$1.2 billion will buy a lot of pencils. (Detroit Public Schools photo)
You know what they say about opinions. It used to be that everyone had one, but thanks to social media, everyone has one plus an amplifier.
Plow, with no school bus following
Jennifer Chambers explores the Facebook and Twitter pushback on school administrators, as they face the rarely uncomplicated decision to close schools for inclement weather. Especially when that weather is forecast, but has not yet arrived.
"It hasn't even snowed yet. And last night you sent out messages saying to expect school to be open. As a working parent this is infuriating," one parent wrote Monday morning to the Grosse Pointe Public School System Facebook page after the Wayne County school district announced it was calling a snow day just hours before the start of school.
Steve Matthews, superintendent of Novi Community School District, is as adept with social media as any kid who goes to those schools, as his weekend tweet reveals:
Matthews said he playfully posted a photograph on Twitter at 7:16 p.m. on Sunday of a fortune cookie message from dinner with his wife that read: "Tomorrow you will be showered with unexpected blessings."
"This is what my fortune cookie told me tonight. What could it possibly mean?" tweeted Matthews, prompting students to encourage the school leader to order up a snow day.
Matthews did finally call off school at about 9:15 p.m. on Sunday after consulting with officials from the National Weather Service and a conference call with 20 Oakland County superintendents.
Superintendents and staff have to consider more than just the weather when making these calls. Also factored in are testing schedules and the requirement that students get 180 days of instruction time. Snow days are quickly forgotten when the last day of school in June is delayed.
