Snow closes Cheney schools

CHENEY -- An unusual October snowstorm overnight Oct. 8-9 has led to the closure of all Cheney Public Schools today, Oct. 9.

School Superintendent Rob Roettger said district officials originally were going with a two-hour delay, but after discussions with Director of Safety Kelly Hembach, elected to take a snow day and close all of the schools. Roettger said Hembach, who was in Airway Heights at the time, told them there were numerous power outages, downed limbs and trees and slick conditions on some county roads.

Cheney also has experienced downed trees, limbs and icy conditions on some side streets.

"We decided to be safe and call school on Oct. 9, which is weird," Roettger said.

The district has three snow days built into the end of the school year in June, Roettger said, and have told staff not to worry about having to exceed those if weather conditions warrant later once winter hits.

According to the website, Medical Lake schools were on a two-hour delay on Wednesday.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].