Published: January 29, 2009 09:38 am      

Bad Weather days — who makes the call?

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

With recent school closings, students have enjoyed staying at home with no bus routes, no homework, plenty of ice to play with outside and PlayStation games inside.

During the two-day closure, many have wondered who makes the call to delay openings or close local schools in the event of ice-covered roads.

Derik Moore, Weatherford ISD public information officer, said WISD Superintendent Deborah Cron does.

He said Cron left Austin Sunday from the Texas Association of School Administrator mid-winter conference due to the weather predictions.

Cron said she was worried about the winter storm and decided to come back early from the conference.

When weather forecasts call for ice, snow and freezing conditions, Cron said she doesn’t take the decision lightly.

A process is put in place in the event in inclement weather.

Cron is supported and assisted by Gerald Exman with Durham Transportation officials in her decision, along with a group of others.

“She tries to have enough background information to support her decision,” Moore said.

Tuesday evening, news stations broadcast Weatherford ISD would be delayed two hours, but after re-evaluating the weather predictions, Cron decided to make the call for a complete closure.

Moore said at 6:03 a.m. Wednesday, Durham Transportation bus drivers could not make it out of their driveways to make it into work.

Cron said in order to stick with a delayed opening, buses must be ready to run at 8 a.m.

Two days are marked on the district’s calendar which are designated as bad weather skip days.

“We hope we don’t have to use them, but they’re great to have,” Cron said.

In rare occurrences, Moore said sometimes the state allows grants to waive the make-up days.

On this year’s calendar, Good Friday could be used as a make-up day for implementing the past two consecutive bad weather days. Good Friday falls on April 10.

“We’re not out of the woods yet as far as freezing days are concerned,” Moore said. “We have until around Easter.”

Cron said there is one main factor taken into consideration when debating a delay or closure.

“Our first and foremost concern is the student and staff safety,” she said.

Durham assesses the hazard level of roads with drivers actually out on the roads in each event. Grant Priess, WISD director of safety, checks how the roads look and reports back to Cron.

With Tuesday’s forecast of a winter storm on its way, Cron said she paid close attention to the news and kept track of the National Weather Service forecast.

“They go from Springtown to Cresson,” Cron said, adding the district covers about 260 square miles. “It may be fine in one part of the district and not in another part.”

The district will close even if only half of the roads are covered in ice.

Once Cron has made her decision, she initiates the calling tree.

“I notify four on my list,” she said. “[Through the tree] we notify all administrators and staff members. It’s really efficient and effective.

Moore is second on Cron’s list, who immediately puts the notice on the district’s Web site and alerts the media.

The first calls Tuesday and Wednesday were made to Wayne Starnes, in place of Randy Burks, who are the designated positions with all facilities and maintenance.

Wednesday morning, Moore said the district Web site had a significant number of hits by parents and students looking for the closings or delays.

“We knew right away it wasn’t going to be the delayed start we were hoping for,” Cron said, although the night before, news outlets broadcasted a delayed start for WISD. “Every time it’s the worst day of my life. You worry that you’re going to make the wrong decision and don’t want to make a bad call. If yes, you have to consider an early dismissal and will the kids be unsafe on buses.”

Last year, she said during an early release, a bus slid off road due to icy conditions. Although there were no injuries, Cron said “in the back of your mind, you’re thinking how safe is it going to be?”

Within the next week, Cron said a meeting will be held with central office personnel to assess how well the call and process went.

“We’ll discuss any changes and improvements which may need to be made in the process,” Cron said.

When asked if local schools in the district will open today, Cron said, “Yes we are.”