School officials explain decision to stay open

Worcester County Public Schools caught a little bit of flak from parents on social media, after announcing their decision to not close schools on Thursday.

Around 5:00 a.m., school officials announced that students and staff would operate on a two-hour delay. Many parents criticized the decision claiming it was a safety hazard, including one parent who reached out to 47 ABC directly via Facebook.

Her main argument was that back roads were still icy and dangerous.

47 ABC reached out to Worcester County Public Schools with the parents’ concerns to better understand the decision.

In a written statement, Barbara Witherow of Worcestor County Public Schools, states “Based on conditions and our collaborations with law enforcement and emergency services, we believed that our bus contractors were skilled and able to safely operate their buses on the roadways. Our bus drivers are highly trained and have many years of experience driving in a variety of conditions.”

As for the teens who drive themselves to school, she says the schools trust the parents to make that decision based on their student’s driving level and experience.

Worcester County Public Schools are closed on Friday, February 20.