This past week, we experienced three snow days. While I was among those grateful for the unexpected break right after winter break, my appreciation quickly turned to frustration when I returned on Thursday morning. The student parking lot was still not fully cleared, and building services had to come in on their days off to handle the situation (for which they did an outstanding job and deserve recognition). At that moment, I felt a surge of emotion.

Is MOCO neglecting its responsibilities? Where is the funding designated for clearing student parking lots? It’s disheartening when the county supposed to support us seemingly fails. I felt a mix of anger and betrayal. This county prides itself on prioritizing its students, yet when we need assistance, we are often left in the cold—literally.

I recognize that funding challenges are intricate, and I don’t have all the details. Nevertheless, I believe the county must improve its communication with students and parents.

That morning, I thought, “Why was the parking lot still being actively plowed when I arrived, and why did they allow people to drive even though it was still hazardous?” It was alarming that one of my friends lost control of their vehicle while attempting to park due to the ice.

It’s a domino effect. When workers don’t live in places they are supposed to plow, it makes it so we can’t get to our jobs because the areas where the workers who are supposed to plow haven’t had their area cleared. So on and so forth. While clearing roads is a time-consuming process and delays are common, this situation hasn’t taken this long in the past.

What has changed?