Parents moan as school is canceled

You could hear the groans of parents all around Neosho Monday afternoon when word spread that the start of school after Christmas break would have to wait at least one more day in the Neosho R-5 School District.

Yes, classes in Neosho were canceled today due to many of the streets in and around the town still being covered with snow — and it doesn’t look as if that will change anytime soon.
Temperatures are not expected to get above freezing until possibly Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, and that is the night when there is a good chance of more snow dropping on our region, between 1 to 3 inches.

On Thursday, the high is expected to reach only 12 degrees with a low of negative 2. Yes, that’s “negative” two degrees.

Also, the fact that the city of Neosho is not spending as much money or manpower clearing the streets could pose a problem for classes resuming sooner than later. According to a report in Monday’s Daily News, the city is focusing on clearing only priority streets, and is operating on a budget that is 66 percent less than a year ago due to financial constraints. Typically, the city runs 12-hour shifts with nine employees on each shift. This year, the city is running six employees on eight-hour shifts, with an employee on call 24 hours for emergencies.

The city is doing what it must do to operate within budget.

Page did not lay any blame on the city for the streets not being cleared in time for school to start today.

“There is so much (snow), it would be a very daunting task to get all the roads cleared,” Page said. “The snow-covered roads in Neosho just have an affect on how we are able to run our buses.”

Page said the county roads are just as bad as the roads in the city limits.

“I hope it will get better later this week, and I hope to see the county roads and city roads cleared at some point so we can resume school.”

While serving lunch to teachers at the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce’s Teacher Appreciation Lunch, I heard one teacher who has served in the district for several years give his prediction, “I don’t think we will see students in school all week.”

And, hence, that’s why you hear the chorus of “groans” ringing throughout town from parents throughout the district.

If they are like me, they are ready to return to regularly scheduled life programming. They are ready to get themselves, and their children, back to the normal routine. They are tired of having to figure out who would be watching the kids during the workday, and how to keep them entertained away from school.

Students have been out of class since Friday, Dec. 18, and have enjoyed 17 days out of the classroom.

It’s seems as if those 17 days could turn into 20 days if more snow falls as predicted, or the snow on the ground refuses to melt.

And, of course, if you are a student you are rejoicing in the fact that your Christmas break just got a little bit longer and the escape from homework continues.

Just take it easy on us parents, OK?

Rick Rogers is the publisher of the Daily News. E-mail him at rrogers@neoshodailynews.com.