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Partly Cloudy Snow costs pile up in Valley Stream
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Dr. Bill Heidenreich, superintendent of the Valley Stream Central High School District, said that while there are no specific line items for snow removal, there are costs for custodial overtime and supplies. The district bought about $2,000 worth of salt and sand this year, he said, double what it normally spends.
Heidenreich added that when schools are closed, custodial and maintenance crews are automatically paid at an overtime rate. “These guys are away from their families making sure our schools are ready for the community,” he said.
Two snow days
There are four snow days built into the Valley Stream school calendar. The four superintendents decide together whether schools should close in bad weather.
So far, the districts have used two snow days — Jan. 22 and Feb. 3. If the schools close more than four times, those days would have to be made up, and most likely would be taken from the April recess.
Fale said that the districts have been in a situation before where the number of snow days has quickly dwindled. Just last year, in fact, they were closed for more than a week after Hurricane Sandy, and that was before the winter started. In deciding whether to close, Fale said, the superintendents have only one priority. “The safety of our students has to come first,” he said, “so we can’t let the concern of having to make up days factor into that decision.”
When schools had a delayed opening on Feb. 5, Fale said, the reason Valley Stream opened when some other districts closed was because the forecast was promising. Temperatures were rising, which gave the superintendents confidence that travel would be OK if schools opened a little later.
A delay, Fale said, has two purposes. It gives the superintendents the ability to get an announcement out to parents the night before, while allowing time for them to re-evaluate the weather to see if schools should be closed. It also gives crews extra time to clear snow and ice from school properties if the buildings open.
Heidenreich said that parents appreciate early notices of closings and delays so they can make decisions on issues such as child care. “We try to get the word out as quickly as we can,” he said.
Heidenreich added that when schools are closed, custodial and maintenance crews are automatically paid at an overtime rate. “These guys are away from their families making sure our schools are ready for the community,” he said.
Two snow days
There are four snow days built into the Valley Stream school calendar. The four superintendents decide together whether schools should close in bad weather.
So far, the districts have used two snow days — Jan. 22 and Feb. 3. If the schools close more than four times, those days would have to be made up, and most likely would be taken from the April recess.
Fale said that the districts have been in a situation before where the number of snow days has quickly dwindled. Just last year, in fact, they were closed for more than a week after Hurricane Sandy, and that was before the winter started. In deciding whether to close, Fale said, the superintendents have only one priority. “The safety of our students has to come first,” he said, “so we can’t let the concern of having to make up days factor into that decision.”
When schools had a delayed opening on Feb. 5, Fale said, the reason Valley Stream opened when some other districts closed was because the forecast was promising. Temperatures were rising, which gave the superintendents confidence that travel would be OK if schools opened a little later.
A delay, Fale said, has two purposes. It gives the superintendents the ability to get an announcement out to parents the night before, while allowing time for them to re-evaluate the weather to see if schools should be closed. It also gives crews extra time to clear snow and ice from school properties if the buildings open.
Heidenreich said that parents appreciate early notices of closings and delays so they can make decisions on issues such as child care. “We try to get the word out as quickly as we can,” he said.
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