Parents Upset With DPS Decision To Open Wednesday
DENVER (CBS4)- Administrators said they recognize that many parents are upset with their decision to stay open on Wednesday, despite below zero temperatures when students arrived.
They said that's why there is a choice if parents want to send their children to school. All absences on Wednesday will be excused at Denver Public Schools.
At Smith Elementary School, boiler issues overnight left things frigid inside. Only 16 out of 430 students showed.
"The building was quite cold, went downstairs and realized both boilers were out and classrooms were between 42 and 52, 53 degrees," said Smith Elementary School principal Jason Krause.
"This is crazy, it's quite cold," said parent Lee Hull.
(Watch Jennifer Brice's report below.)
Many students and their parents were not happy about the conditions.
"I don't know why we have to go to school. It's so cold outside. It's just not right. I don't think it's right," said a group of students.
"It was a very difficult decision," said DPS Superintendent Tom Boasberg.
He said the district factors in weather, traffic and road conditions when closing schools. They felt all were fine in making this decision. Boasberg said what isn't okay are the crucial services their at-risk students would miss is school was closed.
"Our schools are in many cases the only place where some of our kids will get two hot meals a day, health care services, support services, counseling. So we felt it was essential for our schools to be open," said Boasberg.
"My kids are upset over it. My wife, who is a DPS teacher, is upset, but we're here," said parent Sam Hovey.
(Watch Superintendent Boasberg's entire interview with Jennifer Brice.)
"It's a little too cold and probably better off at home," said parent Chuck Stary.
In DPS, 47,000 students qualify for a free or reduced price breakfast and lunch. That's more than 60 percent of their overall enrollment.
For parents who have children who walk to school, they said the elements outside are just too tough and many opted to keep their children home from school.
