Reader comments
Kids, teachers head home after being stranded overnight at Highland school
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Stuck | 7:18 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Why don't public school district superintendents in the Salt Lake Valley
have the courage to declare a snow day? We cannot get into the streets in our
sub-division and cannot get to school. They are putting children and employees
into danger just to claim their state money. Anywhere else in the U.S. would
close schools in this kind of situation.
nottyou | 7:34 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Even a pea brain would close schools on a day like this...Oh, I guess that is
the point!
Utah for you! | 7:47 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I live on the east coast and they cancelled my childs classes the other day
becuase we recieved 2 inches of snow (a lot of ice though). Growing up in Utah
I remember going to school in feet of snow and sitting in class wet all day.
Granted I walked, but what about students who require transportation? Seems
pretty dangerous and very unreasonable to keep classes open when weather is bad.
Guess that's life in the rockies...
Comments continue below
GET OVER IT!!! | 8:13 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I shoveled a 3ft drift off my driveway this morning and managed to drive my
front-wheel drive car 14 miles to work (part of the way with snow dragging under
my car). Get over it and get on with life. The schools that are closed are
closed for a reason; if a road were closed that impeded my drive to work then I
WOULDN'T GO TO WORK. Rationalize it however you choose, but we can't
live in a paralyzed society that shuts down at the hint of inclement conditions.
I prefer to have my children taking a small risk to get to school and thus
learn the lesson of placing importance and value on school than learning that
it's OK to give up when the going gets a little tough or when things
don't go as expected. That's worth the risk!
GET OVER IT!!!
GET OVER IT!!!
justin | 8:18 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
great my school is delayed for 2 hours that dosen't help I've never
had a snow day in my life only this delay but it is crazy outside
Snow Delay better than Snow Day | 8:30 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
As a teacher in the Jordan District, school's delayed for two hours today.
Personally, since I'm already at work this morning, I think that this is
better than declaring a snow day. Give the snow plow drivers some time to clear
the roads and get students safely to school. Besides, if they'd declared a
snow day, we'd just have to make it up on President's Day or some
other holiday, and then everyone would complain about having to do that.
Good point | 8:33 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Good point, Get over it.
Unsafe | 8:35 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
It was a foolish and unsafe decision not to cancel classes at the UofU. Wind is
howling and blowing snow everywhere. It is a commuter campus and it is unsafe in
the drive here. Im shocked they didnt cancel.
Arkboy | 8:42 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I'm in 6th grade and this is sweet weio
Blah | 8:37 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
As a parent you can choose to keep your child home, so stop bashing a decision
that works for most. I, too, am at work and happy to be here. This is Utah, not
Florida.
Liverpool - England | 8:41 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Know that the Anderson family are praying for you all in Utah.
Nah... | 8:50 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
The stupid thing in general is the law that students MUST spend "X"
number of days in class. What a crock. I have, or did have, 4 children in
publis schools and I KNOW exactly how much "learning" gets done in
their final week anyway. Sounds to me like a good solid week of "snow
day" days to me.
Real life | 8:46 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Days like today are a good opportunity to teach our young people about life in
the real world. They should be going to school today because everyone with a
job is going to work today. There are no "snow days" in the working
world.
Liverpool - England | 8:47 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I enjoy reading the Utah papers each morning even tho I live in England. I like
the post by "nottyou", have you ever thought that the pea brain who
did not cancel school is keeping them open because they don't want you kids
to become pea brains. Get to school and stop complaining you would have to make
the work up at some point.
Lance | 9:25 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
It is also the schools responsibility to figure out how the weather will be, so
they can send students home early. Meaning its their job as adminstrators to
look for weather reports and make a decison before it becomes to late. The
school adminstrator there seem to not know what they are doing.
My kids were on the Bus | 9:33 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
My kids were stranded on the Superman bus for a little over 6 hours. I do not
think the School had a clue that it was going to hit like it did. heck, if I had
a clue I would have pulled my kids out of school early. My kids finally made it
back to the school a little after 10pm where they were fed and able to talk to
the school psychologist! They were all very shaken up! Thankfully we were able
to get them home by 2am! I am so appreciative to all the Staff at Ridgeline and
to all of the community who helped get these kids through this horrible ordeal!
