Does your school district close for cold temperatures?

[poohs_hunny]

Well, here in the northeast we're finally getting our cold weather. Tonight it is going to get down to about 5 degrees, and only reach about 15 during the day. I was just watching the weather, and here in CT, one school district has already cancelled school for tomorrow, and another has a delay. The weatherman said that he expects more tomorrow. Those temps are cold, and the windchill will be below zero, but is this really reason enough to cancel school? I can understand a delay, but I never remember even that happening when I was in school. I'm a teacher, and while I would enjoy a delayed opening, I do NOT want a day off since we need to make them up in June. Is cancelling school for cold temps the norm in other areas?

 

[Mouseteacher]

My school is located 12 miles north of Boston. We have school tomorrow. We bring the children indoors upon arrival and keep them inside all day...toasty and warm. We would only cancel if something happens to our heat.

I haven't heard of any other schools in our area calling off due to extreme cold.

 

[Mouseteacher]

oh and btw, pooh's hunny, I'll be heading to Hartford, CT tomorrow to visit a school for accreditation purposes. So, I'll be heading to your neck of the woods!

 

[I Love Pluto]

I'm in PA - just north of Phila. No, we never have cancelled due to cold. Icy roads or deep snow have cancelled us, but never cold.

Are the buildings old in these districts? Do the heaters put out enough warm air for the kids? That may be the problem. Or - does it cost too much to run the heaters when the temps are this cold? These are the only reasons I can think of.

I agree with a delayed opening instead of a day off. June is warm and humid. Our schools are not air conditioned.

 

[mandy200587]

There's at least 10 counties in Middle TN alone closed right now. Not for cold, not for snow, nothing weather related but for Flu. We close though if it's snowing 'bad', and then two hours later there's nothing.

 

[theprincess]

Yes here in Pittsburgh,PA if the wind chill factor gets to 10-15 below they have a 2 hour delay.

 

[poohs_hunny]

Are the buildings old in these districts? Do the heaters put out enough warm air for the kids? That may be the problem. Or - does it cost too much to run the heaters when the temps are this cold? These are the only reasons I can think of.

On the news, they said it was because the school officials didn't want the kids to be exposed to the cold at the bus stops.

 

[rie'smom]

We live in south Louisiana and if it snows or if the roads are icy,then everything but Wal Mart closes.

 

[poohs_hunny]

oh and btw, pooh's hunny, I'll be heading to Hartford, CT tomorrow to visit a school for accreditation purposes. So, I'll be heading to your neck of the woods!

Apparently, you should check to be sure it's open before you come!

 

[Jennasmomma]

There have been times when our school district cancelled school for temps. Usually they just delay it 2 hours. Im waiting to see what they do for tomorrow.

 

[Stitchfans]

Get real. Our school district would never close down because it is "too cold" I was totally shocked when they closed down a while ago when we had black ice. I thought for sure we would still be expected to come in. Either way I had plans of staying home and keeping DD home.

 

[DVC-Don]

A couple of times a few years ago when they could not get all the buses started. But, now the buses are plugged into fuel and engine heaters.

 

[monarchsfan16]

We had a delay my senior year of high school(2005) because it was too cold. We may have had one junior year too. They considered closing too, but stuck with the delay. They said they do this because they're concerned about the kids at bus stops. The days that we had the delays most of the districts around us were closed. Personally I think it's rediculous. We live in New England. It's going to get cold. Learn to bundle up. Of course I am the girl that used to get royally ticked when we couldn't go out for recess when it was "only" 15 degrees (above) outside. I didn't find that cold, and thought people should suck it up, bundle up, and let us go outside. So cancelling for it being too cold made no sense to me

 

[ZachnElli]

No, we had those temps here a couple of weeks ago and they didn't close or delay any schools. It was -11 one morning. I do remember being in high school and they did close school for 2 days because of the cold. But the high was -25! That was in Iowa in 1989.

 

[Hannathy]

This is hilarious! Our kids go outside for recess 3 times a day unless the wind chill is greater than -15. up to minus 15 they are outside for 20 minutes 3 times and line up for school outside.

I only remember them having a delay one time for cold and that was because the actual temperature was minus 26.

 

[Pinnie]

We closed once about 10 years ago when the overnight temps dipped below minus 25 and the busses wouldn't start. It's going to be COLD here tomorrow, but it's business as usual in my district.

pinnie

 

[Miss Jessr!ca]

well not here in Illinois.
my school only gets out if theirs ice on the roads.
or if the plows cant get all the roads in time (which they usually do)

we have kids that come from about 1/2 hour away though.
we have like 20 busses. its crazy.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

yes - I have seen both two hour delays and closing in the past couple years (sometimes due to buses not starting, but not all) - I don't remember what the temp/win chill has to be though...we are supposed to have really low wind chill right through noon at least tomorrow, so we will see.

Many school districts will bus walkers under those circumstances - but not all..if you aren't going to bus the walkers, you should close. If there aare frostbite warnings - those kids shouldn't be out that long.

 

[JoyG]

Seems like the magic number in our district is -15. If the wind chill is -15 degrees or colder we get a day off. If it's warmer than that we go to school. This hasn't actually been tested on our new superintendent though, but that's the way it worked in the past.

We never have 2 hour delays. It's either school or snow day, no in between.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

I don't remember cold ever closing down school. It will cancel or shorten the outdoor recess, but that's it. My kids are required to have winter coat, snowpants, boots, hat or coat hood, and mittens for recess if there is any snow on the ground. If they don't have all 5, then they are restricted to a small blacktop area instead of roaming the entire playground. If the temps are below zero, then I add a scarf over their mouth/nose. but they still walk to school, it's only a block away.