Schools make tough decision to close

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - When winter storms are forecast people want to know if school is going to be delayed or canceled. Many times the decision is tough and it goes right down to the wire.

Fort Wayne Community School officials get the call at about 5:00am from the Transportation Director. The Transportation Director updates them on the weather and road conditions.

FWCS officials have to decide by 5:45am if a two hour delay is necessary. After that, they have until 7:45am to decide if school will be closed for that day.

What makes it particularly difficult is when the storm hits at decision time. That turns it into a gamble or a guess.

"We always have to look at can our buses get through the snow and are our children safe. That's really the bottom line, can we get kids to and from school safely," said Steve Cobb, Fort Wayne Community Schools.

School officials do not want to cancel or delay prematurely, but they do not want to send kids to school and put them at risk when they are trying to get home.

FWCS says no matter what decision is made somebody is upset, but the top priority is student safety.