A major snowstorm over the weekend dumped a foot of snow on Easton, with other areas in the Lehigh Valley reaching 17 inches.
Snowy and icy conditions on the roads have remained since the weekend, causing Easton Area School District and others to make decisions on closures and two-hour delays.
Easton Area Superintendent Tracy Piazza addressed recent snow-related school closures during Tuesday evening’s school board meeting.
Piazza said decisions surrounding weather-related closures often draw mixed reactions from the community.
“It is a decision that is a no-win for me. You know, somebody is happy with the decision and somebody else is not happy with the decision, but it is not made in isolation,” she said.
The district closed schools Monday, held a flexible instruction day Tuesday and operated on a two-hour delay today as dangerous road conditions persist.
Piazza explained that the decision involves consultation with district leadership, including Director of Operations Ken Case and Assistant Superintendent of Operations Josh Ziatyk. Case assesses road and neighborhood conditions early in the morning to determine whether it is safe to transport students to school.
“[Case] is out there on the roads, looking to see how safe they are, and if we can get our kids to school safely,” Piazza said.
The district also coordinates with transportation officials and reviews whether school grounds are cleared in time for arrival, the superintendent said.
She noted she consults with approximately 15 superintendents from districts ranging from Pocono Mountain to Quakertown to monitor weather reports and maintain regional consistency when possible.
Piazza said districts sometimes make independent decisions based on local conditions, but collaboration helps ensure students’ safety.
Piazza explained the district made the decision to hold a flexible instruction day, hoping students could connect remotely without connectivity issues.
“It is my understanding for some of you that it was [an issue], and so we apologize, and we will certainly take into consideration the attendance of all of our students,” she said.
Piazza said weather conditions remain unpredictable given frigid temperatures for the remainder of the week.
“It is going to be cold throughout the entire day and probably the entire week,” she said. “So we’ll have to just pay attention each evening as to the decisions we’re going to make.”