Early-morning drive is major factor when Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti area school districts decide on snow days
While most students are asleep and hoping they’ll wake up to news of a snow day, Tom Moore is out driving on Ann Arbor's roads to help make that decision.
Ultimately, district superintendents have the final say on whether school will go ahead on snowy mornings. But Moore, the director of transportation for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, is the man on the ground for Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Willow Run schools.
On days when snowy conditions put school in doubt, Moore drives from his home in Pinckney to the Ann Arbor Public Schools bus yard, arriving at about 3 a.m. He’ll drive down many Ann Arbor streets — some main roads and some dirt roads — to determine the conditions.
“I’m looking for the most challenging roads that we have here,” he said. “I want to hit some dirt roads, and I’ll pop into subdivisions here and there.”
Early Wednesday morning, Moore made his usual one-hour trip around the area, although he was fairly certain school would go ahead. He said he’ll usually drive around in his car because if cars can get through the snow, “we can get buses through” but he chose to make the trek in a school bus Wednesday.
Moore simulated many situations bus drivers would encounter while driving their routes, including starting from a dead stop on the uphill slope of a hill. The conditions on Wednesday were mostly fine, and the bus had no issues getting up hills.
“I want to make sure I’m getting traction from a standstill, and I will stop on the upside of a hill just for that challenge,” he said. “I want to be able to mimic the worst conditions that are out there where there might be a student stop.”
He said the roads, despite being sloppy, were easily traveled because the snow was relatively light and fluffy.
“It doesn’t look like the plows have been out here, it’s just beat down by last evening’s traffic,” Moore said of the snow on a dirt road.
Moore said he can usually tell within 15 minutes of starting to drive around whether school will be canceled.
He said he keeps in contact with all three superintendents of the WISD busing consortium and about 15 area transportation officials all over southeast Michigan to judge what they’re recommending for their districts.
“When you’re out driving and you’re not comfortable with it, then you start talking to other district supervisors to see if they’re experiencing the same thing,” he said. “You’ll make the recommendation to the superintendent that, yeah, we will have problems, we will get stuck and, again, it is their decision. You give them your opinion and tell them what other people are saying. If you’re having that experience, other districts are experiencing them, too.”
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com.
Comments
pegret
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.
When the weather is bad in urban/suburban areas, other drivers and the sheer amount of traffic are the main safety hazards. Driving in northern Michigan, one may encounter weather and road conditions that are a lot more brutal than down here, but I've found it a lot easier to drive with hardly any drivers on the roads compared to our area. I doubt that there is much traffic to contend with at 3am, and fewer people tailgating, stopping suddenly, or flying in and out of lanes. Waiting a couple of hours until after rush-hour has slowed down and the roads are clearer might help considerably.
pegret
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 4:07 p.m.
When the weather is bad in urban/suburban areas, other drivers and the sheer amount of traffic are the main safety hazards. Driving in northern Michigan, one may encounter weather and road conditions that are a lot more brutal than down here, but I've found it a lot easier to drive with hardly any drivers on the roads compared to our area. I doubt that there is much traffic to contend with at 3am, and fewer people tailgating, stopping suddenly, or flying in and out of lanes. Waiting a couple of hours until after rush-hour has slowed down and the roads are clearer might help considerably.
dexterreader
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
I have never been able to figure out why schools in Washtenaw County don't use the "2-hr. delay" option either. Monroe and Jackson county districts frequently use that as an option. Having worked in K-12 education in Washtenaw county for 31 years, I don't ever remember having a delayed-start morning. Perhaps someone from one of the Washtenaw County districts could explain that?
magnumpi
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 9:42 a.m.
i don't understand why delaying school for a couple hours isn't an option. better some than none and usually after morning rush hour the roads are in better shape.
Vanessa Clarke
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 8:18 a.m.
School buses generally don't travel the I94 and US23 with students on them. Yes the roads were slippery, but not unmaneagably so. I drove from one side of Ann Arbor to the other without problem. Slow down, brake and accelerate gently, take corners at a wider angle and don't tailgate and you'll be fine. We have a Focus too, and whilst it isn't as good as the Windstar in the snow, it was fine. And that was on the US23 and M14 at 7:30am. I'm sorry your experience was different.
chapmaja
Thu, Jan 13, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.
I don't know what roads you were driving today Vanessa, but the roads I was driving were far from fine. The roads I drove this morning were very slippary with black ice in several places including on US23 and I-94. I saw two cars spin out near me on I94 this morning while I was driving to work. I don't know which roads this guy drives from Pinckney to Ann Arbor each morning but they certainly weren't the same ones. I also have to wonder what type vehicle he drives. I bet what he drives isn't the same type vehicle a lot of students drive to schools or a lot of parents drive. I bet his vehicle rives a lot different than the Ford Focus that I drive.
Vanessa Clarke
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 11:39 p.m.
"Where are they pro and cons at?" I'm guessing they're "at" not missing so much school you don't even learn basic grammar?;) No lives were in jeopardy this morning, the roads were fine. My kids are picked up on a dirt road and have a 45 minute journey and the bus was less than 10 minutes late -no later than it has been all this week.
breadman
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 8:42 p.m.
So you will put a students life in jeopardy just too get them to school. Dexter is not in the consolidate program. But reminder to parents the bus that hit a tree a few years back in Dexter. Several students injued, so then those students had too miss school. Where are they pro and cons at? Think safety!!!!