Parents across the D.C. region are voicing growing anxiety about student safety as District of Columbia Public Schools and Prince George's County Public Schools announced two-hour delays for Monday, February 2, citing lingering weather and hazardous transportation conditions that persist following a major winter storm.
Under the adjusted schedule, both school systems opened two hours later than usual, with buses running on corresponding delays and morning preschool programs either canceled or shifted as needed.
Officials emphasized that the move was intended to allow additional time for road crews and school staff to address remaining hazards from the recent wintry weather, including icy sidewalks, frozen intersections, and dangerously cold temperatures during early-morning commutes.
The District remains under an Extreme Cold Alert, with wind chill temperatures capable of causing hypothermia or frostbite in as little as 30 minutes, according to the National Weather Service, according to wusa9.
Safety Concerns Persist Despite Additional Time
Many parents, however, expressed that the two-hour delay does not adequately address the hazardous conditions their children face.
Angela Campbell Phelps, a parent in Forestville, told reporters that sidewalks in her neighborhood "are pretty much non-existent at this point," and she worried about her child reaching a bus stop safely. She noted that even the street where the bus stop is located "is a sheet of ice," and the corner where the bus usually stops has not been cleared at all.
Several parents took to social media to voice similar concerns and ask school officials for clearer information about which bus stops might be relocated and how special education transportation will be handled under modified routes.
The underlying issue stems from the severe weather conditions that accumulated over the weekend. The D.C. area received between 5 and 12 inches of snow from January 25 to 26, followed by 4 inches of rain and sleet that froze over the snow, creating what officials called "snowcrete"—a densely impacted layer that proved extremely difficult to remove.
As of late January, the roads across the District were only "85 to 90 percent navigable by car," according to the District Department of Transportation. In Prince George's County, about 90 percent of cleared roadways were visible from an aerial survey, but officials acknowledged that substantial work remained on secondary and residential streets.
School leaders in both jurisdictions have attempted to reassure families, emphasizing that safety remains their top priority. Officials explained that facility teams have been working since early morning to salt walkways, clear parking lots, and check building systems, including heating.
The Department of General Services reported that more than 90 percent of the District's 130 schools had been cleared as of late January, with teams monitoring HVAC systems, pipes, and ADA entrances.
Transportation departments coordinated with local agencies to monitor road conditions and adjust routes as needed. Families were urged to check email, text alerts, and district websites for updates on specific school start times, bus schedules, and activity cancellations, hillrag reported.
What Families Should Expect
The two-hour delay affected before-school programs, breakfast service, and athletic practices, with many principals notifying parents that these would start later or be canceled altogether.
Teachers were asked to adjust lesson plans to ensure students do not fall behind academically. School nurses and counselors are prepared for an uptick in students arriving later and potentially experiencing stress related to the weather conditions.
Both school systems offered flexibility for families. Prince George's County Public Schools announced that if parents used their best judgment and decided their child could not safely reach school, the absence would be excused and not held against the student.
The District similarly stated it would work with families regarding pathways to excuse any absences due to the hazardous conditions. Campbell Phelps acknowledged the difficult position schools face, noting that "school is a safe place" where "some of our students really need to be in school for the warmth, the comfort, the feeling of community, also because of the food situation."
Parents and guardians were encouraged to plan extra time for drop-off, remind children to dress warmly, given the extreme cold, and urge them to exercise caution when walking to bus stops or school buildings.
The decisions to proceed with school operations reflected a broader regional pattern, as Montgomery County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, and Howard County Public Schools remained fully closed on Monday, while Frederick County and Carroll County opened on two-hour delays similar to those in D.C. and Prince George's County, as per mocoshow.
