Whether it be from hazardous road conditions or impending weather concerns, students everywhere have faced winter weather delays. 

These delays are put into effect because of “anything that causes the roads to be hazardous,” according to assistant principal Amy Walker. Many factors, such as ice, snow or extremely cold weather, can put delays into effect.

District One has issued many weather delays over the years. The district puts the safety of their students first, so anything that could possibly harm them constitutes a delay. 

Normally, all of the Spartanburg County school districts’ superintendents make a decision about winter weather delays together. Many of the schools in Spartanburg share facilities, like Swofford, with other districts, so if students can’t make it to their school from where they live, they usually decide to call school off. 

Walker said that they make decisions based on the buses too. If it’s too dangerous for buses to be on the road, then there won’t be school. 

Cold weather delays, on the other hand, depend on whether it’s too cold for students to wait outside on the buses. Cold weather delays are also called if the buses or car engines won’t start. 

“Most of the decision is based on safe travels for buses but also for teenage drivers,” Walker said. “If anything, like snow, was to endanger students, school will be called off.”

Walker said people should be mindful of the entirety of the school district when considering whether or not they agree with delays. 

“Even though the roads in your area or around your house might look fine, you have to think about the back roads in districts that you share schools with,” Walker said.  “They may not be fine there.”