What temp. are schools required to delay?

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

We live in central Indiana, and the kids are wishing for another 2-hr delay. They went in the other day when it was 2 out, and it's really painful on my daughter to step out and breathe that cold of air.At what temperature is a school required to delay? What are some of the temps you have been delayed on?
Thanks!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

My DH was told by a teacher/patient that once it gets to -35 (with wind chill) they have to close school. Not sure about delays. We closed on Monday, but haven't had any delays or closing since. It was -6 when I took DD to school this morning.

 

[robinb]

It all depends on your school district. Our school district used to be -35 wind chill and they just changed it this week to when there is an official "Wind Chill Advisory" issued.

From my experience, a "delay" is not worth it. A couple of degrees doesn't make a big difference and the wind doesn't die down in a couple of hours. If you daughter experiences pain on being outside in the bitter cold, then just keep her at home. It's up to you to do what's best for your DD, not the school district.

 

[poohandwendy]

Like others have said, it depends on the district policy. We have been delayed and even closed this week due to temps like -3 and wind chill factors of -10-20. If my kids had a problem with being in the cold, like yours, and school was not delayed or cancelled I would just drive them myself.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Robin, we are in the same state. Interesting your district changed the -35 thing.

 

[robinb]

Robin, we are in the same state. Interesting your district changed the -35 thing.

I think it may end up being the same thing, but the Wind Chill Advisory is easier for parents to process than a number. I know that I had my DD up and dressed before I knew that school was canceled on Monday. I checked the school web site because I heard on the radio that many schools were canceled. Personally, I prefer an old-fashioned "snow day" because then I can toss my DD and the neighborhood kids who end up over at my house outside to play. My DD watched far too much "Sponge Bob" for my sanity.

 

[golfgal]

In Minnesota the governor closed schools once when the air temps were -60°. It is -11° with -40° windchills here this morning and our schools are starting on time. There may be some outlying cities where a lot of kids live in the country that might delay their start on a day like today but honestly, people just dress for the weather. Wear a warm coat, hat, mittens and a scarf and you can survive easily at the bus stop for 10-15 minutes. Heck, we got an e-mail from the middle school saying that the ski trip planned for today is still on as long as the wind chill doesn't go below -10--which by this afternoon it will be warmer then that.

 

[phorsenuf]

I live in NH and all my years I can't remember a single time they delayed for cold, only if the busses wouldn't start because of it. But they put something in that now so thats isn't a problem anymore.
If they cancelled or delayed here for a wind chill advisory we'd be missing alot of school. Heck they barely cancel for snow around here.

 

[MamaLema]

Well keep in mind that I'm Canadian so they don't close the schools if it gets really cold. There are parts of Canada that reach -40.

However, if my child was like OP's where it was a health issue to bring the child out, I would definately keep them home

 

[Poohgirl]

I live in NH and all my years I can't remember a single time they delayed for cold, only if the busses wouldn't start because of it. But they put something in that now so thats isn't a problem anymore.
If they cancelled or delayed here for a wind chill advisory we'd be missing alot of school. Heck they barely cancel for snow around here.

Another NH-erite here . I was just about to say the same thing as phorsenuf. I didn't realize places actually DID cancel because of the cold!

 

[pyrxtc]

we were just talking about this yesterday at school. I don't remember ever being canceled becasue of the snow, only when we got over 3ft and it hadn't been cleaned up yet and only then cuz there are a lot of unpaved back-mountian roads the buses have to go up and half the school would be snowed in anyways.

It's been cold here but unless the heat goes out at the school, we'll be open. the district doesn't like to use snow days.

 

[WhatATreat]

We don't have delays here in Northen Illinois. School was closed Monday when the windchill was -30 but not today and the windchill is -20.

 

[mickeyboat]

Another NH-erite here . I was just about to say the same thing as phorsenuf. I didn't realize places actually DID cancel because of the cold!

Vermonter, here, and that was my thought as well. Heck, we had below zero windchills this week, and I had to force my kids to come inside. My kids could wait inside until th ebus came if it was really cold. The busses are plenty warm while they are on them, and they only have to walk a short distance to the door of the school. They do cancel outdoor recess if temps are really cold.

Denae

 

[Serena]

I'm in central indiana and pretty much if they bus drivers arrive to drive the buses and they get the buses started, then we have school.

Apparently on monday too many bus drivers were "sick".

 

[Nancy]

We've never had delays either, we are either open or closed. Monday we closed due to windchills. Our district (and most around here) close when wind chills are -20 or below. That doesn't happen all that often though.

I have a very hard time breathing out in the cold. I have to wrap a scarf around my nose and mouth and breath through that. the cold hurts my lungs and chest really bad. I forgot my scarf on Tuesday and by the time I got into work I couldn't breath right, so going home I pulled my shirt up over my mouth so I would be ok after getting in the car.

 

[helenabear]

I truly do not know what the rules for it now are. We got off before if it was well below zero (not wind chills, but actual temps). I was actually shocked they took off for this week when it was cold (wind chills were about -20ish though, and highs were only a smidge above 0). I do think something has changed and I wonder if it had to do with that Wind Chill Advisory we had.

I had only been off for the cold once in my life and the actual temps were in the negative 20s or so... windchill near negative 50 (if I remember right). So I have no idea why we had no school here for much warmer temps than that.

 

[elgerber]

In Minnesota the governor closed schools once when the air temps were -60°.

And do you remember how much flack he got for that????????? But man, that was soooooooooooooooo cold!

 

[jacksonsmom]

Well right now in Minnesota it is -22º with a wind chill of -40º and school is still on and on time.
I will be driving my son to school this morning instead of having him wait for the bus. Mainly because the bus is never on time and I never know when to have him go out and wait. Since I am a SAHM I will just drive him in today...I better get moving

 

[Anne34]

We don't have delays here in Northen Illinois. School was closed Monday when the windchill was -30 but not today and the windchill is -20.

Depends on where you are in NO Illinois -- we had school all week and are a western suburb of Chicago. It was easily -30 , but most of our district is bussed. (But you still have to wait outside for the bus!!)

 

[Hannathy]

Your DD would have real problems here! The kids go outside for recess and lunch (3x a day) until the wind chill is -15! Of course when it is really cold the air is "painful" it is to everyone, tell her to wrap her scarf around her face, those temps aren't that cold. We had off on Monday - a first that I know of- for -20 temps and -40 to -45 wind chills. We have had colder but I think there are a lot more lawyers now and a lot more kids that leave empty houses and they were afraid if the bus didn't come they would stay at the stop and not know to go home or be able to get back in their homes.