The Snow Day - A Tough Call
A picture of snow surrounding The Dalles High School on January 11th.
Editor’s Note- CCCNews took some time out to catch up with North Wasco County School District Superintendent Carolyn Bernal as she has made it through her first 6 months of working as the lead executive in charge of some 2,800 students and 400 staff at five different schools in the district. We will roll out the interview in four parts during the next several days.
by Stephanie Bowen and Cole Goodwin
When cold weather approaches, one thing is guaranteed to haunt the minds of superintendents across the nation: snow, snow, and more snow.
Sometimes calling a snow day is as easy as looking out the window, but more often than not, it is an avalanche of factors that go into making the official call by 5 a.m.
It’s 4 a.m on Jan. 4, and the D21 Superintendent, Dr. Carolyn Bernal, like many across the nation is hovering by the window and lamenting the falling flakes.
Bernal relocated to The Dalles from Southern California just seven months ago, and she has no problem joking that she is a bit of a snow novice as this will be her first winter in the Gorge.
“It's beautiful here. You know, we've really enjoyed getting to know the area, and it’s super pretty here,” said Bernal “And everyone keeps talking about snow and they keep teasing me because I'm from California. I’m a Southern California girl, So I didn't grow up in snow.
When I was a kid, I learned how to snow ski, and so I've been to places with snow. One Christmas, we actually spent Christmas in Tahoe, and it was snowing. So I have experienced it, but I didn’t grow up in it. I’ve never had to drive in it. My experiences were on the beaches because that’s what we were closer to. Southern California doesn’t get snow. We hardly got rain.”
Bernal bought her first-ever windshield ice scraper this winter as well, something her brother who lives in Minnesota found pretty funny.
“My brother has lived in Minnesota now for well over 20 years,” said Bernal. “We have our family call every Saturday. And when I talk about things related to snow, he just literally falls off his chair laughing because he's like, oh my god, you have no idea! He says, just call me. I'll tell you what to do!”
Bernal laughs and seems to have a good sense of humor about the whole thing, saying although she may not have grown up in a place with snow, she was enjoying having a new experience. She also said she was lucky to be surrounded by staff and family that could help weigh in with their own snow expertise.
“So, you know, I'm learning about the snow,” said Bernal. “But the staff have been really good to me here too. Cindy and Stephanie have told me: ‘here's what you do’ when it comes to the snow and snow days.”
Back on the morning of Jan. 4th, Bernal’s phone rings, and the caller ID shows the Transportation Director. She’s calling to give the latest on road conditions and whether it’s safe to take buses out. While having many safety features, the big yellow buses just don’t operate in the snow like a four-wheel-drive SUV - that’s if they start. The frigid cold can cause the diesel fuel to turn to gel, effectively making them inoperable.
Lisa Harth and Sue-Ann Goodwin standing bus duty at Colonel Wright.
The Superintendent has stayed up late to watch the local weather channel, but we know too well that Oregon weather often laughs in the face of forecasts. While this may not affect more than someone else’s wardrobe choice and whether to put down the Birkenstocks, these forecasts are critical to making the ‘right’ call for superintendents.
Mother Nature doesn’t like to follow the script. A morning of dumping snow could be met with blue skies by noon, causing superintendents to be critiqued for canceling the school day.
Alongside the latest weather alerts, D21’s final decision comes from a pool of information from many sources and from strategic locations across the district. While there may be only wet pavement in town, the top of Seven Mile is likely another story. And then there's Cherry Heights, Mill Creek, and Three Mile. Staff are up early checking on the roads in their area and reporting back to the district to help answer questions about whether staff can drive safely in or make it home again later.
Early calls are made to the county and city road departments and other local agencies to gather valuable insights. Our area is rural and diverse, and snowfall can drastically vary within a 5-mile stretch.
More questions run through the superintendent's mind, how slick is it, has it been plowed… the big question: is it safe for our kids?
Elementary School Students braving the sidewalks in The Dalles.
It’s more than just snow that is an issue. Winter also brings freezing rain and black ice. While it might not be as visible as the mounting piles of white, it's arguably even more dangerous. The superintendent must factor in parents traveling to drop-off with a car full of young kids; we want to keep everyone safe, even before arriving at our doors.
Here in the Gorge, the wind itself poses a real winter threat. Students waiting at the bus stop are met with the wind chill, adding the danger of frostbite, especially if the children are not dressed for the weather. Sometimes it is just too cold for school.
There is always a risk to making the “wrong decision”. Even a 2-hour delay can impact families, as not everyone has childcare, and parents may be unable to work when school doors close, a financial stressor and added burden. In turn, this can affect employers who depend on their staff members to provide essential services. Plus, the more snow days, the more school days to potentially make up through the year.
So, is it a snow day?
The answer is certainly not as easy as the question.
“While we navigate this winter weather, we ask for a little understanding, grace, and patience as we do our best to make the ‘right call’,” said Bernal.
So far, Bernal has called for five snow days. As the winter continues, Bernal said she hopes to keep making the tough calls with staff and student safety in mind.
Stay tuned for the next installment of CCCNews D21 Superintendent Update, in which we sit down with Bernal to talk about her about her leadership strategy as a newcomer to the district, opposing community viewpoints on COVID mandates in schools, the circumstances leading up to the recent firing of staff, and her long-term goals for D21.
