Freezing temps force schools to close

SENECA COUNTY — Quickly plummeting temps along with freezing wind chills force many schools across the state to close for the safety of staff and students. The cold front is expected to break slightly by the end of the week, but is keeping many inside or bundled up. The Advertiser-Tribune reached out to the administration of several schools in both Seneca and Wyandot Counties, but only got responses from Eric Landversicht, superintendent of Upper Sandusky Exempted Village Local Schools and Jason Longbrake of Fostoria City Schools before deadline. Longbrake advised the A-T that Fostoria students haven't had school yet this week with Monday being a federal holiday, Tuesday was scheduled as a professional development day for teachers and staff; school on wednesday was cancelled due to the cold temperatures, but as of printing, is expected to be back in session the rest of the week. Sporting events Tuesday night were also cancelled in Fostoria. Longbrake later said the decision to cancel Wednesday was made in collaboration with the directors of both transportation and operations and considered the safety of students "both coming to school as well as on their trip home," he said in an email. He later encouraged parents to sign up for direct communication from the school or stay tuned to local media for notifications about future closings or delays. Landversicht said the decision to cancel Upper Sandusky schools on Tuesday and Wednesday was made also due to the freezing temps. "When the windchills dip as low as they have been, the safety of the students becomes a critical issue," Landversicht said. "We don't want students to risk frostbite walking to school or have a scenario where a bus or car with students in it breaks down somewhere in the district and exposes them to the extreme cold until help could arrive. He later said the decision was made in consulting the National Weather Service, local media, law enforcement, neighboring schools and other members of administration. Landversicht also expects the Upper Sandusky school district to be back in session on Thursday and Friday. Like Longbrake, Landversicht also urged parents to stay tuned to district messaging as well as local media to stay informed and prepared for weather.