Well, Dragons, it was another early morning for our transportation officials and district administrators. This call today wasn't quite so easy up until the moment the districts in our area all began to close. First of all, some of the roads we expected to be wet were still significantly dry at 5 a.m. Conditions this morning were nothing like last week where ice already covered a significant portion of the roadways.
Still, while we were conferencing one school administrator was out driving the roads. In fact, he had been since about 4:30 a.m. this morning. He reported that there were trees beginning to ice up and puddles with ice forming around the edges, but roadways were suprisingly clearer than expected. As the first signs of sleet began to fall, we started getting word that other districts were considering going to school and just releasing early. This is never really a good option.
As we were conferencing with area superintendents, the temperature began to drop dramatically - like one degree for every minute. In the course of 15 minutes, decisions became a little more clear, with a band of snow - now predicted at only 1-2 inches instead of the 2-4 first predicted - following behind the sleet. The administrator out driving the roads noted that temps dropped seven degrees in an 11-minute period.
One by one, districts made the decision to close. It seemed with temperatures continuing to drop and the wind howling outside, we didn't stand much of a chance of getting a full day in before dealing with difficult roadways and trying to get everyone home safely.
At the time the call was made, it seemed the right thing to do, though all agreed this one was close and could have gone either way. Hours from now when you read this column, that may sound ridiculous.
Hindsight is always 20-20. We realize that states on the east coast and in the midwest/northern part of the country go to school in conditions far worse. In fact, we often get calls from individuals who question our decisions once they have gotten up to drive to work and things "seem fine."
However, this is Texas. And the weather changes dramatically in short periods of time. Our decisions are being made for thousands of school children and employees hours before commuters start their morning trek to work. We have to consider the forecast, current conditions, temperatures, heating systems, sidewalks and parking lots, commute times/conditions for employees, etc. Our goal as a public school district is to educate children. So closing is not a decision we take lightly. Though school children (and sometimes even teachers) often pray for snow days. . .school administrators do not.
I can assure you, making weather-related decisions are some of the most difficult decisions to make. Sometimes, like last week, people tell us we did the obvious - it was a no brainer. Sometimes, we get to school and conditions get worse and we receive calls questioning our intelligence as we contemplate sending children back home while parents may be gone to work. And sometimes. . .just sometimes, everyone is just fine with our decision because they realize we have the best interests of their children in mind.
I hope today is one of those days.
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