Q & A with Dr. Conner

Q : What qualifies as a reason for a 2 hour delay?

A: Any mechanical or weather related condition that jeopardizes the safety of
students either on the way to school or when they get there.

Q: What qualifies as a reason for canceling school?

A: Any mechanical problem (like the broken gas line at Forest Hill this week-end
or if a school has no water or electricity) that makes it unsafe, uncomfortable,
or unhealthy for children to be in a building; any weather related hazard that
jeopardizes the safety of students to or from school.

Q: How many days are allotted for 2 hour delays? Canceling school?

A: There are no limits to how many days in a year we can delay two hours, but for
cancellations, we have to go to school 180 days. So if there are no extra days
built into the calendar, then a canceled day has to be made up. In our case, we
will now have to come to school on President’s Day because we missed a day last
week. If we have to cancel any more days, we will have to make them up at the
end of the year. So there’s no limit on the actual number of days school can be
canceled, but we have to have school 180 days.

Q: Are you required to meet with anyone to discuss whether or not to delay/close
school?

A: I am not. However, this is a very important decision that affects nearly 9,000
students and 900 employees, so I don’t make it without consulting several
people. I begin talking early in the morning (4:30 a.m.) to The assistant
superintendent, Dr. Atha; the Director of maintenance, Mr; Wallace (who drives
the roads); the Director of Transportation, Mr Gadberry (who drives the roads);
and all Hamilton County Superintendents.

Q: How much time before school begins must you call off/delay school?

A: There is no set time, but it has to be before buses leave the garage. So, that’s prior to 6:10 a.m. I like making the decision by 5:30, however. Same concept for a delay that’s then cancelled – 8:10 a.m.

Q: Do you base your decision on whether or not to call off/delay school on other
schools and whether or not they delay/close school?

A: First of all I look at our district conditions. That has to drive my decision.
I talk with the other superintendents, and we know what each other are doing, because we
each receive complaints (no matter what the decision) and those are worse if
neighboring districts don’t make the same decisions.  The ones I am most
interested in are Westfield and HSE. I always talk to Carmel, but they are
farther south and do not always have as poor road conditions as we do.