Item: Roof snow load levels close area schools: Snow-covered sidewalks, narrow streets cause concern for student safety/Brian Walker & Maureen Dolan, CDA Press

Officials in the Coeur d'Alene and Lakeland school districts decided late Monday afternoon that schools would be closed today so they could deal with heavy snow loads on school rooftops. In the Post Falls district, roofs were cleared during the winter break so no early decision to close was made. The snow load levels in the Lakeland district were approaching 30 pounds per square foot Monday afternoon. The district's roofs have a 35-pound limit

Question: Are school officials being overly cautious or prudent in closing schools to check snow loads? Should this have been done at Coeur d'Alene and Lakeland schools during Christmas vacation?