Schools don't take snow days lightly

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Tuesday morning, school closings came as fast as the flakes fell. Meanwhile, other school districts nearby chose to remain open. Such was the case with Wayne Township Schools and Lawrence Township Schools. Both are in Marion county. And while Wayne Township students went to school Tuesday, Lawrence Township students did not.

The road conditions in each district guide administrators' decision. One of those administrators is Tim Smith, the Lawrence Township Director of Transportation.

When bad weather hits Lawrence Township, Smith hits the road. Before he puts busses on the street, he drives the routes himself.

"We start anywhere from 3:00 to 3:30 in the morning," Smith said.

Smith took us on the route he drove early Tuesday morning before making the recommendation to close Lawrence Township Schools.

"We try to drive where our trouble spots are, where we think our busses might have trouble getting in and out of," Smith said.

And there are lots of trouble spots in Lawrence Township, most of which are two-lane, hilly, winding roads.

Although streets were fairly clear Tuesday afternoon. That was not the case hours earlier when the busses would have been picking up students. Lantern Road is one example.

Smith told us when he tried to drive down Lantern's steep curving hill, his 4-wheel drive Jeep Grand Cherokee slid. He knew a 10.000 pound bus couldn't navigate the slick hill, the same curving descent that sent a bus out of control six weeks ago.

Meanwhile, 25 miles west in Wayne Township, streets were slushy but flat, making all the difference. Wayne Township leaders held school Tuesday with no delay.

"We want to do obviously what's best and safest for children, but also make a wise decision for parents as well too," said Cheri O'Day, Wayne Township's district spokesperson.

She said during inclement weather, all the superintendents in Marion County have a conference call around 5 a.m. They consult their staff who have driven the roads as well as the weather reports, then make the decision that is best for their district.