El Paso-Gridley Students In Class, Go Home Early
By: Sophie Nielsen-Kolding WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: February 26, 2013
EL PASO- Many area parents heard about school cancellations Tuesday morning, but the El Paso-Gridley district did not declare a snow day until after lunch.
"I never thought I'd be in the weather predicting business," said Superintendent, Michael Lindy.
He's talking about the decision of whether or not to have a snow day, he said Tuesday the process started at 5:00 a.m.
"It begins with a lot of phone calls early in the morning, getting out and having people get out and check the roads. Being in contact with our transportation district, superintendents in the area," he said.
After all of that uncertainty, the school district got some criticism from parents when it told students to come to class Tuesday morning.
"My initial thought this morning was it was wet and sloppy, but it wasn't icy, and we hadn't had snow flying," Lindy said.
As the weather changed Lindy said he changed his mind, sending out a message to parents at 10:50 a.m. Students ate lunch early and in larger groups so they could get out at 1:00 p.m. Then parents lined the schools entrance to pick up their children.
"It's a good deal, get the kids home while we still can," said Dean Weber who was picking up his grandson.
"I'm glad they're letting out. This school district buses a lot of students, they need to be on the road and get them home before it gets any more severe," said parent Melissa Martin.
Buses came to start their routes and some students left footprints in the snow as they walked home. Martin said she wasn't expecting a snow day in the first place.
For copies of news stories you saw on WMBD, WYZZ, or Nationwide, contact Corporate Video’s NewsPowerOnline.com . DVD, CD, VHS, and digital transfer to your desktop are available.
"Not knowing what was actually going to make it to this area, no I wasn't surprised," Martin said.
But she said the decision to let out early was smart, even if it's inconvenient.
"I am picking up another moms child and so she had texted me and said 'are you available?' So I can imagine what that's like for people who work all day," Martin said.
"Couple more hours of this and the roads could be pretty treacherous to drive on," said Paul Augsburger, who said he was glad to be getting home early to his house in the country.
Lindy said safety is the school's top priority, this time it was to get 12,000 students and 200 faculty home before dark.
Readers Feel...
hello
Daily Deal
For copies of news stories you saw on WMBD, WYZZ, or Nationwide, contact Corporate Video’s NewsPowerOnline.com . DVD, CD, VHS, and digital transfer to your desktop are available.
Meet The Team
Take a moment to meet WMBD 31's team. Click here to learn more about the people who are "Taking Action for You!"
©1998 - 2013 Centralillinoisproud.com
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
All Rights Reserved