Slick Start To School

Tulsa Public Schools kicked off the snow and headed back to class Monday. But some say the day got off to a slick and dangerous start. Some people are questioning why school was in session at all.

Monday, December 4th 2006, 2:49 pm

By: News On 6

Tulsa Public Schools kicked off the snow and headed back to class Monday. But some say the day got off to a slick and dangerous start. Some people are questioning why school was in session at all. Many neighborhood roads are still thick with icy, slush that made getting to school Monday morning pretty tough, and News on 6 reporter Ashli Sims says many students didn't make it.

It was a slippery walk to the afternoon bus for students, and a nerve-wracking drive through slick slush for bus drivers. And they say this doesn't even come close to what it was like at the beginning of the day.

"It was very hectic those side streets were terrible this morning," said parent Sherri Herendon.

"It was literally a solid sheet of ice. I have all-wheel drive on my car and I was still slipping around," Anderson Principal Brenda Anderson said.

Principal Anderson said at least one of her school buses had big problems.

"Had a bus driver this morning that the bus broke down he got stuck and they were having a lot of problems this morning. And he was not able to get the kids here."

Anderson says more than 180 students didn't show up Monday. The school was also down seven teachers and was forced to combine classes.

Teacher Diana Cook almost didn't make it.

"I live out in Collinsville and I got up and I started out at 6:00 a.m. and by 6:15 I was sitting in a ditch."

TPS says eight transportation supervisors check the bus routes to make sure they're safe. They put five schools on late bus routes, several more on ice routes, and decided to hold classes.

"It's always a difficult call to make. And we felt that we had enough schools that were properly aligned and ready to go that we decided to go ahead and have school today," TPS spokesperson Paula Wood said.

The folks at Anderson say it wasn't an ideal first day back. They just hope the sunshine and warmer temperatures will make for clearer days ahead.

TPS officials admit attendance was down, but they won't have any official numbers until Tuesday.