Sara Stadem | Editor
With the changing weather in South Dakota, the Tri-Valley and West Central school districts are preparing to battle the winter temperatures and snow.
Both Tri-Valley and West Central schools have their lists of tasks that they try to complete before the snow starts to fall.
“The big things I do is make sure that we have someone available to move snow for the parking lot as well as make sure that our contact lists are up to date for notifying parents, students and staff in the event we would need to close school for weather,” stated Dr. Mike Lodmel, Tri-Valley Superintendent. Lodmel indicated that he also double checks to make sure his media information is correct so that they can put out announcements to local medical outlets.
Brad Berens, West Central Superintendent, states, “Yearly we want to make sure our HVAC systems are at optimum running capabilities. We winterize our sprinkler systems, make sure we have snow removal equipment in good running conditions and make sure supplies are on hand that we need like ice melt.” He continued, “It’s too late to get it (ice melt) once it starts snowing. We look for those areas that potentially will need attention during winter time.”
When asked what factors are taken into consideration that determines if school is called off, Dr. Lodmel indicated, “There are really only two “hardlines” for closing school for us.” The two factors he referenced include if 1) the area is placed in a winter storm or blizzard warning and/or 2) the windchill would result in five minutes or less to frostbite on exposed skin.
“If we are in a warning then we will most likely be closed, especially when you factor in the location of our school building,” Dr. Lodmel said. “Those are really the only two times that there really isn’t a lot of judgment into the decision,” he continued.
Dr. Lodmel said outside of those two “hardlines,” there are several factors that are taken into consideration when determining if it’s safe for school due to weather. He said things such as temperature, wind, the forecast and road conditions are all considered. Dr. Lodmel also said he looks at how much snow is already on the ground, if the ditches are full of snow and what others are reporting around the area. According to Dr. Lodmel, he will often contact a meteorologist from the National Weather Service to get the most up-to-date information before he makes his final decision.
“I also heavily take into consideration the advice from our transportation director,” Dr. Lodmel explained. “If she is uncomfortable with busses being out on the roads, then that will play a large role.”
West Central also takes several of the same factors into consideration. “We do look at temperatures, of course, and windshield factors such as 35 below. We are questioning if we should have kids out in that weather,” Berens said.
Berens said, “We have to look at road conditions. We are out at 4 a.m. driving the roads and then from 5-6 a.m., we are checking areas again and what conditions are like at that time.” He continued, “By approximately 6 a.m., we try to make a decision as to whether or not we have school.”
If it decided that school will remain in session but a bus is not able to get to a student, Tri-Valley students, grades 5-12, will have the option for E-learning, according to Dr. Lodmel. “E-learning is certainly an option. Most of our parents find a way to bring the students to the school in these events or they just make up the school work when they can get to school.”
West Central students do not have that option at this time. According to Berens, anyone that is currently distance learning in school is assigned a distance learning teacher so they are already prepared for distance learning.
Both school districts will be utilizing true snow days, not utilizing E-learning, if school is called off due to weather.
Dr. Lodmel explained it will be a true snow day for Tri-Valley. “I believe we could quite easily do remote learning in the high school but the issue is our elementary,” he said. “Our elementary students do not have devices (computers, i-Pads, etc.) so it’s not really feasible. And if we were going to try to send one home with each elementary student, I believe attempting to get all the devices back could be a large issue,” continued Lodmel.
West Central will also have a true snow day, according to Berens. “If school is called off due to a snow day, those are usually short notice cancellations so it would likely stay a snow day,” Berens said. “If we have to go to distance learning, we would hope to give prior warning and those would continue as E-learning days,” he continued.
Both Tri-Valley and West Central schools agree that if the temperatures fall below zero, students with recess privileges will remain indoors for some type of physical activity or mental break from school.
Normally, Tri-Valley has snow days built in. However, with their new four-day school week, any snow days will have to be made up. West Central has five snow days built in their schedule this year.
In case of early release or snow days, both school districts have their notification systems ready to go to reach any parents, students and staff to notify them of inclement weather.