This winter, temperatures have dropped at an alarming rate, with this week’s lows reaching -4 ℉ and highs only climbing to 23 ℉. On Monday, December 15, the morning windchills made it feel like -13 ℉ as Perry Meridian students arrived at school, bundled in heavy coats, hats and gloves. Despite the dangerous wind chill and icy conditions, many students were surprised that school started on time with no delay.

Across the state, several school districts announced two-hour delays due to the extreme cold and road conditions. Nearby schools such as Center Grove, Greenwood and Roncalli all began classes later that morning. Most surprising to many Perry students was the decision made by Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS), which issued a two-hour delay. Due to Perry Meridian being located farther from the center of the city, many students assumed a delay would follow, making the lack of one even more unexpected.

With temperatures so low, the walk into school felt unbearable for many students. “I walked outside and my nose was freezing—like, so cold I couldn’t breathe,” junior Vanhlawn Bawr said. “I walked into school and my feet were freezing, and they stayed frozen for the whole day.” 

Even after getting indoors, students reported that the cold lingered, especially in classrooms with large windows. “I feel like there should be a limit,” Bawr  said. “We should not be coming to school when it feels like -13 ℉ outside.”

For most students, however, the biggest concern was not the cold but the dangerous road conditions. New drivers in particular felt unsafe being required to drive in snow and ice. “I don’t really like driving in snow, and I feel like driving to school on Monday would not be safe,” junior Helen Hollander said.

That anxiety was not irrational. “I kept getting a bunch of text messages from my friends saying they were having a lot of car trouble,” senior Haydn Scott said. “A lot of them almost got in crashes.” 

The fear of accidents became reality for quite a few students. Sophomore Evan Klipsch, a new driver, hit a manhole on his way to school, shattering it and later having to return with his father to report the damage. What would normally be a routine drive quickly turned into a harrowing and stressful experience. 

The roads were so difficult to navigate that driving to school was unsafe. “The roads were just terrible, and you would slide around everywhere. It really wasn’t safe,” senior Martina Mays said. Mays explained that the icy conditions made driving extremely challenging, especially as some drivers failed to adjust their behavior to the weather. “New drivers who aren’t as experienced don’t know how to drive in snow, and consequently I got into an accident,” Mays said. When students are required to attend school despite hazardous road conditions, they are often forced to choose: prioritize their safety or a day of their education.

However, some Perry staff members disagree with the idea that the roads were too slippery. “This [determination of road safety] has to be subjective, there is no real time data that can readily be collected to determine if the road conditions are safe for travel or not,” William Carey said. Some argue that the roads were travelable and if they weren’t then there were buses provided all of the township for school transportation. “The township provides buses for every student in the township. I think that should be the determining factor. If the roads are safe for trained bus drivers, then I think the roads are safe enough to open the schools,” Carey said. While new drivers might have a difficult time getting to school it is up to individual households to choose how they want their student to get to school.

As winter conditions continue to worsen, many students believe school officials should take a closer look at how weather-related decisions are made while others argue there are multiple options to get to school. With extreme cold and hazardous roads posing real risks, students are left questioning whether attendance should outweigh safety or if they should search for other options on how to get to school.