When temperatures dip into the single digits and a significant snowfall is in the forecast, school administrators across Ohio are faced with the age old question – do we cancel school or not.
For the Wooster City Schools that decision falls to a team of administrators including Superintendent Michael Tefs, Director of Business and Community Affairs Dave Kocevar, Transportation Supervisor Kurt Miller, Maintenance Manager Bob Henery and Grounds Supervisor Rich Boley .
This is a team effort, said Kocevar. We have good people that we rely on who have done this for a long time that go out and bring the best observations to (Tefs) to make a decision.
When low wind chills or heavy snowfalls are in the forecast, the teams day starts early.
By 4:30 a.m. district officials begin criss crossing the city checking road conditions first hand. According to Kocevar special attention is paid to the citys more difficult streets to drive in snowy weather including hilly areas such as Highland, Flickinger Hill and Smithville Western.
As Miller checks the conditions of the busses, Henery confirms that heat is flowing to all the buildings and Boley assesses the status of the parking lots and sidewalks, other team members contact city officials to get a sense for how quickly the roads will be cleared and the National Weather Service for an update on the forecast.
The group then assembles to share information and make a final decision. Because the first busses roll out of the bus garage at 6:15, by 5:45 a.m. the decision is made.
If the decision is to close school information is immediately sent to local radio and TV stations and posted on the district web site while the districts automated telephone system sends a recorded message to each parent in the district advising them of the closing.
The worst thing we could have happen is folks sending their kids or dropping them off at the building and leaving and there is no school or a delay so this is just another piece to try and capture as many people as possible and get that information to them as quick as possible, said Kocevar of the automated calling system that can send messages to 3800 district families within 10 minutes.
While snow covered roads often cause cancellations in rural school districts, because roads are cleared more quickly in town more often than not the trigger for Wooster is severe cold.
According to Tefs, while there is no hard and fast rule special consideration is given when wind chills are at or below -15 degrees during the times of the day when students will be walking to or from school or waiting for busses.
In rare instances where conditions are expected to improve quickly the district has delayed the start time of school by up to two hours. According to Tefs should a delay be called the district would make a final decision on closing school by 7:45 a.m.
Tefs noted that even if weather conditions worsen, the district cannot reverse our decision in the morning without endangering students. Once we make the decision to open the schools, many parents rely on it and leave for work. If we then send students right back home, many will return to unsupervised bus stops and empty houses, said Tefs.
If conditions worsen during the school day an early dismissal might be necessary. If that were to occur the district uses the same notification system it uses for school closings.
For more a complete copy of the Wooster City School Districts policy on school closings, visit the district web site at www.woostercityschools.org.
Sidebar:
Need information on school closings?
Looking for up to the minute information on school closings for the Wooster City School District?
- Log on to the districts web site. School closing information will be immediately posted on the districts web site at www.woostercityschools.org.
- Listen to the radio. School closing information is provided to the following radio stations:
WHBC (94.1)
WQMX (94.9)
WGAR (99.5)
WQKT (104.5)
KISS (104.9)
WCRF (103.3)
MIX (106.5)
WTAM (1100)
- Watch TV. School closing information is provided to the following television stations:
NBC (3)
ABC (5)
WUAB (6)
FOX (8)
Clear Picture (10)
