The Tyrone Area School Board decided not to vote on a contract that would assist the district in making decisions to close school due to poor weather conditions.

The contract for detailed weather forecasts with AccuWeather of State College would have cost the district $1,760.

The board could still approve the tabled contract at a later date.

Bob Gensimore, a parent in attendance at the meeting, stated that he works for PennDOT and offered to serve as a free resource for the school.

“We can offer true minutes of what’s going on at no cost,” said Gensimore.

A number of parents attended Monday’s meeting to voice their frustrations over a February 19 decision not to cancel school, which forced many district buses off the road due to icy conditions (see related stories below).

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Parent Stephanie Cooley said her son was on one of the buses that slid off the road that morning, but the district did not make her aware of the situation.

Some parents addressed the board saying that decisions must be made earlier. Others offered their thanks to the bus drivers for avoiding accidents.

Parent Carensa Hunter said there was “no being wishy-washy” about a decision to cancel school.

Superintedent Cathy Harlow said that school officials are examining policies to help make decisions about canceling school in bad weather.

“We always try to call [cancellations] as early as we can,” Harlow said.

Administrators are also looking at ways to be able to cancel later than the normal 6 a.m. cut off, she said.

Other parents called for an apology from Harlow, which she gave.

Physical plant supervisor Tom Muir said, “A lot of parents might not realize that we go out and drive roads as early as 4 am to test conditions, but weather reports can be so different between different organizations, it can be difficult to make a call.”