Superintendent: schools to remain closed until safety guaranteed
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

A week off from school is typically a student's dream. However, the early snowstorm that knocked out power and downed trees throughout the Town of Amherst turned into a superintendent's nightmare.

School officials were forced to close their buildings Friday, Oct. 13, and they will remain shut down at least through Friday, Oct. 20.

Williamsville Central Schools are tentatively scheduled to resume classes next Monday. However, the date will not be confirmed until after a meeting with the Amherst police chief, said Superintendent Howard Smith.

School officials will meet tomorrow to assess whether or not it is safe for students to come back to school.

Not all school buildings have regained full power, Smith said. Also, fallen trees and power lines have made some streets impassable for school buses.

Smith said he would not reopen schools until the buildings are powered and alarm systems are operational.

He also emphasized the "importance of student safety in all this," reminding people that there are hundreds of power lines down, and until students can be transported safely, the buildings will remain closed.

The schools are allotted five emergency days this fiscal year, Smith said. After this Thursday the district will have used its five days, meaning any additional emergency days will be deducted from the district's April recess.

Some foods that were in coolers has spoiled and will be thrown out, but Smith said the freezers held up well and preserved most of the food.

The value of the food that was thrown out could not be assessed at this time. However, Smith said emergency money is available and more food will be purchased.

The buildings were not damaged in the storm, which Smith credited to the $5.5 million the district spends each year on infrastructure updates.

Smith said this is the earliest snow day that he could remember. But in 1991 when he worked in Rochester, an ice storm closed schools for approximately one week.

e-mail: JSchmelzer@beenews.com