A Cold Conundrum

@DWDavis (25820)
Pikeville, North Carolina
February 15, 2016 6:09am CST
This morning I find myself in a cold conundrum. I have a doctor's appointment out of town this morning at 9 a.m. The roadways between here and there are ice covered and multiple accidents along the route have been reported. The rain is still falling and freezing upon impact, especially on bridges and overpasses. Between here and there I would have to traverse numerous bridges and overpasses. Clearly I am not going to risk my life or my vehicle in traveling 70+ miles over icy roads to make it to the doctor. I will call them shortly, explain to the the circumstances, and ask to reschedule for the end of March. Today was originally an optional teacher workday on our school calendar. That is one reason I scheduled my appointment for today. However, due to our first inclement weather closing, today had been slated as a makeup day. Therefore, I had to arrange for a substitute and schedule sick leave to be able to take the day off. Here is my conundrum, our school system has not yet closed for the day due to the weather, though they are on a two hour delay. I will not be going to the doctor due to the road conditions between here and there so I could go into school today and work. However, the substitute has already been hired and plans to work in my place. If I show up to work, she would lose a days pay. Should I stay home even if the school system remains on a two hour delay even though I cannot go to my appointment, or should I show up, tell my sub to go home, and work today?
7 people like this
11 responses
@LadyDuck (455017)
• Switzerland
15 Feb 16
If the roads are icy it's also a risk to reach the school, I suggest you to stay at home.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
@LadyDuck When the police department posts a notice on its website that people should stay home except in emergencies, that is what people should do. The police, fire, and rescue are having trouble responding to all the auto accidents.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
The decision was made by the district to close school today, so my dilemma was solved for me.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (455017)
• Switzerland
15 Feb 16
@DWDavis I am glad that they finally decided to close, icy roads are very dangerous.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19706)
• India
15 Feb 16
@DWDavis Personally I think you will opt to stay home and let the substitute do the job.I think that is what you did.
1 person likes this
@silvermist (19706)
• India
15 Feb 16
@DWDavis In a way it was good.Problem solved.Is there any improvement in the climate?
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
The decision was taken out of my hands when the freezing rain didn't stop and the roads continued to be to dangerous for the buses. Schools closed.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
@silvermist The rain has stopped but here in my area, but the temperatures are still frigid, what with the wind chill and all.
1 person likes this
@Blondie2222 (28613)
• United States
17 Feb 16
If the roads are that bad i would just stay home and let the substitute teacher work for you. There is always tomorrow i wouldn't risk it.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
17 Feb 16
They wound up closing school for staff and students so neither the sub nor I had to work after all.
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
I would let the sub work. :)
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
16 Feb 16
As it turned out, no one worked because they closed the schools due to icy roads.
@JESSY3236 (18760)
• United States
15 Feb 16
Our school system was closed today. It's optical teacher workday. I wouldn't risk it. It's bad here too.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
Our district eventually closed the schools to all students and staff after local law enforcement put out a warning to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Emergency workers are having a hard time keeping up with the number of accidents.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116876)
• Anniston, Alabama
15 Feb 16
Stay home! have fun and relax. I would not get out in that either.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
I am keeping the coffee hot and spending my time writing and reading.
@Jackalyn (7560)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
Stay at home. It does not sound safe to go out anyway. The sub will be glad of the chance to teach and you would go toi the appointment if the roads cleared. The UK does not do bad weather well, so be very careful.
• United States
15 Feb 16
Our schools were closed sometime around 7 pm last night. It started falling around then. I don't see any rain yet, but I imagine it may have already come through for us. I would ask myself this "Is there something I could do today, something productive, that I could justify not going into work because of?" If there is anything you've needed to do today is the day to do it.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
While I was reading your comment I got the call that our schools were closing. We will be making up the day this coming Saturday, which is a bummer as my wife and I had plans to go out of town this Saturday and will now have to cancel and reschedule.
@JudyEv (323716)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
I'm not sure it matters what your decision is. If it wasn't for the sub's wages, I'd say the ethical thing to do would be turn up for work but as it stands, I really don't know.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
The situation, as I said, is a conundrum. I will, most likely, stay home, as I don't want to deprive the sub of her wages. As I was typing this comment on your response, I received a call that the two hour delay had been extended to a three hour delay.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Feb 16
Keep the day for yourself and stay warm.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
That is what I think I will do. I'm listening to the radio and the roads are a complete mess out there. Our school system has extended the two hour delay to a three hour delay. As the temperature is still below freezing and the wind chill is still in the teens I am expecting a complete closure to occur.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
15 Feb 16
Stay home. It is a hassle and inconvenience to alter plans now. The hired has gotten all ready and prepared and to be canceled at the last minute isn't nice. They need that income. You had planned to take the day off anyway. You'll just have to deal with scheduling a day off in March. Wait a minute. This is President's Day. Aren't schools closed?
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25820)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
15 Feb 16
As it turned out, Mother Nature solved my conundrum for me by keeping the temperature cold and the wind chill frigid. The roads in the county continued to ice up, the local police department issued an advisory for people to stay off the roads, and the school district finally closed the schools. The downside is now we have to make up the day this coming Saturday, which is supposed to be a nice day.