Frigid temperatures caused school districts in Warren County to call off classes on Tuesday.School officials opted to keep students inside and away from the elements, after wind chills surged well below zero.Warren County R-III Assistant Superintendent Dr. Aaron Jones said he and other area administrators had to make a decision around 4:30 a.m., when the temperature was minus 2 and the wind chills were at 18 below zero. Typically, the cutoff line for deciding to cancel school is a wind chill of 20 below.“Speaking with area superintendents, we were on the fence as of Monday night but all still planning to go according to the forecast,” said Jones. “But when we checked the weather Tuesday morning around 4 a.m., it was already close to that mark, and we knew it could get colder. At that point it became pretty unanimous.”Wright City R-II Superintendent Dr. David Buck said districts take several factors into account, with the primary being the students’ safety.“At those temperatures, it’s too cold for any long exposure, and we were concerned about the students waiting at bus stops,” said Buck.Jones said there also is the matter of vehicle or buses breaking down with the increased rigors cold weather puts on automobiles.“Some of our routes go almost to Hermann and out to Pinnacle Lake,” said Jones. “It would take us a little while to get a replacement to one of those areas if it were that dangerous out.”Tuesday was the first “snow day” for each district this school year. R-III plans to make up the day by attending on Monday, Feb. 19, which is Presidents Day. R-II will make the day up at the end of the year on Tuesday, May 15.

Students at Warrior Ridge Elementary exit buses Wednesday morning following a day off due to cold weather.

Record photo/Derrick Forsythe