Secrets Behind the "Snow Day"

Barnegat dodged another weather bullet this week. The potential blizzard that could have hit tomorrow will stay well off shore, and perhaps, nobody is happier than Barnegat Schools Superintendent Jason Bing. 

Whenever winter throws a punch, Bing has an early wake up call. "My building and ground supervisor, Craig Henry, is surveying the roads by 4:00 am and calls me every half hour," he wrote in an email.

Afterwards, Bing speaks with Barnegat Township's business administrator, Dave Breeden, about road conditions.

Breeden says that he often stays up overnight during a storm to make sure he's staying up-to-date. He analyzes the road conditions as much as possible using the information he has received.

 The township releases winter weather advisory statements as needed. This statement contains the latest road conditions and storm information for Barnegat. It is shared with school officials, as well as the township governing body and the media. The advisories can be found both on the township website here at Barnegat Patch. 

"We discuss the options, and I make a recommendation to Mr. Bing about what I think is best from my standpoint, but safety is our number-one concern," he said. 

As the district superintendent, Bing has the final say in whatever decisions are made regarding the opening or closing of the district’s six schools. Sometimes he seeks input from other Ocean County superintendents. He says, "I speak with Southern Regional and get their input. We also keep a close eye on what other districts are doing around the area."

After a decision has been made, the necessary steps are taken to make sure plans can be implemented. "If needed we'll make sure that the school's access roads receive additional treatment before the schools opening and closing," Breeden said.

Luckily, Bing said, the decision process is usually obvious.

"Most of the time school cancellation calls are pretty black and white. On occasion you do get the tricky weather pattern but I always err on the side of safety – especially when it comes to buses," he said.

Breeden said clearing snow and ice is a team effort. "The department of public works and the school district have a wonderful working relationship. Everyone does a great job keeping the streets and our residents safe," he said.

Bing believes he makes the best decisions possible even if they're not always obvious to the public. "We need to place the kid's safety first. If the side roads are a mess, we will always delay or cancel school – no questions. Many people see that the main roadways are clear and assume that the kids should be in school, too often the side roads are still very hazardous," he said.

Bing and Breeden agree that they're both hoping the groundhog's prediction of an early spring come true, but in the meantime, they're both ready for the next storm.