Snow, changes, and unexpected solutions.......

Because of February's winter weather, I've had to change some of my daily routines. I'm not out for lunch as often or as long as I used to be, for example. And I've discovered that my NEW daily routine allows me to be more productive.

The WVLY transmitter site is on top of Round Bottom Hill, down a gravel lane and up a grassy slope, in Marshall County. The heavy snows have made the trip to our site more difficult--and on occasion simply impossible. Yet the weather has also created more problems at the site. We've been forced to come up with some creative ways to solve those problems and also have uncovered some obvious holes in our operating systems.

Crisis brings change. Adversity leads to creativity. Necessity is the mother of invention.

Ohio County elementary school principals have come up with some creative ways to help students learn in the face of the many missed days this wintry winter. Using wait-in-line time for flashcard review. Reading social studies stories in reading classes to get a double-whammy of knowledge about both reading and social studies. Eliminating special awards day without eliminating special awards.

Amy Minch, principal at Bridge Street Middle School, said award days and school trips will likely be eliminated this year. Instead, students will be rewarded with tickets to attend events with their families on their own time.(Intelligencer 2/27/10)

When school is out of this wild winter cancellation time, when the system settles down and there is time to assess, administrators may realize that the problems the winter created have helped them see solutions that might remain after the snow has gone.

We all get set in our ways. The circumstances that forced us to rethink may have been a gift. I commend the Ohio County administrators for getting creative and urge them to continue thinking that way.

I know my lunches will remain less frequent and shorter. And my work is already improving because of it.

Comments

[Tony Shepherd]

I propose that on snow days, the kids get extra credit if parents drive them to the VLY transmitter site, and improve the road up the hill.....maybe spread some gravel, salt, whatever.