Snow day in Cedar City Utah brings rare excitement for families

Cedar City residents awoke to a rare sight: a blanket of snow prompting the first school closure in a decade.

 

According to the Iron County School District, the last snow day occurred on February 1, 2016.

 

Families seized the opportunity to enjoy the winter wonderland.

 

At Canyon View Middle and High School, students and parents transformed the campus hills into sledding slopes.

 

Robert Eaton, a local father, took the day off to join his children.

 

"We haven't had much snow this year, so it's fun to get out and play," he said.

 

His son, Memphis, a student at Canyon View Middle School, added, "Being able to sled, build snowmen, and make snow angels with my family is a great feeling and creates good memories."

 

Overnight, Cedar City received approximately six inches of snow, with some areas in the county accumulating over a foot.

 

Shauna Lund, the district's communication director, explained the decision-making process for closures.

 

"We consider conditions across the county," she noted.

 

"Crews hadn't cleared roads yet, making it difficult for buses to operate safely."

 

Typically, the district opts for delayed starts rather than full closures.

 

However, the extent of this storm necessitated a complete shutdown.

 

Virtual learning days are not currently feasible due to limited access to necessary devices among students.

 

"It's something we're considering for the future," Lund said.

 

"But at this time, many students lack the resources for online learning at home."

 

The district has one extra day built into the calendar, so this closure shouldn't disrupt lesson plans.

 

Recognizing that some students rely on school for warmth and meals, Lund emphasized that such decisions are not made lightly.

 

"We hope families can make arrangements to be there with their kids," she said.

 

For the Eaton family, the unexpected day off was a welcome break.

 

"This hasn't happened in years," said parent Karissa Eaton.

 

"I think everybody needed it."

 

To notify parents of the closure, the district sent out texts, emails, and social media posts, and updated each school's homepage.