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  • Youngsters from Washington Elementary in Mankato, Minn., are all smiles Monday as they prepare to ride their bus home after school officials were prompted to dismiss classes early because of a snow storm that swept across southern Minnesota. John Cross

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  • A reminder of a warmer time slowly is swallowed up by yet more snow Monday. John Cross

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  • Severin Johnson shovels snow from a Liberty Street sidewalk yet one more time this winter. John Cross

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February 8, 2010

Repeated snow days add up to scheduling headache

Mankato schools have canceled five days this school year

By Tanner Kent Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — The snowiest winter in recent memory isn’t finished causing problems just yet.

After snow caused the fifth weather-related closing or cancellation of the school year on Monday, Mankato Area Public Schools can ill afford another one today.

But if the weather forecasts calling for several more inches of snow and increased wind speeds throughout southern Minnesota are accurate, Superintendent Sheri Allen said, there is no reason to risk student safety just to avoid a sixth cancellation today.

“This is the most intense winter we’ve had” in nearly a decade, she said. “I feel bad for parents.”

As of Monday afternoon, the Minnesota Department of Transportation was advising no travel throughout south central Minnesota until road conditions improved sometime today. In a release, MnDOT said strong winds are expected to reduce visibility and some road surfaces remain compacted with snow and ice despite plowing efforts.

Allen, like almost all school administrators in the region, makes the decision to cancel school based on the facts and forecasts available. She said she considers all circumstances and makes the decision based on student safety.

It’s a misconception, she said, that schools have extra days built into the calendar to account for those lost to weather. She also said it’s a myth that schools only receive their funding allotment for the day if they serve lunch (schools receive funding for the day if they simply start school).

Linda Kilander, principal at Jefferson Elementary in Mankato, said teachers adjust to lost classroom time by focusing on what is essential in their lesson plans and working that into future lessons.

Alluding to the pressure felt by school staff who are trying to make up for lost time, Kilander said the weather cancellations have created some “highly energized” days when staff and students return.

“I can’t remember a winter like this,” Kilander said. “It’s been unusual.”

Although specific records were not available, this year’s tally of two early release days, two late starts and one full-day cancellation due to weather conditions trumps any in recent memory.

But their peculiar timing has been even more troublesome for Joan Eisenreich, director of Mankato’s Community Education and Recreation program.

Yesterday’s was the second school cancellation to occur on a Monday. In addition, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is on a Monday and so is the upcoming President’s Day. Eisenreich said Monday activities have been repeatedly re-scheduled and that effort will continue, especially for the recreation volleyball league, which plays on Monday nights.

“It cramps the schedule a little,” Eisenreich said. “But we’ll just extend the season later.”

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