How Does East Penn Decide When to Close School?

East Penn School District, like many others in the Lehigh Valley, was closed on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week due to winter weather. 

On Tuesday, significant snowfall had been predicted by for the region - a forecast that turned out to be right on target. By Wednesday, the snow had stopped falling, leaving behind strong winds and frigid temperatures. 

Two entirely different days weather-wise, but schools remained closed on both days.

Here's how East Penn Superintendent of Schools Thomas L. Seidenberger arrived at his decision each day, according to East Penn Community Liaison Nicole L. Bloise: 

"When there is a chance of a delay/closure, Dr. Seidenberger gets on the phone at 4:15 a.m.," Bloise explains in an email response to questions from Patch about the process, "and starts consulting with other local superintendents, weather reports, our busing company, etc. All these factors go into his decision whether or not to delay/close school. The #1 priority is the safety of our students."

In response to a question about why school was closed Wednesday, after the snow had stopped falling, Bloise says that Seidenberger told her that he kept the buses parked because "the roads in our district were not safe for transportation."

The district has many rural roads, she says, and Seidenberger told her, "there were plowing and drifting issues" Wednesday morning.