School closings, delays determined by multiple factors

SANDUSKY — Missing school due to harsh winter weather isn't what it used to be. Since Ohio switched from counting school days to hours in 2014, school districts no longer have calamity days, for which three to five days were set aside.The updated guidelines, according to the Ohio Department of Education include:• 455 hours are required for half-day kindergarten students• 910 hours for full-day kindergarten through sixth-grade students • 1,001 hours for students in grades 7-12At the end of the school year, lost hours must be made up if a school district does not have extra hours above the minimum required. This past week, many area school districts canceled school the night before due to plummeting temperatures.On Tuesday, Benton-Carroll-Salem superintendent Guy Parmigian shared on Twitter how he usually determines school delays and closings. "School delays are called by 6 a.m.," he said. "School closures are called by 8 a.m. Much goes into the decision…driving roads, collaborating with other officials."He also noted district residents should make sure their phone number is updated for its districtwide communication system to communicate delays and closings.Perkins Schools superintendent Jodie Hausmann said she uses weather apps to look for similarities in forecasts. She also considers the road conditions for high school drivers and the temperature for students standing at the bus stop. Additionally, she'll drive around Perkins Township early in the morning to survey the roads if needed and collaborate with other local school leaders.Before canceling school this week, she watched the six o'clock news before making a final decision for the next day. Perkins Schools relayed the closings to families via its districtwide communication system and on Twitter. Hausmann said the district has extra hours beyond the minimum required and will not need to make up missed time so far.School districts that closed this week include:• Bellevue• Benton-Carroll-Salem• Clyde-Green Springs• Danbury• Edison• EHOVE Career Center• Huron• Margaretta• Monroeville• New London• Norwalk• Norwalk Catholic• Perkins• Port Clinton• Sandusky Central Catholic• Townsend Community School• The Vanguard Tech Center in Fremont• Vermilion*Note: Sandusky Schools returns from winter break Monday.Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com, follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood and on Facebook.com/CaitliNearhoodSchool districts use multiple factors to decide whether or not delay or close school during the winter. In this photo, children board a bus at the corner of Osborne and McDonough streets in Sandusky to go to Mills School on Wednesday, January 21, 2015. Sandusky, Perkins and Huron schools started on time with Margaretta Schools canceling classes for the day.