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Newington superintendent explains decision to keep schools open despite statewide snow days

NEWINGTON — William Collins was manning a school bus when FOX 61 tracked him down on Friday. “I’m pretty hands on and I want to make sure befo...
School bus covered in snow

NEWINGTON -- William Collins was manning a school bus when FOX 61 tracked him down on Friday.

"I'm pretty hands on and I want to make sure before I send my drivers out there that it's safe for them, so I went out there myself. Buses handed beautifully," said Collins, the superintendent of Newington Schools.

He faced backlash, much of it on social media, over his decision to keep schools open despite Friday's snowstorm.

Collins said he based his call off weather reports.

"Get the kids in. We knew it was going to snow during the day and then it would stop and we should have no trouble for the way home," said Collins, explaining his strategy.

Indeed, roads were reduced to light slush or even clear in Newington by around 1 p.m., but earlier in the day FOX 61 spotted fishtails, slide-offs and standstills in the area.

Some parents, like James Holley, sympathize with the superintendent but still question his move.

"The roads will be better when the kids get out but still, you're dealing with cautious measures and stuff. You never know what's going to happen. You got a bunch of kids on the school bus. I wouldn't want to take that chance if I was him. I would've kept the kids out of school I think," said Holley, parent of a Newington high schooler.

FOX 61 asked the superintendent what he would say to parents concerned about the school buses on the road.

"There is nothing to be worried about," Collins said. "We have the best drivers. Our buses are equipped with on-spot chains. The buses will go through at least 6 more inches of snow. It's ice I worry about. So when we have icy situations, that's when I really worry and I cancel school in a heartbeat."

Collins told FOX 61 he stands by his decision.

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