“We didn’t have a lot of problems. A couple slide-ins. I think people just slowed down.””

Boyd-Edson-Delmar fire chief Ron Patten

“We didn’t have a lot of problems. A couple slide-ins. I think people just slowed down.” That’s how Boyd-Edson-Delmar fire chief Ron Patten described last week’s storm, which was forecast at 20 plus inches but turned into around a foot instead. There had been an accident on Highway 29 with minor injuries, he said. The person was wearing their seatbelt.

In the meantime the relatively weak storm performance in light of forecast was not without all effect. based partly on the pre-storm forecast. Among these, was the school, and sports schedules.

As to sports, the girls varsity basketball game against Viroqua was moved up to 4 p.m. Tuesday, while the boys crossover with Spencer was transferred forward a day to Friday, in order to be after the snow. As to school itself, district superintendent Jeff Koenig had more to share when reached for comment.

“This last weather system, similar to a few others this year, was predicted well in advance by the National Weather Service (NWS),” he said. “Our school district is covered by both the NWS out of La Crosse and the NWS out of Minneapolis.  Quite often, their forecasts do not agree or line up with each other.  Like the system that occurred in late December, this system was predicted well in advance and both NWS offices agreed on their forecast.  The NWS sends me daily briefings on the projected forecast and when inclement weather is predicted, they hold webinars with detailed information.  They also allow question-and-answer sessions to help pinpoint information for our area. When we as a school receive this information, we remind teachers to be prepared for a possible virtual learning day.  Virtual learning days consist of everything from reading and/or completing worksheets to having an online class,  Most classes prepare work that can be done independently but our teachers either host Google meets or are available throughout the day for a phone call, email, or text message to help answer questions.  When we have back-to-back days without in-person instruction, we typically cancel the second day.”

With school activities cancelled or rescheduled due to weather “frequently,”  Koenig said that, “We cancel activities when we cancel school.” As such, sports were canceled Thursday night, on account of the weather. So how is the decision to cancel made exactly? Koenig also shared on that aspect of things.

“Every decision made by our school district is guided by two principles,” he said. “First, what we do here is important in the lives of our students. Second, we are the best hope for success for our students. I learned a long time ago that forecasts aren't always accurate and they can frequently change. I always think we should wait as long as possible to make a decision on the chance that we can have school. We have families that live without reliable heat sources.  We also have students that may not get much to eat if we do not have school. We also have students in abusive homes and being at school is their break from the abuse. All of those factors go into the decision to close school or remain open.  

Getting up around 4:30 to 4:45 p.m. to check actual road conditions and talking with other superintendents in the area, Koenig said that the district buses can go through more snow than the average vehicle can, that the decision to have or close school is based on both forecasts and actual weather conditions. The decision is made by 6 a.m. at the latest, Koenig said.

For those wanting to know more about potential school closings, Koenig said they were announced on the school website and that those wishing to receive notifications on whether school would be closed were encouraged to download the app, available at https://www.stanleyboyd.k12.wi.us/parents-students/our-app-page.cfm

Shifting away from school and back out into last week’s winter weather, a private citizen driving a smaller vehicle was rescued by city employees and others Thursday morning, after the employees teamed up to help get them off the snow median. The rescued motorist was grateful for the help.