Did you ever wonder how much snow it takes to close your school for the day? Many people hope schools close for a “snow day” so that they can stay home and play with friends! In the winter months, the most common reason schools close is because of snow or ice storms.
There is no set amount of snow that will definitely close schools. The reason schools close is to ensure the safety of the students, teachers and people that work at the school. A major concern is that the roads and sidewalks are safe to travel for school buses, cars and walkers. Some parts of the United State are more equipped to handle snow or ice than others. In some areas, as little as an inch of snow could close a school, while in other areas it could take a foot or more to cancel school. Another important factor is the time when the snow occurs. If it snows overnight but ends before the morning (when everyone is travelling to work or school), then it’s possible that the roads can be cleared and safe for travel before school opens. Other times of the year, schools may close due to the threat of tornadoes or flooding.
Who decides to close a school? The superintendent of your school district or county is the person that manages your school and decides whether school will be open or closed. In many cases, the superintendent talks with other public officials in the community to decide if it is safe to have school. In particular, the superintendent may talk with public works officials or road supervisors who may be out driving the local roads very early in the morning to see if they are safe. In most instances, the decision on whether school will be open is normally made during the evening hours of the night before or during the early morning hours of the day.
If the decision is made to close a school, then everyone needs to be notified. The school district uses many different ways to notify families and staff of a school closure. Information on the school closing is usually posted on the school’s website. Local radio and television stations are informed so they can get the information out to the public. In some cases, the school may use a “robocall” system to notify the local television stations and the families of students. The robocall system is a computerized auto dialer, text and email system that delivers a pre-recorded message as if it were from a robot.
Just remember, snow days typically need to be made up later on in the school year. What do you plan to do on your next snow day: Sled, build a snowman, play games or watch shows? Enjoy the snow days when they happen!
Nikki Becker is the Observation Program Leader at the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine.
