Most Superintendents would easily identify one responsibility they enjoy least:  CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL.  I suspect this is the least enjoyable since no matter what the superintendent decides someone is aggrieved by his or her decision.  Individual plans for the day are disrupted and many inconveniences result.  When a planned school session is canceled, these negative feelings are exacerbated by the occasional clearing of inclement weather, and most people wonder what in the world was that superintendent thinking about when school was canceled.

Each winter, these thoughts, questions, and discussion about the issue occur.  Consequently, I thought it would be helpful if I outlined for the reader the procedure I follow in making the decision to hold school or to close school.  

I would rather be wrong with a school cancellation call than risk injury to a child, as the day can be made up in June.  In addition, there are a few mitigating factors I consider when making decisions that impact regularly scheduled events.

1. Students’ safety is my number one priority.
2. There are several hundred student-drivers who drive to school.
3. The time of day that the inclement weather impacts the Region is an extremely important consideration in determining the final decision, for example:  the kindergarten schedule must be considered both from a morning and afternoon perspective.

With some minor exceptions depending on unique circumstances, the procedure I use is as follows:

1. We enlist the services of a local meteorologist who understands the western Connecticut weather dynamics.
2. As weather events approach, I receive e-mail updates, and the meteorologist telephones me prior to an impending weather event. On the morning of a storm, I am in contact by telephone no later than 4:00 a.m. for the final information briefing before a decision can be made.
3. Concomitantly, the business manager is in touch with law enforcement and public works.  We are not only concerned about road conditions but also about having power at each school site.
4. By 4:30 a.m., I speak with superintendents of adjacent and neighboring school districts.  We share information we have received.
5. For a delayed opening or cancellation, the decision must be made by 5:30 a.m. so that school bus drivers are kept informed of any changes to the regular schedule.
6. If I am considering an early dismissal and since we cancel PM Kindergarten with an early dismissal, the decision must be made by 10 a.m. so that PM Kindergarten parents can be informed.
7. This year, I have begun to cancel all afternoon and evening activities effective at 3:30 p.m. coinciding with elementary school dismissal.
8. The Region’s topography must be considered since the higher elevations in Southbury may be impacted differently.

I think it is readily apparent to the reader that the decision to close or not close is easiest when at 4:30 a.m. I am confronted with the reality of blizzard.  Unfortunately that is the exception rather than the rule.  The decision is infinitely more difficult when there are conflicting reports and forecasts.  As I alluded to earlier, the conditions that are the reality at 4:30 a.m. can be drastically different than the conditions that are the reality at 8:00 a.m.  In any case, the sole criterion I apply in making the ultimate decision is the safety of our children.  If ever I am in doubt as to what the conditions will be two to three hours subsequent to when I have to make the decision, I will always decide in favor of the safest thing to do.  If I am in error, I would to prefer to err on the side of safety.

http://www.region15.org/insidethedistrict.shtml

Schedule of Board of Education Meeting Dates