Realistically--- | 9:45 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
In today's society school is the number one babysitter for parents who MUST
work to support their families. Leaving children at home alone while they work
is not a great idea, so it is important that schools be open. Even so, the most
important purpose of school is the education our children get. With the
interesting weather the kids will learn cooperation, some science about the
weather, and enjoy Valentine's Day. Get real, canceling school would
disappoint lots of kids, create a hardship for lots of adults, and financially
hurt some families who depend on the wages of hourly employees of our school
system. Not only that, but in districts that have closed schools, kids are
probably already out playing, sledding and enjoying the amenities of their local
school grounds.
L.A. Woman | 9:53 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Trapped in your car for 8 hours? Ain't no thang...just a typical daily
commute in L.A.
RE:STUCK | 10:02 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Great point of view!! Granite opened as well why have the snow days built into
the schedule if you refuse to use them year after year. I am willing to bet
administrators did not get a full day in today. Those teachers and students
however...BETTER GET THEIR HOURS IN BYE GOLLY!!!
paul | 10:15 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
not to downplay the bad weather, but sleeping overnight at school, watching
movies, playing in the gym, and eating snacks...that sounds like fun for the
kids.
You made the Choice | 10:16 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
All this griping! Are parents really that miserable to allow the government to
have complete control over when their child should or should not be attending
school? Utha parents--you made the "choice" to put your children onto
public schools--so stop the complaining.
Anonymous | 10:18 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I agree. The superintendent/administrators have the responsibility to send the
children home early if the weather is so bad that the children can't get
home safely at the close of the regular school day. The school buses not being
able to get through the snow is ample evidence that the wrong decision was made.
Thank goodness that all of the affected children were able to get back to the
school safely, and thanks to all those neighbors for helping out in the crisis.
Poncho | 10:19 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Utah schools casualness with snow is going to "frost bite" them in
rear someday. Unfortunately someone will have to die before they reevaluate snow
days and closings policies.
Douglas Donaldson | 10:26 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Take a moment to think about all the people who pitched in, stayed the night,
took care of our kids, brought them food and blankets and so on. Be thankful and
stop all the whining.
Paid Overtime | 10:28 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Were these faculty members and administrators paid overtime for their work
yesterday? I am betting they weren't. Their contracts say they could have
gone home at 3:00 or 3:30 but most stayed and weren't getting paid
overtime.
OH PLEASE | 10:30 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
The Children The Children ohhhh the Children are so traumatized. They probably
had the time of thier life. I think it traumatized the parents more than the
children.
Anonymous | 10:39 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
When I was a lad I walked ten miles to school in hip deep snow - uphill both
ways.
The kids survived. If you keep them home for a snow day put them to shoveling the driveway.
The kids survived. If you keep them home for a snow day put them to shoveling the driveway.
No blame | 10:41 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
None of the weather reports said the storm would be as bad as it was. It
wasn't negligence on the part of the School Districts that buses got caught
in the storm just like all the other commuters. From all reports they responded
appropriately after the problem became evident. I wish we would stop pointing
fingers when the circumstances are uncontrollable.
Tooele Dad | 10:43 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
It's winter! It snows in winter! Stop whining!
I remember | 10:58 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
When I was in High School I remember a day when every school in the valley had a
snow day, except Granite School District. I was a senior in high school and my
mother asked me not to go because the roads were so bad. But as an honor student
it was so ingrained into us that we could never miss a day of class and that we
would be surely penalized if we did, so I went to school. The teachers were so
disgusted at being there on such an unsafe day, that we did nothing. Guess what
I learned that day? Should have stayed at home and not risked the roads for a
day like that. Plus the Superintendent apologized for having not closed the
schools that day. Now here in NY schools close for power failure not snow. Does
it work better? Who knows. But the kids still learn on days that it snows.
RE:REAL LIFE | 11:02 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
It is called a late start (for safety purposes). Is that acceptable to your so
called real life thoughts.
Re Get Over It | 11:35 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
First of all, you need not shout. Second of all, it's easy to call it a
little snow because your child wasn't stranded for 7 hours on a school bus.
I highly doubt you'd get over it so quickly then.
