Central Texas School Districts Explain Weather-Related Shutdowns

Tempe, Killeen, and Waco, the three biggest school districts in our area, all said that they will start two hours later on Tuesday because of the weather. The same thing is being done by Midway ISD and Salado ISD, two smaller school systems.

Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so Killeen ISD and most other schools in Central Texas were closed. On the other hand, Taina Northington, a spokeswoman, says that district officials thought about what to do all day Tuesday.

Texas Weather-Related ShutdownsPhoto byKWTX

Northington said, "We saw some local news reporters standing out in the cold this morning. They looked really cold, even though they were only there for a few minutes." "Think about families having to walk to school or wait at that bus stop. That's something we think about."

When Salado, Copperas Cove, and Killeen ISD decide whether to stop or delay, they all look at the roads as well as the weather.

Head of Salado ISD, Dr. Michael Novotny, said, "If we're making a decision for tomorrow, we'll look at what the roads are now." "We'll also check to see if the roads will get better between now and yesterday."

Officials from the district say that safety is always the most important thing when decisions are being made.

Rusty Quillin, a spokesman for Copperas Cove ISD, said, "We like teaching our kids here, but we also want to make sure it's safe for them to get to and from school." Dr. Novotny from Salado ISD says parents should choose what's best for their kids.

As parents, Dr. Novotny said, "If you live out on a road somewhere we missed and there's an icy spot, you have to make a decision for your kids," whatever that decision is.

The Source: kwtx