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BlueBird07
New Member
USA
9 Posts |
 Posted - 01/06/2002 : 10:31:49 AM
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How does each of your districts call snowdays?
Im still not sure what ,my district does.
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MamaLoca
Advanced Member
USA
400 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 11:06:16 AM
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Our Supervisor usually heads out at about 4:00 or 5:00 AM to check raods. He also contacts the Highway Superintendant to see how thier efforts are coming along. If he feels that the road conditions are hazardous enough he call the Superintendant of Schools to call a snow day.
We have also had emergency days off due to fridged weather although they are few and far between.
As soon as the determination is made to close they contact the "Official Radio Stations" with the information. In the case of the Transportation department the dispatcher calls certain drivers who in turn call certain drivers to let them know that school is closed.
For the most part they don't make the determination to close until many of the Driver's have arrived at work, Up until last year we were allowed one hour show up pay. As of our most recent contract we are now able to use two of our paid time off days for snowdays. After that we recieve no pay for snow days.
Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to.
http://www.canandaiguaschools.org/bus/ |
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kd4jfd
Top Member
USA
1170 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 12:44:30 PM
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In my district the superintendant (who came from Alaska) is the one who makes the determination about snow days. He then notifies the Principals and the Transportation Director, who activiate the phone trees. I am in a unique situation because I am on two different trees - one from the Transportation Dept, and one from the school I work at. The biggest problem is that sometimes I have already left the house before they call me.  One time I was halfway through my route before they called me on the bus radio.
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thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 01/06/2002 : 2:20:42 PM
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Our transportation supervisor goes out at 4:30 a.m. and "tests" the roads. I prefer this over the superintendant going out, mainly because the supervisor has been behind the wheel of a bus before where as our superintendant hasn't.
If he feels they are to dangerous then he calls the superintendant who "officially" calls off school. Then the principals notify certain teachers and there is an official chain of who calls who. Then our supervisor calls two drivers and there is an official chain in that department as well.
We too have called off school for excessive cold, it has been quite a few years since it has happened, but there are times when it is extremely cold and then the wind chill to add on top of that. The last time it has happened for us was 1994 if I remember correctly, I don't remember how cold it has to be for us to cancel.
I would rather pull my passengers around in a Radio Flyer than drive a Blue Bird
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BusBoy
Top Member
USA
2042 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2002 : 05:43:19 AM
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Most Schools in Indiana, the superintendant and the transportation director go out real early to test the roads. If they feel that the roads are bad, they notify the news media (TV stations, Radio,ect.) Or if they seem bad in the early AM, and will melt some later in the morning, they will go in on a 2 hour delay.
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Debusguy
Senior Member
USA
114 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2002 : 07:29:19 AM
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As the trans.supervisor for a rural school district in Pennsylvania, I get up at 3:45AM, check outside my house, which is 2 miles from the school campus, then go in to catch the local forecast on the Weather Channel, watching to see if the 'green blob' has gone past our area, or if we are still in the thick of it. The very second that the local segment is over, I put my hand on the phone, because I know the superintendant will be phoning, and I don't want him to wake my wife. At that point, we determine the strategy for evaluation. We both have areas to check in the four townships that comprise our district. Sometimes it is a no-brainer, with a foot of snow on the ground, but most times we spend about an hour checking the effectiveness of the response of the state and the township road crews. Also, part of the decision-making process is calling neighboring districts to get their perceptions. Today, we stood alone in closing, and stayed that way for the first two hours of the morning..everyone else had two-hour delays. By 745AM, however, four more districts changed to shut-down status. We figured, why play games with parents, who need to know to plan for school-closing contingencies.
One observation from the past that I would share is that if you have any combination of public and parochial/private pick-ups, take that into consideration. If you make the 'macho' decision to go with a one-hour delay, and other schools are on a two-hour delay, you'll be picking up students that you won't be able to deliver. Ah, the stuff looks so pretty..one of the great ironies of the job!
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John Farr
Top Member
USA
642 Posts |
Posted - 01/07/2002 : 1:30:53 PM
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AH Yes...back in the days when I worked in the white stuff....in NY, MI, WI and CO:
I would set my alarm for 3:00 AM and look outside. I wanted to make a recommendation by 4:30 or 5:00 at the latest. Note that I only recommended. Many years ago my superintendant told me that if something catastrophic happened the decision should not be made by one person, but rather by a team. Good advice.
In later years I got smart, and instead of going out there by myself, I obtained the "secret" phone numbers of the road plowing stations. They ALWAYS knew the story.
We always had a number to call so that all media would get the decision as soon as it was made.
Gee, I sure miss that part of the job!!
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catz
Senior Member
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2002 : 05:11:12 AM
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The Board of Education decides in my district, I belive they have a vote. If school is called off the post it on their website, put it on their TV channel (Channel 4 Time Warner Cable Raleigh/Durham) and call all the radio and TV stations.
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
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B. Busguy33
Top Member
USA
3444 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2002 : 3:07:14 PM
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Most schools here in southeastern MA allow for five (5) inclimate weather days aka snow days before we have to make them up, my district included.
Bob
(B. Busguy33)
"Blue Bird: Always flyin' high above the rest... 
Blue Bird: One of America's Best!!!  " |
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Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
Posted - 01/08/2002 : 3:50:38 PM
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We start with 13.We now have 11,and tommorow is a 2 hr delay.
Silas J.
97-12 It will outrun your bus.
Proud member of the UCMS Big Blue Band
Edited by - Silas J. on 01/08/2002 3:51:28 PM |
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catz
Senior Member
USA
118 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2002 : 5:15:06 PM
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My distrct makes up starting the first day we miss.
This many people have viewed my posts
Edited by - catz on 01/17/2002 5:17:02 PM |
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2002 : 11:46:17 AM
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My district has 2 days built in.
Blue Bird... America's BEST!
E-mail me: RLS1400@aol.com, IM me: RLS1400, or visit my site: www.bluebirdstop.cjb.net
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UncleNeal
Senior Member
USA
153 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2002 : 06:31:25 AM
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In southern California, snowdays do not exist. However, we have cancelled school due to flooding, mud and rockslides, and even brush fires. We have direct phone lines to the local Sheriff's office, and we check the roads every morning (5:00 AM) after any significant rainfall or even on very windy days. When we feel that it is unsafe for our schoolbuses to travel the main highway, we notify the school principals and the superintendent. Our District encompasses the cities of Santa Monica and Malibu. So, if you ever hear about things happening in Malibu along Pacific Coast Highway, that's us!
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spanky
Active Member
USA
41 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2002 : 01:26:15 AM
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supervisior heads out very early. Contacts the school superintendant (who has the ultimate authority) and between the 2 of them a dicission is made genearlly by 5:30. If no school or delay the supervisior starts the phone fan for the drivers. The super and the assistant superintendant are the only ones that can call the local media because they know they offical password for authinticity. Here in michigan we are allowed 2 snow days after that we need to make them up at the end of the year.
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lmjurek
New Member
4 Posts |
Posted - 01/24/2002 : 10:16:17 AM
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Well here in Minnesota we have some snow daze. It is the district office that makes the decision to delay or cancell and then our td notifies the drivers. The superintendent of our school feels his secretary has more knowledge of road conditions than the drivers.We driver have talked to our td and asked that management call the county to find out road conditions, but the superintendent feels his secretary knows best, boy does she have pull!!
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Topic |
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Snowdays
