Families Frustrated by Last-Minute School Closures

Prince George’s County — Prince George’s County Public Schools closed abruptly on Monday, Feb. 2, due to snow and ice hazards following a severe winter storm, frustrating many families caught off guard by the late notice.

District officials said the Code Blue closure was declared early that morning due to icy roads, sidewalk hazards, burst pipes, and heating issues at multiple school buildings. The region was still recovering from a Jan. 24-25 storm that dumped up to 10 inches of snow across the county, followed by a flash freeze that hardened into thick ice.

“We didn’t hear anything until the morning,” said a parent from Fort Washington. “By then, I had already made arrangements to get to work. It felt like we were left in the dark.”

While Washington, D.C., and other nearby jurisdictions opened with delays, Prince George’s schools closed outright. Many residents said they were blindsided and criticized both the communication and storm response.

Local officials reported that nearly 90% of streets had been serviced by Jan. 29, but residents said their neighborhoods remained snowed in. Some accused the county’s snowplow tracker of listing false information.

“It says our street was serviced, but we haven’t seen a plow,” said a Clinton resident. “We’ve been digging ourselves out for days.”

Side streets and cul-de-sacs across Fort Washington, Clinton and other areas remained impassable nearly a week after the snowfall. County Executive Aisha Braveboy toured affected areas by helicopter and deployed a special strike force to target difficult zones over the weekend.

“There are some roadways that need additional plowing,” said Melvin Powell, deputy chief administrative officer. “Crews are encountering two to four inches of compacted ice.”

County officials cited additional barriers to cleanup, including narrow roads blocked by parked cars and heavy ice requiring specialized equipment.

The school district said its decision was based on several safety issues:

Icy sidewalks and roadways made student travel dangerous.

Building problems included broken pipes and heating system failures.

Transportation and staffing were affected by power outages and inaccessible streets.

Families Frustrated by Last-Minute School Closures

Interim Superintendent Shawn Joseph apologized for the inconvenience but stressed safety. “This was not a normal snow event — the ice has been a game changer,” Joseph said. “Our top priority is the safety of students and staff.”

PGCPS opened six emergency meal distribution sites and partnered with the county to offer warming centers for residents without heat. Sites included local community centers and 24-hour locations, such as the Rollingcrest-Chillum Community Center in Riverdale.

Braveboy urged residents to help by clearing streets of parked cars and to use the 311 helpline to report unplowed areas. Public works officials said some roads marked as cleared had only received an initial pass.

“When someone looks out the window and says, ‘My street hasn’t been serviced,’ that’s not necessarily what happened,” said Michael Johnson, head of the Department of Public Works & Transportation.

Crews were still working as of Monday afternoon. PGCPS said it would provide an update that evening regarding plans to reopen on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Residents expressed concern about communication gaps and questioned the county’s preparedness for storms. At a County Council briefing, public works officials promised improvements to real-time updates and planning.

“We’re committed to communicating better and helping families plan,” Joseph said.

Despite their frustrations, some neighbors were seen clearing streets together, checking in on elderly residents and sharing generators. Many said they hoped the storm’s challenges would lead to better preparation next time.