Fairfax County Public Schools made ANOTHER mess up today relating to inclement weather:

At Saratoga Elementary School, students were held hostage by the school! The school refused to release students to their buses (common practice during weather). The school also refused to release walkers, which is understandable. But, when parents/guardians went into the school to physically get their children to bring home, they were told that not only could they not take their children, they were also not permitted to see their children and were then told that they themselves were not permitted to leave. Parents/guardians are legally entitled to their children until the child is age 18. Can this or any school deny a parent/guardian the right to their children? No! The definition of "holding hostage" is keeping people against their will. Fairfax County held these children against not only their will, but the will of their parents. There were little kids crying because they weren't allowed to see their parents/guardians. The Fairfax County Public School System inadvertantly took away parents/guardians rights to their children. This is an outrage!

but could we use a less inflammatory word than "hostage situation?" I'm picturing terrorists with guns, not idiot school employees ...

Same thing at Rocky Run middle school. Showed up to pick up my brother just after the storms and they wouldn't release him! I was furious, so were my parents.

I understand the safety aspect but if a FAMILY MEMBER is there to pick up a child it's no longer the county's responsibility or business.

HHMMM....lets see..confusion and hysteria...lets give the kids to someone claiming to be a parent/guardian...compounded by court orders not to allow a certain parent have custody....sure, just give out the kids to whomever shows up.

General FCPS policy if to have parents show ID then they can sign their kids out, which makes it their own fault if the kids dies due to the storm. Im not sure if they do that for elementary schools, but it is allowed definitely in MS and HS.

If Pat Conklin is still running the school I am not a bit shocked by this story-she is the principal from hell.

I understand the need to protect the kids-we were under a tornado watch. If parents feel they can provide better safety for their kids during an emergency-they have that right. The irony is if a tornado had touched down at the school and wiped everyone out the school would have greater liability for keeping the kids. Usually all decisions from schools are about liability-common sense usually does not factor into the decision at all.

okay, that's messed up .... Wrote:
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> but could we use a less inflammatory word than
> "hostage situation?" I'm picturing terrorists
> with guns, not idiot school employees ...


If this is true, it is technically kidnapping (of the parents, at least). Seems to me whoever made the decision at the school to do this should be fired.

Woman principal, Nuff Said..

So ....send them to court for kidnaping...

Kidnapping is nothing for this principal-she enjoys ruling this school with a Nazi mentality. A few years back 2 6th grade girls were being disciplined for "assaulting" a male student. Apparently the boy had kicked the girls and they responded by punching the kid in the arm. The girls were dragged to the office and asked to write a statement about what happened. Of course they wrote that the kid had kicked them and that they hit him back (they were truthful). Well, the principal, Pat Conklin, did not like the one girl's statement, and she tore up the paper, and ordered the girl to rewrite her story and "only write what she had done to the boy".

It was disgusting. Conklin even admitted doing it at the School Board disciplinary hearing. Nothing was done to her. Apparently FCPS has no problem with principals bullying 11 year olds and denying them basic due process rights.

Guy Wrote:
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> Woman principal, Nuff Said..

You're an idiot, Nuff said. FCPS put out the policy that schools weren't dismissing students to parents due to the storm watch. Students already on buses were diverted to the "closest school to the buses current location." Yes, very chaotic, and perhaps not the best decision, but it wasn't solely one school nor one principal who made the decision. The schools and the principals had to abide by what the "system" itself told them to do.

FCPS seems to be a messed up organization lately. Now the idiots are sending kids home from school early - schools that were without power since the storms and had no power when the kids arrived. INCREDIBLE! And they can't even tell the parents exactly when their child's school will be closed.

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/index.shtml

Did anyone call DEAN TINSTADT'S WIFE?

