FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — When winter weather approaches, some districts decide to stay open, while others close ahead of the anticipated wintry weather— why is that?
When snow and sleet hit 5COUNTRY on Jan. 9, students in Fayetteville had a snow day, but just up the road in Springdale, school was in session. Each district said they had crews on the roads ahead of the decision.
Director of Communications for Fayetteville Public Schools Alan Wilborn says members of our transportation department, and sometimes the superintendent themself, go out to check the roads between four and five in the morning, paying special attention to particularly hilly areas.
"Safety is always the priority. Can we safely transport students, and can staff members get to and from school safely? If the answer to either one of those is no, then we probably won't go," Wilborn said.
For Fayetteville, the district tries to make closing decisions no later than 5:30 a.m., "because our child nutrition staff has to get started on breakfast around 6 a.m. so that it's ready when the students start arriving at 7:15. Our bus drivers are leaving their houses at 5:15 a.m.," Wilborn says.
When it comes to school days, schools do have a 178-day goal they have to get to. Wilborn said, "The last day of school was going to be the Friday before Memorial Day, but now, [it] will be the Wednesday after Memorial Day."
Trent Jones with Springdale Public Schools said, "We work closely with the Springdale Police Department to [ensure the safety of] our community ... We also have an important partnership with the local meteorologists."
Jones emphasizes that sometimes, despite the fun of a snow day, "Kids need to be in school. Sometimes that's the only place they get food. It's where they get nutrition for their mind, body, and spirit. We do our very best to ensure that our schools can be open to create that continuity of operation while balancing priorities of safety."
Both Springdale and Fayetteville said late start days are not something they try to do, because kids could be left home alone for a few hours and get home late in the evening.
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