How do schools decide to close?

When the temperature starts to plunge and there is a chance for snow or ice, school districts have a big decision on their hands.

Should school be in session, delay a few hours, or cancel all together?

While kids love the idea of a snow day, there is a lot of thought that goes into the decision making process.

"We actually work with the national weather service and often time we will get a notification from them 3 days in advance of an event," said Hamilton County Superintendent Rick Smith.

While some question why schools are closed when they look outside on a day like today when the sun is shining, but it all comes back to the safety of the children.

Superintendent Smith said, "We are not used to this kind of weather in Chattanooga.  Parents and children aren’t used to dressing or even having the kind of clothing for zero or sub zero conditions."

With over 25,000 kids riding the bus to school in Hamilton County alone, getting the kids to school is a big hurdle, but it isn’t the only hurdle.  You also have to think about getting them back home if weather conditions deteriorate throughout the day and what they would be going home to.

"We have a lot of kids who live in single parent families, and their parents are going to be at work.  And if we release, especially elementary children, in the middle of the day, what are they going home to?  They are going home to an empty house," said Superintendent Smith.

With kids waiting on buses, temperatures do call for major concerns.  We posted a question on our Facebook, and many parents posted back supporting the decision to close schools.

Superintendent Smith went on to say, "The decisions we make are well thought out, and they are decisions that are always going to be in the best interests of our children."