WHEELING — Local school districts are keeping an eye on the weather and on predicted temperatures as they determine when classes and school activities can resume later this week.

While main roads may be cleared, it could be days before snow is cleared on the hillsides in Ohio and Marshall counties, school officials said. In addition, expected single-digit temperatures could add ice to the situation.

Ohio County Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones was out driving the roads on Monday afternoon.

“The backroads really haven’t been touched a whole lot,” he reported. “National Road seems fine.

“We’ve already canceled for Tuesday. Wednesday would be tough – it would be nice if we could make it maybe on a two-hour delay. We’re just going to have to see. We have no idea on how the roads are going to clear out.”

The predicted low temperatures are an additional problem, he continued.

“It’s just going to be icy and harder to move all the snow,” Jones said. “I’m hoping to go back later in the week. It will be a gametime decision.

“It definitely won’t happen (Tuesday). Wednesday is going to be tough. We’ll have to see how tomorrow shakes out.”

The backroads get packed down and slippery when the snow and frigid temperatures mix, he continued.

“They’re just ice forever with this kind of weather,” Jones said. “It’ll be tough, but toward the end of the week we might be able to do something. But you can’t control the weather.”

It is typically David Crumm, director of operations for Ohio County Schools, who goes out and drives on backroads to assess their passability.

“Most of the time you already know if you get a lot of snow,” Jones said. “I have people I know — families and friends — I can call who will tell me what the roads look like.Most of the time we try to make the call the night before.”

With school called off on Tuesday, Ohio County Schools so far has used four of the five snow days it has accounted for in its calendar. There are also five remote learning days that can be used before the school district would have to use scheduled days off as instructional days.

“We don’t know yet if any state of emergency (called by the governor) would excuse any days (canceled for weather),” Jones said. “We’re waiting for that directive from the state.”

Marshall County Schools will use its second remote learning day on Tuesday, according to Superintendent Shelby Haines.

“If all five remote days are used, calendar adjustments will be made as per West Virginia Department of Education guidelines,” she said.

During remote learning all personnel have remote learning plans approved by their supervisor, Haines continued.

“For example, bus drivers and cooks have online learning modules related to their jobs,” she said. “There are essential workers who still report to work including custodians, mechanics and maintenance to clear snow and check the buildings.

“We will continue to monitor weather and road conditions the remainder of this week.”

Robotics teams from both Marshall and Ohio counties are registered to be among 160 teams from across the nation participating in the “Gateway To The West” robotics tournament this week at The Highlands Sports Complex in Ohio County.

JoJo Shay, innovation coordinator for Ohio County Schools, said as of Monday afternoon only two teams had withdrawn from the tournament because of the weather. There are 160 teams registered, with those traveling the farthest coming from California and Washington state.

While main roads and interstates are cleared, organizers acknowledge it may be more difficult for the local teams to get to the venue.

The tournament begins Wednesday, and will continue even if classes are canceled in Ohio County Schools on Wednesday, according to Jones.