This winter, Clay County has seen extreme winer variables, including moisture and temperatures. In January alone, the county more than doubled its precipitation intake, as based on a 30-year average. While February has brought more than four inches along with frigid temps as low as -18 Fahrenheit. With inclement weather comes the necessity to manage it and get kids to and from school safely.
To-date, USD 379 has closed for winter-related weather four total days, with three days of late starts. These two-hour delays allow everyone to avoid the coldest temps, and to drive, shovel, and more in daylight.
The decision to close or delay schools is not made lightly, according to district employees. Between following weather reports, prepping snow removal equipment, and district workers personally driving roads to determine if they are safe. Because many students live in the country and travel lower-traffic routes in order to make it to school.
Superintendent Brett Nelson said he communicates with county employees in early mornings to determine the condition of roads. Buses are also stored indoors and treated for cold weather.
“Generally, I don’t think people really realize how big Clay County really is,” Nelson said. “It’s 632 square miles, which is the ninth-biggest geographically in Kansas it’s just a really, really big area to cover.”
Snow days or delays affects cafeteria operations, which must adjust based on student attendance or timelines. For instance, breakfast is not available when there is a delay.
One reason determining school days and if it’s safe to travel is that students must attend a certain amount of time each year. In addition, teachers are contracted a specific amount of days. In addition, with varying income levels, students may rely on school for a hot meal or heat throughout the day.
Extra minutes are built in to the school calendar each year, said Matt Weller, USD 379 Communications Coordinator. These minutes can be used to cover district closing for inclement weather, or emergencies, for instance the water leak that occurred at CCCMS a few years ago.
Weller said the district reports the lowest building’s attendance to the state of Kansas. Every year, each school will have its own total.
The Kansas Department of Education requires 1,116 hours while there are 405 minutes in each school day. To reach that goal there has to be 168 student contact days scheduled per the USD 379 policy.
As of Feb. 20, USD 379 is still on track to meet the number of hours required by KSDE for students to be in school for a calendar school year. Some districts have missed more time and may have to make up time by either shortening their spring break, adding minutes to the school day, or adding days to the end of the school year.
