Conditions keep students at home

Winter weather gave students in Southeast Missouri a break from school Wednesday, and most will have today off as well.

Jackson, Woodland, Oak Ridge, Nell Holcomb, Perry County, Kelso and Scott County school districts all announced Wednesday afternoon that today's classes would be canceled.

The decision to close Cape Girardeau schools today came early Wednesday evening.

"I'm stubborn, but I'm not that stubborn," said Mark Bowles, superintendent.

Jackson schools assistant superintendent Jim Welker was one of many local school officials who braved the slick pavement and heavy snowfall early Wednesday to check road conditions before deciding to close school.

"This morning it was pretty easy to make a decision because it was obvious the roads were bad everywhere," Welker said.

Welker said the Jackson School District does not have snow days built into their calendar. Instead, any missed days are added on at the end of the year.

The same is true for the Cape Girardeau School District. Because construction forced the district into a late start this fall, Bowles said any canceled days will be made-up at the end of the year.

"This morning, the snow was not such a terrible problem, although it was extremely slick in some places," said Bowles, who was out at 4 a.m. Wednesday testing the streets.

"But that, on top of 100-percent precipitation forecast, seemed pretty conclusive that we couldn't safely transport kids back and forth to school today," Bowles said.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128