Landon on Late Closure Call: ‘My Crystal Ball Was Wrong’

Westport Schools Superintendent Elliott Landon tonight told the Board of Education he was “disappointed” with his late school closure call during Monday’s snowstorm and promised, “we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

While all other Fairfield County school districts had announced closures by 5:30 a.m. Monday in the face of what was an accurate prediction of 6 to 8 inches of snow, Landon did not announce Westport’s closure until 6:45 a.m.

By that time, some teachers had arrived at Staples High School or were on their way and some students were already on school buses or waiting at bus stops. The head of the teachers’ union said the late decision put teachers and students in danger.

“Nobody could be more disappointed than I in the fact that we—I made the announcement late,” said Landon, who later refused to discuss his decision with local media, at the outset of tonight’s meeting. “But there were extenuating circumstances, one of which for those of my loyal followers who think I overslept. I did not.”

He said was texting at 5 a.m. about the weather and went outside, “looking, feeling to see if there was any snow and there was no snow at 5 o’clock.”

He added: “We use a private weather service that focuses just on 06880 and what they kept on saying was it’s going to be later in the day, not earlier in the day and at 5 up to close to 5:30, it looked like they were right, and I figured, well, if worse comes to worse, we’ll do an early dismissal.

“But lo and behold after all these years, my crystal ball was wrong. But I’m just sorry that some people rolled out of bed and got dressed and had to undress and others were in their cars and on their way. Some had actually arrived at school. So, we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Landon began his explanation of the late closure call with a reference to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“I don’t know if any of you were watching the news yesterday but Mayor de Blasio came under incredibly enormous criticism from the media and the public because he opened schools yesterday during that horrific snowstorm – ice storm,’ he said. “So my advice for Mayor de Blasio is better late than never.”

Landon did not mention the earlier closing calls by other school districts nor the widespread more accurate snow predictions and timing by other meteorologists, and neither did any of the school board members.

School Board Chair Elaine Whitney added: “Dr. Landon always looks at the most current up to date information and makes the best decision he can, so a tricky, tricky task.” 

She said the schools have now have had four snow days out of the five budgeted in the calendar. If more than five days are needed, they will be taken from the planned April break, she said.