Snow and Ice Storm Aftermath

We have one custodian and he does what he can. He takes care of the areas around the doors. We are used to the ice and snow, so we know to expect it to be slippery.

Our school does their best to sand the walk ways, but the kids also have to be aware that in winter any walking surface may be slick and to be extra careful while walking.

There was a healthy debate around the cancelling school issue here. Some schools did cancel with wind chill temps below freezing. My kid's did not, and I'm glad. My logic might not hold for your area, but here in western PA, single digit temps and snow on the ground are normal winter weather. No one likes it, but if a person lives here, then they should know how to dress for this weather. In January, we can get up to 2 weeks straight where the temps never get above the single digits. We can't cancel every time that happens or we'll still be going to school in July.

I will say - the schools and communities do know how to handle snow and ice here. They have to because we spend most of the winter with snow on the ground. The sidewalks and school parking lot were all taken care of.

I used to live in the DC area though, and from what I remember, the major way that most places dealt with snow and ice in that area was to simply wait until it melted, because the temps rarely stayed below freezing for more than 3 days in a row. It wasn't worth the money to invest in snow removal equipment when mother nature would take care of the problem in a day or two most of the time.

Why aren't you folks on winter break?

eta: Sorry-- I guess other districts have a shorter winter break. Public schools have 2 weeks up here. In fact, they closed the schools for weather Thurs/Fri last week, so some kids are getting a long stretch-- they'll make it up in June.

either your school is some sort of backwater run by yahoos or you just hate everything about them.
did they really 'not bother' or is this situation so unusual that they simply didn't have the funds and equipment necessary?
MD is a state full of contradictions. we're not used to vast amounts of snow and ice, so we're not prepared for it when it happens like the northern states. but because the weather patterns are becoming more unstable, we're doing better in terms of preparation for unexpected weather events.
but sometimes everyone is caught off guard.
khairete
S.

Our school district cancelled school today. They said it was because of icy road conditions on secondary roads.

I believe salt can be effective when the temps are in the single digits, but only if the area in question is in direct sunlight, never protected by shade, no strong winds, etc. Also, I think salt is most effective if it's put on before the ice and snow arrive.

I'm not 100% sure, but when temperatures are hovering around 0, salt is not going to be able to do it's job completely. Of course, I think part of your point is that salt can't do anything if it's not used!

It is a good questions though!

I know in northern states (Wisconsin, Michigan) they often put sand down because the temps are simply too low for salt to have an effect at all. Sand at least can help make things less slippery.

ETA - I'd be questioning this, too. I'd honestly be asking why the schools are even open. It's dangerously cold out there!

Snow gives traction. It shouldn't be removed where the ice underneath is exposed.

I would call the school and ask them if they were going to salt the walking areas. If they are not then I'd probably park then walk the kids to the door.

Winter break doesn't start for most Oklahoma schools until later this week. We don't go back until the first Tuesday in January. So no, not everyone is on break yet.

That sounds like here.

At our old school, parts of the playground were completely covered in ice and were for weeks. The kids were instructed to stay off it. It finally melted.

My FIL helps clear the walkways at his church. They usually have a lot of elderly people in the congregation so he takes that on as a volunteer. They get it done quite quickly.

We had a neighbor years ago who was a custodian at our school. I asked him what the deal was - he cleared the walkway to get into the school, then he moped and cleared out all the snow tracked in the hallways. They were concerned about kids slipping in school and the mess. I think the outside, as long as the door is clear, is not the top concern.

I'd call the district and ask what the process is if it's that bad.

Interesting - we drove through Illinois during this storm (as well as Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, Georgia, and a few other states) and it really is a matter of perspective. We drove straight through the storm, but most folks were sitting on the side of the road - not sure what their plan was, they have to get home somehow! When we did arrive home, it was -26 degrees with -54 windchill temps at our house, but no stores were closed or anything and even with the drifts, I-90 was still open.

Today was -5 with -15 windchill when the bus came, but we still had school. It is supposed to warm up to like 15 today, so I will be breaking out the swimsuits and flip flops later today :)

Anyhow, we deal with snow, ice, drifting, and below zero temps many days in the winter here. The school here doesn't salt/sand extensively, usually just the area right around the doors. It is up to us to dress our kids in boots and appropriate clothing to keep them warm and hopefully in the upright position. It is also up to us to decide if it IS too cold or too snowy or too dangerous to send our kids to school. Just because school is open, doesn't mean I have to send them if I don't feel it is appropriate (this is especially true for our farm folks out of town since they may get plowed out a day or two after our in town roads).

Good luck and stay warm!

If there is ice on the roads, my kids are staying home. We don't have school here if the schools aren't completely cleared. Fortunately we don't get TOO much.

I see that changing next year though. MD just implemented school starting AFTER Labor Day and not going any later than June 15th, so I bet they get a lot more 2 hour delays rather than full snow days.

It normally takes our custodians quite a bit of time to get the walkways all passable, and we deal with snow and ice for 4 months a year here. If your district isn't used to ice and isn't really ready for it (which to me would be really odd in Illinois, it's not like you're in the south) then I can understand not having everything salted first thing in the morning but would expect it to be in pretty good shape by the afternoon. In my district, they have to close school if the sldewalks aren't plowed but that's the DPW's job. They tend to get the sidewalks plowed and salted up to the school property (so through the neighborhoods) but then once you get on school property, it's often where the custodians pick up the task and there isn't always enough time for them to be super-thorough before school opens. I'd see what it's like this afternoon and then complain if it's still not addressed.

Our schools, like the street trucks, use a blend of salt and sand.

Our district does an awesome job. I think they don't want anyone slipping, breaking a bone and suing them.

Btw...my daughter has school all week. Friday 12/23 is her last day before break.

Most schools have one single custodian who has to shovel walkways and clear doorways, and so there's limited staff to put out salt too. Not sure if there's a budget issue with having enough salt on hand, especially in barrels scattered around the property rather than in bags that have to be dragged out. My guess is that the Town's DPW is busy on the roadways and clearing access to vital buildings (fire and police departments, senior center or wherever they send people as a disaster shelter in case of a power outage, the school bus parking facility, and probably Town Hall). Schools are probably down on the list because it's up to the superintendent to cancel school and not necessarily after having discussions with the DPW on the plowing schedule.

Salt really could be put out ahead of time, but if it gets snowed on, it just gets plowed away. It's not going to help if there are inches of snow on top of it. A few schools in MA and quite a lot in NH canceled last Friday just due to severe temperatures (no snow, no ice - just a lot of kids who walk or who wait at bus stops). It's always a tough decision for districts because no one wants to cancel the spring vacation or have school on July 1 to meet state minimums! They are probably rationing their snow closings to see what happens during the rest of the year.

I think it's up to enough parents to lobby the superintendent's office for a printed or website policy on how decisions are made, and to attend School Committee meetings when these things are discussed. If they aren't on the agenda, get them put on the agenda or bring it up if there's a "new business" or "community input" portion of the meeting. Very few people turn out for these meetings, so if the School Committee isn't being pushed, they won't know how critical this issue is to enough parents.