Superintendents Apologize After Snowy School Commutes

Parents and buses faced difficult trips as snow fell unexpectedly in the morning.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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School superintendents in several Connecticut districts, including New Britain, Cheshire, Newington, and Hartford, apologized to parents after a snowy morning commute to school on Wednesday. The superintendents cited faulty weather forecasts and the unexpected timing of the snowfall as reasons for not delaying or canceling school, leading to a challenging trip for students, parents, and buses.

Why it matters

The decision to delay or cancel school due to inclement weather is a challenging one for superintendents, as they must balance student safety with minimizing disruptions to families' schedules. This incident highlights the difficulties school leaders face in making the right call, especially when weather forecasts prove inaccurate.

The details

On Wednesday morning, steady snow fell as parents and buses were making their way to schools in New Britain and surrounding districts. Several superintendents, including Tony Gasper of New Britain, posted online to apologize for the difficult commute, citing faulty weather forecasts that did not predict the snow would arrive at the peak of the morning rush. Despite the snow, schools in New Britain, Cheshire, Newington, and Hartford did not delay or cancel classes.

  • On Wednesday morning, steady snow fell as parents and buses were making their way to schools.
  • Superintendents posted online apologies for the difficult commute later that day.

The players

Tony Gasper

The superintendent of New Britain Schools, who took responsibility for the tough trip to school and cited a faulty weather forecast.

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What they’re saying

“We all had a very rough morning, I know. So first and foremost I wanted to say thank you to the parents and apologize to the parents for a lot of stress and a lot of worry and a lot of hassle this morning.”

— Tony Gasper, New Britain Schools Superintendent (nbcconnecticut.com)

What’s next

The New Britain superintendent said his team plans to meet to see how they could have handled the situation better in the future.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the difficult decisions school superintendents must make regarding school closures and delays, especially when weather forecasts prove inaccurate. It also shows the importance of clear communication with parents during challenging weather events.