So it is almost March and I am getting close to a year under my belt as Dearborn Superintendent. I think that many thought that the day would never come. Our previous Leader Mr. Whiston would have already had 5 or 6 by now. But no not me, I am stubborn. Many thought that the new Superintendent was creating a new norm with no snow days. In fact that was my message to the 150 students at ASC who were there for a leadership summit along with my message to the Student Advisory Council to the Superintendent on Wednesday with our meeting at Fordson.
Parents, Students and Community Members were wondering what was I going to do, well I told the students that my Superintendent Goals and my 90 plan stated that I eliminated snow days altogether. (Actually, It did not but I really did not think that anyone had read the fine print or disclaimer in the plan). In all honesty and as of 11am yesterday morning I actually told the students that the reality was a 70% chance that we would be in school and a 30% chance that we would not. During the day I spoke to our Operations Director Several times and our communications Director and we agreed that evening activities would be fine to remain open on Wednesday. That was the absolute right call.
So as the day went on I went to Edsel in the evening for a community meeting following my afternoon union meetings. I was then getting emails and network texts from area superintendents. Districts were starting to close in large numbers and I was very surprised given the road conditions in Dearborn at the time. The chances of a closure were now increasing to a 50% chance. Again I called the Operations Director Mr. Burek and as of 7pm roads were still clear but more and more districts were starting to close. I finished my meeting at Edsel around 8pm and then quickly stopped by the wrestling event before I ventured outside. Again calls made to Directors around 8.30pm and roads were still clear in Dearborn. No snow whatsoever in Dearborn just rain. So a decision was made to wait until 9.30pm. As I drove home around 9pm all the roads in Dearborn were clear so we decided to continue to wait. At about 9pm I received a text from the Taylor Superintendent that they were going to close. Thus it now gave us a greater possibility of closing because the two of us were some of the remaining holds without making a call. I think it was now an 85% chance of closure. Yet, driving conditions on the roads were relatively clear. The forecast did state the possibility of snow in the evening with chances ranging from 30-60% pending the time and location.
Alright so at about 9.40pm after consultation with the Directors and Executive Cabinet a decision was made to close schools. The question then became what was the cause of the closure? Was it one of the following:
- Other districts closing.
- The potential weather forecast over the night after midnight.
- The rain and other precipitation that were coming down with the potential for ice.
- The fact that North of us neighbors in Oakland and other surrounding counties were hit with a lot more snow so staff that did not live in Dearborn would have more trouble coming to work.
- The potential for buses not to start in the morning.
- Student Safety is number one so maybe that was the reason for the closure.
Nope that was not it at all, the real reason for the closure included the following:
- Elementary Students that were wearing their pajamas backwards.
- Students that brushed their teeth with the opposite hand.
- Students flushing ice cubes down the toilet.
- Teachers doing the snow dance and posting it on facebook.
- Students doing the snow dance and pasting it on instagram or twitter.
- Jessica from the Dearborn High Golf Team who out drove me at the Dearborn Education Foundation outing back in October and stated that if she did I would have to give her 5 snow days. Well at least she got one but I do think that five is an unrealistic stretch. Lol.
I am kidding of course but it does strike me regarding the powerful effort, enthusiasm, intensity, and motivation of our students when it comes to getting a snow day. We just need to channel that effort, enthusiasm, intensity and motivation into academic areas in order to take this district to the next level of achievement.
I hope that everyone enjoyed their day off as I sit here posting this on my blog from my computer at work. BTW, the snow day also caused me to stay up until 2am with continued communications. Thus you can see how enthusiastic and motivated that I feel regarding the decision to call a snow day. Lol. 🙂
BTW, students and teachers, do not get any ideas regarding doing any of the above listed items tonight because we plan to have school on Friday. Sorry that it may disappoint some.
Have a great night Everyone!!!
Pictures with the Student Advisory Council to the Superintendent at our February 24th Meeting at Fordson High school.
Pictures with Members of the Salina-Edsel Community Group on February 24th 1.5 hours before the Snow Day Call was made.
