Des Moines Schools to angry parents: 'District did its best' but weather conditions changed

Some parents and community members were furious Tuesday morning that Des Moines Public Schools were open while other metro schools canceled classes.

A winter storm blasted the area with freezing rain, making commutes slick. Driving conditions worsened in some areas, prompting some districts to cancel school after initially issuing delays.

Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, Southeast Polk, Waukee and West Des Moines all canceled classes.

"You all should be ashamed of yourselves," one person tweeted to Des Moines. "Buses (are) sliding on ice, putting children’s safety at risk."

Three Des Moines school buses slid off the road or over a curb Tuesday morning. No injuries or bus damage was reported.

"While hindsight is always perfect, especially with the weather, the district did its best with the information it had at decision time," Des Moines Public Schools spokesman Phil Roeder told the Register.

Des Moines officials monitored road conditions overnight and into Tuesday morning, including having staff check road conditions around 4:30 a.m.

District leaders make a decision by 5:30 a.m. Tuesday as certain employees begin work early each morning. Weather-related decisions are made as early as possible, but no later than 6 a.m.

"Clearly, conditions changed as the morning went on, and while main roads were in fair shape, some residential and side streets meant a delay for several buses," Roeder said.

However, other metro districts responded to worsening conditions by initially issuing a two-hour delay and then canceling classes as the winter weather continued.

► MORE ONLINE: View a complete list of Iowa school closings and delays

Some Des Moines families chose to keep their children home anyway. Roeder acknowledged that parents always have that right if they believe it's unsafe to travel.

Others expressed safety concerns for the thousands of teachers and staff who work in Des Moines schools, as well as students walking or riding the bus.

No injuries were reported when three school buses slid off the road or over curbs near the corners of 18th Street and Lincoln Avenue, East 36th Street and Dubuque Avenue, and East 22nd Street and Hartford Avenue.

Superintendent Tom Ahart acknowledge in January that "regardless of what decision is made," it is often "both supported and opposed" in the community because it affects families differently.

As the state's largest district, a delay or closure impacts more than 33,000 Des Moines students and their families, in addition to hundreds of companies and other employers in the area.

That includes "many working parents who do not have childcare options available on short notice," Roeder said.

"But we don’t just consider inconveniences when making these decisions," he said. "For many of our students, school is not only a warm, safe place for them but also a place where they can receive two meals during the day."

Read some of the outcry over, and in defense of, the district's decision below: