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School officials use similar techniques for delays |
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Friday, 08 January 2010 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Thursday ended with some uncertainty about what Friday morning would bring for some local schools’ schedules.
While some schools posted delays and closures Thursday night following a day of snowfall, some waited until Friday morning to make their final decisions.
In New Bremen, Superintendent Ann Harvey decided to issue a two-hour delay for Friday.
“That was in order to allow our buses to have daylight,” Harvey said. “There was a significant amount of snow on the ground from blowing over night.”
Harvey also said the 5.25 inches of snow reported Friday morning led her to consider an early release Thursday.
“I drove the roads twice, once at 11:30 a.m. and I drove the roads around 1 p.m. to determine whether we should do an early dismissal or not,” Harvey said. “In order to do that it would have to be a significantly larger hazard to have the buses out at 3 p.m. than at 1:30 p.m. We didn’t think the safety factor was going to be different between an early dismissal and the 3 p.m. dismissal.”
New Knoxville Superintendent Kim Waterman said she communicated with a variety of people to help make her decisions with the snowfall.
“Immediately last night (Thursday) we went to a two-hour delay,” Waterman said. “We wanted the bus drivers to be able to see the turn-arounds, driveways and the students.”
She said the school communicates on district radios with the Auglaize County superintendents.
“Celina and Tri-Star usually make the decision first, they are on pretty early communicating with us if the roads are drifted or pretty clear,” Waterman said. “I always go out and drive the roads myself, too.”
Waterman praised the crews who worked Thursday evening and early Friday morning to clear the roads for motorists.
“The people that cleared the roads did an awesome job,” Waterman said. “The two-hour delay gave us enough time for there to be enough light.”
Waterman also said Thursday consisted of a few conversations about an early dismissal.
“I drove around yesterday, it’s tough when the kids are already here,” Waterman said. “The decision to leave early weighs on your mind. We just felt that instead of putting them out there at 1 p.m. we could hang on for a couple more hours to get in the day and we were able to.”
Minster Superintendent Gayl Ray said she issued a two-hour delay Thursday night.
“With the amount of snow that we had the prediction was for a windy night, I thought it best if we started with a two-hour delay,” Ray wrote in an e-mail. “I drove the district at 7:30 a.m. and the roads were in good condition so we kept with the two-hour delay and had school today.” |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 February 2010 )
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