Cincinnati is entering the peak of winter, demonstrated especially by CPS closing all schools twice in one week, Jan. 16 and Jan. 19, due to extremely cold temperatures and hazardous road conditions. However, many WHHS students and faculty do not know what conditions constitute a weather-induced school closure. Vice Principal Matthew Chaney communicates with the CPS district in times of inclement weather and has special insight into the criteria for school closure.

“The biggest factors are the roadways,” Chaney said. “Are the roadways passable so that people can safely get to school? And that’s not just students, that’s also about the faculty and other members of staff that need to be able to get to the building as well.” 

However, even though the roadways are a clear indicator of a snow day, the amount of snow that must fall to cause a school closure is not as clear-cut. 

“I don’t think there is an actual minimum or maximum,” Chaney said. “Timing [of snowfall] is important because [we must know if] road crews are able to get out and clear roadways for people to get safely to school or to the building.”

Another common cause of school closures is extremely cold temperatures. These are temperatures that are deemed dangerous for students to stand in for extended periods of time.

“If you have dangerous temperatures or dangerous wind chills or if students are out for any prolonged period of time where that exposure can be dangerous, that’s something that has to be considered in potentially canceling school,” Chaney said. “Temperatures that are below zero are when you typically are going to have a conversation [of if] a cold day needs to be called.” 

Some speculated CPS would experience fewer weather-related school cancellations in the coming years because the superintendent of CPS, Iranetta Wright, previously served as Deputy Superintendent of Schools in Detroit Public Schools Community District, a district that experiences many instances of hazardous winter weather. However, the decision to close schools is a group decision made among district employees.

“The superintendent is going to be talking with people on their team, probably [with someone] dealing with transportation or [someone] who is able to go out and check to make sure that roads are safe for people to safely get to school,” Chaney said. “ I would assume that there is a small handful of individuals at the district level who try to form a consensus to make the best decision of whether to close– and it’s not just closing a school. We’re having to make a big decision that impacts the entire district.”

In the 2022-2023 school year, the district closed schools in anticipation of four to six inches of snow. However, only a fraction of that total accumulated. The bulk of the snow fell the following day, yet schools were in session. 

“They were just looking at the forecast, and the forecast seemed pretty indicative of snow, so I think that they were trying to be proactive,” Chaney said. “Sometimes they’re not able to give a lot of warning, you may find out that morning. That can be very difficult because families have to try to organize childcare or things like that. In that case last year, the district wanted to give a fair warning, [and] the forecast turned out not to be completely accurate. Those situations happen.” 

Whether or not a school district makes the correct decision pertaining to snow days, students enjoy time off school to decompress. Even though the excitement of building snowmen or throwing snowballs generally fades away as students get older, students like Brian Pool, ‘26, continue to find value in playing in the snow with their families.

“I have siblings and neighbors that I like to build snowmen and [have] snowball fights [with],” Pool said. “You know, sometimes you don’t see your siblings or your parents, or maybe you only see them a couple hours out of the day. It’s an opportunity to rekindle our bond.”

Virtual learning has had lasting impacts on the way students and teachers participate in school, and snow days might not be an exception. With online submissions and teachers having the training to run an online class, online learning is a possibility for future snow days. For Pool, that future would be grim. 

“That [virtual learning] just ruins it. You know, what if the Wi-Fi goes out from all the snow, what are you gonna do then?” Pool said, “I just don’t think that’s ideal.”

Fortunately for Pool, virtual learning during school cancellations is an unlikely possibility. Online submissions of previously assigned work is more likely.

“I have not heard [virtual learning] communicated at all,” Chaney said. “A lot of times students aren’t going to have access at home or there’s other things that they might be needing to do because they’re at home that day versus being at school.”

While the logistics of a snow day may be difficult, one thing is for certain. The Eagles are not too old to have fun in the snow; in fact, they are in their prime of snow enjoyment.

“Snow days are quintessential to the school experience,” Pool said. “Of course, they should be celebrated. I may be biased as a student, but I have no vested interest.”