Trucks ready to battle the snow - just stay back

With the heaviest snowfall predicted to intensify early this morning, area school district officials have kept a close eye on the storm system before making the call on whether to cancel or delay school openings.

"What time will I get up (this morning)?" said Jim Rydland, superintendent of West Aurora schools. "Really early."

West Aurora schools have not closed because of weather since Jan. 31, 2002.

In the event of adverse weather, Rydland said he was in contact with superintendents of neighboring districts to try to coordinate plans as best as possible.

Rydland himself was expecting to be "out on the roads" first thing this morning, monitoring their conditions.

When East Aurora school officials heard weather reports earlier this week, they updated their emergency phone numbers, looked over the list of who gets called in what order, and checked to make sure all procedures were in place. They haven't had a snow day since 2004, but prepare for one every year.

"At this point, we're set and ready for whatever may come," said district spokesman Clayton Muhammad.

By 4 a.m. after a snowstorm, Edward Gresk, director of building and grounds, checks the streets and confers with Superintendent Jerome Roberts. They factor in the street conditions, the amount of snow, the windchill and temperature.

Roberts checks with other area superintendents to see who is considering closing school, but also considers the specific needs of East Aurora: the district has no bus system, so many children walk to school.

By 6 a.m., he's made a final decision, and if it's a snow day, he begins calling other administrators on the emergency phone tree. This year, they'll log onto a new Web site that lets school districts easily notify radio and TV stations about school closings, but they'll also update their school Web sites and voice mails, where parents are equally likely to turn.