Westport Schools Superintendent Discusses Decision About Wednesday's Classes

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Public Schools did not have a delayed opening on Wednesday, Feb. 25, while snow fell during the morning commute, and Superintendent of Schools Thomas Scarice is taking responsibility for the decision.

At least two other nearby communities either delayed the start of classes or closed schools on Wednesday, as municipalities scrambled to clear roads.

In a message to the Westport school community, Scarice said he regretted the decision.

"I regret not calling for a delay and the resulting difficulty and hardship this caused many of our families, faculty, and staff," Scarice wrote. "While I rely on professional guidance to inform these early-morning calls, the responsibility is mine."

Schools were closed on Monday and Tuesday following the major snow storm that swept through the Northeast on Sunday and Monday, but Scarice said that making weather-related decisions can be difficult.

"Some families have asked what information I had at 4:00 a.m., so I want to share it to give context of the decision-making, not to offer excuses," Scarice wrote. "The responsibility for the call is mine.

"At that time, our consulting meteorologist indicated that data suggested the likelihood of a coating to one inch of snow along the shoreline, which led to regular openings for all neighboring shoreline districts.

"In addition, Public Works expressed a high level of confidence that roads had been heavily salted over the past several days and crews were prepared. Based on this information I made the decision to start on time."

If offered the chance to do it again, "a two-hour delay would have been the better decision for students, staff, and families," he added.

"I am sorry for the difficulty this caused, particularly for those who experienced challenging travel conditions, and for the buses that missed stops or ran excessively late."

Scarice closed with, "I want to thank everyone who stepped in across the district to support student arrivals and classrooms as faculty arrived. I also want to thank our buildings and maintenance teams for clearing and salting our lots, and our bus drivers for their professionalism this morning.

"Thank you for your patience, your partnership, and for taking care on the roads today."