Deciding whether a delay or cancellation is needed is a big decision at school districts.  But who decides if the school is having a delay or cancellation?

Several people are involved in making this decision at Tyrone Area School District; Ultimately the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. William Miller, makes the final decision.

However, before a decision is made there are many people that deliver information to Dr. Miller about roads and weather. If there is a possibility for a delay he will check AccuWeather and contact other superintendents around the county.  Sometimes, he will be on the phone with other superintendents around four in the morning, Miller stated. The final decision is made by 5:30 A.M. “We [other superintendents] try to make a decision as a group,” Miller said. “90 percent of the time, we all make the same decision.”

Cancellations and delays are much more frequent these days than they were in the past. A few decades ago, delays and cancellations were much different. “If you could come in, you’d come in. If a bus could not make the run, you would try to get in individually.” Miller said.

Early dismissals have a rule as well, “We try to get all the students their lunch before we dismiss early,” Miller explained. “For some kids, it may be the only meal they get a day.”

Miller says that “Sometimes I don’t sleep at night because that is all that’s on my mind.” Miller states that one accident is too many. “We try to make the best decision.”

Mort Snider is the bus contractor for the school district. His job is to go out and check the roads at four in the morning. Snider says that “The worst roads are secondary roads, mainly the hollow roads.” Transportation secretary, Shelly Carper and Physical Plant Supervisor/Transportation Director, Tom Muir also provide information about the weather conditions.