Will Colts, Saints Super Bowl Game Prompt Monday School Delays, Closings?

When classes resume on the day after the Super Bowl, will students in Indianapolis public schools be allowed to start school late? At first, that seemed to be the case, as many school districts considered canceling classes. According to the Indy Channel and 6 News Indiana IPS officials were pitted against the state's superintendent of public instruction.

Since the Indianapolis Colts are going head to head with the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 Super Bowl game, odds are high that many students will be watching the game and not concentrating on homework. But is that any reason to delay school the next day?

Indianapolis public school officials may be thinking back to 2007. The Colts were in the 2007 Super Bowl then, too. The result? Too many school bus drivers didn't make it to work. Indianapolis public schools had to cancel classes.

With a strong snow system in the forecast for Friday, it could be a messy weekend, even before the start of the Colts and Saints playoff game. Even so, there should be plenty of time to get the streets in fine condition for the students to go to school. But will anyone be ready to attend? Will 2010 be a repeat of 2007? That remains to be seen.

Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints Super Bowl Game: the Case Against School Delays

Historically, two-hour school delays or even closing schools for the entire day have been reserved for emergencies such as bad weather or serious water leaks which flood major areas of the school). Also, students are required to be in school a minimum number of 180 full days each year.

Original plans had been to allow the school delay but count the day as a full school day. That plan didn't fly with the Indiana Department of Education. The delay after Super Bowl Sunday didn't meet state guidelines for a full day of school.

At this point, IPS schools may be delayed one hour on Monday and students will be required to stay an extra hour after the normal closing time for school. This applies only to IPS students. Some private schools may be closed all day.

As the parent of a child in a township school in Indianapolis, my son will be attending a full day of school. However, he has friends who go to IPS schools and his level of unhappiness about the discrepancy has been very high (to put it mildly).

Also, with winter not fully over yet, if Indianapolis gets blasted with a major snowstorm or blizzard later this year, there could be more school delays, possibly putting at risk the minimum number of school days required per year - or forcing students to attend school for extra days.

Super Bowl Game: The Case for School Delays

If school bus drivers don't show up to take students to school, there may be a repeat of what happen in 2007 - no school. Many Indianapolis Public School parents work and don't always have time to stay home and get their children to school. Also, without any advance warning, they may have no choice but to keep their children at home or send them to school later. If the Indianapolis Colts win the Super Bowl, it may be hard for excited children to get to bed on time. They may show up at school groggy and not prepared to work.

Having been a substitute teacher at some Indianapolis schools, I know that rules about sports events and school delays can vary widely. When I taught at one school, classes were canceled for nearly an entire week when the high school team won the state championship. Of course, that is not a comparison to the Super Bowl game but it is anyone's bet how the post Super Bowl school attendance issue will play out. Stay tuned for any updates.

Sources:

Schools Consider Post Super Bowl Holiday, Feb 1, 2010, 6 News and Indy Channel.com here
IPS Revises Post-Super Bowl Delay Schedule, Feb. 3, here