Snow Days

Vanessa Betz
Staff Reoporter

With Colorado being one of the top snowiest states, parents and students would think that APS would give the schools more snow days, but that is not always the case. It seems that last winter’s snow storm that only brought an inch to Colorado had schools fretting over nothing. Any other day when it is close to a blizzard with inches and inches of snow, students are still expected to show up to school for the day. The schools’ explanation for that school closure was for a precaution. APS has some questionable policies as far as weather closures are concerned. Such as the different aspects that go into the decision making on whether to close a school or not. The most common things taken into consideration are the snowy road conditions, neither classes nor school will be held if roads or parking lots in the school area are considered to be dangerous or impassible.
“On heavy snow days there are a lot of students and teachers missing,” said Principal Turner.
Then again, whenever it does snow most of the time it is dangerous. This seems to always frustrate those who either have to walk to school or in general have a hard time getting and making it to school on time. Like Sophomore Emily Frosh who thinks that RHS should have more snow days for those who have difficulties getting to school, “They (the school) make it hard for people and cause more absences because it’s harder to get to school.”
For people who live close to RHS it can still be a pain getting to school in bad weather. Junior Alyssa Naugle says, “It’s not hard (getting to school) because I live close, but I think that if the roads are really bad then yes, we should have snow days or even a late start.”
According to Principal Turner the reason RHS does not have that many snow days during the winter season is because the school will only close if buses can not make their bus routes or if it is too dangerous for kids to be waiting in the cold weather. APS’ Superintendent John Barry is the one who decides when to close the schools for a snow day. He takes into consideration the students who have to walk to school or wait at a bus stop.
The main reason why many schools especially elementary schools do not close due to snow is because schools have to get waivers signed by the district, excusing students from having to make up the time missed from school. Otherwise, if the waiver is not signed, students then have to make up that time during their summer break. Which no student would want to do, whether it is an elementary or high school student.