Janesville schedules makeup day
JANESVILLE — Wednesday was an unexpected day off for the Janesville School District. It also raised questions.
Here are some of the answers provided by district spokesman Brett Berg:
Q: Isn't this the second snow day of the school year?
A: Yes. The first day off for weather was Friday, Dec. 21, after the first snowstorm of the season hit the day before.
Q: Will there be a makeup day?
A: Yes. The district gets one "free” snow day. After that, the days must be made up. May 24, the Friday before Memorial Day, would have been a day off. Now, it's the makeup day.
Q: What about the middle and high school conferences that were canceled on Wednesday night?
A: Those will be made up Wednesday, March 6, at the same times, which for many schools is 4 to 7 p.m.
At schools where parents had scheduled appointments, those times will be the same next Wednesday. Parents who can't make their appointments should call to reschedule.
Today's conferences will go on as scheduled.
Q: The school board canceled its meeting Tuesday night because of the storm. When will that be made up?
A: Nothing has been finalized, but the meeting might be scheduled for Tuesday, March 5.
One item on this Tuesday's agenda, a presentation and discussion on early-retirement benefits, will not take place March 5, however, because a consultant can't make it. That discussion will be rescheduled.
Q: Why was school canceled at all? The roads weren't that bad.
A: True, there was not much snow. The Janesville Wastewater Treatment Plant reported 2.75 inches of snow between 7 a.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Not to mention that other districts in the immediate area either held school as usual or delayed by two hours. That's the opposite of what typically happens, when the more rural districts are closed while Janesville remains open.
Berg said several factors tipped the balance when the decision was made early Wednesday morning:
-- Van Galder Bus Co. did not know if it would be able to complete all its rural routes because of unplowed roads and excessive drifting.
-- Crews plowing around schools starting in the wee hours reported winds were re-forming drifts almost as fast as the plows could clear them at some of the schools.
-- The district's weather adviser, a meteorologist in Madison, advised that roads would be treacherous.
Note: UW-Rock County also canceled classes Wednesday, although the campus was open.
Q: What about Friday?
A: It's a scheduled day off for all students and for teachers at the middle and high schools. Friday is a workday for elementary school teachers.
Mar 1, 2013 at 1:07 p.m.
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"2.75 inches of snow " OMG lol. What if we actually had snow fall??
Mar 1, 2013 at 7:21 a.m.
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Even Milton only had a two hour delay...Janesville NEVER used to cancel school even when they should have. Janesville also won't close early when an incoming storm warrants it because they say they don't want to send kids home to unknown situations. Milton covers that every year at the beginning of the year with a form parents sign that says that if there is an early closing, you choose one of three options for your children: You will pick them up, they get dropped off at the usual place, or they get dropped off at another place in the Milton school district.
Mar 1, 2013 at 5:55 a.m.
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Thank you for the info.
Feb 28, 2013 at 8:35 p.m.
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There was absolutely NO reason why school had to be canceled! On days when it should be been canceled it isn't and on days when it should not, it is. Put someone else in charge of making this call already!
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