Schools delayed in Columbia Basin

COLUMBIA BASIN - Three Columbia Basin schools started late Monday due to icy driving conditions.

Moses Lake, Othello and Warden schools announced a two-hour delayed start.

Ephrata, Quincy, Ritzville, Royal City, Soap Lake, Wahluke and Wilson Creek school districts started on time.

For information on school closures and delays on the day it happens, parents can refer to school Internet sites or listen to local radio stations.

The Othello School District offers a weather information line at 509-488-4862, with information after 5:30 a.m. The Moses Lake School District's transportation department offers information through their number, at 509-766-2676. Warden School District offers closure and delay information at any of their numbers.

Some school districts post information on closures and delays to their Web site.

Moses Lake School District Special Assistant to the Superintendent P.J. De Benedetti said roads were slick in the morning due to freezing drizzle or fog.

Transportation Manager John Eschenbacher and Assistant Manager Wes Kelley drove the roads Monday morning and called Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Monte Redal in making a decision, De Benedetti said.

De Benedetti said the district hoped roads would warm up during the two hour delay.

Othello School District Superintendent George Juarez said the process of determining whether to delay school began with the transportation supervisor driving the roads. The supervisor was unsure about road conditions and called Juarez. Then, Juarez drove the roads. The two met and called surrounding school districts to see what decisions others have made. They contacted county road crews and read road reports.

"Some of the reports that we were getting is some areas had freezing fog," Juarez said.

Warden School District Superintendent Sandra Sheldon said roads were icy and there was freezing fog.

"We want our kids to be safe," Sheldon said.

She said the transportation director drives the roads early in the morning.

"He felt it was just a little bit too icy out there," she said.