Extreme Cold Keeps OKC Students Out Of School

Temperatures from five to six in the morning forced Oklahoma City Public Schools to cancel class for the entire district.

No snow or ice is on ground and still there was only silence around Oklahoma City Public Schools.

"It's them standing out there in those conditions," said OKCPS Human Resources Chief Rod McKinley.

McKinley and the OKCPS learned from Jan. 6t

"It was about 6:20 and that was a little late," said McKinley.

So this week the school system created guidelines for cold temps.

"There are many factors that go into our decision," McKinley said.

The school will decide on cancelations no later than 5:25 a.m., if temperatures are 10 degrees or below and the wind chill is 5 degrees or below.

"It's all about the kids having to get to the bus stop and sit there and wait," said McKinley.

The cold temperatures resulted in Friday's cancelation, and that sparked a heated debate on social media.

"Wow! I'm sure glad we are raising our kids to learn that cold weather means it's all right to not be productive."

"You guys are raising a bunch of ‘tea cup kids'. Do you think they will be able to call into work because it's cold?"

"If people want to get pot-shots that's perfectly fine," said McKinley.

Pot shots are something the school can handle because of what former teacher of 28 years Kim Rudek calls ‘obvious'.

"It's not like they sit down at a table and say 'How can we get out of school?,'" said Rudek.

It is something that makes her wish parents could see the reality for less fortunate students.

"In a utopia, sure, go buy your kid a coat or load him in the SUV and turn on the seat warmer and take him to school. But that's not the reality," said Rudek.

Even though Friday's high was around 40, the News 9 weather team recorded temps at six degrees between four and six a.m.

News 9 asked about the possibility of a late start and McKinley said that could be an option in the future.