The Decision to Close or Delay School or School Events

By Jim Smith

 

The decision to close or delay schools or to cancel school events due to bad winter weather is based on a careful analysis of a number of the following key factors:

 

• Road Conditions. We are in contact with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio Department of Transportation, the county, village and the township checking on road conditions in all areas of the districts. Of concern, which roads have been plowed and treated. We then do visual inspections by driving on key roads which typically cause the most problems. On a given morning, we are on those roads from 3:30 a.m. on.

• Accumulations. We are in contact with various weather forecasting sites to check on the amount of snow and ice that as accumulated.

• Current Conditions. Whether precipitation is continuing.

• Building Conditions. Do we have any problems with electricity or heat in any of our buildings?

• Parking Lot Conditions. Completely plowing and treating our lots can take as long as several hours. Our ability to have lots and driveways ready and safe for school is always a consideration.

• Temperature and wind chill. Temperature and wind chill factors determine the effectiveness of salt and other road treatments. Also, many Bethel-Tate students walk to school and/or wait for the bus outside,

• Weather Predictions. We prefer not to make decisions to close or delay school based on weather predictions, which are not always accurate. For example, if it’s icy and snowing heavily at 5:30 a.m., we will probably close or delay even if the forecast calls for the snow to stop soon. On the other hand, canceling a school event on the weekend sometimes has to be made on a forecast due to the amount of time necessary to notify participants in advance.

• What other districts are doing. I am in contact with area superintendents comparing notes and to see what decisions they are contemplating or have made.

 

In the end, I make a decision based on the factors and recommendations I receive from authorities and officials plus key school personnel such as our Directors of Transportation and Facilities. Once a decision is made, I immediately call the winter weather hotline who then notifies the media. The notification also appears on this web site. When a decision is made early in the morning or the night before, Bethel-Tate generally appears very quickly. Calls made later when many districts are calling can delay our district appearing on the list. Knowing how difficult it can be to rearrange your plans around a school delay or cancellation, I try to make the decision as soon as possible. Please understand if you don’t feel it is safe for your children to attend school or to a school event, use your own judgment on whether your children should attend. As always, if you have questions or concerns, please call me at 734-2238 or email at Smith_Ja@betheltate.org.