The point is that safety should always come first. The one reason I transferred back to UT from LA was because I have a laptop and can work from home if needed. I have already done so twice this year because I didn't want to risk my life (or someone else's) by driving.
Whatever happened to idea of buliding 2 snow days into a school year's calendar? Then if it's a light winter, you get a longer spring break. No making up school on Saturday like I had to in 1996 in high school. What a joke that was.
Also to all of those who think one missed day will make or break your kids academic career, you are placing way too much emphasis on a broken public school system. It's not quantity, it's quality. Perhaps if you used that snow day to read to your kids, you'd all be better off anyhow. Bottom line: safety first. Don't question it.
The point is that safety should always come first. The one reason I transferred back to UT from LA was because I have a laptop and can work from home if needed. I have already done so twice this year because I didn't want to risk my life (or someone else's) by driving.
Whatever happened to idea of buliding 2 snow days into a school year's calendar? Then if it's a light winter, you get a longer spring break. No making up school on Saturday like I had to in 1996 in high school. What a joke that was.
Also to all of those who think one missed day will make or break your kids academic career, you are placing way too much emphasis on a broken public school system. It's not quantity, it's quality. Perhaps if you used that snow day to read to your kids, you'd all be better off anyhow. Bottom line: safety first. Don't question it.
Re GET OVER IT!!! | 11:44 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I couldn't agree and disagree with you more. Allow me to explain. I agree
that life should not stop at the hint of snow. However, that was not a hint of
snow last night. That was a blizzard.
While I'm glad you enjoy risking your life going to work with snow all over your car, that does not mean we should all be so casual with our regards to life (our own and others). If some people feel uncomfortable or unsafe driving, that is their decision. Shouting and letting us know how strong and brave you are is not impressive. I think perhaps you have a few things to get over.
While I'm glad you enjoy risking your life going to work with snow all over your car, that does not mean we should all be so casual with our regards to life (our own and others). If some people feel uncomfortable or unsafe driving, that is their decision. Shouting and letting us know how strong and brave you are is not impressive. I think perhaps you have a few things to get over.
Good Grief | 12:15 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Paid overtime I dont think any of the techers could get home in the first place
just like the rest of us. Most teachers are not teching because of the pay
anyway. Most of them hade put their parent hat on anyone and taking care of the
kids as their parents would have anyway.
Just mama | 12:41 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Hey, Get Over It: You say we can't shut down for some inclement weather?
Why don't you come and shovel the 5 foot drifts that were blocking my
garage and door? And you must have never lived in the south. They close at the
HINT of a snowstorm, but mostly because it turns to ice.
From a Minnesotan | 12:41 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
There I was five hours in my car, just a few miles from my destination. All
access roads I usually use were not closed officially, just jammed closed. My
car wasn't in a wreck, stuck in a drift, or inoperable, yet I wasn't
moving because of a storm that died down within my first hour of commute. Where
were the snow plows? Should I turn my hazzard lights on, like the inept driver
in front of me who can only go 5 mph without traffic in these conditions? Were
police intentionally directing traffic back into the maze of cars they had come
from, only to have those cars return to the same closed road hours later.
Makes sense, right? Maybe? If this is what you are used to. I'm not!
Utah should first improve planning of roads, making actual alternate routes that won't get plugged by the same intersection. Utah could then announce by radio different traffic routes away from one another instead of toward each other. And that would enable coordinating better snow removal and policing of traffic; roadways wouldn't be parking lots and plows could maneuver. And just drive.
Utah shouldn't have more snow days than Minnesota.
Makes sense, right? Maybe? If this is what you are used to. I'm not!
Utah should first improve planning of roads, making actual alternate routes that won't get plugged by the same intersection. Utah could then announce by radio different traffic routes away from one another instead of toward each other. And that would enable coordinating better snow removal and policing of traffic; roadways wouldn't be parking lots and plows could maneuver. And just drive.
Utah shouldn't have more snow days than Minnesota.
snow removal spouse | 1:47 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I know that the people who are trying to remove snow all night would appreciate
a snow day. My husband plows snow for the school district. He plows all night
or has to get up around 3 in the morning so that the parking lots are all clear
for everyone to come to school. When it is snowing and blowing so hard that he
can't keep up then a snow day would be welcomed. He also drives bus and
doesn't like driving in all that blowing snow. He feels it is not safe for
students to be on a bus when the road conditions are bad. Administrators of
school district should definetly keep up on weather conditions and send students
home when there is going to be severe weather conditions.
