Bloomfield Hills Schools Superintendent Glass Addresses Snow Days

As of late Tuesday, students in the Bloomfield Hills Schools should return to classes tomorrow, despite the wind chill warning still in effect through Wednesday afternoon. That could change, however, before the morning, so stay tuned, according to a post on the district's Facebook page.

To help give parents and community members a better perspective, Superintendent Rob Glass used the social media platform to explain the decision-making process he's had to implement in declaring five snow days since the beginning of the year.

"The goal is always to keep school in session unless road conditions, severe cold or other weather conditions pose a significant risk to student safety," he wrote.

Complex Decision

Glass said there is no exact formula to follow when he makes a difficult decision to close buildings, but does consider the following factors:

• Road conditions, usually provided first-hand by a district official that travels area roads between 3-4:30 a.m.
• Temperature and wind chill forecasts
• Snow accumulation

Glass said he also consults with weather authorities and other superintendents before making the final decision. Some of those factors are difficult to assess before the morning in question, which often leaves parents less time to plan.

"There is no way to be perfect with this. I can only make the best possible decision in real time with the best available information," he said.

Though he hoped not to implement the district's sixth, and final, snow day allotted annually by the state on Wednesday, Glass said Bloomfield Hills High School principal Charlie Hollerith already announced plans to planned to move finals and delay the official start of the second semester if necessary.

Reactions

Glass' post prompted several, largely positive responses on the district's Facebook page.

"Its good to finally understand the complexity involved in making the very difficult and sometimes inconsistent decision that goes into closing schools," Alan Fields wrote.

Some were expressed pragmatism and appreciated the message.
Amy Bicknell Benson "It's a tough decision and you will never make everyone happy. Thanks for all of the effort that goes into making the call or not," wrote Amy Bicknell Benson.

Should there be classes tomorrow in Bloomfield-area schools? Tell us with a comment.