How School Closing Decisions Are Made

Dana Hertneky, News 9

EDMOND, Oklahoma – When snow is in the forecast, many parents and students spend their time wondering if schools will be closed due to the winter weather. That decision is often made early in the morning and the main factor is road conditions.

When you're a kid the phrase "snow day" can make your whole day. And while district administrators may appreciate a day off as much as anyone, a decision to cancel school is not one they take lightly.

"We'll make the right decision for half the people and the wrong decision for the other half," said Bret Towne, the Assistant Superintendent of Edmond Schools.

The procedure for Edmond schools is very much the same as other districts in the metro. Towne said they have already started getting ready for the possible bad weather at their maintenance facilities by putting plows on their trucks and making sure they're stocked with salt.

They also keep a close eye on the forecast.

And while city crews say they will be working hard to keep snow routes clear, at 4 a.m. Towne and five other school administrators will start driving the streets to see if they're safe for busses and students.

"We try to go into the areas that are the most difficult, the areas that have hills. We try to look for the worst conditions," said Towne.

For Edmond, the group has less than an hour to report back to the superintendent, who then typically calls other districts.

"No one wants to stand alone when calling off school and vice versa," said the Assistant Superintendent of Edmond Schools.

In Edmond they have to make a decision by 5 a.m. Administrators in Mid Del say they also start notifying parents and the media at 5 a.m. The Oklahoma City School District will make the decision between 5-5:30 a.m. In Moore and Norman, parents should know no later than 6 a.m.

Oklahoma City crews have already begun treating bridges and overpasses. Then if weather conditions begin to deteriorate the city has 28 crews ready to begin salting the snow routes.