Lexington, Kentucky has a punishing winter. Often times, students will be told not to come into school based on winter weather. How does Fayette County Public Schools make the decision on whether or not to withhold students from coming to schools on any particular day? According to Fayette County Public Schools Facebook page, a variety of factors play into these decisions, including, but not limited to: road conditions, precipitation, temperature, and temperatures including wind chill. Usually ice or any other slick conditions on the roads around the time when students go to school will result in a delay or cancellation.

Another pressing question remains unanswered. What consequences do excessive winter cancellation days have on students and teachers? To answer this question we need to take it one group of people at a time. Starting with the students, winter cancellations can cause trouble with tests, if a student studies for an upcoming test and a winter cancellation day happens they could forget some valuable information. Finals are a huge part of any students high school experience, snow days can push December finals back after winter break and cause major issues to students.

Students aren’t the only ones affected by weather cancellations. Teachers  also have to deal with the fallout. Teachers have to follow Kentucky Core  Academic Standards and teach the requirements by a certain time to prep students for standardized tests or the next course, winter cancellations can slow down this process and cause teachers to need to reteach content.

Parents also have problems with school cancellations because they have to work  causing them to scramble for child care or being faced with leaving younger children home alone, which can result in potential harm.

Students, teachers, and parents alike all are deeply affected by winter cancellations and they overall cause more harm than good. That being said, students still love these precious days where they can enjoy a relaxing day warm or out playing in the snow.