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Ask the Superintendent -
January 23, 2008
Arguably this has been somewhat of an
unpredictable winter. As I write my article this
week the temperature is in the single digits, yet
the average winter temperatures have been warmer
than the norm.
Currently the District has used four snow days this
year, three of which were before the holiday recess
in December. There has been as much ice as snow, but
it all equates to unsafe driving conditions.
Winter is a difficult time of the year for
superintendents. The decisions they must make with
regard to school closings impacts the lives and
routines of a great many people in their school
district. Superintendents are often criticized and
second guessed for their decisions regarding weather
related decisions: closings, delays, early
dismissals, and cancellations. All of these
decisions are based on a compilation of
meteorological data received from a school
district’s contracted weather service, weather
predictions from radio and television meteorologist,
the National Weather Service and other sources.
Local Superintendent of Highways and School
Transportation Directors also contribute to the
decision making process providing us with up to the
minute road conditions.
Criticisms of weather related decisions usually fall
into the categories of “too late”, “too many”, “too
much loss of school time”, “too early”, and “not
necessary.” Although the science of meteorology has
improved, it is still far from perfect when it comes
to predicting a storm. No matter what “catchy” or
“fancy” name is given to a media network’s weather
radar system and no matter how closely scientists
track storms, weather systems are at best
unpredictable.
Although I base my weather related decisions on the
best data available at the time, there is always one
overriding constant – safety. Our district is
approximately 83 square miles and has 3,700 students
and employees. A decision to close or delay school
keeps everyone safe. There are no awards for using
the fewest number of “snow days.” If school is
closed, even if it turns out to be a poor decision
on my part, the most important fact remains; no one
is hurt in an accident.
Our students must go to school for 180 days
regardless of the number of snow days we use or
don’t use. There really is no loss of instruction.
It is interesting to note; there is more
instructional time lost due to New York State
mandated testing than to the number of snow days we
use.
Roy Reese
Superintendent of School
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