Winter

It’s 3:30 in the morning. Do you know where your school superintendent is? Winter has arrived and with it, the first day of delayed classes for many area schools.
Last Tuesday brought snow to some areas of the county and ice to many roads. And it left other areas with not a trace of the wintry white stuff. Therein lies the problem of winter weather and transportation decisions.
Most superintendents and/or their transportation managers are out and about in the middle of the night when snow or bad roads are predicted. They are trying to make the best decision possible based on first hand information about the safety of the morning trips to schools.
Last Tuesday, for many, the snow meant a more leisurely breakfast for teachers. A reprieve for students who didn’t study quite enough for that early morning test. And for parents who had to stay home with their youngsters an extra two hours it meant their work day schedules were disrupted. Fun for some, not for others.
The bottom line in making the decision to delay classes, or even close schools for the day is always student safety. And it’s not just the buses to consider as many students drive to school for various reasons. For many of these drivers these are first experiences with snowy or icy roads. An extra measure of caution is required.
There aren’t any easy answers. Some weather phenomena make a very hazardous situation in one or a few spots leaving others totally safe. At other times broad areas are affected and the decision is clearer, if not easier.
Folks from other districts communicate with us on this and other topics. We all share information and make decisions with the best on site observations possible.
A couple hours of warming sun and other traffic can make a world of difference to the condition of a road. As can the snow removal crews who may not have gotten around by school travel time but will be working in a couple more hours.
As townships, municipalities and the state have modified equipment, personnel and salt and sand availability, it has become more difficult to predict with accuracy when clearing efforts will take place. Budgets and or material availability have forced changes that impact service.
Another board member and I were speaking by phone Tuesday and we agreed conditions were not that bad. Then he became delayed in traffic. The reason was a vehicle off the road. Much later that day as I was returning from Vienna and coming through Boaz there were two very slick ice lines about a half mile long where the road was shaded by trees.
Wednesday I spoke with an administrator who travels route 60 from Lowell and he too experienced a vehicle off the road on his way to work Tuesday. Apparently there were good reasons to have made the call for a late start.
There are many ways to address late starting times with the schedule. Granted, it’s an interruption to the process whatever is done. But better that than a preventable accident.
There will always be Monday morning quarterbacks with just the right calls for Sunday’s football games. And it is far easier to look at Tuesday night’s snowfall from the comfort of Wednesday’s lunch discussion. But the decisions have to be made before the vehicles start to roll.
We have had our first taste of winter. It won’t be the last. And it won’t be the last time you can find a lot of local school folks out checking the roads while we sleep. It’s a comfort.