Woodland closes for second day; icy neighborhood roads blamed
More than 7,000 Gurnee-area children got an unexpected day off Friday, thanks to a ripple effect from this week's snowstorm.
Gurnee-based Woodland Elementary District 50 cited poor conditions on neighborhood roads for calling off classes. Most other Lake County schools were in session.
Part of District 50's decision was driven by what happened Thursday, when some buses were at least two hours late in bringing children to Woodland Elementary School in Gages Lake.
District 50 Superintendent Joy Swoboda made the determination to cancel Friday's classes the previous evening, spokeswoman Jennifer Tempest Bova said. Word was spread to parents over automated telephone calls and e-mail.
"It was a concern for the superintendent," Bova said Friday, "and a decision that was not taken lightly."
Bova said Woodland faces atypical transportation challenges, such as busing a majority of students to four schools. She said the buses have many routes, with more than 50 percent over neighborhood streets that had a large amount of compressed snow and ice Friday.
District 50 received telephone calls and e-mails on what was the second missed day of school this week.
"We've gotten feedback on both sides, which we expected," Bova said.
Woodland provides bus service for St. Gilbert Elementary School, a Catholic school, in Grayslake. The school was also forced to close because Woodland's buses were unavailable.
Elsewhere in the area, Warren Township High School in Gurnee was open as usual for its 4,191 students Friday. That also was the case for 2,250 pupils at Gurnee Elementary District 56.
"Today has been a pretty good day for us as far as attendance," said Colleen Pacatte, District 56's director of curriculum and assessment.
Meanwhile, Woodland plans to have schools open for special events today.
On tap is a fundraising PTA fun fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Woodland Elementary East, 17261 W. Gages Lake Road, just south of Gurnee.
Bova said children in grades one through three at Woodland Elementary West who missed Valentine's Day parties that had been scheduled Friday will get a chance to hold the parties Tuesday.