Should School Be Cancelled Even when There is No Snow?

A few weeks ago, school was cancelled because of the threat of snow. This was just before winter vacation (last week) and one of my friends called me, outraged, because he was single, and his taxes were going to pay for "an extra day of school and buses", when there was no reason to cancel school. It didn't even start snowing until late afternoon, in East Granby, CT where he lived. The kids would have already been home by then.

Today, my sister called, and she was a little frazzled. When school got cancelled, it caused a stressful reaction because she had to add additional resources to find daycare, arrange for transportation and still get to work on time to manage her small temporary employment agency.

When should school be cancelled and when shouldn't it be?

Where's the precedent and rationale behind closing schools when there is only the "threat" of snow. After all, when we were kids we had to walk to school up a hill (both ways - barefoot) in two feet of snow. Back in those days they didn't just cancel school, even if a lot of our moms were stay at home. Of course, more people took responsibilities for their own actions and didn't try and sue their neighbors and schools for mistakes, either.

½ days and early releases due to snow

Columbus, OH, on the other hand, according to NBCi, "Columbus City School Defends Decision to Hold Class". Getting kids to school that day wasn't an issue, but getting them home was. The report indicates from one of the parents in the area on the article comment post area, "There was a Columbus City School bus crash on Tuesday".

What do school administrators' do? They have to listen to the weathermen, and make a decision early enough to allow planning to occur and still late enough to make the right call. They have to think about not only the morning commute but the afternoon trip as well.

If they bring kids in and then send them home early, they have a whole host of parents complaining because their kids are either stuck at school or home alone as the parents weren't prepared with a back up plan.

Last minute snow cancellations

When schools were closed in Orange Country, NC on February 5^{th a}t the last minute, Orange County Schools Chief Operating Officer Dr. George McFarley explained, "We always make the decision that we're going to operate in the best interest of safety," McFarley said. "Albeit at the last minute, I'd much rather cancel school than to hurt one child."

Safety First

While parents dread the "school closings" on television and on the radio, so must school officials. It can't be easy speculating about the risk of the potentially dangerous roads; taking a choice and allowing school to go on or closing early. No matter what the decision is, it seems that these folks have angry parents on their hands. And if something bad happens, they have the knowledge that it could have been prevented if they had only made a different decision.

Parents should always have a back- up plan or two. Networking with neighbors, friends and family can allow parents to take the snow days in shifts. Maybe one day, all the kids go to so and so's house, and the next time a snow day is called, the kids go over someone else's house. Having a contingency plan for emergencies such as school closings is important, whether due to school or some other natural disaster. Plan ahead for this and have a back up plan in case things don't go as planned.

And when snow does bring the weather, remember to stock up your emergency kit in case the power is out for a bit. Safety is key and can prevent tragedy.

Sources:

schools were closed in Orange Country, NC, NBCi
Columbus City School Defends Decision to Hold Class, Orange MyNC.com