Snowstorm or Not

A snowstorm will arrive this weekend. Anywhere from six to fifteen inches of snow has been predicted. I have lived through a multitude of missed forecasts throughout the years, and as a principal, the forecasters have made the administrators of the school look like fools many times when they forecast big amounts and we end up with a few flakes. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

The local district is having electrical problems with a transformer this week, so the children have not been in school at all. Now, a major snowstorm is in the works threatening their attendance next week. The elementary children have to attend 910 hours a year. I’d say they are going to have to make up some time this year if the snowcation lasts through next week.

Calling off school on inclement-weather days is tricky. Do you believe the forecaster? How long do you wait to make the call? If it is snowing in the southern part of the district, will it be snowing in the northern part? It’s below zero with windchill. You get the older folks claiming they went to school when it was sixty below. They did have chains on the tires to keep the buses on the road. Then you have the parents of today who do not want their children out when the temperature is below 25 degrees. (I won’t mention that these same parents do not make sure their child is dressed in layers with a hat and gloves for the weather conditions. Maybe they couldn’t afford them, but the school has a closet FULL of coats to give out when they don’t wear one to school. The thing is, it is given to them as a loaner until they can wear their own coat “tomorrow”. Seldom did these loaner coats come back, nor did the child wear them the next day. Some students come to school in shorts on these sub-zero days. I understand the parenting of teenagers here, having lived it with my son…” blank around and find out” or “they’ll figure it out” when they go to recess or walk from the parking lot, and they turn blue as they shiver all the way back to class. Little ones do not know any better, though, and need guidance. Step up and enforce the coat!

No matter what the administration does in regards to calling off due to the weather, they will not make everyone happy. “I have to work!” cries one parent. “There’s no reason why they can’t go to school and wear their coats in the classroom,” cries another. This goes on and on with one excuse or the other. I’m sure the admin will welcome the weekend and not having to make a call or decision. The superintendent has to make these calls knowing the volume of phone calls they will receive, no matter which way the day is called.

As principals, we did not have to make the call, but we certainly did receive our fair share of phone calls and drop-offs. There could be just one car in the parking lot, and a parent would drop off their child and zoom off without looking back to see if their child had made it inside. I always wanted to be there on snow days because of this. I’d call their parent just as they were passing the local pizza joint about a mile down the road. The parents were always surprised that we “were NOT” having school. Maybe AI will be able to forecast better than the weathermen. Soon, we will probably have a chip put in our heads that just tells us everything, without even having to look or listen to forecasts or social media.

Parents, enjoy the days at home and read a book with your child on these inclement days. Curl up with some hot chocolate and some popcorn and watch a movie together, too! That will be time well spent!

Later…