Around 8 p.m. on Sunday, Milwaukee Public Schools shared a Facebook post that probably resulted in a collective cheer from thousands of students across the city.
Monday was declared a snow day due to severe weather. In addition to schools being closed, all after-school, recreation and other programs and events were also canceled, the post read.
The decision to close affected the 65,000 students enrolled at MPS schools, educators, parents and others.
Here’s how the decision to close schools was made and how parents feel about it.
How MPS decides when to close schools
According to Stephen Davis, MPS media relations manager, the district carefully monitors severe weather and discussions with the National Weather Service are “ongoing prior to any and all snow events.”
He said discussions continued throughout the day Sunday, until the call was made to close schools and notify families.
According to the MPS website, the district considers the timing of the weather event, road conditions, and impact on transportation to and from school. Other factors include extreme temperatures, wind, rain, ice and snow.
Although 8 p.m. might not seem like early enough notice for some families, MPS has until 6 a.m. that school day to make a decision to close schools, according to the district.
The district typically only announces school closures the night before when severe weather is already occurring, or it is highly certain that weather will be severe.
The district website states that school is only canceled when necessary for student and staff safety.
Parents react to the latest weather closure
For parents interviewed by NNS, there wasn’t much debate over whether the district made the right call by closing schools Monday.
Kimberly Janusz, who has two kids at MPS and two in private schools, said she thinks schools were closed for good reason.
“My children and I take the bus or an Uber. I wouldn’t have sent them today regardless, so I’m glad it’s closed,” she said.
She also understands the struggle for parents who work and have to scramble to find someone to care for their kids.
“I work in the school so my job is closed, but I do feel bad for parents that need child care and the center is closed,” she said.
Tarsha McClain, who lives in Milwaukee and is the mother of a high schooler in Brown Deer, is also glad schools were closed.
“It’s not safe for kids to walk in this weather – some have to cross busy streets and with low visibility, some drivers may not see them,” she said.
But, she said, when schools are closed, child care centers should be open. Her mother owns Helpful Hands Family Child Care Center, 5657 N. 93rd St.
She said her mother’s center stays open on days when schools are closed.
“If centers have workers who are able to come to work, they should be open to allow parents who still have to go to work the opportunity to drop off their children,” McClain said.
Melissa Ames Rodriguez said that not only should schools have been closed Monday, but that workers shouldn’t be penalized if they call in to stay home because child care isn’t available.
“Unless all places allow you to bring your kids to work, I don’t think employees should get a dock for calling in,” she said.
Rodriguez said that although her child is in high school and doesn’t need someone to watch them, she has many friends with little ones who can have problems when schools close.
Quiana Versey, a mother of four, said that parents should always have a plan in case schools close, especially in Wisconsin where weather can be unpredictable.
“The price we as parents pay for having kids is to put them first,” Versey said. “Have a plan on what to do in the winter just like you would if your child got sick out of nowhere.”
Will students need to make up the day off?
According to Davis, MPS has days built into the school year to accommodate for weather closures.
June 17 and 18 are on the school calendar as make-up days in case they’re needed, which Davis said wasn’t the case yet.
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