ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996 TAG: 9601110075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Most of the school divisions in the Roanoke and New River valleys will be closed for the rest of the week - and some may not reopen Monday if more snow falls in the next few days.
"If we get more snow, we might be paralyzed a little longer," said Robert Woolwine, transportation supervisor for Roanoke County schools. "I don't know where we would put it."
All schools will be closed today, but a few localities are holding out hope they might be able to reopen Friday.
Children's safety is the primary factor in deciding when schools are reopened after bad weather, school officials said Wednesday.
"You can't take a chance of anyone getting hurt or caught out in these conditions," said Larry Hall, transportation chief for Botetourt County schools.
Woolwine doesn't want to risk children falling on ice and getting hurt as they get on or off buses.
Don Ranson noted that snow and slippery road conditions might have been a factor in a bus accident Tuesday in Green Bay, Wis., that killed the driver and sent 37 children to the hospital.
"We don't feel it is worth taking a chance if there is a danger," said Ranson, who oversees Franklin County's buses. "Safety is our priority."
Many school divisions will use part of their spring break to make up the missed days, but Salem will try to preserve its break. Salem schools might reopen Friday if there is no more snow Thursday night.
"Even though it is only one day, I'd like to get it in, because we are losing so many of our makeup days,'' said Salem Superintendent Wayne Tripp.
Salem hopes to finish clearing the schools' parking lots today so buses and cars can get in and out, Tripp said.
But conditions are worse in most other localities, particularly in counties surrounding Roanoke.
"It continues to drift here [in Craig County]. Whenever they get a narrow path cleared out, it gets covered up again," said Superintendent Dallas Helems. "It would be difficult for buses to run."
High school and middle school students possibly could cope with the slippery conditions, but the snow is too deep and sidewalks too treacherous for kindergartners and other small children to get around safely, some transportation supervisors said.
Transportation chiefs face logistical problems in trying to get school buses running again, because only one lane has been cleared on many streets and roads.
Woolwine said there is also no place for buses to turn around because the snow is so deep.
In some counties, many buses are kept at the drivers' residences rather than a bus lot. Some buses are snowed in and can't get out without the aid of a snowplow.
"They have to be dug out, and it will take time to get the snow cleared away," Hall said.
Exams in Botetourt County will be delayed because of the snowstorm. They had been set to begin Monday, but school officials said Wednesday that they will announce the new schedule after students return to school. Roanoke and Roanoke County also may revise their exam schedules.
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