Will Another Hazardous Weather Outlook Bring Another School Delay to Mansfield?

The National Weather Service has issued Another hazardous weather outlook for Hartford and Tolland Counties. Light snow is forecast to move into the area later on Tuesday afternoon at the earliest and likely through the overnight period.

Accumulations are to be light, according to the National Weather Service, but the snow could stick to untreated roads.

That's why it will be another early morning for Southington Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connellan.

Connellan said when weather is expected to move in, his alarm is expected to go off by 4 a.m. so he can consult with a meteorological service. He then checks on with the local police and the local highway department to see how the roads are.

It's then on to a pair of conference calls with other area superintendents.

Region 19 Superintendent Bruce Silva is also up early, because with a school population spread out from Storrs to Ashford and even beyond considering E.O. Smith High School hosts a regional agricultural education program, he has children getting to bus stops before 7 a.m.

First Bell at Southington High School is 7:37 a.m., typical for most high schools in both counties.

Connellan was quite candid when he said he has to ignore the opinions expressed in the court of social media and make a decision "based on safety."

"The question is always, 'What's the safest thing to do?' We have to factor in young drivers going to high school, then families with middle school and elementary school children," he said.

Southington works off either calling it a snow day or imposing a two-hour delay, he said.

"So yes ... I will be up early," Connellan said. "Tuesday looks like it really could be a decision day."

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