It is that time of the year again where students, teachers and parents complain about the Sioux Falls School District never canceling school for a snow storm. So, I think it is only fair for me to complain about the complainers.

Sioux Falls is now large enough to be considered a “city” or “metro,” therefore it is easier for people to get around. If there is inclement weather, maintainers are sent out in the wee hours of the night to clear off the roads or pour salt to ensure that transporters can get to their destination safely in the morning. This means that there is a very small chance that the district will call off school for poor road conditions. Sorry guys.

Also, the district has rules for snow days. The temperature needs to drop below -35 degrees in order for the school to call the day off.  If it snows, Dr. Brian Maher, the school’s superintendent, has to consider all the student’s and parent’s safety before making a decision. He takes into consideration the amount of snow, the wind and the temperature.

Sioux Fallsians need to consider all  the students and families in the district. There is an average of 25,000 students that attend the SFSD, 11,069 of those students are on free or reduced lunches and 498 of those students are homeless, according to Minnehaha County’s website. This means that if school is called off many of those students would not receive a warm meal that day, and quite possibly could be left out in the cold. There are also students at all levels that cannot drive, but their parents are working and can’t afford to take off work to get their child, or may not have the sick days to take it off. Where do these kids go?

The SFSD is very large. If one school gets called off, that means all schools get called off. That is a lot of students to accommodate for. Buses will need to be rescheduled, parents will need to be called. It is not all about you.

As awesome as it sounds for school to be canceled, allowing you to curl up on the couch and binge-watch “Stranger Things,” we need to be more considerate of others and their well-being. That’s what Dr. Maher is trying to do, so give him a break. The time will come when you can relax on a blizzardy day or even on a nice warm day in six months, but for now, don’t get your hopes up.