A shortage of bus drivers led Galesburg District 205 to cancel school Friday.
John Asplund, District 205 superintendent of schools, tells WGIL he had made the decision to hold classes today, and was initially assured by First Student bus company it would be able to provide service.
“At 5 a.m., they said everything was a go,” Asplund said.
However, First Student notified Asplund at 6 a.m., that six bus drivers had called in at the last minute, meaning the bus company would have to combine at least four routes.
“I asked how long would a child have to be outside longer than usual and I was told 20 minutes,” Asplund said. “I told them we can’t have that. I was afraid of children as young as 5 being outside an extra 20 minutes in the cold
“This is the first time I’ve ever had to call school for this reason.”
Notice that Galesburg was cancelling classes today went to parents and was announced via D205 social media shortly after 6 a.m.. Many other area schools — including Knoxville, ROWVA, Abingdon-Avon and Monmouth schools — elected not to have school today due to overnight snow and bitterly cold wind chills.
Asplund said D205 normally has a deadline of 5:30 a.m. for cancelling school and notifying parents and student.
A local spokesperson for First Student in Galesburg said they could not comment on today’s shortage of drivers and referred questions to corporate media relations.
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5 snow days will extend school year
Today marks the fifth snow day of the 2023-24 school year for District 205. Asplund said the five emergency days will be tacked on the end of the school calendar, making the current last day of school May 31.
Beyond the five emergency days, schools can apply for “Act of God” days that are not required to be made up, however Asplund said he would prefer not to take that option.
“I don’t feel great about that, because we feel like every day is important,” Asplund said. “We want to make sure kids are in front of their teachers as much as possible, which is why we haven’t used E Learning days.”
Why not E Learning?
Asplund staff will meet with District 205 teachers and staff next week to discuss options should the district be forced to use more snow days.
“E Learning days are still an option, but we would prefer the kids were in person in front of their teachers,” he said. “Perhaps it would be a solution in the future if we exceeded our five days, but we feel it’s more educationally sound for the kids to be in person.”
District 205 used just one snow day last year, but utilized as many as nine in 2018-19.
“This year, they all came at once with the two storms right in a row,” Asplund said. “And they came right after winter break, so it’s like we haven’t been in school for a month.”
