[Apshpe] FW: Snow and Decisions

[High Plain Elementary School Mailing List]

-----Original Message-----
From: OBrien, Brenda 
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 6:08 PM
To: OBrien, Brenda
Subject: FW: Snow and Decisions



-----Original Message-----
From: Bach, Claudia 
Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 1:37 PM
 Subject: Snow and Decisions

 

Dear Parents,

 

As you well know, on Thursday last week we had a fast-moving storm move
into our area starting around 1:30 p.m.  I made the decision not to have
an early release. Some of you were critical of that decision and
wondered why I had made it, and so let me explain my rationale. I made
that decision because otherwise I knew that a number of young children,
whose parents work, would have gone home to an empty house.  An early
release is the most problematic decision for that reason, which is why
many parents who work urge me not to do an early release.  Even so, by
5:30 p.m. that evening (when the last of our students finally arrived
home) I was regretting my decision. What I had not realized was that all
the workplaces in Andover would be releasing their employees early,
causing a huge traffic problem on Highway 133 and I-93.  Had this not
happened our buses would not have been delayed.

 

Then the next day when I heard that the traffic jams occurred throughout
the state, and were especially bad in the Boston area and when I got
email messages from parents who said they had been stuck for hours in
that traffic, I changed my mind again. I realized that some children
would have been home alone for a very long time.  So, despite the major
inconvenience, uncertainty, and real concern many of you experienced,
there were children who were better off on buses stuck in traffic or
waiting at school, than at home with no adult.  

 

That said, I do know I could have done a better job in a number of
areas.  Here are some of them:  1) I need to get a more complete list
from our bus company of those buses still not finished with their runs,
so that when I make the Connect Ed call to update you, I list all those
buses still out on their routes.   2)  I need to get the information out
to you in a more timely manner (I have had talks with Connect Ed about
that).  3) I need to factor in that when we have very severe weather
conditions, other businesses and workplaces will be taking actions that
could affect us.  

 

Some of you have suggested that I make an early release decision the
night before, so that parents who work have time to make arrangements
for their children.  Please know I will do that if I possibly can.  Only
twice, in my 10 winters here, have I made such a decision the night
before.  The one instance was fine; the snow came in and we all stayed
home.  In the other instance, not a drop of snow fell.  The newspaper
headline read next day:  Superintendents 0, Students 1.  I laughed along
with everyone else, and I learned how impossible it was to know the
night before what Mother Nature would end up doing.  That is why I am
among the very last of the superintendents to make a decision, even
though I have been up since 4 a.m. or so looking at the weather reports,
talking to our highway department, our transportation department, and
with area superintendents.  Even then, it's surely not a perfect
science, nor am I perfect in my decisions.  

 

I need to say a word about the sidewalks.  First, please note that the
sidewalks are the responsibility of the town, not the schools.  Second,
it is a small crew that plows and sands the streets and who also plow
the sidewalks, so the sidewalks are done only after all the streets have
been done.  Third, the sidewalks are done on a priority order that we
have set up with the Town, and sidewalks closest to schools always come
first.  As I said in my message this morning, if you truly believe the
conditions are not safe for your child to come to school, then please
keep your child at home.  It is always your decision, not mine.  The
school will excuse your child's absence, as long as you contact the
school to let them know why your child is staying home.  Finally, my
apologies to our students on the buses such a long time, to parents
waiting for children to arrive home safely, and to our staff, many of
whom had very long commutes after staying late to be with the children.

 

This winter season (and it's not even officially winter yet!) has
certainly started off with a roar.  Let us hope for tamer weather in the
weeks to come. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Claudia Bach

 

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