Link to Original Story

Snow Days Mean More Work For Schools
Posted: Thursday, January 20th

By: Emily Finnegan

CAIRO -- Many students are getting snow days because of the storm.

And while they're fun for the kids, the time out of class is a lot of work for school districts.

Students at the Cairo Schools went home early Thursday. Superintendent Dr. Leotis Swopes explains those early dismissals take a lot of careful planning.

"Once school starts it becomes more difficult to close school, because now we have to contact parents," said Swopes, "We can't just call school off and turn the children loose."

That means contacting every child's parents, about 425 phone calls in all. If a parent can't be reached, a teacher stays at school with the student until someone can come get them.

Swopes prefers a snow day to an early dismissal. He works with the school board president and the busing company to make the call.

"Since most of our students are transported, it's whether or not the busses can get back and forth along the side streets. The main thoroughfares are usually pretty safe," he told News Three.

The decision to close school for a snow day or let out early because of the weather is not made lightly. The state requires that students spend 176 days in school each year. They have to be in the classroom for at least three hours a day in order for it to count.

Because the district has five emergency days built into its calendar, Swopes insists the extra time off doesn't come with an extra price tag. So far this school year, Cairo Schools haven't had a snow day.

"It's not a great financial cost, because so many of those things are already in place. Contracts with bus companies, and then teachers of course, their salaries are already paid," he explained.