Picked up my kid from Union Mill after showing proper ID.

rumor Wrote:
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> Guy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Woman principal, Nuff Said..
>
> You're an idiot, Nuff said. FCPS put out the
> policy that schools weren't dismissing students to
> parents due to the storm watch. Students already
> on buses were diverted to the "closest school to
> the buses current location." Yes, very chaotic,
> and perhaps not the best decision, but it wasn't
> solely one school nor one principal who made the
> decision. The schools and the principals had to
> abide by what the "system" itself told them to do.

Chaotic and FCPS, Nuff Said...

Regulation 7321.8, page 6 states:

Parents will be allowed to pick up their students if they so choose. Releases to
other caretakers must be specified on the student’s emergency contact card or by
direct contact with a parent or guardian. Outdoor Fairfax County Public Schools
(FCPS) activities are prohibited during a tornado warning.

One more screw up by FCPS

Catch 22 situation here-either the school knowingly violated the policy that allows parents to pick up their kids or they claim ignorance of the policy. Neither is pretty.

The tornado safety guidelines require the kids to be placed in internal windowless areas-which I guess is hallways. So they pack 700 kids into the hallways and that is safe?

If I were a parent at this school I would have a lot more confidence in my ability to protect my kid from harm than they would.

They screwed up big time.

rumor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Guy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Woman principal, Nuff Said..
>
> You're an idiot, Nuff said. FCPS put out the
> policy that schools weren't dismissing students to
> parents due to the storm watch. Students already
> on buses were diverted to the "closest school to
> the buses current location." Yes, very chaotic,
> and perhaps not the best decision, but it wasn't
> solely one school nor one principal who made the
> decision. The schools and the principals had to
> abide by what the "system" itself told them to do.


Does this policy include the school not allowing parents to leave??? I can't imagine it - or any policy anywhere - would call for this.

They are now sending kids home early from two dozen schools because the schools don't have power. They cannot even give a time as to when the children will be getting sent home! Why the hell did they allow children to go into a building without power in the first place? How safe is it for them to be in a building with any electricity? Would they not have been safer staying in their own homes? Why weren't the parents told that their child's school did not have power? What kinds of idiots in FCPS are making these kind of moronic decisions?


HOW MANY SCHOOLS DID NOT HAVE POWER TODAY?

Another f__K up by FCPS Wrote:
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> They are now sending kids home early from two
> dozen schools because the schools don't have
> power. They cannot even give a time as to when the
> children will be getting sent home! Why the hell
> did they allow children to go into a building
> without power in the first place? How safe is it
> for them to be in a building with any electricity?
> Would they not have been safer staying in their
> own homes? Why weren't the parents told that their
> child's school did not have power? What kinds of
> idiots in FCPS are making these kind of moronic
> decisions?

==============================================================



FCPS ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE POWER OUTAGES. THE CHILDREN WERE SENT TO SCHOOL SO THEY WOULD NOT HAVE TO MAKE UP A DAY DUE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD GIVING THE SCHOOLS THE TWO SNOW DAYS THAT WERE NOT USED. THEY JUST DID NOT WANT TO MAKE UP ANOTHER DAY AFTER THE CHANGES WERE MADE.


>
>
> HOW MANY SCHOOLS DID NOT HAVE POWER TODAY?

> FCPS ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE POWER OUTAGES. THE
> CHILDREN WERE SENT TO SCHOOL SO THEY WOULD NOT
> HAVE TO MAKE UP A DAY DUE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD
> GIVING THE SCHOOLS THE TWO SNOW DAYS THAT WERE NOT
> USED. THEY JUST DID NOT WANT TO MAKE UP ANOTHER
> DAY AFTER THE CHANGES WERE MADE.
>

Typical FCPS, taking the easy way out, instead of the right way out.

Adam Wrote:
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> > FCPS ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE POWER OUTAGES. THE
> > CHILDREN WERE SENT TO SCHOOL SO THEY WOULD NOT
> > HAVE TO MAKE UP A DAY DUE TO THE SCHOOL BOARD
> > GIVING THE SCHOOLS THE TWO SNOW DAYS THAT WERE
> NOT
> > USED. THEY JUST DID NOT WANT TO MAKE UP ANOTHER
> > DAY AFTER THE CHANGES WERE MADE.
> >
>
> Typical FCPS, taking the easy way out, instead of
> the right way out.

