Why So Tardy in Calling Snow Delays or Closures?

Why is it that decision makers at the D.C. public schools cannot decide whether to call a two-hour delay during inclement weather until the last minute ["D.C. Schools Open to Mixed Reviews," Metro, March 3]? Year after year, I sit glued to the TV at 5 a.m. during snow and ice storms, noting every other school system in the tri-state area's closure announcements, while the District waits until 6 a.m. to announce a delayed opening, as it did Monday morning.

This practice is profoundly disrespectful to the thousands of working parents of D.C. students who don't have the luxury of paid leave time or flexible hours and who are forced to make last-minute arrangements. It is also disrespectful to the thousands of school employees who commute from outside of the District. The decision never seems to come until it is time for us to leave home to avoid being late because of unpredictable and precarious traffic and Metro bus or rail conditions.

I am a special education teacher assistant, and I support the mayor's preference to keep D.C. schools open so that our children can enjoy nutritious meals, but why is it necessary to wait until almost 6 a.m. to decide?

ARIANA D'OYEN

Greenbelt