Cincinnati remains covered in snow following winter storm. Take a look
Cincinnati remains covered in snow following severe winter weather. Take a look around the city with our drone footage.
Single-digit temperatures are on the horizon this week, leaving some parents on edge. Several schools in southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky canceled classes last week due to the cold, and starting Monday another round of bitter cold took hold.
A cold front came through the area early Monday and “even colder air will spill into the region into midweek,” according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters predict negative wind chills on Tuesday.
Does that mean more missed school for the region’s kids? What cold weather policies do local schools adhere to? And what risks are there, really, in sending students to school in cold weather?
Some schools don’t have cold weather policies, which means administrators decide on a case by case basis whether to cancel school on bitterly cold days. The Enquirer asked all 64 of the region’s public school districts about their cold weather procedures and how administrators decide whether to cancel or delay school.
Parker Brown, spokesperson for Milford Exempted Village Schools, says not having a set policy is an advantage for the district.
“This allows the district to remain flexible and responsive to varying conditions without being restricted to set actions,” Brown wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
Nearly all of those who responded said their decisions hinge on how cold it will be in the morning when students will be walking to school or waiting outside for their bus. In most cases, school leaders consider closing their buildings if the National Weather Service predicts wind chills nearing -15 degrees.
Why cancel school for the cold? Administrators worry about students’ safety
Michael Sander has served as superintendent of Franklin City Schools for 23 years. He said he’s never canceled school for the cold, but he did delay school on Thursday due to cold weather.
Sander said he considers delaying school start times if the temperature is in single digits, or if the wind chill is below zero.
“If we have a winter weather advisory, warning or watch, this helps me with the decision,” Sander said.
Daylight is a factor, too, he said. When he delays start times, it’s so that it will be light enough outside for students to see their bus coming from inside their houses. That way, students don’t have to stand outside in the cold waiting for their bus.
“I worry about the dangers of the cold for students that walk to school,” Sander said.
Administrators of walking districts like Lockland Local School District are especially concerned about frostbite and hypothermia during extremely cold days.
Princeton City Schools’ spokesperson, Tricia Roddy, listed several safety risks taken into account on days with extremely cold temperatures:
- Students waiting at bus stops can face dangerous wind chills and risk of frostbite, especially since buses might run late in cold conditions.
- Young children are particularly vulnerable to cold exposure and may not recognize early warning signs. Some students may not have adequate winter clothing, increasing their risk.
- Parents who drive students to bus stops may face issues with cars not starting in extreme cold.
- Diesel school buses often have difficulty starting or running properly in severe cold. Even when buses start, they may take longer to warm up properly, and the cold can affect brake systems and other mechanical components.
- If a bus breaks down, students would be exposed to dangerous temperatures while waiting for help.
- School heating systems may struggle to maintain safe temperatures in extreme cold.
- Pipes can freeze, potentially leaving buildings without water.
- Children with special health conditions, particularly asthmatic children, may need special accommodations during cold weather.
“My decision for any weather related cancellation is a decision never taken lightly, as the safety of our students and staff is the top priority,” said Bill Rice, superintendent of Ross Local Schools. “Additionally, I strive to provide families with as much time as possible to make necessary child care arrangements.”
At Ross, Rice said district staff assess road conditions and consult with township road crews in determining snow days. Cold days are similar, he said, while also considering wind chill temperatures. Rice said he collaborates with other school superintendents in Butler County in making his decisions.
Kids in need get meals, winter clothes at school
Elgin Card, superintendent of Princeton City Schools, sent a message to district families on Friday explaining his decision-making process. He said his team considers wind chills, weather predictions through the school day, driving conditions, potential delays versus early release times and overall student safety for those who walk or wait for buses.
According to the district’s policy, Princeton schools will likely close on days when the temperature and wind chill are below -20 degrees because exposure to that kind of cold for more than 15 minutes can be dangerous.
Card and other staff members personally drive around the district to assess safety conditions on the roads and at the schools’ parking lots, he said. The goal is always to get kids to school, if it’s safe.
“Learning is done best in the classrooms. Many of our students rely on school breakfast and lunch programs for nutrition, and some find their classrooms provide warmth they may lack at home,” Card wrote to district parents on Friday.
The school also provides winter clothing like coats, hats and gloves to students who need them.
“I recognize that some families may sometimes disagree with inclement weather decisions, and I want to be clear: you always have the right to make the choice you feel is best for your child,” Card said. “As parents, you know your situation best.”
The wind chill factor
Boone County School District’s cold weather policy hinges on wind chill and notifications from the National Weather Service. Administrators keep an eye on weather alerts and tend to make morning-of decisions for the district.
If forecasters predict a wind chill between -10 and -24 degrees, then schools typically stay open, unless there are operational problems with the district’s buses or mechanical problems in the school buildings.
If forecasters predict wind chills -25 degrees and below, the district cancels school.
But if school is on and parents feel the weather is unsafe, they can request an excused absence for their student.
“Understand that the safety of our staff and students is our top priority when making the decision to delay or close school,” the district’s policy reads. “We can assure you that our school buildings are warm, safe and an ideal place for students to be when it is extremely cold outside.”
Little Miami Local School District’s policy depends on the National Weather Service, too. Mason City Schools‘ policy states simply that schools will close if the temperature and/or wind chill is below -20 degrees. At Winton Woods City Schools, administrators consider delaying or closing school when wind chills are below -5, alongside other factors like wind gusts, humidity levels and daylight.
Lebanon City School District doesn’t have an official policy, but generally the district’s leaders consider delaying or closing school if the real temperature is at 0 degrees or colder and the wind chill is at or below -15 during key walking and bus pickup times.
There isn’t a cold weather policy at Oak Hills Local School District, either, but Chris Gramke, the district’s spokesperson, said the district typically considers closing or delaying school when the “real feel” temperature is near -15 degrees, because that’s when frostbite can occur after 30 minutes of exposure.
Oak Hills, Reading City Schools and other districts use the National Weather Service’s wind chill safety chart to make decisions about the cold.
Calamity days: Do students have to make up cold days at the end of the school year?
Ohio schools don’t have calamity days anymore. Instead, Ohio law requires a fixed number of instructional hours by grade level. Most districts schedule more hours in a school year than they need, in case of emergency school closures including snow and cold days.
If a school closes enough that they fall below the required instructional hours, though, they must extend the school year.
At Oak Hills, the three snow days from last week amount to about 18 lost hours. Princeton canceled three days, too, but the district’s spokesperson said the district “has scheduled well above the minimum number of hours, so we will not need to extend the school year or make up hours.”
If more cold days start adding up, though, some schools might need to add extra school days at the end of the school year. Others, like Milford and Reading, said they might consider remote learning days during cold weather instead of canceling school.
At Mason City Schools, the decisions are weighed between safety and learning, but the district adds one more layer: taking into account the fun of the winter season for children.
“We also recognize the unique joy and “magic” that snow days bring to our staff, families, and students,” said Tracey Carson, public information officer for Mason City Schools. “As long as we don’t have so many closures that we are jeopardizing instructional time or student learning, we aim to preserve those special snow day experiences. For now, our approach allows us to balance safety and the occasional delight of an unexpected day off, while maintaining the high-quality education our community expects.”This story was updated to add a video.
