Dear Parents and Guardians:The issues involved in the decision to cancel school due to a weather emergency are many and varied; the ultimate decision is not
an easy one, nor is it taken without due consideration of those many issues. The Seton Hall Prep Administration relies on reports from national and local weather services, on consultation with the West Orange and other
outlying town school superintendents and police departments, as well as with our own contracted bus service companies.
The possibilities of delayed openings and/or early dismissals commonly employed in
local districts have been considered at various points in the past. However, there are many transportation issues that make those possibilities generally impossible for Seton Hall Prep. For example, there is the need to
have buses arrive at the train station at the correct time to pick up 180 students and transport them to school. Additionally, besides hundreds of students taking our own buses to school, there are over 75 students that
rely on transportation provided by two different boards of education which set their own policies on weather related transportation.
The upshot of all this is that, once the decision is made to hold
classes, we need improved cooperation from that exhibited over the past couple of years from parents and students in keeping students in school for the full day. Our view is that releasing students early at the request
of a parent, sending students out at the first sign of snow onto roads before they have been cleared, or even salted, is generally more hazardous to both students and parents than the alternative.
Another related issue that needs to be addressed is the manner in which false and misleading information is communicated by students to their parents in their efforts to be released early. The situation from last year
is the case in point: The forecast the previous evening left open the students' hope there would be no classes, but school was indeedin session. Once in school, the arrival of the first snowflake sent many students
into action as to how they would manipulate a parent into giving permission for an early release. Overheard were the following communications to parents: "School is closing early," "Everybody is leaving," "None of my
teachers are even here," "My teacher said if we all leave he can go home," among others. The fact is that school did not close, only two out of nearly 90 teachers were out [one due to illness] and there were
never any plans for early dismissal. The appropriateness of the school's original decision was born out by the fact that not only did the snow stop, but the skies brightened by the afternoon.
Additionally, having 90 students engaged in conversations, schemes and phone calls in the effort to leave early caused multiple disturbances in classrooms and in offices. The disruption to lessons and to the teaching
environment caused by the absence of significant numbers of juniors and seniors in particular is unfair to the teachers and the students who remained. [Students who left early are reminded that they are responsible for
all academic material they missed.]
We are indeed aware of the possibility of true emergency situations, and of the concerns you may have about a newly licensed driver operating an automobile in
inclement weather. Our suggestion in that case, for days on which the forecast is very bad but school is in session, is to make arrangements for an experienced adult driver or a carpool with an adult driver to take your
son to and from school. If that is not possible, it may be more prudent and safer for him and others on the roads to have your son remain at home for the day from the outset.
As soon as enough
weather-related information is available, school closings are announced on the Prep's "hotline": 973.325.PREP [7737] and on the website [www.shp.org]. One should assume that school is open if there is no announcement to
the contrary.
By choosing to send your son to Seton Hall Prep you have indicated a willingness to place your confidence in our judgment. For that we are grateful. We trust that you will extend that
confidence to include judgments related to these issues as well, and we anticipate your cooperation as we go forward.
