WCHS Eyewitness News Home Charleston Eyewitness Newsroom Charleston Storm Team Weather Sports News TV Program Schedule Community Mobile: Smartphone,Tablet and SMS text Get Connected SMS Text Facebook Twitter See-It,Shoot-It RSS News Feed Email List Tumblr


TOO COLD FOR SCHOOL
Is It Ever Too Cold For School?

Reported by: Send eMail Leslie Rubin
Videographer: Matt Durrett
Web Producer: Leslie Rubin
Reported: Jan. 23, 2013 9:14 PM EST
Updated: Jan. 24, 2013 9:20 AM EST

EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO
C L I C K   T O   P L A Y
Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

Despite the bitter cold temperatures over the last few days, Kanawha County schools have been operating on a normal schedule, while neighboring counties have been on 2-hour delays.

So, we wanted to know...is it ever too cold for school?

Superintendent Ron Duerring says there's no specific degree mark on the books that classifies as too cold for school.

Betsy Shaak is the parent of a third grader at Overbrook Elementary. Every day they walk to and from school.

"Whether it's hot, cold, snowy, rainy...we walk," she says.

She's not upset Kanawha County schools have decided to operate on a normal schedule the last two days, and is happy her children aren't missing out on time in the classroom.

"They would have missed a lot had they missed two hours of school this morning," she says,

Surrounding counties have opted to delay school, despite there not being much of a temperature change from one hour to the next. Something Duerring says is closely monitored and taken into consideration.

"Two hours later and it was only going to change by two degrees, that wasn't going to make much of a difference," said Duerring.

Others disagree with the decision not to delay school, and voiced their opinions on our Facebook page.

"Yes, at least a two hour delay. It's ridiculous having these little children out there as cold as it is waiting on the bus, and then they wonder why people are sick," said Steve Wolfe.

"They should absolutely delay, there are so many parents that do not have a way to get their kids to the bus stop or school so they have to walk, and these kids are freezing standing out there waiting on the bus," said Becky Vance.

Others think it's never too cold for school.

"To even have this discussion is ridiculous! In the '70s and '80s there was no such thing as too cold or too hot to go to school. We had no A/C and the heating systems were sometimes questionable, but we went to school. If the roads are safe, the kids should be in school. Period. This is getting out of hand," said Paul Kinzer.

"Everyday our students miss a day of school, in another state and another school they are getting a full 180 day,s and they are getting that much more education than our students are getting," said Duerring.



MORE NEWS FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS
Theft Reported At Charity's Storage Facility
Eyewitness News Photo
Jun. 19, 2013 10:50 PM EDT
A local sports star whose charity is all about giving ...
Full News Story and Video

West Virginia Reflects On History On 150th Birthday
Eyewitness News Photo
Jun. 19, 2013 11:19 PM EDT
A lot of West Virginia's history is well documented ...
Full News Story and Video

Police Say Holden Man Has Dozens Of Dogs, Pot Plants At Home
West Virginia Regional Jail Photo
Jun. 19, 2013 11:10 PM EDT
A Logan County man was arrested after police said an ...
Full News Story and Video



