By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
There's a decades-long joke for students who attend school in Great Bend: even if the snow piles up, they have to go to school. January has proved to be an exception. Classes were canceled because of snow on Jan. 9. They were canceled again Tuesday because of extreme cold. USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton said a lack of bus transportation for students usually makes the decision to cancel school or not easier, but not on Tuesday.
"This cold snap was a game-changer for us," he said. "When we don't provide transportation, kids are more likely to walk. We also have the kids at the high school who walk back and forth between the (Panther Athletic Center) and the high school. Even though it's a short walk, it gets cold really fast."
Snow and ice are typically the culprits that can cancel classes. In the event of snow, Thexton, Assistant Superintendent John Popp, Maintenance Director Dirk Davis, and Transportation and Grounds Director Cody Schmidt are driving the roads between 4 and 5 a.m. They try to meet by 5:30 to make a decision for the day by 6 a.m.
"Usually, there are a variety of factors we look at," Thexton said. "First of all, if it's a snow event, we see if the streets and roads are passable and we can get students and staff in safely. The other factor is, can we get our facilities cleared off in order for our students and staff to enter the buildings safely."
The district lucked out for the Jan. 9 closing. The board of education met that Monday evening as several inches of snow began to fall on the area. County offices and many other civic organizations had already announced they were closed the following day. Thexton made the decision to cancel the following day's classes that evening.
"We were fortunate last week that the snow came in when it did and we were able to make the call that evening," he said. "If we're able to make that call sooner rather than later, we try to do that to allow our families to make alternate plans for school as soon as possible."
Various types of communication have made disseminating that information much easier than in decades past, where students would wake up and turn on the local radio station or news to see if they had school. The district still uses those platforms but also has social media accounts and a school messaging system that sends the news directly to students, staff, and families.
Though USD 428 has canceled classes twice in seven days, the district is still less likely to cancel school than neighboring districts.
"Due to the lack of bus routes we don't have to worry about traveling on country roads which are more likely to drift due to wind," Thexton said. "When a large majority of our families live inside the city limits and provide their own transportation, we are less likely to cancel than other districts."
Even when school is not canceled, Thexton said parents may still use their discretion.
"If you don't feel comfortable or feel safe getting your kids out, keep them home, call the office, let them know you don't feel like your kids will be safe," he said. "We're pretty lenient in that situation because we understand not everyone has access to 4-wheel drive or a capable mode of transportation to get them places."
Per state law, students must attend school for so many hours each year. Thexton said that only becomes an issue if several days are canceled. In the event the time requirement cannot be met, the district would extend the school calendar to meet the requirements.