Weather kept students on extended break

Twenty-five years ago this week, students in Jay County were enjoying a lengthy winter break.

Jay School Corporation had planned to return to classes on Jan. 13, 1999, on a two-hour delay, but a new sheet of ice on top of frozen snow forced another closure. Schools had been closed for eight consecutive class days following winter break, leaving students out of school for three and a half weeks.

“The road conditions dramatically worsened with the freezing rain, and weather reports stated it was not going to warm up and we’d have more of the same,” said Jay Schools superintendent Tom Little. “We’re taking these issues one day at a time. We know community members truly want their children in school, but we won’t put buses on the road until we know it’s safe for kids.”

He noted that 3,112 of the school corporation’s students lived in rural areas at that time compared to 827 in the county’s municipalities.

“The buses are big and awkward and don’t turn on a dime,” said Jay Schools director of transportation Teresa Myers, noting that safety was the biggest concern. “We don’t want them in the ditch. They are carrying precious cargo.”

As the missed days piled up like the snow, students faced the prospect of having days added to the end of the school year. At that point, with make-up days, school was scheduled to let out June 8.

“Students will need to make up one day for every day missed unless the state decides otherwise,” said Jay Schools director of curriculum and research James Hanna.