We’re not even through November yet, and we’ve already experienced a snow event that has caused a disruption to area schools.

With several more such incidents likely forthcoming, Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks and Adel-DeSoto-Minburn Superintendent Greg Dufoe describe their decision-making process when cancelling or delaying classes. Both emphasize that there is no official playbook for when to delay or cancel school, though they agree that safety is their primary concern. Wicks considers cancellation a last resort, and points out that missed days always come back. “Really, we try to base it on one criteria, and that is: we want to try to have school if at all possible, and if people can get there safely. I know to make up many days at the end of the year is not what people want to do. And I don’t either! Snow days are fun, but they’re not fun at the end of the year.”

Dufoe echoes that sentiment, and adds that for the first several snow events of the season, they’re more likely to take a cautious approach. “You know we all come off a season where it’s been a while since we’ve driven in snow or ice or those kind of conditions, and it’s hard. And we didn’t want to put our high school drivers especially in that scenario. So we just try to make the best decision we can to keep our kids safe. It’s never an easy decision, but it’s better to be safe than push it too much.”

Wicks and Dufoe add that communication is key, so they are in early contact with their transportation directors and other area superintendents whenever there is adverse weather. Finally, whenever severe winter weather cancels or delays school at Perry or ADM, the superintendents will contact Raccoon Valley Radio first, so we can relay that information to the public immediately.