While schools across the Chicagoland area closed their doors today due to freezing temperatures and subzero wind chills, West Chicago Community High School remained open.
All weekend, students had hoped for an e-learning day, knowing temperatures might dip below -10°F. However, at 9:49 p.m. on Monday, Communications and Community Relations CoordinatorWalker sent an email confirming that school would remain open.
“West Chicago Community High School will be open and operating on a regular schedule tomorrow, Tuesday, January 21, 2025. We are taking every measure to ensure safe operations for both our bus routes and school buildings. Please make sure students are dressed appropriately for the subzero temperatures. Thank you for your continued support,” the email read.
Walking into classrooms at West Chicago Community High School on Jan. 21, students described unusually quiet rooms. Teachers were asked variations of the same question: “What are we doing today?” Lessons were adjusted in some classrooms, as many educators faced smaller groups of students. For some students, coming to school was an obligation, regardless of weather.
“I’m here because I have to be,” said senior Aron Servin. “There was no discussion—just, ‘You have to go,’ from my parents.”
Servin admitted he had hoped for a day off, but did not think it was likely.
“I thought there was like a 30 or 40 percent chance of it being canceled. It wasn’t that cold. It could be worse,” Servin said.
Others were similarly disappointed.
“I wasn’t surprised, but I was definitely let down,” senior Darsh Singh said. “I felt like we would have had an e-learning day, but it’s whatever.”
Singh said he had even prepared for the possibility of staying home.
“I didn’t set an alarm, to be honest with you,” he said.
Despite his initial disappointment, Singh highlighted the importance of showing up.
“I feel like my learning is important,” he said. “Even though we were all expecting it to be an e-learning day, I feel like it’s still important to come to school and meet all your friends.”
Singh and Servin both described quiet hallways and sparse classrooms.
“Half the students were gone, maybe a little more,” Servin said.
While no official attendance numbers have been reported, classroom turnout appeared to vary throughout the day, with students reporting some classes were full or nearly full, and others noticeably sparser than usual.
“For the most part, it wasn’t that bad in my classes, but the hallways were pretty empty,” Singh said.
Principal Dr. Will Dwyer noted that the decision to hold school was made by the superintendent, who considers multiple factors, including information from the National Weather Service, student safety, and access to resources. He mentioned that, for some students, coming to school on a cold day is better than staying home, referring to the fact that their families may lack adequate heating. He also noted that approximately 1,000 students rely on the school for two meals a day, highlighting the importance of keeping the school open whenever possible.
West Chicago was not alone in its decision to hold classes. While over 100 schools in the Chicago area canceled classes due to dangerous cold, many others remained open, citing similar concerns about student safety and access to essential resources. According to a report from NBC Chicago, the decision to close often depends on factors such as the ability of buses to operate safely and the condition of school facilities.
