School interruptions

Regarding "Winter's Icy Grip Continues to Force Closings, Delays" (Jan 16): I would be grateful for an article that explains why cold weather causes schools to delay classes by two hours or to close.

I understand closings for snow, since traffic is sometimes seriously affected. I understand that some parents are reluctant to have their young children walk to school in below-zero temperatures.

However, our public (and many private) schools seem to go on a two-hour delay when the temperature drops below about 20 degrees.

When school is delayed or closed, what happens to all the children who normally eat breakfast at school? What happens to children who look forward to going to the school building because their own houses are poorly heated? How much productivity is lost in the city's businesses and government because parents have to stay home with the kids?

I would really like to understand the rationale for this practice.

LINDA SCHMANDT
Highland Park