Record Heat and School Cancellations

Both Tuesday and Wednesday of last week (August 22nd-23rd) featured extreme heat by Wisconsin standards; Tuesday we crossed 100 degrees F here in Milwaukee for only the 34th time since records were kept (dating back to 1871). 

In response, Milwaukee Public Schools closed both days. I know folks in Texas and the Deep South probably find this amusing, but up here most schools not only don't feature air conditioning, the windows barely budge. In fact, Junie's school just remodeled to, in part, *remove* the ability to open windows, leaving the school to be cooled only by small vents in each window. 

In 100 degree heat, ya might as well coat the kids in butter and salt and pepper and serve 'em up on a barbeque platter. 

Oh, and it was a WET heat too. Ick. 

[apologies for Junie's language in the text. Not cool, pun intended.]

MPS's Cellphone Policy

 Is the new phone confiscation policy just my kid's school or all of MPS? 

Note: "Cell phone collection policy" ...IMO in response to student's recording fights and posting ...therefore tarnishing the MHSA/MPS image...which is laughable.

In those 250 pages MPS sent out did anyone find a definitive time of logging in and out daily. I need to know a schedule, they have jobs etc. Help?! - Lisa

The New MPS Schedules

Can I just say the new MPS school schedules suck on all levels. My high-schoolers left for the bus at 7:50 last year, this year they’ll have to leave at 6:50. Up by 6:15am? My teens?! 🤣 This is gonna be interesting! 

Not to mention the middle schooler will need to leave to walk at 7 and be home by 2:20. I sure hope Dan is on a 1st shift schedule by then! 

What happened to the proposed later more sensible schedule? Which of you supported this? Name yourself, lol.

- Lisa

Sad but True

Maybe five inches of wet, heavy snow on the ground. Five to nine inches more expected. Roads are sh*t. Milwaukee Public Schools? Open.

"Why isn't MPS closed?" Lauren asked me.

"The truth, or something shiny?" I said.

"The truth."

"Because too many parents treat MPS as day care and not an education."

School Uniforms

Uniforms don't have anything to do with bullying, nor do they save you money. However they will guarantee the teen b.o. will be worse because their clothes are changed less often. Needless to say, we opted out all four kid [from the MPS mandate] - Lisa

On the MPS Uniform Policy

MPS's proposed uniform policy is bunk, both for lefty individuality reasons, and practical ones: unless Goodwill has uniforms galore, it is prohibitively more expensive than street clothes. It's economic warfare in the guise of unity.

School is Closed

School has been canceled for the kids today due to the extreme cold. While I agree with the decision, I don't remember that  happening during my childhood. Which is either a sign of the world being more civilized now, or wimpier; either/or.

I Don't Blame Them

MPS has closed Monday due to cold weather, extending Christmas vacation an extra day for the kids. For all you West coast/southern people who whimper when it's 50 degrees - we're expecting a HIGH of negative 13F with a wind chill of -22F.

Teacher "Flu"

 Woke up to discover MPS is closed with the teacher 'flu'. Not that I'm cynical or anything, but I do note that with the scheduled day off on Monday MPS teachers have now guaranteed themselves a 4 day weekend with which to spend their average salary of $46K (for working 9 months a yr w/ wknds and holidays off). But it's not about $ people, it's about their rights!

MY kids have school today. So glad we chose this school. Catholic schools, consider them! - Lisa