20 schools close and FCPS sends home 35,000 students Ages 6 thru 18.

Were parents home? Did students walk home? How did the ES students get into their house?

> 20 schools close and FCPS sends home 35,000
> students Ages 6 thru 18.
>
Were parents home? Most of them Yes, FCPS is not the only one effected by power outages.
Did students walk home? Sure, if they live close enough.
How did the ES students get into their house? The short bus?

Its obvious that FCPS does not have good emergency plans in effect, or the staff and parents are not aware of them.

This was a thunderstorm, and NOTHING compared to the scale of disasters we are seeing all over the world.

If FCPS can't handle a simple power outage and School Cancellation, how can they be prepared for a major disaster.

effect of power outage on Westfield
Posted by: WHS Student (IP Logged)
Date: June 05, 2008 11:48AM


WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL:
Today was simply a waste of four hours.
No A/C, No lights (few emergency lights), the PA system (not loud enough), no wi-fi/server (therefore no grading, no attendance).

ABSOLUTE CHAOS
3200 kids, no rules, no nothing. Even some of the water appliances werent working (fountains). No refrigeration (no lunch), nothing.

i've never seen such a sight, on such a grand scale. Today was absolute anarchy, and I dont' ever think there will ever be anything like it.

I hated AND loved it.
Anybody else have any interesting stories?

20 schools close and stusents sent ho Wrote:
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>
> 20 schools close and FCPS sends home 35,000
> students Ages 6 thru 18.
>
> Were parents home? Did students walk home? How did
> the ES students get into their house?

That is something, isn't it? They won't let parents take their kids home during a storm, but they will drop a six-year-old off at an empty house. Brilliant!

36 schools and centers were without grid electrical power. Every school I have been to has a generator to provide power for PA system (albiet at low volume) emergency lights, specificaly wired lights that feed from generator so you cal get out of hallways and such and a few wall outlets so that emergency equipment can be plugged in.

Some schools also had damage due to power surges.

All schools were opened to avoid having to make up a day, students arrived and waited until buses were done with elementary school runs and then took them back home.

I guess this dimwits didn't get the memo about parents having access to their children. Holding the parents at the school, too! Goodness....

The principal, Pat Conklin makes $116, 791
The asst Pal, Luerson makes $81,220

You would think we would get a little more bang for our buck.

I think the majority of you people would bitch about a free meal!!!

Pat Coklin is an abusive tyrannnical pig. She thinks she has created a petty fiefdom over there and she desperately needs to be removed.

I saw Dale's explanation letter on all the general FCPS screwups over the weather.

Did this principal issue an apology to the parents she held hostage?? Or for violating FCPS policy?

I am guessing no.

Vince(1) Wrote:
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> HHMMM....lets see..confusion and hysteria...lets
> give the kids to someone claiming to be a
> parent/guardian...compounded by court orders not
> to allow a certain parent have custody....sure,
> just give out the kids to whomever shows up.

LOL Right - then Gravis would be showing up at various high schools claiming he is there to pick up his "sister".

All the bitching about schools is riduclous which is why they have ridiculous rrules. Go to private scho0l and shut up thye get paid to listen to your drama

Can someone please clarify what happened regarding the parents. Were parents told they could not leave (without kids) once they arrived at the school? If this were the case, the principal should be in deep shit.

Parents should be banned from school property!

I've been run into TWICE this year by cell phone talkin', lead footed, SUV drivin' assholes!

Juast remember assholes, if you hit a FCPS school bus, you ARE GOING TO MISS YOUR MEETING. And if you deem the collision "minor" and leave the scene, please be assured that I got your tag number. Hit and run is a serious rap that could possibly cost you more than your chessy granite countertops.

Drop your pampered, Advanced Placement morons off after the buses leave!

