STORM2K

As all of you know, Topeka Public Schools (TPS) had their first snow day of the 2003-2004 school year last Monday. I guess he didn't take that so well. The building where his office is stationed is stationed next to a big hill, called Quintion Heights Hill. Everyone flocks there when the snow comes, or on a snow day.

So, teachers told us today he has made a decision that TPS will never close for a snow day again. Why you ask? "If they can get to that hill.... they can get to school." My thoughts? "Bull you-know-what!" This guy thinks he can come into this little school district and change everything. He's really starting to tick me off. What did I spend doing on my birthday today? When I got home, my car couldn't get up my driveway! Our neighbors helped shovel our drive and get us up to our garage after 15 minutes. Then I cleared the other side so my step-dad wouldn't have the same problem. My street hasn't had a plow yet! It still has snow from our first storm!!!!! Shawnee Heighs and Hayden school districts, both in Shawnee county, and both having kids from Topeka, were closed today. All catholic schools were closed today. But NO... we were open.

Another decision he has made, which isn't as stupid as the one above... He walked into a classroom at Topeka High, and saw a kid sleeping on his desk. Saywer (superintendent) went to his office, called the principle, vice principle, and the teacher of the class. Now.. when we watch a movie, the lights must be ON, and it must be paused intermediatly to discuss.

I'm sorry folks, but this is too much...

What's everyone else think of this?

-David

I think the Superindendent needs to be fired, I think that the govenor needs to step in and change the rules to how they were before, and worse come to worse, eitehr the teachers or students should go to strike.

Oh BTW HAPPY BIRTHDAY! .

I hear yeah! My brother (AirmaN) and sister (and I use to go but have graduated in 2000) go to the suburban district in the Omaha called Millard Public Schools. We had a great superintendent, I think from some of the warmer climates, where 4 to 6 inches of snow would guarentee that school would be closed, and had it occured during the day, school would be dismissed early. Now, we get this guy from Minnesota, where you go to school unless a massive ice age occurs, and he is hesitant with calling off school, waiting until the last minute (7:00am) to make the decision. The previous superintendent had classes cancelled, if needed, by the 10pm news usually.

The watching a movie with the lights on. Hmm...ah, the glare on the screen. Ask your parents whether they would rather have someone sleep during the video due to the lights being off, than paying more taxes to get plasma TVs for everyone. I think they would rather have the sleeping students!

Well, since I seriously doubt that every student in every school under the authority of this superintendent made it to that hill, his argument doesn't hold water...or snow. Sure...some kids made it there to play and enjoy the snow day. However, I bet a lot of them were snowed in and couldn't get to the hill or school or anywhere safely.

Furthermore, since more snow is forecast to fall on an already snow-covered Topeka http://www.cjonline.com/stories/020504/ ... fall.shtml , he's only making matters worse if he does not cancel classes. Police have a hard enough time responding to calls from people involved in fender-benders or getting stuck in snow. Usually, they make it a policy to handle serious accidents first. It's going to be a nightmare if they know that almost every child in that school district is also out the road.

I side with you, David.

David Happy Birthday first.

Second. Your Superindendent. Needs to learn. He can not change everything all at once. Maybe he might forget what he said. Hopefully. But hopefully he will surprise you sometime and actually call it a snow day.

Also that Movie rule sucked. And why did he walk into the classroom unanounced? Usually there is a info letter sent out that this is going to happen. I Bet that teacher might be outta there now meaning fired. Wouldnt be surprised if it happeneds fast.
I am sorry to hear about this David.

I have the exact opposite situation...we had a Superintendent who NEVER closed...only closed for the most extreme situations.

Now, we have a new Superintendent, who closes for ANYTHING. He closed last Monday and Tuesday, and all we got was some freezing mist, and the roads were fine! Then on Wednesday, we had a 2 hr. delay for isolated black ice. Give me a break.

Watch them not close tomorrow, when snow and ice is on the ground and roads, and actually FALLING.

I wish you luck with the school, David...hopefully this will get changed soon. That Superintendent is pathetic!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!!

Oh and about the superintendint, don't worry-- once evreyone starts to get into accidents due to the bad roads, and his decison to open, evreyone will start to complain...and he'll eventually change his mind.

Well, you know me and my stance on school.. Its for learning

Another decision he has made, which isn't as stupid as the one above... He walked into a classroom at Topeka High, and saw a kid sleeping on his desk. Saywer (superintendent) went to his office, called the principle, vice principle, and the teacher of the class. Now.. when we watch a movie, the lights must be ON, and it must be paused intermediatly to discuss.

Dont be mad at the SI.. Be made at the chump that fell asleep.. I see no problem with the lights having to be on. As a matter of fact I think it should be that way.. No reason you cant watch tv with the lights on. I also see nothing wrong with stopping for discusion. Make sure everyone is watching and understanding, becuase again thats what the teachers job is.. To teach. As far as the school never closing for snow days again, I kind of doubt it happend like that, sounds like your teacher may just be a lil bitter about something, but I would sure be interested to see if he was quoted somewhere saying that.

