BY TED SHOCKLEY, Eastern Shore Post —
David Jeck, interim superintendent of Accomack County Public Schools, is apologizing for not dismissing school earlier on Tuesday, Feb. 11, when several inches of snow fell during the day.
The burst of snowfall — described as “heavy, wet snow” by the National Weather Service — led to slick afternoon road conditions, prompting an outpouring of social media criticism of the untimely dismissal.
A school bus also skidded into a ditch on Custis Neck Road near Accomac, although no injuries were reported, and first responders reported a number of accidents on primary and secondary roads caused by the snow and slush.
“The snow came earlier and heavier than we had expected,” said Jeck. “It was my call. I made the wrong one. I will do better next time.”
The school system announced that schools would close two hours early. However, many parents complained on social media that the early dismissal was too late.
Jeck said the bus slid into a ditch on Custis Neck Road near Accomac.
“Trying to predict the weather based on info from NOAA and other weather resources is not an exact science,” said Jeck in an email, speaking of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“I had the decision to have a two-hour dismissal because I felt we could get kids fed and home before the roads got too bad. I was wrong.”
Jeck was hired as Accomack’s interim superintendent effective Dec. 1.
Because of snow-related school cancellations, Accomack schools will now be open for students on two days that originally were scheduled to be off days.
Students will now be attending school on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 17, and the Monday after Easter, April. 21.
