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Though I’m about to slam the school districts a bit in this article, I would like to make clear that for the most part they err on the side of caution and I have no problem when they do so.

That said, yesterday, with the exception of Bethlehem, the Superintendents of the local school districts made a bad decision. They let the desire of a longer summer break rule their thought process of whether or not to close schools, knowing that a deep snow was approaching. What’s most troubling is that they knew children would have to be driven home in the falling snow, even if it had started falling at the anticipated time of 10 am, rather than 7:30 am, which caught them by surprise.

I’ll be the first to say that decisions to close schools aren’t easily made and those in charge often catch flak no matter what they decide. If they close and the snow event doesn’t happen, or is less than predicted they get pounded by the public for unnecessarily closing the school when children could have attended.

What possessed them to risk yesterday causes concern. Not because most of the school bus drivers wouldn’t be able to handle the driving conditions, but because of the other idiots on the road. Roads come to a standstill because of an accident on a highway. Roads are closed because they are too hazardous. Schedules can’t be kept because of route changes and delays, as well as slower speeds required for safety reasons.

So it happened that yesterday was a bad decision. Shortly after the high school students were delivered the snow began falling and immediately began sticking to the roadways. The school districts were then committed to picking up the elementary students. If they didn’t, elementary schools would have to remain open a day longer at the end of the year so that they would meet the required 180 days of school.

Even before the first elementary student was picked up, word went out to bus drivers that there was to be an early dismissal. Drivers were picking up children in a snowstorm knowing that in a couple of hours they would be bringing them back home in conditions that would only be worse.

Which brings me to the subject of parents.

God forbid they lose their baby sitting service. More than one driver informed parents who were present at the stops that road conditions were deteriorating quickly and that their children would be coming home in a couple of hours. That it would be a hazardous drive both to and from school. Few parents opted to keep their children home. I guess even two hours of quiet time is worth the risk.

I know of one child who was sent in on the bus from Martins Creek to Easton. His ride back home that morning took more than 90 minutes.

I happen to drive a school bus. It provides a secondary income for my summer trips and health benefits. I actually like the job and the kids. It’s much better than sitting behind a desk in a suit and tie, as I did years ago. I talked to a number of drivers yesterday during the short break between delivery and take home of students. Drivers from Easton and Wilson were all in disbelief that schools hadn’t been closed and that parents who complained that a school was open just as quickly wanted their kids on the bus and out of the house.

The school superintendents weren’t the most revered yesterday, if descriptions of them provided by drivers and teachers were any indication. I’m not aware of any accidents involving school buses yesterday, which is surprising to me. I’m aware of incidents where buses got stuck until assistance arrived, but no major events that I truly expected, considering what I saw yesterday from vehicles on the road.

Among what I saw on snow covered roads:

• A car with poor tire tread stuck on the 13th Street hill where it crosses Wood Ave in Easton. Another, unable to climb Mitman Road for the same reason.
• A trailerless semi doing at least 55 mph in the 45 mph zone between 25th and 13th Streets on Route 22 east, heading toward 4th Street. (Later that morning traffic was at a standstill eastbound, backed up to the 13th Street exit.)
• A pickup truck on Lehigh Drive, just beyond The Narrows, with a smashed right front side (he hit the guard rail).
• Numerous fender benders from Easton to Nazareth.

Now, attention is momentarily focused on school district decision making. The Express-Times even has a poll on their website asking for public opinion. Here’s mine:

If there is a prediction of significant snow that will stick to roadways and begin before children can arrive home (even with an early dismissal), close school.

If there are iced road conditions, or extreme sub-zero temps that can’t be corrected with a delayed opening, close school.

If you’re wrong, make the day up sometime during a school break. Being wrong on the side of safety is never a wrong decision.