Now from a parents point of view....it's hard to get sitters if your child needs one on such a short notice because most daycares and afterschool care programs follow the school weather policy. Most workplaces are still open putting the parent in a difficult situation. Also, if the weather is severe enough to warrent the school closed then the students should be in their homes not running the roads.

As for the principal coming into the room unannounced....he can do that, it's his job to supervise.

I never said it was wrong.. my point is that he comes in and makes all these stupid changes. He might as well ban movies for the most part! It's getting to the point where it's not how we learn.. it's just idiocity.

Also, CM, yes, it is hard to get a sitter on bad days. But, i'm sure alot of people on this board did the same thing I would do? What else do you do on a snow day besides sleep and maybe shovel? SLEDDING! It's life!! He's sorta trying to prevent sledding and all the fun. My point is that if you got 6 inches of snow.. not all the MAIN roads are clear, your putting people in danger to go to school. Now if you want to go to a hill and sled, your putting your own life in danger, and that's your choice.. you DONT have a choice to not go to school.

David,

As a former teacher, I used to hate it when the superintendent or principal would drop into my room unannounced BUT knowing that this was a possibility helped to motivate me to always be doing what I was supposed to be doing and that was TEACHING
In our school district, if a teacher wants to show a video, first he/she has to include the video in the lesson plans for that week, including how he/she will use it to teach, fill out a form and get the principal's approval before the video can be shown. The only time we were allowed to show "fun" videos (movies that had no educational value) was as a reward for something such as honor roll, or good behavior for a certain period of time. Those also had to have the principal's approval and be planned a week or more in advance.
Whenever I used a video, I always left the lights on. I figure the kids watch tv at home with the lights on, so there was no need to turn them off at school. Turning off the lights would give some a chance to do what they like to do (goof off ) I also made it a habit to stop the tape and question the students, so I think the Super has a good idea there. That way the teacher will know who's listening, who's understanding, and who might need more help.
Now, for the snow day....I think if it in any way poses a danger to the students, school should be closed. I understand that many parents still have to work, but I'd much rather my kids be home safe than on a bus in the middle of a snowstorm or on icy roads. Of course, we don't have that problem here. If we get 1/2 inch of snow, the whole state shuts down LOL.

I take that bad-- My superindent is JUST AS BAD!

He closed tuesday, for an hour of VERY LIGHT freezeing rain, before evreything changed to rain.

Then today, he only decided to have a 2 hr. delay, when overnight, we had moderate sleet/freezeing rain for 6 hours!! And unlike tuesday, it is VERY SLIPPERY out there right now. There are even icicles ( SP? ) sticking down from all my doors.

Jessi, I can relate to this on some morning's in southeastern Massachusetts, when I was going to school through the 1980's to 1996. However, it isn't always easy to figure out how the roads around the time the cancellations and delays are given to television and radio outlets and what the conditions are at the moment you head out the door to walk to the school bus, ride on the bus or being driven in by your parent(s).

...and you spelt icicles correctly.

What your superintendent says is CRAP!!

Schools around here usually have a set criteria for school closings. It isn't necessarily left up to human decision. For example we had many days of sub-zero temperatures here a couple of weeks ago. All schools closed except our school district and a neighboring district. It was -28* with a sustained wind speed of 10mph. The neighboring school's policy is that the temp must be below -30 and a have a windspeed of greater than 15 mph. I am not sure of the requirements of our district. But since there were reports of frostbite for the walking students, school was closed the next day for my kids.

The first day, that the school did not close, the teachers were out doing the crossing patrols, and they were out in their cars picking up the walking students.

I remember when I was attending school, it rarely ever closed. We had to have at least a foot of snow for them to even consider closing. Times have definitely changed.

Regarding the snow day issue ... just BECAUSE HE CAN get up a hill doesn't mean everyone else can ... and believe me, if the roads and conditions are that dangerous, school should be cancelled ... period ...

It's completely absurd to put people in danger. And obviously, this superintendant sounds too much like the tyrannical boss of the Charleston Post Office ... (secret) ...

And it is well within your right (and your parents) to deem that the conditions are simply too dangerous for you to go, and if the superintendant has a problem with that, so be it ... fight for what's right, and it can start with your parents having a voice for you.

I'm sorry, but that ruling from him is plain ridiculous.

SF

I agree, that as a parent we have the right to keep our children home in the case of weather. And in addition to my prior post. I did keep my girls home that day.

Back when I went to school in the Niagara Falls area, a good old snow storm was not even close to enough to cancelling school for us. We needed more than a foot of snow to fall overnight or have WC's less than -35F.

The superintendent is correct. One watches TV at home with the lights on, so why not at school. Less of a temptation to sleep. And if everyone is flocking to a sledding hill, they sure better be flocking to school. No more dangerous to flock to a school than it is flocking to a sledding hill.