I Hate Snow

People laugh when I say that snow days are the worse part of my job.  They can’t believe I would stress over this relatively minor aspect of running an entire school system.   But man do I hate snow.  I rarely have to make a quick decision that affects so many families and routines; and it is agonizing.  As much as I never want to cancel a day I will always err on the side of caution.  There are many factors in the decision.  Can we clear the snow?  Remember that our custodians, maintenance men, and bus drivers all travel to work.  They need to arrive well before school to prepare the grounds and vehicles. (They have done an EXCEPTIONAL job this year!) If you shovel your walk you can appreciate what it is like clearing the schools. We have snow blowers for the walkways but the driveways are a challenge. While we have plows they only PUSH the snow.  They can’t lift it and deposit it in a different area.  We have one small “Bobcat” that has that capability.  A heavy snow like yesterday makes it very difficult.  Are the roads safe?  Last week’s early dismissal was necessary to keep the buses on schedule.  The roads became increasingly dangerous as the day went on. Had we waited and dismissed at normal times Jackson students would have arrived home at 5:00 (if we were lucky).  Are the bus stops safe?  Can the staff arrive on time?  Can they get home safely?   What are the other districts doing? Are we running out of days?  This question doesn’t factor in on whether to call a day or not, but it certainly is a question that is important.  Right now we have 2 instructional days built into the calendar and 3 additional days if necessary.  I will wait and see what transpires with the next 2 storms before we address the calendar.   The forecast for tomorrow is tenuous at best.  As of now it appears we may have a delayed opening, but it isn’t crystal clear.  We will wait and see what the morning brings.  I appreciate your patience and understanding on these days; rest assured we will consider all of the things listed above and many more and ultimately decide to do what is safest for children.