Superintendent: 'We Made the Wrong Call' with Friday's Weather Decision

Anne Arundel County's schools superintendent said the decision to open schools on time Friday, as freezing rain glazed streets, was wrong.

In a letter emailed to parents Saturday, Superintendent Mamie J. Perkins explained that she will be investigating the process that leads to weather-related schools decisions.

“We made the wrong call,” Perkins wrote in the letter. “We as a system are not perfect, and we should not be afraid to admit when we err. In this case, we clearly could have done better.”

Perkins said employees reviewed weather reports and consulted with county and state agencies to arrive at their decision. Based on their findings, they made the call at about 4:45 a.m., which Perkins said provides the necessary time to begin launching their network of school buses that transports more than 60,000 students across the county each day.

Friday's mishap proved that the system could use some changes, Perkins wrote in the letter.

"While the breadth of our programs is a great asset academically, it does create some transportation challenges. I want to closely examine the system we have in place and, where possible, make changes to increase the flexibility when it comes to making weather-related calls," Perkins wrote.

Anne Arundel County police responded to more than 70 vehicle incidents by 9 a.m. Friday morning, though none were reported as serious. The traffic incidents did delay school buses, officials reported.

Were you affected by the weather decision Friday?