This is How Schools Decide to Call a ‘Snow Day’ in Grand Junction Colorado
There's talk in northeastern Colorado of potential snow days. This news made me wonder, "What does it take for schools in the Grand Junction area to call a "snow day."
Right now, January 6, 2022, there's no immediate threat of snow. Regardless, I've always wondered about the criteria.
What Exactly Constitutes a Snow Day?
According to Google:
snow day
noun
A day on which a school or other institution is closed due to heavy snowfall or other extreme winter weather.
There is, however, a more accurate definition, courtesy of the Urban Dictionary:
snow day
noun
A gift from God.
Example: School was closed today because of a snow day.
No matter how you look at it, a snow day represents an occasion where a school day, or at least part of the day, is canceled due to inclement weather.
How Does the District Decide To Cancel Classes?
According to d51schools.org, weather delay and cancellation decisions are based on current road conditions and the weather forecast for the rest of the day. When bad weather is anticipated, District 51 leaders, safety officers, and grounds crews work with drivers at Student Transportation of America testing road conditions all over the district as early as 4 in the morning.
When Does the School District Make Those Decisions?
The district tries to make a decision as early as 5 a.m. The district's webpage states, "If a two-hour delay turns into a Snow Day, the decision may come a little later than that, but a decision usually will be made no later than 6 a.m. on the day of the cancelation." Parents and guardians will be notified as quickly as possible.
You are encouraged to keep your phone nearby. When calls need to be made, the district's autodialer system can be a bit overwhelmed. It will take time for the autodialer to cycle through the list of numbers.
Rarely, a sudden change in the weather forecast and road conditions may necessitate a later call. Please be patient and keep your phone handy – the autodialer system can take time to cycle through large reams of numbers.
How To Tell If There is a Snow Day in District 51
There are several places to check for delays or cancellations:
- d51schools.org
- The district’s Twitter account (@district51)
- Local media outlets
You can opt in to receive texts. To do so, text "Yes" to 67587. Keep your eyes on your email, too.
I grew up in Grand Junction and can remember precisely one snow day. That was sometime back in the mid-1980s.
While the northeastern part of Colorado anticipates potential snow days in the near future, it seems unlikely western Colorado will see one anytime soon considering we have only a slight chance of snow in the future, and that's on a Saturday (January 8).