No school

Oh, they were welcome words! Didn't matter if I was a teacher or a student. When good ol' KSpittoey spit out "All schools in Bonner County School District 82 are closed today," euphoria set in.

The reaction was either to pull up the covers and bury my head deep within the pillow or to put away that lesson plan I'd been working on at the computer, sit back, smile and clap. Then, I'd think about all I was gonna get done on this gift of extra time. There was a bonus too; the lesson plan was usually completed and ready for the next day back at school.

Of course, not everyone in the community felt the same, and they often let us teachers know it. I seldom showed my face in town on "No school" days when I was a teacher.

Invariably, a clerk or a passerby would make a smart remark, intended to inflict guilt. I understood their perspective, but that didn't make me feel any better.

Moreover, parents aren't always thrilled when the schools shut down because of weather conditions. That often adds to their day and to their expense account if they need to arrange for child care.

Well, today things are a little different. I'm no longer teaching, but I'm still pleased with the morning announcement. It's cold, and again I know it's cold cuz I looked at my face in the mirror after spending 20 minutes outside, all bundled up, while feeding the horses. My cheeks were that uncommon rosy red, which goes beyond healthy looking.

While cleaning Lily's stall, I heard the deejays on Radio Station K102.5 announce a long line of school delays and closings in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho.

These days, Bonner County has two school districts, so Lake Pend Oreille School District (ours) and West Bonner County (Priest River area) were mentioned among the many this morning.

I said out loud to myself, "Barbara and Laurie will be happy." My sisters will not waste a minute of this precious day away from school. Barbara teaches English, photography and the yearbook at the high school, while Laurie teaches fifth graders at Farmin Elementary.

They're up every morning at 5 shoveling for and feeding a dozen horses. Sometimes they're also up earlier to plow out their driveways. They're off to school by 7 or shortly after; they're home somewhere between 4:30 and 5, and they're back at the barns for another hour putting those dozen horses to bed.

I don't know how they do it, and I'm happy for them that they get an unexpected day off. The farm has so many challenges during this kind of weather, that I'm sure they'll take advantage of the extra time to ward off as many potential problems as possible.

Anyone who has ever spent time in a school setting, especially the weeks before the holiday season, knows how appreciated the weather closures are. When you pack a lot of humanity inside a limited space, it tends to get challenging, managing all that humanity and maintaining a positive tone.

Nothing like a short break to improve school atmosphere for all involved--staff and students. Everyone gets a breather. Most folks come back refreshed and better able to attack the tough situations,. Staff members, especially, have a chance to catch up with the myriad of other responsibilities in their lives, thus lessening their stress level while increasing their tolerance level.

And, besides, it would be ridiculous and dangerous for a district, largely dependent on busing to get its rural students to school, to expect those youngsters to stand out in this bitter cold for even five minutes while waiting for the bus to come.

The school district officials are making wise calls in closing down their facilities today, and they're bound to reap more benefits from this day off than incurring a few red faces of their own.