Published: January 27, 2009 07:01 am      

School officials get out early to check roads

Bad weather causes everyone to make decisions. How many layers of clothes should I wear? Should I take an alternate route to work? For area superintendents, another crucial decision must be made -- should schools have classes today?

Information on road conditions help superintendents determine whether their schools should open. All area schools use a similar combination of tests to gather information on roads.

“I get up at 4:30 a.m. and go check the roads,” said Rocky Burchfield, Superintendent of Fairview Public Schools.

Superintendents in Fargo, Buffalo, Mutual, Shattuck and Woodward all do the same thing to make their decision.

“The litmus test is my two wheel drive pickup,” Burchfield said. “The buses get around a lot better than my truck.”

Every day is different though. Sometimes the weather doesn’t turn bad until a decision has already been made.

This makes it hard on school administrators. It is tough to release students before school is out because parents might not be able to pick them up and the weather could make the roads tricky for buses.

On Monday Shattuck Superintendent Randy Holley was put in a difficult situation. When he drove the roads that morning they seemed fine, but later they deteriorated.

“The roads didn’t really get slick until the buses were almost here,” Holley said. “It’s definitely tough to evaluate because we don’t want to put kids on roads if they’re treacherous.”

For a larger school district, like Woodward Public Schools, decisions have to be made early. Assistant Superintendent Tom Fisher said he is up at 3 a.m. to drive around the city.

“Around 4:30 or 5 a.m. we have to make a decision,” Fisher said. “Some buses leave for their routes at 5:30 a.m.”

Once Fisher and Superintendent Dr. Vickie Williams make a decision they have to tell everyone, beginning with the transportation workers. The principals in the district are told next. Radio and television are told after the principals.

Testing out road conditions isn’t the only way superintendents gage the weather conditions. They monitor the weather through television and radio as well.

Holley said he consults with other principals and because the highway department is located in Shattuck, he receives constant updates on road conditions. Fisher said he has a program on his computer that updates the weather every hour.

With information in hand, it is up to the superintendents to make a decision on whether or not schools will open. Burchfield said icy roads are a bigger concern to him than snow. He also remarked that deciding if classes should be held is the hardest part of his job and one that could demand a decision from him any day of the winter.