NJ school superintendents say deciding on a snow day is a no-win situation

<p>News 12 New Jersey spoke with some school superintendents who say that deciding whether or not to close school for inclement weather is often a no-win situation.</p>

News 12 Staff

Mar 23, 2018, 1:30 AM

Updated 2,238 days ago

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New Jersey has seen a very active winter this season, which means many schools in the state have had several snow days.
News 12 New Jersey spoke with some school superintendents who say that deciding whether or not to close school for inclement weather is often a no-win situation.
“I make a call; delay, close and the next thing you know my wife is on the computer telling me, ‘Hey, just so you know. Everyone is upset,’” says Highland Park Superintendent Scott Taylor.
Taylor says that he doesn’t come to the decision to close the school lightly. He says that he is part of a group chat with superintendents around the county. Talks with local police and department of public works officials and sometimes even takes a 5 a.m. drive himself to see how bad the conditions are.
“I still get slammed, but at least I know I’ve made the call based on information that I was able to research myself,” Taylor says.
School officials say that they are also increasingly under pressure from parents to make the call the night before, this way the parents have time to prepare.
“I do like to wait but even I felt some pressure to make the call in the evening,” says Metuchen Superintendent Vince Caputo. “In the past you’d always wait until the morning to make that call.”
“Bottom line is you have to make the decisions based on safety and security needs,” says Taylor.
Taylor and Caputo say that they both made the decision to have delayed openings Thursday, the day after New Jersey’s fourth major nor’easter in March. Both superintendents say that they felt that they made the right call.


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