Column: Mike Funk, No. 2 Pencil

With the number of school-related closings that we have had this winter from the brutal weather, I would like to discuss some fact and fiction regarding snow days.

Attempting to determine whether to have school is one of the most challenging decisions to make as a superintendent. I ultimately make the decision, but I consult with many people before making the final call.

We take into account the weather forecast and road conditions in determining whether to cancel school. Our transportation director and bus company personnel are out at 4:30 a.m. on questionable mornings, driving our routes to ensure that they are adequate for travel. I am often on the phone with other area superintendents gaining their information about weather in their districts.

Based upon all the data, we make a determination on whether to start school on time or to cancel for the day. When it comes to closing early, we have the extra challenge of predicting the future weather. Because of the large number of students we transport, we cannot close school immediately. It takes a good 90 minutes to ensure we have the buses at the schools when we make a decision to close early. Weather conditions can change rapidly in this time frame.

I often hear that we have school at least through lunch, so that we can get credit for a good day of school. If it is close to the time that kids are going to eat, we seek to get them fed in that 90-minute window before they get on the bus. Forty-three percent of our population receives free or reduced lunches, so this is the only opportunity many of them have to eat a healthy meal in the middle of the day.

How much time the kids are in school has absolutely nothing to do with whether we get credit for a school day.

We receive credit for snow days through a board action at the end of the school year. The board modifies the calendar and ensures that the snow days missed are accounted for in the calendar. There is no reduction in the amount of state aid for our regular education students for snow days. Depending upon the number of days missed, there might be some reduction in the amount of state aid for some of our early childhood special education and alternative students.

Whether employees of the district are paid for snow days, or required to work snow days, is in large part determined by their bargaining-unit contract.

Bottom line: The safety of our students is the top priority for the district, and administrative factors such as state aid play no part in our decision to have school. Please help set the record straight on this issue the next time you hear that we are keeping kids in school because of finances.

Mike Funk is the superintendent of Albert Lea Area Schools.