Making up a day of school would be alot better than having students stranded or worse yet get in an accident because we were so worried about making sure we are at school X amount of days. Hind sight is 20/20 and hopefully this experience has taught us all a valuable lesson. Don't take Utah weather for granite Sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry.
Making up a day of school would be alot better than having students stranded or worse yet get in an accident because we were so worried about making sure we are at school X amount of days. Hind sight is 20/20 and hopefully this experience has taught us all a valuable lesson. Don't take Utah weather for granite Sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry.
Shucks | 1:59 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I always miss out on the fun. We only got 3-5 inches and no roads were closed.
I'll have no stories to tell my grandkids. I feel traumatized.
AZ Mom | 1:55 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
To "Just Mama"- I lived in the south (Alabama) and they closed
everything at the hint of snow because they didn't have any snowplows!
To others complaining- the administrators and others in charge are human beings too. They make mistakes- they get caught off guard just like everybody else. Nobody is perfect. You can't honestly believe that if they had known what would happen that they would have the kids spending the night at the school by choice?
As far as the snow- isn't it great! How many years of drought has the west been suffering under? How low are the reservoirs? Woo hoo!!! Keep 'em coming! And yes I live in Arizona now, but I grew up in Utah and I'll be back there for next winter- love that snow!
To others complaining- the administrators and others in charge are human beings too. They make mistakes- they get caught off guard just like everybody else. Nobody is perfect. You can't honestly believe that if they had known what would happen that they would have the kids spending the night at the school by choice?
As far as the snow- isn't it great! How many years of drought has the west been suffering under? How low are the reservoirs? Woo hoo!!! Keep 'em coming! And yes I live in Arizona now, but I grew up in Utah and I'll be back there for next winter- love that snow!
One man's opinion | 2:10 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Are you sure you people came from pioneer stock? You sure complain a lot! If you
had all the answers why did YOU not keep YOUR children home yourselves that day,
if you were so worried about the weather. Why leave it up to the school
-YOU'RE THE PARENT! It's winter EXPECT snow!Be proactive - I
don't think they would have come after you with the law and a "you
are a bad parent" sticker if YOU had kept YOUR kids home for a day.
Don't push the blame on everybody else. It sounds like the school/teachers
took good care of the kids. I think they deserve a big vote of thanks for making
it as pleasant for the kids as possible. If anyone is to blame I would say it is
old man winter.
observer | 2:12 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I don't think anyone knew how hard the storm was going to hit. Up until
mid-afternoon, there was no precip. and the temperatures were warm for February.
Nobody can outguess the weather, and there's no sense blaming the school
district or anyone else. I commend the teachers for their concern and for all
they did. Everyone survived. Nobody got lost in a snowdrift on the way home.
All in all, I'd say it turned out very well.
What day are we? | 2:17 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
The article keeps talking about Tuesday and Wednesday. Didn't they mean to
say Wednesday and Thursday? I thought the storm hit us Wednesday afternoon and
evening...
CA Teacher | 2:19 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Why are we soooo protective of our kids? Stop. Think. Remember how much fun
you would have had spending the night at your school? No classes...just fun.
Lots of friends around...No parents.
We parents just need to relax and let kids have some unplanned, uncontrolled experiences. We need to let our kids have the PRIVILEGE of learning from such events...our world needs problem solvers who don't run for a safe haven every time things get out of keel. Be glad they had the experience and were safe the whole while. Oh, and be very thankful for caring teachers who didn't take refuge in the staff room!
We parents just need to relax and let kids have some unplanned, uncontrolled experiences. We need to let our kids have the PRIVILEGE of learning from such events...our world needs problem solvers who don't run for a safe haven every time things get out of keel. Be glad they had the experience and were safe the whole while. Oh, and be very thankful for caring teachers who didn't take refuge in the staff room!