Or have them take the bus

This principal is awful-I can't wait for my kid to graduate

I have kids in Satatoga and have known Pat Conklin for a while. I have never seen anything wrong she has done. The kids there all seem to like her too. If she did something wrong then say what it is, not just that she is awful or bad. I am not calling anyone a liar just backup what you are saying with some facts.

A former neighbor of mine had 3 kids go thru Saratoga-she couldn't stand Conklin. Her kid, who is now in private school, was hit by a teacher there. A bunch of kids in the classroom saw it. Of course Conklin and company did nothing about it-they should have called the police.

The mother was so angry about them not responding that she and several other parents picketed outside of the school.

Ask around, lady. You have no idea how mean this principal is.

To the poster defending this principal-

Do you have a problem with this principal not knowing the rules about releasing kids to their parents?

Do you think it is ok to tell parents that they can't leave?

This principal seems nuts to me.

Saratoga parent Wrote:
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> This principal is awful-I can't wait for my kid to
> graduate


Why don't you put your kid in private school then?

five years or so ago Wrote:
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> A former neighbor of mine had 3 kids go thru
> Saratoga-she couldn't stand Conklin. Her kid, who
> is now in private school, was hit by a teacher
> there. A bunch of kids in the classroom saw it.
> Of course Conklin and company did nothing about
> it-they should have called the police.
>
> The mother was so angry about them not responding
> that she and several other parents picketed
> outside of the school.
>
> Ask around, lady. You have no idea how mean this
> principal is.


And when it's your kid who threatens a teacher, that teacher will call the police, no matter if it's verbal of physical. For all the bitch'n you people do, it amazes me that you don't even take into consideration your kid receives a FREE APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION. I'll let you trace that to the federal law that supports that mandate. You think you're going to get anywhere talking SMACK about people who hold you child's future in their hands????? You're not going to get anywhere.

Hate is contagious.

Gee Stan-

Could you define "free education" for us. I am confused. I thought we paid all these taxes every year that pays for the schools, therefore, we pay for an education.

Maybe you have some inside knowledge that you could share with us.

"A former neighbor"? Then let the former neighbor post the problem. Stories seem to change as they go through more people. What did she do to YOU? I do not know the facts of this particular situation but if what she did was so wrong or illegal then are the police investigating it? Have YOU reported this and if so what is being done.

I have lived within 200 yards of this school for 12 years and have not once seen a protestor or picketer?

"Do you have a problem with this principal not knowing the rules about releasing kids to their parents?" - Please tell me the exact law regarding this. I do not know. I agree that it does not sound right but is this story 100% accurate?

"Do you think it is ok to tell parents that they can't leave?" - Did you acually see this happen or are you relying on what someone else posted? I really would be interested if you saw this happen. I would have a real problem with it.

"This principal seems nuts to me." - Seems like this opinion was formed based on others people's opinions which may or may not be true.

The bottom line is that this principal not going to act against the law. Many of the things I have read here were posted by people that already were against her and are just use this to turn others against her. If Pat Conklin did something illegal than call the police and post it right here that you called the police and tell us what is being done.

I have yet to read about one person here saying anything that this principal did to them.

Parent Wrote:
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> "This principal seems nuts to me." - Seems like
> this opinion was formed based on others people's
> opinions which may or may not be true.

Whats wrong with that?

So let me get this straight "Parent"-

Your opinion that this principal is great carries some weight and is credible, but the posters who cite incidents where the principal seems unprofessional and engages in illegal activityat times-by kidnapping parents and denying studen't due process rights- has no crediblity.

Am I missing something??

Pat Conklin is part of the illuminati, Im convinced. One student was set up in the 90's.

who cares

Jesus, People LEARN TO READ THE THREAD DATE!!!!!
Attachments:

Pat Conklin retired

So are the children still being held?

We will miss you ms conklin

Free Bird Wrote:
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> So are the children still being held?


i THINK SO not sure

So why did she retire? Anyone know?

.
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