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I think its highly debatable on what is special equipment and what is not, especially when you are talking about camping out in subzero temperatures but you are expecting children to dress as though they are camping when they are going to school.
No, I'm pointing out they can easily survive the 20-30 minutes at 0 degrees. About all they need is thin gloves, a stocking cap and a coat. Not dressed for camping at all.
Kids home alone during cold weather, or kids safely at school during cold weather. I wonder which is safer?
Again, you are missing the point. Those kids without a ride to school benefit when they are allowed to go into school later than usual after the temperature has risen a few degrees. Additionally, because of the havoc extreme cold causes with diesel fuel, it allows buses the time needed to get started after the temperature has risen. You can get frostbite or hypothermia after just 20-30 minutes exposure and yes, some students ARE outside that long waiting for a bus or walking to school.
This is a note from our superintendent about delays:
Quote:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The threat of winter weather is a fact of life here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Freezing temperatures and unpredictable snow storms can cause road conditions to deteriorate quickly. It is becoming more and more evident that due to the total geographic area that our district encompasses, our current system of school delays, early dismissals, and school cancellations needs an additional upgrade. Thus the xxxx School District will be implementing a three hour delay immediately to our current listing of possible winter weather related announcements.
Please keep in mind that in using a three hour delay it allows the decision making process to be more accurate concerning possible cancellations, and will allow additional time for local municipalities to properly plow and cinder local roads and boulevards.
3 hour delays mean exactly that. Three hours should be added to the estimate bus arrival time for your child’s A.M. pickup. If the expectation for your child is to be picked up at 7:00 AM, on a regular day, then with the announcement of a 3 hour delay, the bus will arrive at 10 A.M.
The 3 hour delay schedule will be used judiciously in order to supplement our current 2 hour delay system. Please keep in mind that weather conditions can change rapidly especially in higher elevations. Thus a 2 hour delay that was announced during the evening, can turn into a 3 hour delay the next morning. Delays can turn quickly into cancellations as a storm approaches and conditions worsen. So please monitor your local television and radio stations, as well as on line news services for changes that may occur in our district’s school closing status. Our district also provides a Skylert system where parents and guardians can receive up to date changes in our district’s school closing status through personal e-mail, cellphones, or texting. Parents can get in touch with their respective schools in order to receive this free of charge service.
The xxxx prides itself on its commitment to student safety. With the introduction of the 3 hour delay, this additional option helps our district keep our students safe and warm during these difficult winter months.
Our district has a policy that if the temperature or temp/wind chill combination equals -17F or below, the district will call a delay or close. We are in Colorado.
However, if the temperature is below 20F, there will be indoor recess.
I think it depends on what type of weather you are used to getting in your area. We live in Colorado. It snows a lot here and can get very cold at times. Even though we have fairly mild winters overall, we are also used to dealing with the frigid cold days and snow. We have not had a snow day, delay or school closure in the past 2 years. Even when it snows a ton. In fact, the children line up outside the door in the morning unless the weather is really bad. Some days it is less than 20 degrees and the kids are lined up outside the classroom doors--which does bug me a little bit. I purposely bring my kids just before the bell on those days. It's funny--when we lived in TX they would not let them out to play on the playground if it was under 50 degrees. Here in Colorado they play outside for recess in the snow and with temps in the teens. Another weird thing here--no one ever really seems like they are cold and people don't really dress for the weather. Think shorts and a hoody when it is 30 degrees and snowing. Not kidding.
I heard last night that some Chicago area schools were going to either open late or close entirely due to cold temperatures. The temp was expected to be about -3F.
By the way your facts were very off. The forecast was for -30F with the windchill, not -3, and most schools remained open.
I'm a bit confused about problem with buses in cold weather. Don't you plug in your cars in the winter (those in areas that get cold winters)? We have sockets in our car park (and so I would assume its the same at bus depots) to plug in heater cables for half an hour or so before its time to start the car. We have a diesel van and have no trouble starting it in extremely cold temps.
I don't know if those engine warmers are used elsewhere around the country. Where we live, if it's abnormally cold, such as this past week, the mechanics start up the buses at 3:00 am so they're ready to roll at about 6.
School should be cancelled for this small minority why? They could as easily be excused, while the school remains open.
The poor are already often well behind their peers in education and you want to hold them back even more? Imagine half the class being a day behind while the other half of the class is caught up. Unplanned days off already screw things up, this would just compound problems. Much better to cancel for everyone then have a teacher have two groups in the same class at different positions in the lesson plans.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Natsku
I'm a bit confused about problem with buses in cold weather. Don't you plug in your cars in the winter (those in areas that get cold winters)? We have sockets in our car park (and so I would assume its the same at bus depots) to plug in heater cables for half an hour or so before its time to start the car. We have a diesel van and have no trouble starting it in extremely cold temps.
Schools are often stretching every dollar and in many areas it's not cost effective to purchase engine block heaters you might only have to use a few times a winter. I'm in the southern US, our average low in winter is right at freezing so we definitely don't need block heaters. It got down to near 10 degrees F a couple of times but most of the time there were no issues. I can't speak for places in the northern US, I'm not nearly as familiar with colder climates here. I know in places like Alaska they're common but I'm not sure about areas like Chicago. Also, the cold has been unusually cold this year. I had heard that the eastern US had the greatest negative temperature anomalies, the greatest departures from average and some of the coldest temperatures.
Schools are often stretching every dollar and in many areas it's not cost effective to purchase engine block heaters you might only have to use a few times a winter. I'm in the southern US, our average low in winter is right at freezing so we definitely don't need block heaters. It got down to near 10 degrees F a couple of times but most of the time there were no issues. I can't speak for places in the northern US, I'm not nearly as familiar with colder climates here. I know in places like Alaska they're common but I'm not sure about areas like Chicago. Also, the cold has been unusually cold this year. I had heard that the eastern US had the greatest negative temperature anomalies, the greatest departures from average and some of the coldest temperatures.
Ah right, didn't realise they'd have to be bought separately, not cost effective if not used often. I think they're built in the cars here, the cars have a normal electrical socket low down at the front of the car to plug it in.
Ah right, didn't realise they'd have to be bought separately, not cost effective if not used often. I think they're built in the cars here, the cars have a normal electrical socket low down at the front of the car to plug it in.
Yea it varies widely. Down in Florida most school busses have A/C built in. In Atlanta we don't. Again, not sure about farther north but I imagine it's just not as common in a place like Chicago as Alaska.
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