Snow days leave schools wishing for spring

(MARYVILLE, MO) -- Five weeks after Puxatawney Phil promised us there would not be six more weeks of winter, another winter storm swept across Southwest Iowa and Northwest Missouri, forcing 29 schools to cancel classes for Thursday, March 7th and another nine to delay classes by either an hour or hour-and-half.

"Snow days are never fun and have wreaked havoc on this school year," Southwest Valley Superintendent Chris Fenster said.  Fenster, who is in his first year at Southwest Valley, says his students have missed the equivalent of 12 school days due to the inclement weather and has not had a full week of school since the winter semester began in January.

In Iowa, a school year is not recognized by days, but rather hours, so schools are forced to find a way to still meet the state's requirements if classes are postponed because of weather. "Usually just three snow days are built into the calendar," Fenster said. Fenster also added the school board will be presented two options to adjust their school calendar and that classes at Southwest Valley no earlier than May 29th, but no later than June 4th. 

The headache that winter has caused school administrators is not exclusive to Southwest Valley. Clarinda, located just 40 miles from Southwest Valley has experienced eight snow days of their own according to Clarinda Superintendent Deron Stender 

"I am originally from Minnesota, and we rarely close," Stender said, "but Southwest Iowa is not as accustomed physically and equipment-wise as we were in Minnesota." 

In contrast to Southwest Valley's situation, Clarinda built-in 12 additional days to their school calendar, so students at Clarinda will not be subject to any makeup days, assuming there are not any additional snow days.

This year's ferocious weather has had as much of an impact on teachers as it has students. Teachers are bound by contract to a certain number of days. Contracted faculty members at Clarinda are obligated to 191 days of work according to Stender. Those staff members are required to make up those days even though students are not. Stender also added that non-certified staff members, who are paid hourly, have been lost the equivalent of two weeks' pay due to this year's weather. 

With the cancellation or postponement of school has also come the postponement of athletic events. This school year has caused many activities directors to reschedule multiple events or even cancel events.

"It was frustrating," Southwest Valley Athletic Director Allen Naugle said. Naugle, a first-year AD, credits his multiple years of coaching multiple sports to his patience with the rescheduling of athletic events

"I would have been overwhelmed if I was younger and hadn't coached," Naugle said, "But I have coached for five years and I understand how these things work."

Despite Naugle's experience and readiness, nothing could have prepared him for this winter. January 17th's winter storm forced Naugle to make the decision to postpone to 64th John J. Harris Invitational, one of Southwest Iowa's most recognizable wrestling tournaments. The postponement meant the typical two-day show was condensed to a one-day event. Marking only the third time in the event's history that weather impacted the impacted. 

"Honestly, it was a pretty easy decision," Naugle said, "So many schools canceled that day, that if we would not have postponed the first day of action, we would not have had a tournament and I did not want to be the first AD to not let John J. happen, even though I'm a basketball coach, I care about this tournament," Naugle joked. 

Naugle also added that Southwest Valley despite the multiple postponements, was able to play the maximum 21 basketball games allowed by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. 

This winter's inclement weather has left many area school administrators wishing for spring and the days of 70 and sunny, but even then inclement weather could put a hamper on certain school activities.

"Maybe this harsh winter means we will have a dry track season," Naugle said. 

(BEDFORD, IOWA--Harsh winter weather has impacted roads multiple times this season, leading to school cancellations and delays)

(CLARINDA,IOWA-Snow has piled up in Clarinda, Iowa, forcing Clarinda's school district to have eight snow days this year according to Superintendent Deron Stender) 

(VILLISCA, IOWA-Villisca resident Mike Freeman tries to make light of the massive snow pile in his yard. Freeman jokingly dubbed the over six-foot tall pile "Mount Villisca".)

(MARYVILLE, MO-Maryville was one of 29 schools who cancelled classes on March 7th due to inclement weather.)

(MARYVILLE, MO-Maryville R2 is not the only school in Maryville who has been plagued by inclement weather, Northwest Missouri State has also fell victim to multiple snow days.)

(MARYVILLE, MO-Snow continues pile on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University as seen from this pile located across from the Administration Building)

(BEDFORD, IOWA--Bedford, Iowa has received so much snow that it piles as high as this porch deck seen in this picture.)

(BEDFORD, IOWA--The snowfall Bedford has received has led to multiple cancellations and delays, including a two-hour late start on March 7th.)

(CORNING, IOWA--This winter's inclement weather led to the postponement of Southwest Valley's host wrestling tournament, but the Timberwolves did manage to play all 21 of their scheduled basketball games despite 12 snow days.)