MCPS Apologizes for “Morning Disruption” After Two Hour Delay Decision and Childcare Mix-Up
Montgomery County Public Schools issued a community-wide apology on Tuesday after announcing a two hour delay at 4:55am (with the text to the community coming at approximately 5:01am), a decision that left many families scrambling to adjust morning plans. In a letter sent to all MCPS households, Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor acknowledged the widespread frustration surrounding the timing of the call and the handling of before-school childcare.
“I want to take a moment to acknowledge the frustration and disruption caused by this morning’s weather-related delay,” Taylor wrote. “Making the call to delay or close sometimes means that we are working with late or imperfect information. And like today, this often means that there is disruption and inconvenience that follows when we have to make a call later than we’d like.”
Tuesday’s delay also resulted in the cancellation of some morning childcare programs provided by community partners at MCPS schools. The district said the cancellation was made in error and should have been a delay rather than a full closure. “I deeply apologize for the added stress that this caused to an already chaotic morning,” Taylor wrote. “We are truly sorry for the confusion.”
MCPS said the decision was based on forecasts calling for a high probability of a wintry mix, including freezing rain and some snow, which can make early morning travel unsafe. Taylor noted that MCPS employees travel from across the region, and conditions vary widely from one part of the area to another.
“As always, we leaned heavily into one priority today, the safety of our students and all MCPS staff,” he said. “Even small amounts of ice and snow can make early-morning travel dangerous.”
In the letter, MCPS pledged to improve communication around future weather decisions, provide clearer explanations when procedures deviate from what families typically expect, and work toward making calls earlier whenever possible. Taylor emphasized that safety will continue to guide all operational decisions during inclement weather. “Thank you for your patience with us and we are truly sorry for the disruption,” the letter concluded.
