Snow hadn't even touched the ground yet when area schools, including Frederick Area and Leola, had already decided to dismiss students early. School officials stated that determining whether to delay or cancel school due to weather conditions all comes down to safety. Redfield, Northwestern, and Groton called off classes for the entire day on Tuesday before the region's first winter storm of the season could have a significant impact.
"The bottom line of the decision is: Are road conditions safe enough for students traveling to and from school?" said Randy Barondeau, superintendent of Frederick Area Schools. "The last thing we want to do is put students or staff at risk." Frederick dismissed school at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and planned to have a two-hour delay the following day.
### How the Process Works
Area school officials mentioned they have several methods of checking road conditions and the weather to determine whether to cancel or delay classes. Many schools use a multi-tiered process to measure the feasibility of sending students to school. Julie Nikolas, superintendent of the Leola school district, said she consults with the National Weather Service in Aberdeen to gauge the scope of the weather's effects and contacts county officials to get an understanding of road conditions throughout the county. Nikolas added that Leola dismissed school at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
"Talking with the weather services allows us to make better decisions," she said. Nikolas also stays in contact with staff within her district who inform her about road conditions. In Frederick, it's not uncommon to find Barondeau checking the drivability around the district.
"It’s a collective effort within our district; we stay in communication and stay updated on the latest weather information," he said. School officials emphasized that, for the most part, they try to make parents and students aware and spread news of cancellations, delays, or early dismissals as soon as possible.
"However, sometimes we just can’t predict what’s going to happen with the weather," Barondeau said. "But as a rule of thumb, it’s better to be safe and cancel school than to risk someone getting hurt."
In Aberdeen, Gary Harms, superintendent of Aberdeen Public Schools, added that safety is a top priority for his district as well. However, he noted that Tuesday's weather did not pose a threat to the school day, so Aberdeen schools remained in session. Harms said the district considers several factors to help make the best decision for students and the entire district community.
"Roads, and temperatures (wind chills) are some of the factors we consider," Harms said. He mentioned that the district has many students traveling from rural areas to attend school, which also influences the district's decision on whether to delay or cancel classes.
"We also have very good communication with the weather service in Aberdeen, who give us an idea of what to expect," he said. In fact, the two sides had a conference call on Tuesday to discuss the latest winter weather. Harms said that when school is canceled or delayed, not only are the roughly 4,000 students affected, but also parents and nearly 700 district employees.
"So it’s a decision process we don’t take lightly because so many people are affected," Harms said. Thus far this winter, Aberdeen schools have not missed a day due to weather. Roncalli, as well as Aberdeen Christian School, typically follow the Aberdeen Public School system regarding weather-related school cancellations or delays.