CENTRAL OHIO – Some schools will pay the price as communities are forced to decrease their road-salt usage.
When roads are ice-covered, it's tough for school buses to get through. It's almost impossible if there's no hope the roads near schools will be treated.
NBC 4's Paul Stelzer got right to the point Wednesday on the impact the ice had on schools.
Southwest Licking Schools, in Pataskala, was one of the first local districts to close because of ice. Superintendent Forest Yocum said salt supply was not a factor in this morning's closing but wouldn't comment on whether shortages could affect future decision-making.
One local district superintendent was willing to talk to Stelzer about the possibility, though.
The superintendent of the Gahanna-Jefferson School District said salt shortages could affect decision-making on whether to delay or cancel classes this school year.
Gregg Morris said those decisions are based on road conditions.
If salt shortages mean roads don't get the necessary coverage to make the roads safe, school will be cancelled or delayed until conditions improve, Morris said.
Salt shortage was not a factor in Wednesday's district decision to delay class by two hours.
Morris said salt trucks were out in plenty of time and that most of the roads were good enough to start school on time.
The bigger problem, Morris said, was icy conditions on sidewalks and parking lots at district school buildings.
The two hours allowed the district time to make those areas safe for students, teachers, staff and parents.
The number of calamity days already used because of the September windstorm will not have any impact on wintertime school delays or closings, Morris said. Yocum agreed.
Morris said the decision to delay classes or use a calamity day will be made based solely on current road conditions and the weather forecast, not on an attempt to conserve calamity days.
Morris said he hopes he doesn't have to exceed the maximum number of calamity days and be forced to schedule makeup days. But he said the district will do what it has to do to ensure safety.
Gahanna-Jefferson used two calamity days due to the windstorm and power outages in September.
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