Well, it's weather. . .and it's Texas. So of course it's unpredictable.
Carroll ISD just officially canceled school for the fourth consecutive day due to wintry weather conditions. Dragon parents are jokingly looking forward to my voice on their telephone each day. . .or not. Seems some are starting to get a little cabin fever following Monday evening's ice storm that crippled most of the North Texas area and kept school children everywhere indoors for nearly a week.
What are families to do? No practices, no games, no meetings, no events? Well, needless to say that the Super Ice Storm of 2011 is just as surprising to everyone as last year's unprecedented foot of snow that shut down schools temporarily and sent Texas children outdoors to do something they rarely get to do - build REAL snowmen and go sledding!
With more snow predicted tonight, school officials didn't have much choice but to call off classes Friday. Parking lots and sidewalks continue to be iced over, with some roadways not looking much better. Temperatures have remained below freezing and now are not expected to improve until Saturday afternoon. At least one weather forecast predicts snow a couple of days next week, too. But let's hope for the best.
Carroll ISD agreed to work with Atmos Energy to voluntarily participate in "powering down" the district's natural gas usage to heat facilities. All CISD buildings are currently operating in "unoccupied" mode, which will help conserve energy for peak residential usage. Scheduled rolling blackouts have become common terminology across a great portion of the state unaccustomed to energy deficiencies.
Still, most school children are probably relieved to have a little time at home and school staff can catch up on emails, grading and special projects.
The celebrating may be short-lived because Dragons will now attend school on the two planned bad weather days - Monday, April 11 and Friday, April 22. Most will likely forget these few days of fun in February when the sun is shining and they are sitting in class this April.
School officials say the district will likely submit a weather-related waiver to the Texas Commissioner of Education, asking him to waive the other two instructional days. This process to seek a waiver is first considered by the District Advisory Committee and then the Board of Trustees. CISD Trustees are expected to vote on the waiver at their February 21 meeting.
In the meantime, stay warm and enjoy a long, long weekend. We'll see you Monday, Dragons!
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