Cold closes schools again
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JANESVILLE — The news couldn't be better for local students: Schools closed today for the second day in a row.
That leaves school officials to figure out when students will make up the day.
And despite the cold, there's some good news for grown-ups too: Forecasters have backed off their predictions of ice jams on the Rock River.
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning Thursday for the Rock River south of Janesville, but it has since dropped the warning, meteorologist Chris Franks said. It now expects the river to hit about 8 feet at Afton today, about a foot under flood stage, he said.
"Ice jams are incredibly difficult to predict," he said.
The cold weather is making another kind of headache for Janesville school officials. They need to determine when they will make up for today's day off.
Janesville schools have tied the record for number of days off because of weather. With today's day off, the schools have been closed four times.
Three of those days must be made up. The school board voted Tuesday that the first two makeup days will be Friday, Jan. 23, and Monday, April 13.
Jan. 23 had been scheduled as a day off for students but a work day for teachers. April 13 was to be the last day of spring break.
Superintendent Tom Evert said he would not discuss options for the third makeup day before getting advice from school board President DuWayne Severson.
Board member Peter D. Severson, no relation to DuWayne, was critical at Tuesday's board meeting of the process for choosing the Jan. 23 date.
Peter Severson said announcing Jan. 8 that the makeup day would be Jan. 23 gave parents little time to prepare and forced the school board to agree.
Evert indicated that criticism the board was not involved early enough is why he will wait before discussing options publicly.
Past options have included holding school on Saturdays and adding a day to the end of the school year.
The Janesville Education Association, along with the board, must agree to any makeup date, because the school calendar is a part of the teacher contract.
Among other cold-related issues:
n Janesville Public Works responded to one water main break Thursday at Pontiac Drive and Lilac Lane, said Dan Lynch, water utility director.
He was surprised there weren't more.
"We've had up to six or seven breaks in one day from this type of situation," he said. "For whatever reason, they don't seem to be breaking right now, knock on wood."
-- The city has tried to limit outdoor activities besides trash and recycling collection, said Mandy Bonneville, assistant operations director. Crews continue to apply sand to slippery areas.
"That's about all we can do at this point, as salt and any other liquid chemicals we have are pretty ineffective," she said.
-- The Rock County Communications Center had not received reports of hypothermia, frostbite or fire, a spokeswoman said. A few people called reporting smoke, but in most cases it turned out to be steam from cold air meeting warmer water.
-- The weather caused a power outage for 274 Milton-area residents from 4:20 to 6:40 this morning, said Steve Schultz, an Alliant Energy spokesman. He wasn't sure if cold or wind caused the outage.
-- Franks predicted higher temperatures this afternoon and beyond.
Janesville should get to about 3 degrees above zero today—the first time temperatures will break zero since Wednesday night—and rise to the 20s Saturday and Sunday, he said.
The area could get an inch or so of snow tonight into Saturday, he said.
Jan 17, 2009 at 9:11 a.m.
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It's so cold even Beth Wheelock's tattoos are wearing earmuffs.
Jan 17, 2009 at 8:33 a.m.
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woodsman & Imthewhiz- Are you two married?
Jan 17, 2009 at 8:07 a.m.
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Woodsman- The state of WI requires certain amounts of school days for students to be in school. Its not the local schools that are out to get money from students. You could say that is about the money, becaues I believe state aid would be lifted from a school district that did not have students make up the days. So if your argument is that schools are out to get money, sure you're right. They are out to get money to help operate their school so they can try and educate people like you.
Jan 16, 2009 at 6:19 p.m.
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No body said anything about the TEACHERS getting the "MONEY"!! It's the school districts that get money for each day the students are their,right? Called a head count,no head count,no money. SO IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY,or they wouldn't make the kids make it up. Give the kids a break,what the H--- is three days?? so far!! The chance of being dumber or smarter,isn't going to revolve around three days of education.
Jan 16, 2009 at 3:50 p.m.
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HA HA!!! Teachers are in it for the money!?That's funny!
Jan 16, 2009 at 3:12 p.m.
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Even if teachers a psychic and send work home with students before they know there won't be school the next day, the students would still have to make up a day in the school which is why they call it a school make-up day and not a homework make-up day.
Jan 16, 2009 at 3:07 p.m.
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The days are mandated by the state not by teachers pay, SDJ, or the teachers union.
Jan 16, 2009 at 2:45 p.m.
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Woodsman, that comment is idiotic. Teachers should all have assignments ready for kids? Sure teachers can prepare a few things for them and what not, but really? Really? Are you really thinking teachers are all about the money with this? Please do not waste my time with idiotic posts like that.
Jan 16, 2009 at 2:44 p.m.
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You can get a free spell checker for I.E. from Google on their toolbar. Just go to Google and search Google Toolbar. When it's finished it will need to restart I.E. but it will not need a computer restart.
Jan 16, 2009 at 12:54 p.m.
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Make up days are crap,what exactly are the kids going to get out of it? they don't want to be there,anyway! It's all about the money,SHOW ME THE MONEY,not the education they will get for the make ups. JUST A BIG PER DAY,PER MONEY THING. You teachers should have your weekly assignments already for the kids,what's the problem with giving these out to do at home on snow days?????? I know,must be in school to get your money!
Jan 16, 2009 at 12:23 p.m.
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It's time to stop cutting it so close with number of snow days (1 per year) allotted. Janesville should have more days added onto the school year in case of snow. I realize the teachers union balks at this idea, but it wouldn't hurt if our children went to school a day or two more than the minimum.
Jan 16, 2009 at 11:29 a.m.
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"The school board voted Tuesday that the first two makeup days will be Friday, Jan. 23, and Monday, April 13."
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Gazette staff - the previous statement is slightly inaccurate. The JEA and the JSD agreed in negotiations that the first snow day will be made up Friday, January 23. The JSD and the school board agreed that April 13 could be used to make up any subsequent snow days -- with approval with the JEA.
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Note, it is not a sure thing that April 13 will be used to make up yesterday's snow day nor is it a sure thing for today's snow day. The JEA and JSD is looking at options, but the JSD simply refused to look at the Friday's after conferences because schools have conferences on different days. The only options the JSD is giving is April 13 and June 12.
Jan 16, 2009 at 11:27 a.m.
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I have a "spell-check" device on my desk. It's called a dictionary...but it only works when I pick it up and look up a word. Sometimes I'm just in too much of a hurry (or too lazy). {:>)
Jan 16, 2009 at 10:58 a.m.
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THANKS that seems to work. WHEEW no more spelling tickets, yeah.
Jan 16, 2009 at 10:53 a.m.
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If you don't use FireFox then download the Google search bar, it has a spell check on it as well.
Jan 16, 2009 at 10:50 a.m.
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beeferer: Thanks for the tip, but it dosn't work with my computer. All I get when typing and pulling up the box is the undo,copy,paste, delete options. Sorry I guess I will just have to go with out spell check and deal with the spelling police LOL.
Jan 16, 2009 at 10:37 a.m.
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This only works with Firefox I think. It's not an option with Internet Explorer.
Jan 16, 2009 at 9:51 a.m.
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Oh, and SLOW DOWN!
Jan 16, 2009 at 9:50 a.m.
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People of earth- try this. I was rudely commenting on spelling errors in another post. I couldn't understand why there were so many spelling issues in these postings when there is a built-in spell checker on this website. Try this- when you are typing in the comment box, do a right-click and make sure there is a check in front of "Check Spelling" in the drop-down menu. Then if you get an underlined word, right-click on it for suggestions. I hope that helps. And I apologize if I come across as rude. I am not a rude person by nature. I just have a dry sense of humor. Have a warm day.
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