News
Schools use first calamity day as snow falls
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| SNP photo by Jeffry
Konczal The Olentangy River at Olentangy Parkland in Worthington has frozen over after a week and a half of subfreezing temperatures. |
* Classes were called off Friday, Jan. 8, in Worthington and across Central Ohio.
By PAMELA WILLIS
A snowstorm swept into Worthington last week, dumping
another three or four inches of snow on the city, causing
early releases and shutting school doors for the district's
first snow day of the year.
The Worthington City School District canceled all evening activities Thursday, Jan. 7, and canceled classes for the day Friday, Jan. 8.
Superintendent Melissa Conrath said she and Transportation Supervisor George Sontag kept an eye on the weather Jan. 7 as the snow kept coming down.
"George had some concerns over the safety of the roads for the afternoon bus route, so we decided on an early release for students," she said.
Conrath said early release times are set at 1 p.m. for high school students and 1:45 p.m. for middle school students to allow bus drivers extra time on snowy streets and so that elementary students can be picked up safely at their regular release time.
All extracurricular activities also were canceled the evening of Jan. 7 because of unsafe road conditions, she said.
On the morning of Jan. 8, the decision process began before 5 a.m.
"George was up and driving the streets, checking out various routes, and he called me at about 5 a.m. because many of the roads and sidewalks had not been cleared and were icy and unsafe," she said. "I checked online radar and weather forecasts and George talked to other transportation directors in other districts to see how their roads were, because he can't physically get on every road."
Conrath said the district has a number of students walking to schools, so icy and snow-covered sidewalks also are a concern.
"We knew conditions were going to stay cold and snowy and would not be safe for our buses or for our walking students, so we decided to close for the day," she said.
Conrath said the snow day will use up one of the district's five calamity days for the school year.
"Next year, we'll only have three calamity days," she said.
House Bill 1, passed by state legislators last year, will reduce the number of calamity days available to Ohio school districts from five days to three days.
During the 2008-09 school year, some of the district's school buildings used more than five calamity days for the year, because of days used when the buildings lost electric power after Hurricane Ike blew power lines down.
The Suburban News Publications Web site, ColumbusLocalNews.com, will list Central Ohio school closings and delays when inclement weather strikes. The Web site also currently features video of kids and grownups enjoying last week's snow.
The Worthington City School District canceled all evening activities Thursday, Jan. 7, and canceled classes for the day Friday, Jan. 8.
Superintendent Melissa Conrath said she and Transportation Supervisor George Sontag kept an eye on the weather Jan. 7 as the snow kept coming down.
"George had some concerns over the safety of the roads for the afternoon bus route, so we decided on an early release for students," she said.
Conrath said early release times are set at 1 p.m. for high school students and 1:45 p.m. for middle school students to allow bus drivers extra time on snowy streets and so that elementary students can be picked up safely at their regular release time.
All extracurricular activities also were canceled the evening of Jan. 7 because of unsafe road conditions, she said.
On the morning of Jan. 8, the decision process began before 5 a.m.
"George was up and driving the streets, checking out various routes, and he called me at about 5 a.m. because many of the roads and sidewalks had not been cleared and were icy and unsafe," she said. "I checked online radar and weather forecasts and George talked to other transportation directors in other districts to see how their roads were, because he can't physically get on every road."
Conrath said the district has a number of students walking to schools, so icy and snow-covered sidewalks also are a concern.
"We knew conditions were going to stay cold and snowy and would not be safe for our buses or for our walking students, so we decided to close for the day," she said.
Conrath said the snow day will use up one of the district's five calamity days for the school year.
"Next year, we'll only have three calamity days," she said.
House Bill 1, passed by state legislators last year, will reduce the number of calamity days available to Ohio school districts from five days to three days.
During the 2008-09 school year, some of the district's school buildings used more than five calamity days for the year, because of days used when the buildings lost electric power after Hurricane Ike blew power lines down.
The Suburban News Publications Web site, ColumbusLocalNews.com, will list Central Ohio school closings and delays when inclement weather strikes. The Web site also currently features video of kids and grownups enjoying last week's snow.
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