School, or no school? - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Tens of thousands of Minnesotans got the day off from school, but others weren't so lucky.

The Minnesota Department of Education said that there are no stringent guidelines for school closings; it's up to the superintendent of each district to decide whether to close, or not to close.

Kids in Rosemount enjoyed a snow day for the first time in three years, and while they spent their time playing in the snow and enjoying a little freedom, their parents weren't as pleased.

What is the threshold for closing schools? The snow volume isn't the indicator – it's the timing.

"If the snow volume is such that the buses are going to have a tough time traveling roads and being late on routes, that really is where it comes down to," Tony Taschner of Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools said.

Dozens of schools in the metro did stay open, St. Paul being one of them, saying the roads were safe, and with many families not having child care, remaining open would be in the best interest of students and families. However, the district closed high schools 45 minutes early to avoid delays for later buses.

One parent said there was a lack of communication between parents and St. Paul Public Schools as administrators decide whether or not to stay open. Many parents aren't able to work with a rerouted schedule, especially when the decision comes when their kids are already at school.

The superintendent must account for several factors in making the decision, snow totals, travel schedules and safety. The bottom line: Administrators want the kids to be in school, but it's better to be safe than sorry.