DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. — Many people did not understand why most school districts on the First Coast chose to cancel classes on Tuesday.
When First Coast News posted on Facebook that several school districts would be closed Tuesday because of the expected severe weather, our viewers had mixed reactions. Some disagreed entirely with the decision to close schools.
One person wrote: "Is this a joke?"
Another person commented: "Back when I was going to school we had to deal with temps and wind below zero. And walk 5 miles on the side of the highway in never never land."
Indeed, many schools were closed Tuesday as the clouds rolled in, the rain poured, and the wind pummeled trees.
Most school districts told First Coast News the decision to cancel classes or end the school day early was for student safety.
And then we heard more specifics, and the decision boiled down to the timing of the storm and the size of the school buses.
Karen Clarke is the assistant superintendent of Bradford County Schools. She told First Coast News the school buses "really can safely operate up to 35 miles an hour sustained winds and anything over that, the recommendation is that you’re not operating buses during that time."
For Bradford County, its highest winds were forecast at the end of the school day.
Clarke said, “So with the time of the potential sustained wind arrival, coinciding with our dismissal time, and so many of our students relying on school buses, the decision was made to cancel school during that time.”
It was the same line of thinking for Columbia County, but the strong winds were forecast there for Tuesday morning.
Shayne Morgan is the Columbia County emergency operations management director. He said, "Not only do you have the risk to the high-profile school bus, but you never know with the winds starting to pick up, they may be blowing power lines down.”
Duval County School Superintendent Dana Kriznar also mentioned Monday evening concerns about bus safety with the winds, as there were wind advisories leading in place before Tuesday's storms.
"We really do not want our high-profile buses on the roads, especially on high bridges," Kriznar said.
Of course, the decision to cancel school has a ripple effect on parents and other businesses.
Clarke said, "Either superintendents were the most loved of the most hated yesterday. Because you know, no matter what decision they make there’s going to be half the people that are happy with it and half the people that aren’t. but school districts have to err on the side of caution."