News Lunsford Arrested For Violating Terms Of Release
Jun. 19, 2013 11:08 PM EDT
News Two lawsuits Filed Over Runoff From Reclaimed WV Mines
Jun. 19, 2013 9:21 PM EDT
News Emancipation Day Recognized In Charleston
Jun. 19, 2013 11:09 PM EDT
News Blenko Glass To Celebrate West Virginia Day
Jun. 19, 2013 10:51 PM EDT
News Man Accused Of Animal Cruelty Found Guilty
Jun. 19, 2013 11:10 PM EDT
News State Employee Charged With Embezzlement
Jun. 19, 2013 6:26 PM EDT
News Teenagers Charged In Braxton Bus Vandalism
Jun. 19, 2013 10:09 PM EDT
News FEMA Surveys Roane County Damage
Jun. 19, 2013 10:52 PM EDT
News Rahall, Capito Pay Tribute To WV 150th on House Floor
Jun. 19, 2013 5:28 PM EDT
News West Virginia State Selects Vice President Of University Relations, Operations
Jun. 19, 2013 5:06 PM EDT
News Suspect Arrested In Connection to Greenup Bank Robbery
Jun. 19, 2013 4:35 PM EDT
News Business Opening In Huntington To Create 40 Jobs
Jun. 19, 2013 4:28 PM EDT
News I-77 Re-opens After Multi-Vehecle Accident
Jun. 19, 2013 10:21 PM EDT
News Ohio Lawmakers Discuss, Question New Abortion Bill
Jun. 19, 2013 3:31 PM EDT
News Rockefeller Asks State Residents To Share Stories For WV's 150th
Jun. 19, 2013 3:30 PM EDT
News Four Eastern Ky. Residents Sentenced For Assaulting Gay Man
Jun. 19, 2013 3:17 PM EDT
News Three Sales Clerks Cited In Putnam County For Underage Alcohol Sales
Jun. 19, 2013 2:18 PM EDT
News Tentative Date Set For Ashland Bridge Repair
Jun. 19, 2013 2:22 PM EDT
News Learning Gaps Among Student Groups Spotlighted
Jun. 19, 2013 1:57 PM EDT
News Marshall County Man Indicted On Charges Of Threatening President
Jun. 19, 2013 1:37 PM EDT
News Mother Of Missing Toddler Arrested In Wheeling
Jun. 19, 2013 12:28 PM EDT
News Boats To Be Allowed On Ridenour Lake In Nitro
Jun. 19, 2013 1:08 PM EDT
News WV Birthday Cake Replica Of State Capitol
Jun. 19, 2013 6:33 PM EDT
News Two Streets Around WV Capitol To Close For Celebration
Jun. 19, 2013 11:34 AM EDT
News American Medical Association Recognizes Obesity As Disease
Jun. 19, 2013 11:38 AM EDT
News Everest Institute Donates To Several Eyewitness News Initiatives
Jun. 19, 2013 10:36 AM EDT
News WV Music Hall Of Fame's Traveling Museum Gives Access To History
Jun. 19, 2013 10:02 AM EDT
News Shelter Promotes WV Brown Dogs For Anniversary
Jun. 19, 2013 10:33 AM EDT
News Horse Rescued From Tire In Barbour County
Jun. 19, 2013 10:51 AM EDT
News West Virginia Sesquicentennial Calendar Of Events
Jun. 19, 2013 1:13 PM EDT


Advertise on WCHS-TV Online

West Virginia News
2 lawsuits filed over runoff from reclaimed mines

Environmentalists are going after the owners of two more former mountaintop removal mines in West Virginia, hoping to hold them responsible for water pollution from the sites.
Full Story

Kentucky News
4 shot, 3 dead at Kentucky condo shooting

Louisville police say the shooting that resulted in three deaths and a critical injury at a condominium complex was domestic-related.
Full Story

Ohio News
Large yacht on truck blocks central Ohio highway

A large yacht has caused a traffic commotion on land, blocking part of a central Ohio highway during the evening rush hour.
Full Story

Fugitive Files
Wanted: Jun. 18, 2013 You Can Help!
Fugitive Fugitive Fugitive Seen them? Call 888-720-TIPS
Details about these Fugitives

Behind The Kitchen Door
June 13, 2013
Rio Bravo-South Charleston; Pizza Hut-Kanawha City; Fifth Quarter makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!
Story and Video

2013 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | CURRENT
2012 NEWS: JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC







Fugitive Files Tuesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

West Virginia Wildlife Wednesdays at 6 PM on Eyewitness News

Newscast Scripts

ABC News web site





How To Contact WCHS-TV8 | Privacy Policy | FCC Public File | Terms and Conditions | DMCA Policy | Frequently Asked Questions

Home | Eyewitness News Newsroom | Storm Team Weather | Eyewitness Sports | Schedules

Send Mail Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.

Copyright ©2013, WCHS-TV8. Portions are
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.