No School Delay In SF Draws Criticism

Despite some areas getting eight inches of snow, students in Sioux Falls had to be to school bright and early. The Sioux Falls district did not have a two hour delay, which drew some criticism from parents.

"When you've got so much snow and it's slippery, that's dangerous. I got in a car accident before because of it. That's probably why I called the school to tell them how I feel," Melinda Boggs said, who was picking up her children from Whittier Middle School Friday afternoon.

Our KELOLAND cameras saw some vehicles get stuck in neighborhood roads and for the first time in a while, students had to walk to school in fresh piles of snow.

"I would hate to have to walk to school in this. It's kind of a mess and not everyone has shoveled yet," Nolan Neuharth said, while he shoveled his sidewalks.

Sioux Falls School District Business Manager Todd Vik said they monitor weather closely and look at how the city handles snowfall. Beyond testing the streets themselves, they look at how busy snow plows are and if city buses are still on their regular routes. Essentially if the city runs regularly, the schools will, too.

"It's all about whether we can get the kids to school safe and that's what we have to take into account," Vik said.

Vik said school administrations understand if students had trouble getting to class and are a little late on snowy days.  Though snowy roads can be tricky, Vik said two hour delays and cancellations can be just as inconvenient.

"Whether you're telling people, oh now you've got to find a babysitter for your kids, or if you start late, now you've got to work and now it's an issue of, well do I leave my kid home alone?" Vik said.

Boggs said her day would have been less hectic if she had more time to get her kids to school.

"I just told them it's ridiculous having these kids go in, especially the young kids. Accidents can happen," Boggs said.