By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
Yes, there have been colder winters in Wisconsin – and yes, even in Burlington.
But right now, most people can’t remember a stretch like this where severe wind chills have cancelled school a total of four days.
Burlington Area School District cancelled classes Monday and Tuesday because of the wind chill issues and also blowing and drifting snow on Monday, and has cancelled a total of five days so far this winter.
That’s with two months yet to go in winter. BASD Superintendent Peter Smet said Monday that the district is now in a position where it will have to make up days.
“We will have missed five days due to inclement weather,” said Smet. “We have a long enough school day that we did not have to make up the first three.
“We’re now in planning on how to make up these next two,” he added. “We don’t have that plan completed yet.”
While Smet would not comment on when the days would be made up, he did say the district was considering multiple plans. He said the district would give enough warning for parents and guardians to make plans, and that the district wouldn’t change the graduation date.
“We’re going to do everything we can, not to change the graduation date,” Smet said.
Smet said the district has been using the National Weather Service as its guide for cancellations, and that three of the five days of cancellations have been due to wind chill warnings.
Monday’s cancellation, though, was due as much to blowing and drifting snow as the cold – hence the later notification.
“I do my best to make the decision in a timely manner,” he said. “But I also need to wait in some cases to gather enough information to make the right decision.
“I can’t know the extent of blowing and drifting snow 12, 14, 18 hours before.”
He did admit that the weather is making for one very difficult winter.
“Mother Nature has dealt us a very different hand,” Smet said. “I can’t remember – I’ve been in the district 26 years – I can’t remember when we’ve had this many snow days.”
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