MCPS Snow Closing Drill Scheduled This Week

As Montgomery County students ease into their first days of school, children from K through 12 will participate in fire drills, active shooter drills, and opiate awareness training. “Emergency preparedness and safety take precedence over instruction this week," explained newly appointed MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor.

It's not just students who need preparedness training, says Taylor. MCPS will hold a snow closing drill for both students and parents beginning on Wednesday.

The drill starts Wednesday morning, when parents should leave televisions tuned to NBC Storm Team 4, stock up on toilet paper and red wine, and begin obsessing about snow total predictions. By Wednesday evening parents are asked to post hand-me-down snow boots in their Buy Nothing Groups and make last-minute requests for sleds and shovels.

Montgomery County’s new school superintendent, known for rapping school closing announcements, says he will make the call by 5:30am on Friday

The drill, like the impending storm, picks up intensity on Thursday. Parents should continuously monitor the MCPS website, social media and WTOP for school closing news. Students are expected to wear inside-out pajamas and stay up texting until 3am in anticipation of at least a delayed opening.

Friday morning parents should stay glued to their cell phones and tablets for the official closing decision, which is expected by 5:30am. Taylor warns parents to be vigilant all morning, however. "If the school lots aren't plowed, we can't open regardless of how the roads look," Taylor said. "Late announcements and changes could happen."

The Montgomery County Department of Public Works says it will prepare for the snow closing drill by spreading road salt on all 800 lane miles of county road Wednesday and strategically stationing 300 plow trucks from Thursday afternoon through Friday morning.