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KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI -- Numerous school districts cancelled classes Jan. 20, including Kirksville R-III.

On a wintery-weather morning, what is it like for the school district’s transportation department?

I shadowed Jeff Mikel, Transportation Director for Kirksville R-III.

His day begins at four a.m., with him and his crew splitting up and testing out the roads themselves. Weber Bus Company does the same. Mikel said the school district relies heavily on them.

“They've been our bus contractor going on 50 years. We take their expertise very seriously, and basically, if they say they can't go and it's going to [pose] a risk to our students, we don't go,” said Mikel.

They then contact the superintendent to make the final decision, and Mikel said it’s not always an easy one.

“A lot of it has to do with what the forecast is,” said Mikel. “If it's snowing like it was this morning; it's a continual deal, then it usually makes the call a little bit easier. When Hwy 63 is still snow and ice-covered... We start off with the hard-surfaces and if those are still that way at five a.m., then it's a pretty easy call.”

Many factors play into the decision, which Mikel said is usually an “experience call,” or a “gut feeling,” but above all, he said there is one thing that is most important.

"We always know that we have the safety of our students first and foremost, and if we feel like we're going to put our students at risk, we don't go.... and we can put our heads down on our pillow at night and say that we made the right decision.”