This plea comes from a standpoint of personal concern for my dearest friends' and families' safety. It's disquieting that our school environment allows a 2-hour delay to take precedence over safety in instances of treacherous weather conditions. Currently, the PWCS (Prince William County Schools) follow the protocol of instituting a 2-hour delay when weather conditions are unfavorable, such as icy roads. To many of us, this policy seems futile and does not bring about any significant change. It's time the PWCS reconsiders this rule and instead adopts the Code Green or Code Orange protocol that prioritizes safety over inconvenience.

The issue chapels directly upon students and staff who have to travel in perilous conditions. We shouldn't disregard the threat these icy conditions pose; annually, over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle crashes on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement in the U.S. (source: USDOT & FHA).

We propose to the PWCS to consider transitioning to either Code Orange, where students will attend virtual classes from home due to marginal weather conditions impacting road safety, and Code Green, that implies schools are closed to teachers and student but all 250-day classified employees report to work at 10 a.m. Teaching staff may voluntarily elect, but are not required, to employ "telework" or other work-at-home strategies to enter data, grade student papers, or otherwise supplement their normal work efforts. This change in school procedure would ensure the safety and well-being of all students, teaching and non-teaching staff who are integral parts of the PWCS system.

For the sake of our close friends, families, and the broader community, it's time the PWCS revises its 2-hour delay protocol. Safer roads mean safer families. Please sign this petition to help make this poignant change.