Ophelia Sidmore

As snow begins to blanket the trees, many SHS students wish for a snow day. The Leaf staff investigated how snow days are decided.

When winter weather hits the region, every student has the same thought on their mind: Please be a snow day, please be a snow day. But, behind the scenes here at Sycamore Community Schools, the decision is far from simple, and Superintendent Chad Lewis is already awake and on the roads while we are still dreaming.
Lewis starts evaluating potential snow days the night before, checking the National Weather Service updates and weather predictions. By 3 a.m., he is out the door, assessing road conditions himself. Lewis drives on the roads around our community to determine whether or not they are safe to travel on. He hopes to make the decision before 5:00 a.m. so bus drivers can be informed.
With such a big decision to make, Michael Miller, Sycamore’s Transportation Director, is out on the roads with Lewis. Together, Lewis and Miller communicate with the maintenance team for updates about salt, snow and ice removal, and whether or not the roads will be ready in time for school. Lewis says neighboring districts such as Mason or Indian Hill do not sway his decision about whether or not Sycamore gets a day off. Safety is always his top priority. However, Lewis explains he dislikes calling snow days the night before due to the forecasted weather as he is always nervous until the snow actually starts falling.
But Lewis is not immune to snow day nostalgia. He grew up loving snowball fights, building forts with his sister, and racing back inside for hot chocolate with his mom, memories that still stick with him today. His one snow day superstition? Telling Maple Dale’s Media Specialist, Mrs. Smith, to stop shaking the snow globe, which he jokingly claims prevents snow days.

For minute-to-minute updates about snow days, and much more, follow Lewis’ Instagram, @flightintendent.