By Kim Hilsenbeck.
Following a second ice storm that pelted Central Texas, Hays CISD Superintendent Mike McKie faced critics for his decision to not delay or close schools Jan. 28.
On Jan. 24, he closed schools though he waited until 5:30 a.m. to notify parents via a robo-call message, angering those who wanted a decision the night before as the weather started to deteriorate.
Late on the evening of Jan. 23, district officials posted a note on Facebook explaining why they had not yet decided to delay or cancel school the next day, citing the desire to avoid confusion.
The post read, in part, “The reason that decision won’t come until early morning is to have the latest information about the weather and reports from county emergency officials. We don’t want to make a decision tonight and then have to change it early in the morning, causing confusion.”
What will change in terms of the Hays CISD spokesperson Tim Savoy summarized the meeting outcome: The district will work with the Hays County Emergency Management Office to develop a local emergency management conference call system when inclement weather threatens. This system will focus on Hays County weather, not Travis County, as was the original protocol. A weather decision will be made earlier than 5:30 a.m. when possible, e.g., a delayed start decision the night before can easily be changed to a closing in the morning. The district previously cited waiting so as not to cause confusion with multiple announcements, but determined that communication is rapid enough to avoid any issues.
What is the final assessment of the Jan. 28 incident? “Our assessment is that the [Jan. 28] process was not the primary problem, but rather the actual decision,” Savoy wrote in a statement. “We based our decision on forecasts and conditions that changed quickly.” |
Facebook commenters, including Melanie Hernandez, were unhappy. “Why not tell us NOW,” she wrote. “Every school in Central Texas pretty much has at least a 2 hour delay. Its (sic) better to announce the 2 hour delay then (sic) to force our kids to go out in this weather. It should be about the safety of the kids.”
On Jan. 28, the district used its website and social media to say school was operating on a normal schedule.
Parents likewise took to social media to condemn the district for its decision.
Just after 7 a.m., Nancy Parker Demmer wrote on the Hays Free Press Facebook page, “Hays is the ONLY school operating on a normal schedule! My kiddo is sleeping in. Not worth the risk!! Shame on Hays CISD for making such a poor decision rrgarding (sic) the safety of our children and teachers!!”
A slew of responders echoed Demmer’s sentiment, including Christina Rodriguez who wrote, “Really?!? Get with it already Hays .... whoever makes the ridiculous decision to put our children on the roads with this icy mess clearly has no sense at all.”
Icy conditions on FM 1626 did not help matters as Hays CISD parents and some employees were caught between two bridges that iced over. Several cars skidded off the road and traffic backed up in both directions for about two hours while waiting for a sand truck to make the road passable.
Postings about the district’s decision and the icy conditions generated more than 100 comments on the Hays Free Press website.
In response to the FM 1626 ice situation, board member Sandra Bryant posted, “Please note: Hays CISD rather parents be safe! Please take your time, Students will not be counted tardy.”
Poster Melinda Russett shot back, “If Hays CISD would rather parents, teachers and children were safe they would’ve delayed school until 10 when all of the weather had passed.”
There were no reports of bus accidents in Hays CISD, nor any injuries to those involved in the icy conditions on FM 1626.
Many parents posted that they were making their own decision to keep their students home that day, including Emily Nino who wrote, “I’m sorry but I decide what’s best for my kids. Not the school district. And we are staying home today. No questions asked!!!!”
That afternoon, McKie sent out an apology letter to all district parents for not delaying school.
He acknowledged that while many people and various sources of information go into inclement weather planning, “…ultimately, the decision to open, close, or delay is mine.”
McKie continued, saying, “Many of you have voiced anger and frustration about the decision to follow a normal schedule and the fear you had in traveling this morning. I hear you and completely understand. Tomorrow, I will be meeting with my senior staff to review the factors that led to this morning’s decision and the impact it had on you.”
