ELKHART — In Elkhart, school officials monitor weather reports and drive around the district to decide if fog or ice or snow warrants a delay to the start of school, but if parents disagree with the school corporation’s decision, they can keep their child at home.

There was fog in Elkhart County Monday morning, but according to WNDU, Elkhart Christian Academy was the only school in Elkhart County to delay the start of the school day.

Doug Hasler, executive director of support services for Elkhart Community Schools, said that “the fog was certainly predicted, but not as severe as some might have thought.”

School administrators pay attention to weather reports, he said, and when conditions could cause issues for students traveling to school, several staff members drive around the district to see first-hand what conditions are.

It can be a difficult decision, since conditions “frequently will vary in different parts of the school district,” but Hasler said that school officials try to make a decision no later than 5:30 a.m., since some Elkhart buses prepare to leave by 6 a.m.

As far as Monday morning’s call, Hasler said that some light rain and wind were moving the fog out, so that conditions seemed clear enough to keep the usual school day.

If parents feel weather conditions are dangerous enough in their area to keep their children at home from school, that is the parents’ right, Hasler said.