One long-term type of cooperation among local school districts has ended after more than 20 years. During severe weather this winter, schools in the Illinois Quad Cities will no longer cancel classes as a group.
United Township Superintendent Jay Morrow says usually if the weather is bad enough to close one district, then it's bad enough to close them all. In past the during bad weather, students and parents would check with their local tv and radio stations, but technology has changed that.
"Now the first thing schools do is to implement their robo-call system - that's the first thing - before we even call the media we implement the robo-call system, as well as we utilize social media."
And once Facebook and Twitter have been notified, then he'll contact tv and radio stations.
Doctor Morrow says another reason to end the cooperative closing procedure is that both Moline and Rock Island have new superintendents this year.