Matthew Albright

The News Journal

Local government, businesses tell workers to stay home Monday

Delaware schools also are closed as recovery from the Saturday blizzard continues

Patience is advised for morning commute

The blizzard may have ended, but the aftermath of this weekend's weather was so messy that school districts throughout Delaware canceled class, and local governments and businesses told workers to stay home on Monday.

University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Goldey-Beacom College and Wesley University also said they would close Monday.

"We need time to get our bus routes and bus stops cleared," said Brandywine Superintendent Mark Holodick. "There are a number of secondary roads that just have not been touched yet or, if they have been, are still dangerous."

Holodick said streets and areas with winding roads and hills, like Hockessin or the Brandywine Valley, are particularly treacherous. Schools also need time to clear out and salt parking lots and walkways.

Holodick said school leaders hope to resume regular schedules Tuesday, but no decision has been made. He asked parents to spend time making preparations to get their kids to school, like clearing bus stops, sidewalks and driveways.

"Be patient and prepare for a slow commute on Tuesday, if we do go back," Holodick said. "Drop-offs at schools might take a little longer. Our primary concern is always safety."

When major snow events have hit the northern part of the state, delays clearing Wilmington streets have meant surrounding schools haven't been able to resume for days after the snow stopped. Because the four districts that serve Wilmington serve a mix of city and suburban students, blocked roads in Wilmington can mean closures for schools outside the city.

City officials announced that offices would be closed Monday and only essential personnel would be working. They said crews were working as fast as possible to get streets clear.

This is the first time this academic year that schools have suspended classes because of snow. After a long, snowy winter two years ago caused some districts to cancel as many as 10 days, many built extra snow time into calendars.

That means students won't have to make up any missed time from this snowstorm unless several more cancellations happen before spring.

Equetta Hanover was tromping around her neighborhood in New Castle on Sunday afternoon "just to make sure everybody was alright." She said it was smart for schools to keep kids home.

"Good for them. I've never seen it like this," she said, eyeing a snow drift that seemed almost as tall as she was. "I don't even want to think what it would be like if they tried to bring buses up in here."

Hanover said her boss was waiting to see how much work crews were able to clear Sunday before making a decision about whether to tell employees to come in.

"I hope they let us," she said. "I might take a sick day or something even if they don't. I can't just leave my kids in the house in this mess."

The fact that schools have closed will mean fewer drivers on the road, which is good news for Jim Lardear, director of public affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. Lardear says the first snowstorm of the year usually has a higher number of fatal crashes because people aren't accustomed to the tricky road conditions. He said the state Department of Transportation's website and app are good tools to know what roads are clear to drive on.

Record flooding, blizzard conditions batter Delaware

DelDOT hopes to make roads passable by Monday

"Motorists need to know that, in conditions like this, everything you do you need to do more gently," Lardear said. "You need to be paying attention and driving slower. Leave early so you can give yourself plenty of time to drive cautiously."

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@delawareonline.com, (302) 324-2428 or on Twitter @TNJ_malbright.