If there are two things that don’t go together, it’s bad road conditions and new drivers. Between nationwide snowstorms and record-setting freezing temperatures, snow days and two-hour delays are currently rampant, with two-hour delays being the most dangerous for student and teacher drivers alike. Making sure that everyone can get to school safely is of the utmost priority, but what exactly is the process behind getting the roads and parking lots cleared?
There are typically two county employees who go around and plow the parking lots. They arrive at the operation center just before 5 A.M., which is where all of the buses are, then head to the board office and the high school. After prioritizing those two locations, the plows split up. One plow takes one side of the county, and the second plow takes up the other half. If there is a significant amount of snow, David Crumm, the Operations Director of Ohio County Schools, will use his vehicle to plow as well as an additional fourth one if needed.
“It takes the whole county to make sure things are safe and ready for students to come back,” said Crumm.
He implores both student and teachers alike to not come to school too early, as having to plow around a car in the parking lot makes the entire process more difficult.
On the custodian end of the operation, they start shoveling even earlier than the busses at a bright and early 4:30 A.M. to make sure that navigating the school is safe. The main priority is getting the walkways clear while still leaving time for there normal duties.
A large concern is patches of ice or snow that remain in the lot and on the walkways despite all of the efforts from the county. However, even the students and teachers have a major part to play in the whole clean-up process.
“Maybe we didn’t see something…if you think that there’s something that we need to attend to, don’t hesitate to let us know,” said Tara Burnsworth, one of the head custodians at Wheeling Park in the morning.
Overall, it’s up to everyone to work together and make the school as safe as possible, especially in the face of adverse weather.
