hile school kids normally enjoy a good snow day, the seemingly never-ending winter weather is starting to become problematic for area school systems.
Mercer County has lost 12 days of school so far this winter due to the snow, ice and arctic air. School administrators also angered parents in December after their poorly-timed decision to send kids to school on the morning when a large snowfall was predicted. The prediction came true, and more than a foot of wet, heavy snow was dumped on the region. It took hours for some school buses to get students home safely.
And the weather woes are continuing for Mercer County Schools. A bus navigating along an ice-covered street in the JOHO Estates subdivision Wednesday morning slid off the road and struck a tree. One student was transported to a local hospital.
The school calendar in Mercer County has been adjusted to make up some of the lost school time.
School officials in neighboring Tazewell County have missed eight days of school so far this year, and also have implemented a two-hour delay schedule multiple times this winter, according to school officials.
McDowell County officials reported Wednesday that 11 days of school have been lost so far this year due to inclement weather. Bland County has lost eight days of school due to the snow and extreme cold. Even area colleges, including Concord University, have been forced to cancel classes due to the difficult winter.
With all eyes now on today’s weather forecast, it is anticipated that most school kids across the region will be getting another snow day. In fact, the way things are going, we wouldn’t be surprised if area school systems want be tacking on several additional snow days between now and March.
In West Virginia, it’s already too late for the school calendar bill passed by the House and the Senate to make much of a difference this winter. The measure will require children to be in school 180 days a year.
The legislation sought by Gov. Joe Manchin also would require county school systems to plan for icy conditions and emergencies when setting their annual school calendars. It also allows school systems more flexibility to go beyond the current late-August to early-June time frame that currently governs school calendars.
In neighboring Virginia, school officials in Tazewell County have already added another day to the end of the current school calendar year to help make up for the time lost.
We wish school administrators across our region the best of luck in trying to make up all of the lost snow days so far. But, unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Old Man Winter is going to cooperate. The worse winter in more than a decade is still far from over.
Today’s forecast is calling for treacherous and downright nasty weather conditions. We encourage all our readers — young and old — to be careful out there.
