Not Letting School Out?

[windnrain]

Yeah, Josephine, taht is exactly what I am talking about... after school activities, the time it takes for parents to actually leave, pick their children up, and even arive at home, and that is only for schools that are ACTUALLY closing what, 30 minutes early?

Pathetic.

[storms in NC]

Brunswick County Schools will be closing early Thursday due to Tropical Storm Ernesto. Elementary schools and BLC will dismiss students at 12:30 p.m. Middle schools will dismiss students at 12:40 p.m. High schools and BCECHS will dismiss students at 1:00 p.m.

Pender County Schools after school activities are cancelled.

Roger Bacon Academy in Leland will begin staggered pick-up at 11:30 a.m.

Brunswick Community College will close at 3:30 p.m.

Bladen Community College will close at 12:15 p.m.

Sunset Bridge will close at 5:00 p.m. and will reopen sometime Friday.

All Coastal Carolina University classes scheduled for 4:00 p.m. or later are cancelled. This includes all campuses.

Southeastern Christian Academy Preschool will close at 12:30.

All SPEC locations will close at 4:00 p.m.

The J. Bryan Floyd Community Center and the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center will both close at 5:00 p.m.

Cabaret, the annual fundraiser for DREAMS Center for Arts Education, is cancelled.

The appreciation celebration for Congressman Mike McIntyre in Lumberton Thursday night has been cancelled.

Stay tuned to WECT and log on to WECT.COM for the latest school closing information.

[Wannabewxman79]

One of the charter schools close to me has closed at 11:30 this morning. (Brunswick County, NC)

[windnrain]

It is good that they are starting to take action, and those schools are commendable, but I'm still hearing of schools that have not closed early, or have not closed "Significantly" early.. school should not have even opened at all, it takes time away from parent's disaster preparations. Like I said before, hell, here in Louisiana... you have a tropical storm two days away, we're closed and preparing.

[HeartofNC]

The Gov is on the TV right now...

http://www.wral.com/video/9768736/detail.html

[Mac]

This may come as a rather absurd idea for some people, but you don't HAVE to rely upon the government to save you. It's entirely acceptable to make your own judgments and to act in your own best interest. Believe it or not, people are allowed to board up their windows or evacuate without first obtaining the permission of the government. And if you're worried about your kids being in school...hey here's a novel thought...GO PICK YOUR KIDS UP FROM SCHOOL. As a parent, you have the right to do that. Regardless of what the government does or does not do. Honest.

[gatorcane]

This may come as a rather absurd idea for some people, but you don't HAVE to rely upon the government to save you. It's entirely acceptable to make your own judgments and to act in your own best interest. Believe it or not, people are allowed to board up their windows or evacuate without first obtaining the permission of the government. And if you're worried about your kids being in school...hey here's a novel thought...GO PICK YOUR KIDS UP FROM SCHOOL. As a parent, you have the right to do that. Regardless of what the government does or does not do. Honest.

good point didn't think of it from that perspective

[windnrain]

I Agree, Mac, and I think anyone who does have kids at school should just pick them up, but the problem with that is, Mac, the general public is not very tropical-savy, and i fthey hear that school systems are staying open until, what, 2:30? 3:00 for some that are not closing early? They'll think nothing of it. While youyr suggestion may make perfect sense to us educated, storm2k folk, I fear that it falls on deaf ears with the public.

[ncbird]

Rant on....

I won't defend NC schools... they are good for making these kind of blunders. I can remember sitting in front of the TV at 5am waiting to see the report of canceled when it really was a no brainer and should have been called the day before, and once I kept my daughter home even though they decided to not cancel school (guess what... children sent home a few hours later on a bus). This kind of actions not only cause a great deal of stress on the children but also the parents.

I no longer have school age children, but what I advise any who happen to ask.... They are your children, do what you feel is right. Don't depend on the Board of Education or anyone else when it comes to your little ones and their safety.

Rant off...

[Josephine96]

I obviously didn't think of that either Mac.. common sense perspective.. Good point..

[EmeraldCoast1]

...hey here's a novel thought...GO PICK YOUR KIDS UP FROM SCHOOL. As a parent, you have the right to do that. Regardless of what the government does or does not do. Honest.

No kidding! Nicely said.

Precious little ones on school buses + 45 mph sustained winds don't mix.

[fci]

IF THERE WAS A HURRICANE WATCH KEPT UP THEN THE SCHOOLS MIGHT NOT HAVE EVEN OPENED TODAY!!!!!

I ranted in the other thread about this so I will not take up a lot of space here.

A Hurricane WATCH at 11 AM is absurd and should have been maintained yesterday.

When it came off the coast and intensified to 50, they should have hoisted Hurricane Warnings, not a worthless watch at 11 AM today!

I truly hope all in the path are safe.

[Carolina_survivor]

Honestly, I don't understand why it should be such a big surprise to anyone that the storm is strengthening - I'm no weather forecaster...just lived in eastern North Carolina all my life. That's enough for me to know...warm water = stronger winds.

I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but still...logic has it...any storm over the Gulf Stream has potential to be dangerous.

The last time I remember the university here closing for a storm, the storm turned out to be a dud. I can't remember the name of that storm, but I suspect that may have something to do with the delay in making a decision. Officials were embarrassed because they closed schools for a rainy, blustery day the last time and they don't want to repeat that mistake.

I agree with everyone here - I'd rather see them repeat a mistake like that than risk lives. I hope now that they've issued the Hurricane Watch, the powers that be will take it more seriously.

[Josephine96]

Something tells me this rant may go on for a while..

I have to say.. you keep the watches/warnings up.. SC/NC would have canceled schools today.

At the same time.. NHC must not have thought it was a valid reason to keep cane advisories up so they dropped them..

But also.. Putting up a hurricane watch with 12 hours of preps is ludicrous.. Make it a warning..

This is a damned if they do.. damned if they don't. So many different perameters that this rant could go on for hours.. But I won't..

[terstorm1012]

carolina_survivor that happens up here with the snow. Blizzards get forecasted, everyone closes, then nothing happens and everyone complains.

Though personally I think hurricanes make more sense then blizzard and I do think a warning should have been posted at 5am.

[fci]

Honestly, I don't understand why it should be such a big surprise to anyone that the storm is strengthening - I'm no weather forecaster...just lived in eastern North Carolina all my life. That's enough for me to know...warm water = stronger winds.

I'm sure it's more complicated than that, but still...logic has it...any storm over the Gulf Stream has potential to be dangerous.

The last time I remember the university here closing for a storm, the storm turned out to be a dud. I can't remember the name of that storm, but I suspect that may have something to do with the delay in making a decision. Officials were embarrassed because they closed schools for a rainy, blustery day the last time and they don't want to repeat that mistake.

I agree with everyone here - I'd rather see them repeat a mistake like that than risk lives. I hope now that they've issued the Hurricane Watch, the powers that be will take it more seriously.

Again, "watch" should be "warning",

[artist]

I so agree with the personal responsibility statement! My only concerns are for the employees that really don't have that option. I think that all school districts should also have a plan - like the gov. does - and it must be followed. That would solve all the decision making involved at the last minute - and those admin. that worry about nothing but the $$'s the schools may lose for being closed.

[windnrain]

I agree, Josephine... and I guess in a way, the only reason I started this thread was to vent my anger.. I know it won't accomplish anything, but maybe someone in SC will hear this and complain to their schools. I have no clue, all I know is that if there is even a chance that it can hit as a hurricane... at least put a watch.

[Okibeach]

Tornado warning issued for Brunswick, just as school is letting out.

[windnrain]

....
Case in point!

This angers me to no end.