S.N.O.W.- Start Now or Wait?? Tuesday, November 22, 2011 By Senior Emily Carr Last year, the winter took it's toll on CHS. - File Photo Advertising Each year, as soon as the heater is switched on and the temperature drops below 32 degrees, the students at CHS begin to dream about snow days. Although, this year there has been a change. With a new superintendent at Cameron, the hallways have been buzzing with rumors about snow days being replaced with late starts. Superintendent Dr. Matt Robinson used late starts when he was superintendent at Worth County. “I don’t mind using late starts a lot of times we get these weather systems that come through and make travel dangerous early, but by nine or ten we can get buses out,” Dr. Robinson said. Late starts provide another option for the school districts to implement this year. This will help avoid having an excessive number of make up days at the end of the year. Even though Cameron will use late starts this year, snow days will be used whenever they are necessary. Students who live in the country tend to be affected the most. “We are looking at doing some emergency snow routes this year, which could include more of the country,” Dr. Robinson said. The emergency snow routes would benefit the students who live outside the city limits, because they would be able to get to school even if a late start was in affect. Cameron schools have not used late starts in the past, but many teachers agree they are a good idea. “I appreciate not having to make up snow days because it makes second semester more manageable without the make-up days at the end,” Math Teacher Mr. Brad Girard said. If we had a late start, the school day would most likely start at 9:30 to 9:45, depending on the weather, according to Dr. Robinson. The students who ride buses would still be picked up as usual. “If we were to do a late start the buses would still do all the routes,” Dr. Robinson said. If certain students who lived on bad roads were unable to go to school due to weather they would also be accounted for. “We would just look at our policy on how we do that,” Dr. Robinson said. Snow days and late starts are never ideal for students or teachers, but the administration works hard to make sure everyone is taken care of. Most students at CHS are also happy about the concept of late starts. “I will miss snow days sometimes, but late starts seem like a good idea. It will be nice to not have to make up all the snow days at the end of the year,” Junior Tyler Roberts said. The faculty and students at CHS seem to agree that late starts will save everyone from tacking on a few days at the end of the school year. “We will still probably have some snow days, but I would rather go to school a few hours late and not have to make it up than miss a day of summer,” Tyler said. The idea of late starts is simple; go to school a few hours late instead of having to make up a whole day later in the year. Late starts will be add as another option when undesirable weather strikes without the frustration of having to make them up later. When the snow hits this year, make sure to watch the local news and listen to the radio for notifications on cancellations and late starts for the school district.

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