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More than 1,000 Fairfax County Public Schools employees worked through the division’s recent snow days to prepare buildings, remove snow and ice, and restore access across 199 schools and centers.
The sprawling cleanup covered more than 28 million square feet of building space, 40,000 parking spaces and 400 acres of pavement. Crews also had to treat and clear sidewalks, entrances and internal roads at school and administrative sites.
Prolonged sleet and bitter cold made the storm particularly difficult. Thick ice reduced the effectiveness of standard treatment and removal methods, requiring longer operations, repeated treatment cycles and continuous monitoring.
The response brought together facilities equipment operators, supervisors and support staff, along with custodians, transportation employees and other division personnel. Approximately 1,400 custodians concentrated on sidewalks, entrances and building access points, while hundreds of bus drivers and transportation workers helped clear buses and prepare the transportation system.
Keeping facilities accessible was important even while classes remained canceled. Families still needed to reach sites offering nutritious food through the division’s snow-day meal-kit program.
Preparations Begin Days Before a Storm
FCPS starts preparing several days before winter weather arrives. Staff inspect and position snow-removal equipment, perform mechanical checks and complete needed maintenance.
Teams also check supplies of fuel, salt, sand and other materials, replenishing them when necessary. Building systems are placed in “occupied mode” to keep facilities warm and reduce the risk of freeze-related problems, while employees are placed on alert and schedules are adjusted for extended coverage.
Five contracted snow-removal vendors supplement the school division’s own workforce. The vendors operate in extended rotations and can provide nearly continuous coverage during the busiest periods of a storm.
Crews Work Through the Snowfall
A few hours before snow is expected, employees begin staging equipment, positioning vehicles and preparing individual sites. Active removal generally starts once about 2 inches has accumulated and continues during the storm and afterward.
Crews initially focus on preserving access to schools, including primary travel paths, parking lots and critical routes. Rock salt and sand are applied to parking areas and driving surfaces to improve traction and limit refreezing.
Once conditions stabilize, workers turn their attention to transportation needs by clearing parking areas and freeing buses. Additional cleanup follows after custodial crews remove snow and ice from sidewalks and entrances.
During heavier storms, crews may also haul large piles of snow away from school properties to preserve parking capacity and allow vehicles and pedestrians to circulate safely.