Thank you! | 2:54 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I just want to thank the teachers that stayed with the kids at Ridgline. I
think that they handled everything well. Thank you to the families in the
neigborhood around Ridgeline who responded so very quickly in gathering food and
bedding for the students and teachers. Thank you to the Busdrivers who took
care of the kids (scared, or hyper and hungry) for hours until they got back to
the school. Thank you to the Police, Sheriff, and other Emergency personell
that worked so hard last night to help out. I love to see the good in people
when there is a need like this.
BRD | 3:01 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I was one of the people staranded on the side of the road after I left
Ridgeline to pick up my children. It took me eight hours to get home and we were
all very scared. It is preplexing to me how people can say such heartless things
while posting their comments.
The schools are closed for a REASON!!! I witnessed this last night. No one should be laying blame on the school district. If I hadn't been at the school when I was, my kids could have been stranded on one of the busses. I think that we should be very greatful to all the teachers, administators, and parents who took care of our children for us and kept them safe. I want to say a big thank you to the community and for the falculty at Ridgeline for all their work.
The schools are closed for a REASON!!! I witnessed this last night. No one should be laying blame on the school district. If I hadn't been at the school when I was, my kids could have been stranded on one of the busses. I think that we should be very greatful to all the teachers, administators, and parents who took care of our children for us and kept them safe. I want to say a big thank you to the community and for the falculty at Ridgeline for all their work.
The district? | 3:10 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
What about the parents who could have kept kids HOME and not SENT them to school
or COME IN at NOON and checked their kids OUT. GET REAL parents. They're
YOUR kids. You should be grateful TEACHERS were WILLING to spend the night with
YOUR kids away from THEIR (teacher's) families who were ALSO worried about
them.
Good Grief! | 3:22 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
I totally agree with "One Man's Opinion." Parents - don't
put the blame on the school district/teachers for not noticing the weather
forecast, did you? You could have kept them home or gone to get them sooner if
you KNEW what was going to happen. If we have bad weather here - ice or snow -
I determine if my children will go to school, not the bus driver or school
district. The children will remember this as a good memory if parents would
stop complaining, learn from mistakes and move on.
Anonymous | 4:01 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
As to the guy that screams "GET OVER IT!!" Don't speak until you
understood the situation fully. I was out there for 2 hours last night, my
little brother goes to school at Ridgeline, but was able to make it home because
we don't live on Suncrest. I had to go to work at 2am in the morning and
got stuck 200 feet away from my house in a 4 foot snow drift. It took me two
hours to get back into the garage.
We saw 4WD $40k trucks stuck and after they drove in the median. When you cant see 5 feet in front of you, you can't drive. I saw the last bus pulled out of the road at 9:30pm last night. This was bad, really bad. If you were out there in Highland last night, especially Highland Blvd and SR92, you would know that saying "get over it" would have no merit regarding this storm.
Again grow up and how about you think twice before commenting on a situation you know entirely nothing about.
We saw 4WD $40k trucks stuck and after they drove in the median. When you cant see 5 feet in front of you, you can't drive. I saw the last bus pulled out of the road at 9:30pm last night. This was bad, really bad. If you were out there in Highland last night, especially Highland Blvd and SR92, you would know that saying "get over it" would have no merit regarding this storm.
Again grow up and how about you think twice before commenting on a situation you know entirely nothing about.
VICKIE IVERSON, LIGHTEN UP! | 4:18 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
That storm blew in within 30 minutes with no idea how it would turn out. If you
live in this area you know that the wind and the weather can be fierce and
unpredictable in mere moments. Should we cancel school and call parents in
everytime the wind blows? We received two calls from the district and two calls
from the school. They did a great job. Lighten up and be supportive of people
who did a great job in difficult circumstances.
Wow! | 4:26 p.m. Feb. 14, 2008
Thank you for this story. I'm truly blessed to live where two inches of
rain and 41 degrees is considered weather. I will never complain about living in
California again. If god's hand hadn't interceded, I may still be
living in Utah. My family used to recall the "winter of 49" when we
had bad weather in SLC.
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Looking through snow splattered front doors, students leave with their parents from Ridgeline Elementary Thursday morning after spending the night. Students that were stranded over night at Ridgeline Elementary in Highland due to the snow storm that swept into northern Utah County Wednesday afternoon.
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