty of having to take off work and get no pay. contacting other parents at the pto meeting or school office with similiar concerns is always worth the try. there may be a stay at home mom right around the corner that would love to make a few dollars to watch your kids on off days. What do people that work do in the summer? child care, I suppose of some sort.

Posted by: SER on January 31, 2008 7:18AM CST Secret...I heard Milwaukee Public schools where missing 40% of their students. To me it nuts; the weather channels, news channels and warnings from the state tell you don’t go out of the house unless it’s really necessary, but it’s okay to send your kids to school...am I missing something here?

Posted by: rak on February 1, 2008 7:47AM CST Well now, today we have another one. Wednesday DD went to her daycare. Today I'm staying home with her because she also has a bit of a fever, runny nose, etc and I'm afraid I'm going to get stuck trying to get out onto a main road (our street doesn't get plowed very regularly). I was kind of torn - work or stay home, work or stay home - but watching my neighbors trying to get out and then give up made up my mind for me. DH did get out (not easily) but now that he's gone I don't have anyone to help me if I got stuck so here I sit.

Posted by: schoolgirl on February 1, 2008 10:34AM CST Schools are not babysitters! Plan ahead - it's Wisconsin - snow days are going to happen!

Posted by: my2sense on February 1, 2008 12:01PM CST and jobs are just jobs! Our kids come first, so I guess I do plan ahead. Like I stated if I can get him to his daycare or to my mom in Kenosha (but if they close schools due to inclement weather she for sure aint driving) I'll do it. But, I might be late. Also the 'full day' rate @ the daycare isn't cheap. Not to mention it's alittle boring for the older kid. Sometimes it's worth it to take a PTO day. Some of you REALLY need to get off your high horses....if our 'planning ahead' means saving up PTO days/hours then that's OUR choice! Nobody asking you to give up yours.

Posted by: Parivrajaka on February 2, 2008 8:54AM CST I agree with my2sense. One of the benefits of most places I've lived outside Racine is that employers elsewhere are much more accomodating about severe weather. During one severe blizzard, a Racine credit union required all employees to commute in and "work" even though there was no power in the office so anyone crazy enough to go in to make a deposit or withdrawal couldn't anyway. Ask yourself, "Would my boss come to my funeral if I skid off the road into a tree? Is it worth endangering my children? " Here's an idea. Provide a tax rebate for employers who allow telecommuting or time-off during severe weather. Provide an tax increase for employers who don't have a flexible policy during severe weather. Use the tax to pay for rush hour snowplowing and day care subsidies for employees. That way employer pay the full cost of making it possible for their employees to come in during severe weather. After all, they are the ones who profit from it. Make exceptions for a few crucial job types (firefighter, police, snowplow guy, emergency room staff...), but face it, many people are in office jobs where much of the work could be done from home, and much of the work is done from such remote places as India where it doesn't snow!

Posted by: d38karai on February 5, 2008 5:39PM CST I am a single mom, and I do not have a flexible job. I have to be at work whenever there's a blizzard, tornado, hurricane, etc. My job NEVER closes. I also have my son in a daycare that is always closed, whenever it is slippery outside. Even if it rains, they do not want to chance picking up kids for daycare. I am in a really tough situation, but sometimes I have to just bring my son to work with me. Can you imagine having a one-year old in an office all day for 10 hours?

Posted by: Tamra on February 6, 2008 7:21AM CST I am a stay at home mom and am really glad that so many of you have plans, because every time that school is called off, my phones start ringing at 5am with casual friends and people I barely know wanting me to watch their kids all day. I don't know how many times a person has to say NO, I'm not getting up at 5am to take care of your kids, mine is getting to sleep in, and me TOO if I chose.