While Ohio University has yet to be closed because of hazardous winter weather, local school districts each have closed more than ten times this year.
Trimble Local School District's elementary school has the highest number of snow days in the area with 15 days, followed by 12 days in Alexander, Federal Hocking, and Nelsonville-York School districts and 11 for Athens City Schools.
Nelsonville-York City School District saw the greatest increase in school closings, jumping from five days off in the 2006-2007 school year to 12 days this year.
Superintendent Cindy Johnston of Trimble Local Schools said teachers are now playing catch up to prepare their students for the Ohio Graduation Test and the Ohio Achievement Tests.
Teachers and parents are not complaining to Johnston, however, because they recognize the importance of safety, she said.
Schools must set aside make-up days in case classes are canceled more than five times per school year, said Scott Blake, media relations specialist at the Ohio Department of Education.-
the roads are too bad for us to travel on.- we're definitely closed Martin said. -
but around here the roads are pretty bad.-
and the street maintenance workers normally don't come around until later
around 10
Horodyski said.
OU President Roderick McDavis decides whether the university should close, and he can delegate an authority in his absence, said David Hopka, assistant vice president for safety and risk management.
If the Athens County Sheriff's Office issues a Level 3 emergency, OU automatically closes, Hopka said.
OU authorities work with the OUPD, Athens County Sheriff Vernon Castle and the Ohio Department of Transportation to survey current road conditions and to determine the safety of traveling.
Many OU students said they have not had problems getting to class this winter.
There were times I wish classes would have been canceled
but I can't think of any times when the weather necessitated a closing
said senior sociology major Erica Jenkins.
Freshman health care administration major Angela Kahle said getting to classes is harder early in the morning but improves as the day goes on and workers clear the sidewalks.
English Professor Mimi Hart teaches an 8 a.m. class and has canceled class for bad weather before.-
like with chemistry labs.-
Hart said.
