Slick Roads Cause Delaware Co. Schools To Close Again

By Craig Day, The News On 6

DELAWARE COUNTY -- A half dozen eastern Oklahoma school districts canceled classes Tuesday because of slick roads.

Some of the school districts have not had classes since last Thursday.

It isn't just snow and ice causing concerns in southern Delaware County, but also mud.

At Oaks-Mission High School, the only students there are members of the basketball teams or at least the ones who could make it. Some aren't there because of the snow on area roads. Since it's still slick, Oaks-Mission called off classes. 

Vince Osburn is a basketball coach, teacher and the Oaks Fire Chief.

"We have a lot of north hillsides up in here, and there's probably a lot of snow left on them, some of these roads in these hollers and everything where the sun doesn't shine very much so," said Chief Vince Osburn, Oaks Fire Department.

Osburn says half of the district's bus routes are on dirt roads. While the highways are dry, many of the rural roads are still dangerous, especially for school buses. 

Many parents say canceling classes was a good call.

While some students made it to basketball practice, at several other nearby schools no basketball or really anything else is happening, except the slow rebound from the winter weather.

A half dozen other schools in southern Delaware County, including Leach, are also closed. It's not just the snow and ice causing problems. As it melts, many of the rural roads are also a muddy mess, which can also be a problem for those heavy school buses.

"If you get stuck in the mud, you're stuck. You aren't going to get out really. And the roads are really narrow," said Jessica Reed, Oaks student.

"You'll have real deep ruts probably six to a foot," said Chief Vince Osburn.

While the buses aren't rolling, at least it's warmer, which means things are getting closer to getting back to normal.

School is expected to be back in session on Wednesday.