Comm. Director Rice says early dismissal won’t need to be made up at end of year
By Melanie Schnell and Emma Stancey
Cheers could be heard in the halls as Principal Kevin Pobst informed students and staff that the district would initiate the early dismissal process. This meant NNHS students would dismiss at noon, junior highs at 1:00, and elementary schools at 2:30.
The 10:15 AM announcement was the final one in a day full of last-minute decisions from District 203 officials. Unlike area schools, including neighboring IPSD 204 and Plainfield 202, Naperville 203 attempted to start its school day on time, making a district-wide announcement around 7:10 AM stating that school would be in session, though buses, auto and foot traffic may be delayed.
Superintendent Dan Bridges could not be reached for comment, but Communications Director Susan Rice said the decision to hold classes was based on the weather conditions at the time the decision needed to be made.
“Because of when school starts, we need to decide between 5:30 and 6:00 AM whether or not to cancel school,” said Rice. “There were no road closures or water issues present at that time today. The City had not issued any alerts or reports either.”
This afternoon District 203’s website was experiencing technical difficulties and the following statement was displayed:
“The school district is working in cooperation with the City of Naperville Public Works who issued a request late this morning, after our bus pick-up routes had already begun, that cars stay off the streets as much as possible. Early dismissal will help ease travel in the city before this afternoon and assist us in delivering your student home safely.”
According to City of Naperville Communications Manager Linda LaCloche, the city’s main focus is “that residents and commuters are safe.”
LaCloche said she did not work closely enough with District 203 to comment on the school district’s decisions.
Though official attendance numbers are not yet available, because students were in attendance, Rice said the half day will not push back the last day of school, which is currently the Friday before Memorial Day, May 24. It will not need to be made up at the end of the year according to Rice.
Early in first period, around 8:05 AM, the district announced that attendance would be “optional,” but only for those students who had not yet arrived at school.
Pobst made an announcement during 1st period clarifying the district’s statement: attendance is not optional for students already at school and students are not permitted to leave school during the day once they have arrived.
Despite the announcement, many students left school early.
According to senior Daphne Xu, less than half of her first period class was in attendance.
“One kid walked out halfway too,” said Xu.
Besides District 203 schools, many streets have been closed, including the Eagle St. Bridge. According LaCloche, the Washington St., Main St., and Gartner Rd. Bridges may need to be closed as well.
